JP2004146631A - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic device with a forced air-cooling system in which an air volume can be adjusted corresponding to a positional relationship between a plurality of parallel-arranged plates and a cooling fan or a heat release value of each panel. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of panels 20 are arranged vertically between side panels 12 and 13 of a housing 11 of the electronic device 10 and cooling is performed by one or more cooling fans 40 mounted on an upper portion of the panels. The air volume adjusting plate 30 is arranged in the upper or lower portions of the plurality of panels 20. The air volume adjusting plate 30 includes a number of ventilating holes 31 with partially different opening rate. A cooling air volume effected by the cooling fans 40 is programmed accordingly depending on a mounted position of the cooling fans 40 or the heat release value of the panels or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a housing for an electronic device, and particularly to a housing for an electronic device such as a wireless communication device in which heat generated by an electronic device mounted on a plurality of cards (printed circuit boards) arranged inside the housing is forcibly cooled by one or more cooling fans. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An electronic device such as a wireless communication device is generally configured by mounting a plurality of cards in which a large number of electronic devices such as semiconductor integrated circuits are mounted in parallel inside a housing. Since the reliability of such an electronic device depends on the temperature (that is, the higher the temperature, the lower the reliability), it is preferable to maintain the temperature at a low temperature. For this reason, the housing of such an electronic device is generally provided with a cooling fan and forcibly air-cooled to suppress an increase in the internal operating temperature.
[0003]
In electronic equipment in which a plurality of circuit boards are mounted in multiple stages in the vertical or horizontal direction, some forced air-cooling systems are used to improve the cooling efficiency of the circuit boards by blowing a uniform wind speed between the circuit boards. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventional technology for an electronic device housing has been proposed. As means for this, a plurality of fans are arranged on the position side of the circuit board in the electronic device housing, and each fan is provided with an intake-side guide blade inclined at a predetermined angle in a direction away from the intake port, On the other side, there is disclosed a technique of providing exhaust-side guide blades inclined toward the exhaust port. Further, another embodiment in which a mesh member having a large number of openings is arranged between a fan and a circuit board is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
Also, a plurality of fan units are arranged above and below a multi-stage printed wiring board (PKG), and a wind direction adjustment unit is arranged above and below each PKG stage. Each wind direction adjustment unit includes a plurality of rectangular plates that rotate around a rotation axis according to a temperature detected by a temperature sensor, and discloses a technique of adjusting a wind direction from a fan (for example, see Patent Document 2).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2000-49482 (pages 3-4, FIG. 1-4)
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-11-204974 (page 3-4, FIG. 1)
[0006]
FIG. 8 shows a conventional example of a forced air cooling type electronic device. FIG. 8A is an overall perspective view in which a part of the conventional electronic device 100 is exploded, and FIG. 8B is a partially enlarged view of an upper part B of FIG. 8A. The electronic device 100 includes a plurality of panels (printed on which electronic devices are mounted) inserted along a plurality of panel guides (or printed board guide rails) 102 provided on upper and lower grills (or frames) 108 of a housing 101. A board (substrate) 104 is arranged in parallel between the left and right side plates 101A and 101B constituting the housing 101. Further, above the panel 104 in the housing 101, for example, two cooling fans (not shown) are arranged.
[0007]
As shown in FIG. 8B, inside the housing 101 of the electronic device 100, panel guides 102 are provided at substantially constant intervals, for example, and ventilation holes 105 are formed therebetween. Therefore, when the above-described cooling fan is rotationally driven, the cooling air sucked or sucked (discharged) by the cooling fan flows along the ventilation holes 105. Heat generated from a heat generating member such as an electronic device mounted on the panel 104 inserted into the panel guide 102 is forcibly cooled by the air flow.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The plurality of panels that make up the electronic device are all the same, operate in the same manner, and do not necessarily generate the same heat. Generally, each panel generates heat differently depending on the operation state of the electronic device, the position in the electronic device, and the like, and the temperature rise is also generally different. However, in the above-described conventional technology, there is a problem that such consideration is not taken or a complicated configuration is required for making the internal temperature rise uniform, and the electronic device is expensive and large. Further, when a large number of panels (printed circuit boards) arranged in parallel with each other are forcibly air-cooled by a plurality of cooling fans, the cooling becomes uneven. That is, a sufficient air flow is generated in the panel near the cooling fan, but the air flow is insufficient at both ends of the cooling fan or at the gap between the cooling fans.
[0009]
[Object of the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the related art, and has a simple configuration and does not increase the size of an electronic device. Even when a plurality of cooling fans are used, the panel can be cooled substantially uniformly. To provide an electronic device capable of maintaining the internal temperature of the electronic device at a predetermined temperature or lower.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electronic device according to the present invention employs the following characteristic configuration.
[0011]
(1) In an electronic device in which a plurality of panels on each of which an electronic device or the like that generates heat is mounted in parallel inside a housing and an air flow of a cooling fan is generated between the panels to perform forced air cooling,
An electronic device which is provided substantially perpendicular to the plurality of panels, has an air flow adjusting plate having a plurality of air holes, and partially changes the size or shape of the air holes of the air volume adjusting plate.
[0012]
(2) The electronic device according to (1), wherein the air volume adjustment plate is configured to be appropriately replaceable.
[0013]
(3) The electronic device according to (1) or (2), wherein the air volume adjustment plate is formed of a plate member having good heat conductivity such as aluminum and is attached to a housing.
[0014]
(4) The electronic device according to (1), (2) or (3), wherein the air volume adjustment plate is arranged adjacent to the cooling fan.
[0015]
(5) The electronic device according to (1), (2) or (3), wherein the air volume adjustment plate is disposed on a side of the plurality of panels opposite to the cooling fan.
[0016]
(6) The electronic device according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the ventilation holes of the air volume adjustment plate include substantially rectangular openings having different dimensions and a group of substantially circular openings.
[0017]
(7) The electronic device according to (6), wherein the rectangular or circular opening group of the air volume adjustment plate is formed in a row along a gap between the plurality of panels.
[0018]
(8) In a forced air-cooling type electronic apparatus including a cooling fan arranged on an upper part of a housing including a pair of side plates and a plurality of panels arranged in a direction perpendicular to each other and mounted with electronic devices and the like each generating heat. ,
An air flow adjustment plate disposed substantially orthogonal to the plurality of panels and having a plurality of air holes formed therein, wherein the air holes of the air volume adjustment plate are provided with an air flow rate between the plurality of arranged panels. Electronic equipment to correct.
[0019]
(9) The electronic device according to (8), wherein a plurality of the cooling fans are provided along the plurality of panels.
[0020]
(10) The electronic device according to the above (8) or (9), wherein the ventilation holes of the air volume adjustment plate select large opening ratios at both ends of the cooling fan and gaps between the plurality of cooling fans.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of a preferred embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0022]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a wireless communication device that is a first embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention. The electronic device 10 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing 11, a number of panels 20 that are vertically inserted in and removed from the housing 11, an air volume adjustment plate 30, and one or more cooling fans (FIG. (Not shown, see 40 in FIG. 3).
[0023]
The housing 11 includes left and right side plates 12-13, a back plane (back plate) 14, a grill-like upper plate 15 and a bottom plate 16. The backplane 14 is provided with a plurality of backplane connectors (not shown). The front surface of the housing 11 is open so that the panel 20 can be inserted and removed. A plurality of panel guides (not shown) are provided on the top plate 15 and the bottom plate 16 at predetermined intervals from the front surface to the back plane 14 corresponding to the up and down directions, respectively, and the plurality of panels 20 are arranged along these panel guides. It can be inserted and removed.
[0024]
When the panel 20 is sufficiently pushed along one of the panel guides, the contacts (contact pieces) formed on the edge (rear end) of the panel 20 are inserted into the above-described backplane connector to establish an electrical connection. I do. At the time of replacement or maintenance service of the panel 20, by pulling the panel 20 forward, the contact formed at the edge of the panel 20 comes off the backplane connector, and the above-described electrical connection is released.
[0025]
On the upper surface of the housing 11, a fan mounting area 21 is provided, and a plurality (for example, two) of cooling fans are mounted. When these cooling fans are driven, a cooling airflow is discharged from the upper surface of the housing 11 to the outside of the housing 11 from the intake port 22 on the bottom surface 16 of the housing 11 through the gap between the plurality of mounted panels 20 as indicated by an arrow A. Is done. The air volume adjustment plate 30 is disposed in the fan mounting area 21 in the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. That is, it is arranged between the upper ends of the plurality of mounted panels 20 and the cooling fan. The air volume adjusting plate 30 has an operation of adjusting an air flow discharged between the panels 20 by the cooling fan to an optimum value. The air volume adjustment plate 30 is formed of a plate member as thin as possible to reduce the size and weight of the electronic device, preferably a metal plate having good thermal conductivity such as aluminum.
[0026]
Next, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a specific example of the air volume adjustment plate 30 described above. The air volume adjustment plate 30 has a substantially rectangular shape, and has a large number of ventilation holes 31 formed over the entire surface thereof. These ventilation holes 31 are formed in a row substantially along the panel 20 insertion / extraction direction and in line with the gap between the adjacent panels 20. The ventilation holes 31 of the air volume adjustment plate 30 are configured by rectangular openings or a plurality of substantially circular openings having partially different opening ratios. In the specific example shown in FIG. 2, a relatively large plurality of rows of rectangular openings 31A at the center, elongated rectangular openings 31B-31C at both ends, a plurality of relatively small rows between both ends and the center. Of the opening groups 31D-31E. As is clear from FIG. 2, the ventilation holes 31A, 31B and 31C have a relatively large aperture ratio and a large ventilation volume. On the other hand, the ventilation holes 31D and 31E have a relatively small opening ratio, so that the ventilation volume is small.
[0027]
Next, FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the cooling effect of the cooling fan 40 of the electronic device 10 according to the present invention or the flow rate of cooling air. FIG. 3A is a front view, and FIG. 3B is a right side view. As shown in FIG. 3B, the air from the cooling fan 40 is discharged from the bottom surface of the electronic device 10 to the upper surface of the electronic device 10 through the gap between the panels 20 as indicated by a plurality of arrows. On the other hand, FIG. 3A shows the airflow passing between the panels 20 when a plurality of cooling fans 40A-40B arranged side by side in the panel arrangement direction are used as the cooling fans 40. When the air volume adjusting plate 30 is not used, the air volume near the cooling fans 40A-40B is large as shown by the solid line. However, since the air volume between both ends of the cooling fans 40A and 40B or between the two cooling fans 40A-40B is small, the air volume becomes uneven (variation) depending on the positional relationship between the cooling fan 40 and the panel 20.
[0028]
However, by using the air volume adjustment plate 30 having the ventilation holes 31 with the programmed aperture ratio as described above, the above-mentioned non-uniform air volume can be substantially reduced. In other words, by using the air volume adjusting plate 30 as shown in FIG. 2, a substantially uniform air volume can be obtained regardless of the positions of the plurality of panels 20 and the cooling fans 40A-40B as shown by the broken lines in FIG. can get.
[0029]
Next, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a second embodiment of the electronic device according to the present invention. In the electronic device 50 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4B, a panel 20A that generates a relatively large amount of heat is arranged at about 左側 of the left side of the housing 11, and a comparison of the amount of heat is provided at about １ ／ of the right side. Assume that a very small panel 20B is arranged.
[0030]
In the above case, as shown in FIG. 4A, the air volume adjustment plate 60 used inside the electronic device 50 has a rectangular ventilation hole 61A having a relatively large aperture ratio at about 2/3 on the left side. Form. On the other hand, about 1/3 on the right side, a ventilation hole 61B is formed by a group of circular openings having a relatively small opening ratio. Thereby, an air volume distribution curve as shown in FIG. 4B is obtained. In other words, a large amount of air is selected in a portion where the panel 20A with a relatively large amount of heat is mounted, and a small amount of air is suppressed in a portion where the panel 20B with a relatively small amount of heat is mounted. It can be used efficiently.
[0031]
Next, FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an electronic device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In this electronic device 70, the air volume adjusting plate 30 is arranged not under the vicinity of the cooling fan 40 but under a plurality of panels (not shown) as in the electronic devices 10 and 50 of the first and second embodiments. It is characterized by having. That is, the air volume adjustment plate 30 can be arranged at an arbitrary position as long as the air volume adjustment plate 30 is in the intake passage of the cooling fan 40.
[0032]
Next, FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an electronic device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device 80 is characterized in that the air volume adjustment plate 30 is removable. That is, in the electronic device 80, for example, a plurality of plates having ventilation holes 31 programmed in different patterns are prepared as the air volume adjustment plate 30, and the positions and heat generation of the plurality of panels 20 used in the electronic device 80 are prepared. Use the optimal air volume adjustment plate by appropriately replacing it according to the state and the like. For this purpose, as shown in a partial perspective view in FIG. 7, a guide rail 81 is provided on a side plate (side plate) 12-13 of the housing 11 of the electronic device, and is removed at an appropriate position of the housing 11 of the electronic device 80 by a mounting screw 82. Mounted as possible. A plurality of air volume adjusting plates 30 having different ventilation holes 31 are prepared, and an optimal air volume adjusting plate can be adopted based on the result of performing a temperature rise test.
[0033]
The configuration and operation of the preferred embodiment of the electronic device according to the present invention have been described above in detail. However, it should be noted that such embodiments are merely examples of the present invention and do not limit the present invention in any way. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made in accordance with the particular application without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, a plurality of panels may be arranged vertically in a plurality of steps. In that case, an air volume adjusting plate may be arranged between the steps of the plurality of panels.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, the electronic apparatus of the present invention has the following remarkable practical effects. That is, it is possible to uniformly change the variation in the air flow due to the mounting positional relationship of the panel with respect to the cooling fan. In addition, the air volume between the panels can be easily adjusted in accordance with the difference in the heat value of the plurality of panels, and the performance of the fan can be used efficiently. Furthermore, it is possible to obtain the minimum necessary airflow for a plurality of mounted panels without increasing the size of the housing of the electronic device.
[0035]
Further, the ventilation holes of the air volume adjustment plate can be appropriately programmed, and can be replaced with an air volume adjustment plate having an appropriate ventilation hole formed as necessary by checking the internal temperature rise by a temperature rise test or the like. . Further, the air volume adjusting plate may be formed of a metal plate having good heat conductivity such as aluminum, and may conduct heat to a side plate of the housing and radiate the heat.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a first embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of an example of an air volume adjusting plate used in the electronic device shown in FIG.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams of a cooling operation of the electronic apparatus shown in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 3A shows a distribution of air flow at a cooling fan and a plurality of panel positions, and FIG.
4A and 4B show an electronic device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4A is a plan view of an air flow adjusting plate to be used, and FIG.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a third exemplary embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a fourth embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating an attached state of an air volume adjusting plate of the electronic device illustrated in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a conventional electronic device.
[Explanation of symbols]
10, 50, 70, 80 Electronic equipment 11 Housing 12, 13 Side plate 20 Panel (printed circuit board on which electronic device is mounted)
30, 60 Air volume adjustment plate 31, 61 Ventilation hole 40 Cooling fan

Claims (10)

A plurality of panels each mounted with an electronic device or the like that generates heat are arranged in parallel inside the housing, and in an electronic device that performs forced air cooling by generating an air flow of a cooling fan between the panels,
An electronic device, comprising: an air flow adjusting plate that is arranged substantially orthogonal to the plurality of panels and has a plurality of air holes, and partially changes a size or a shape of the air holes of the air volume adjusting plate. machine. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the air volume adjustment plate is configured to be appropriately replaceable. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the air volume adjustment plate is formed of a plate member having good heat conductivity, such as aluminum, and is attached to a housing. 4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the air volume adjustment plate is disposed adjacent to the cooling fan. 5. 4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the air volume adjustment plate is disposed on a side of the plurality of panels opposite to the cooling fan. 5. 6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation holes of the air volume adjustment plate are configured by substantially rectangular openings having different dimensions and a group of substantially circular openings. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the rectangular or circular opening group of the air volume adjustment plate is formed in a row along a gap between the plurality of panels. In a forced air cooling type electronic apparatus including a cooling fan arranged on an upper part of a housing including a pair of side plates and a plurality of panels arranged in a vertical direction with respect to each other and electronic devices etc. each generating heat,
An air flow adjustment plate disposed substantially orthogonal to the plurality of panels and having a plurality of air holes formed therein, wherein the air holes of the air volume adjustment plate are provided with an air flow rate between the plurality of arranged panels. Electronic equipment characterized by correcting. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of the cooling fans are provided along the plurality of panels. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the ventilation holes of the air volume adjustment plate select a large opening ratio between both ends of the cooling fan and a gap between the plurality of cooling fans.

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