Abstract

A notebook computer is provided and has a base housing in which a heat-generating component is located, and a lid housing pivotally secured to the base housing for pivotal movement relative thereto between open and closed positions. A relatively thin, hollow, flexible heat exchanger has a first section positioned in the base housing in heat exchange contact with the heat-generating component, a second section disposed in the lid housing in heat exchange contact therewith, and a flexible third section through which the interiors of the first and second sections are communicated. During operation of the computer, a small motor-driven pump recirculates a cooling liquid through the heat exchanger in a manner causing heat from the heat-generating component to be transferred to liquid in the first heat exchanger section, be carried therewith through the third section into the second section, and be transferred via the second section to the lid housing portion for dissipation therefrom to ambient. In an alternate embodiment of the heat exchanger a flexible ribbon cable is formed integrally therewith and functions to interconnect the computer motherboard in the base housing to the display circuitry in the lid housing. In an alternate embodiment of the computer, heat from the third heat exchanger section is transferred to an exposed metal heat exchanger block in the computer to permit heat dissipation from the closed computer when it is operatively inserted into a docking station.

Other References

• 4465 Byte, "Liquid-Cooled PC's: The Next Hot Thing?", No. 2, Peterborough, NH, Feb. 19, 199