Get a Grip: Apple Patents Laptop Handle

Apple was granted a recent patent, no. 7,508,662, for a handle arrangement with integrated heat pipe.

Here’s how it’s summed up in the patent application: “As portable electronic device designs become more compact, managing thermal loads in integrated circuits (e.g. processing units) becomes more challenging.

One reason for this challenge is that high powered portable devices can generate significant amounts of waste heat energy over a relatively compact area. As such, damage due to heat cycling may cause collateral damage to components in close proximity to heat generators. In conventional solutions, fans may be utilized in coordination with a heat sink to dissipate generated waste heat. In some examples, where fans are utilized to cool components, battery life may be significantly lowered.

“Although conventional methods as illustrated may be effective, as noted above, power requirements for fan usage may, in some instances significantly reduce battery life making such a solution somewhat undesirable. Furthermore, use of a fan may, in some examples, contribute to an undesirable increase in noise level. Therefore, handle arrangements with an integrated heat pipe are presented herein.”

The  iBook G3 Clamshell had a handle (removed on later models),  a quick search turned up third-party handles for newer models, too, though at about $45 you might be better off with a case.

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Have you bought handles? Would you like to see them on your next laptop?

via macsimum news

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