A patent filed recently by Apple revealed that the electronics company is exploring the use of mechanical fans in portable devices. Though current models of Apple’s iPhone and iPad utilize air cooling to maintain a certain internal temperature, the amount of heat generated by increasingly powerful CPUs may soon dictate the need for internal fans.
The patent, titled “Cooling system for mobile electronic devices” outlines a mechanical system that uses a motor to drive a fan and an alert device. According to the document, the proposed fan will cool the components of the electronic device by exchanging air between the inside of the device and the outside environment. Because of the limited space, the motor will also use a clutch and drum setup to vibrate an alert device.
