Automatic shutter in a multiple exhaust port device

Abstract

A fan circulates air inside a device. A first exhaust port vents the circulated air out of the computing device. A second exhaust port also vents circulated air out of the computing device. A shutter automatically blocks one of the exhaust ports based on the physical orientation of the computing device.

1 . An apparatus for venting air from a computing device, the apparatus comprising:
 a fan to circulate air inside the computing device;   a first exhaust port to vent the circulated air out of the computing device;   a second exhaust port to vent the circulated air out of the computing device; and   a shutter to automatically block one of the exhaust ports based on a physical orientation of the computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fan is rotatable around an axis and the shutter is independently rotatable around the axis. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the shutter is rotatable in a first direction around the axis by a gravitational force. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a spring mechanism having a spring force to rotate the shutter in a second direction around the axis, wherein the spring force is less than the gravitational force.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an accelerometer to detect a change in orientation of the computing device; and   a switch to move the shutter to block one of the exhaust ports in response to a notification from the accelerometer of the change in orientation of the computing device.   
     
     
         6 . A method, comprising:
 automatically closing one of multiple heat exhaust outlets on a computing device based at least on an orientation of the computing device; and   ventilating heat out of the computing device through an open heat exhaust outlet.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the automatic closing further comprises:
 detecting, by a sensor, a first change in orientation of the computing device; and   driving a switch to close one of the multiple heat exhaust outlets in response to detecting the change in orientation.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 driving the switch to open a closed heat exhaust outlet in response to detecting a second change in orientation of the computing device.