WO2014031626A1

WO2014031626A1 - Hard drive system with blower or fan

Info

Publication number: WO2014031626A1
Application number: PCT/US2013/055770
Authority: WO
Inventors: William Phillip Dernier
Original assignee: Thomson Licensing
Priority date: 2012-08-20
Filing date: 2013-08-20
Publication date: 2014-02-27

Abstract

A cooling system (100) for a heat generating device (101) includes the device (101) and an air current generating assembly (104). The device (101) has an air current generating mounting surface (103). The assembly (104) has an air current generating device (109) having blades (148), a top side having an intake opening (117), a bottom side (106) that faces and connects to the mounting surface (103), a periphery (107) that surrounds the top and bottom sides, an air opening (108) on a first side (113) of the periphery (107), and curved air duct (111). The curved air duct (111) has a proximate end (112) adjacent to the air current generating device (109) and a distal end (114) on a second side (115) of the periphery (107) that is adjacent the first side (113). The air opening (108) and curved aid duct (111) are respectively configured to permit at least one of cooling air to be drawn into the blades (148) and exhausted air from the air current generating device (109) to exit there through.

Description

HARD DRIVE SYSTEM WITH BLOWER OR FAN

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No.

61/684,931 , filed August 20, 2012, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present principles relate generally to hard drives and, more particularly, to a hard drive system with a blower or fan.

BACKGROUND

Consumer/market preference for set top boxes and the like (such as computers, game consoles, DVD players, CD player, etc.) is to have such devices be small/compact.

Also, there is a need in set top boxes and the like to have long term performance capabilities and a need for product versatility/high functionality. This product versatility/high functionality requirement implies that numerous components such as hard drives, smart cards, printed circuit boards, light sources for panel buttons and light pipes, panel jacks, fans/blowers, heat sinks, etc., need to be in the device. Long term performance generally implies that heat generated in such devices be effectively managed or dissipated to keep the device at safe operating temperatures.

With the small size preference and high functionality requirement, set top boxes and the like must be densely packed with internal components, which causes space to be at a premium.

In particular, hard drives take up substantial space and generate significant heat. Thus, a need exists to manage and remove the heat generated by hard drives while avoiding an increase in the need for more space in set top boxes and like. SUMMARY

These and other drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior art are addressed by the present principles, which are directed to a hard drive system, or other heat generating device, with a blower or fan.

According to an aspect of the present principles, there is provided a cooling system for a heat generating device. The cooling system includes a heat generating device having an air current generating device mounting surface through which heat from the heat generating device can be released. The cooling system further includes an air current generating device assembly. The air current generating device assembly has an air current generating device having blades, a top side having a cooling air intake opening, a bottom side that faces and connects to the air current generating device mounting surface, a periphery that surrounds the top and bottom sides and substantially follows a periphery of the heat generating device, an air opening and a curved air duct. The air opening is on a first side of the periphery. The curved air duct has a proximate end adjacent to the air current generating device and a distal end on a second side of the periphery that is adjacent to the first side. The air opening and the curved aid duct are respectively configured to permit at least one of cooling air to be drawn into the blades of the air current generating device and exhausted air from the air current generating device to exit there through.

According to another aspect of the present principles, there is provided a hard drive system. The hard drive system includes a hard drive having an air current generating device mounting surface through which heat from the hard drive can be released. The hard drive system further includes an air current generating device assembly. The air current generating device assembly includes an air current generating device having blades, a top side having a cooling air intake opening, a bottom side that faces and connects to the air current generating device mounting surface, a periphery that surrounds the top and bottom sides and substantially follows a periphery of the hard drive, an air opening and a curved aid duct. The air opening is on a first side of the periphery. The curved air duct has a proximate end adjacent to the air current generating device and a distal end on a second side of the periphery that is adjacent to the first side. The air opening and the curved aid duct are respectively configured to permit at least one of cooling air to be drawn into the blades of the air current generating device and exhausted air from the air current generating device to exit there through. These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present principles will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present principles may be better understood in accordance with the following exemplary figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a top view 199 of a hard drive system 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view 299 of the hard drive system 100 of FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 3 shows a bottom view 399 of the blower assembly 104 where the blower 109 can sit in the pocket of the blower assembly 104 in between the air opening 108 and the curved air duct 1 1 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 4 shows a top view 499 of the blower assembly 104 where the blower 109 can sit in the pocket of the blower assembly 104 in between the air opening 108 and the curved air duct 1 1 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view 599 of the blower assembly 104 of FIG. 1 without the blower 109 attached, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 6 shows a top view 699 of the blower assembly 104 of FIG. 1 without the blower 109 attached, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 7 shows a bottom view 799 of the blower 109 alone that will sit in the pocket of the blower assembly 104 in between the air opening 108 and the curved air duct 1 1 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 8 shows a top view 899 of the blower 109 alone that will sit in the pocket of the blower assembly 104 in between the air opening 108 and the curved air duct 1 1 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view 999 of the hard drive system 100 of FIG. 1 with the hard drive 101 and the blower assembly 104 attached, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles; FIG. 10 shows a top view 1099 of the hard drive 101 without the blower assembly 104 attached, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 1 1 shows a bottom view 1 199 of the hard drive 101 without the blower assembly 104 attached, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 12 shows a perspective interior view 1299 illustrating the hard drive system 100 of FIG. 1 incorporated in a set top box 1240, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles;

FIG. 13 shows a configuration 1399 of the hard drive system 100 of FIG. 1 incorporated into a set top box 1240 where the curved air duct 1 1 1 is directed at the smart card reader 1288, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles; and

FIG. 14 shows another configuration 1499 of the hard drive system 100 of FIG. 1 incorporated into a set top box 1240where the air opening 108 is directed at the smart card reader 1288, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles; and

FIG. 15 shows yet another configuration 1599 of the hard drive system 100 of FIG. 1 incorporated into a set top box 1240 where air is exhausted from the set top box 1240 and not blown across or directed at the smart card reader 1288, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present principles are directed to a hard drive system with a blower or fan.

The present description illustrates the present principles. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the present principles and are included within its spirit and scope.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the present principles and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions.

Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and

embodiments of the present principles, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof.

Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.

Reference in the specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" of the present principles, as well as other variations thereof, means that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, and so forth described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present principles. Thus, the appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment", as well any other variations, appearing in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

It is to be appreciated that the use of any of the following 7", "and/or", and "at least one of, for example, in the cases of "A/B", "A and/or B" and "at least one of A and B", is intended to encompass the selection of the first listed option (A) only, or the selection of the second listed option (B) only, or the selection of both options (A and B). As a further example, in the cases of "A, B, and/or C" and "at least one of A, B, and C", such phrasing is intended to encompass the selection of the first listed option (A) only, or the selection of the second listed option (B) only, or the selection of the third listed option (C) only, or the selection of the first and the second listed options (A and B) only, or the selection of the first and third listed options (A and C) only, or the selection of the second and third listed options (B and C) only, or the selection of all three options (A and B and C). This may be extended, as readily apparent by one of ordinary skill in this and related arts, for as many items listed.

Initially, an embodiment of the present principles will be described with respect to FIG. 1 , which is directed to a hard drive system having a hard drive with a blower or fan. However, it is to be appreciated that the present principles are not limited to solely a hard drive system having a hard drive with a blower or fan and, thus, another heat generating device can be substituted in place of the hard drive, while maintaining the spirit and scope of the present principles. Moreover, it is to be appreciated that the while a blower or fan may be used in accordance with various embodiments of the present principles, the term "air current generating device" is interchangeably used to refer to any of a fan, blower, or other air circulating element.

FIG. 1 shows a top view 199 of a hard drive system 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. FIG. 2 shows a bottom view 299 of the hard drive system 200 (also, 100 of FIG. 1 ), in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles.

The hard drive system 100 can include a hard drive 101 and a fan or blower assembly (hereinafter "blower assembly" for the sake of brevity) 104. The hard drive 101 can include a fan or blower mounting surface (hereinafter "blower mounting surface" for the sake of brevity) 103 opposite a top surface 102. Heat from the hard drive 101 can be released from the blower mounting surface 103.

The hard drive 101 can include a printed circuit board 1 16 (see FIG. 1 1 ) that can cover a portion of the blower mounting surface 103 of the hard drive 101 .

FIG. 3 shows a bottom view 399 of the blower assembly 104 where the blower 109 can sit in the pocket of the blower assembly 104 in between the air opening 108 and the curved air duct 1 1 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. FIG. 4 shows a top view 499 of the blower assembly 104 where the blower 109 can sit in the pocket of the blower assembly 104 in between the air opening 108 and the curved air duct 1 1 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles.

The blower assembly 104 can include a fan or blower (hereinafter "blower" for the sake of brevity) 109, a top side 1 18, a bottom side 106, a periphery 107, an air opening 108, a curved air duct 1 1 1 , and a top cooling air intake opening 1 17. The bottom side 106 faces and connects to the blower mounting surface 103 of the hard drive 101 . The periphery 107 surrounds the top side 109 and the bottom side 106 and substantially follows a periphery of the hard drive 101 . The air opening 108 is on a first side 1 13 of the periphery 107. The air opening 108 can be an exhaust opening that permits air from the blower to exhaust out and/or can be a cooling air intake opening that permits cooling air to be drawn into the blower 109 (e.g., into the blades 148 of the blower 109). The curved air duct 1 1 1 has a proximate end 1 12 adjacent to the blower 109 and a distal end 1 14 on a second side 1 15 of the periphery 107 that is adjacent to the first side 1 13. The curved air duct 1 1 1 can be an intake to and/or can be an exhaust from the blower 109. A plane in which the blower 109 rotates is parallel to the blower mounting surface 103.

It is to be appreciated that the printed circuit board 1 16 (Fig. 1 1 ) can generate much or most of the heat in the hard drive 101 .

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view 599 of the blower assembly 104 of FIG. 1 without the blower 109 attached, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. FIG. 6 shows a top view 699 of the blower assembly 104 of FIG. 1 without the blower 109 attached, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles.

The blower assembly 104 can have a top side 1 18 and a bottom side 106 that faces and connects to the blower mounting side 103 of the hard drive 101 . The bottom side 106 can face and connect to the blower mounting surface 103 of the hard drive 101 . The top cooling air intake opening 1 17 can permit cooling air to be drawn into the blades 148 of the blower 109. The curved air duct 1 1 1 can be curved to have air exhaust on a second side 1 15 of the periphery 107 that is adjacent to the first side 1 13 and the system 100 can permit air to exhaust also through straight through air opening 108 on a first side of the periphery 107 that is adjacent to the first side 1 13. Such a configuration in which the entrance of air (e.g., into the air opening 108) and exit of air (e.g., out of the curved air duct 1 1 1 ) are perpendicular can dampen noise from the blower 109. Here, the air opening 108 and the curved air duct 1 1 1 can be surrounded by side walls 121 and 122 and cover walls 1 19 and 120 and the air opening 108 and curved air duct 1 1 1 can have no base cover or wall. It is preferred that the curved air duct 1 1 1 and the top cooling air intake opening 1 17 be exhaust means.

In other embodiments, the blower assembly 104 shown in FIG. 2 can also have one of either the air opening 108 or curved air duct 1 1 1 be an air intake or have either the air opening 108 or the curved air duct 1 1 1 behave as both an intake and an exhaust.

FIG. 7 shows a bottom view 799 of the blower 109 alone that will sit in the pocket of the blower assembly 104 in between the air opening 108 and the curved air duct 1 1 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. FIG. 8 shows a top view 899 of the blower 109 alone that will sit in the pocket of the blower assembly 104 in between the air opening 108 and the curved air duct 1 1 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles.

A fan is intended to be an implementation in which the blades of the rotating device are tilted from vertical and intended to draw air in through the openings on the cover wall 120. This pushes air directly onto the hard drive 101 and heated air out to the curved air duct 1 1 1 and/or the air opening 108.

A blower is intended to be an implementation in which the blades of the rotating device are not tilted and are vertically oriented. The blades can draw air from the air opening 108 or curved air duct 1 1 1 and push air or skim air more across the surface of the hard drive. In some configuration, this can push heated air out to the curved air duct 1 1 1 and/or the air opening 108.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view 999 of the hard drive system 100 of FIG. 1 with the hard drive 101 and the blower assembly 104 attached, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. In FIGs. 2 and 9, it can be seen that the system 100 can have only one fan or blower that is centrally located on or over the hard drive 101 .

FIG. 10 shows a top view 1099 of the hard drive 101 without the blower assembly 104 attached, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. FIG. 1 1 shows a bottom view 1 199 of the hard drive 101 without the blower assembly 104 attached, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective interior view 1299 illustrating the hard drive system 100 of FIG. 1 incorporated in a set top box 1240, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. In an embodiment, the set top box 1240 may have other thermal management systems that can include a thermal partition wall 1224 that partitions a hard drive section having the hard drive system 100 from a smart card section having the smart card reader 1488 and smart card 1428. The set top box 1240 has a rear wall 1235 and a front surface 1234 which can be adjacent to the side of the hard drive 101 opposite the first side 1 13 thereof (see FIG. 1 ), wherein a main circuit board (not shown) for the set top box 1240 can span between the front surface 1234 and the rear wall 1235. The set top box 1240 can have a generalized front panel 1232, wherein the top of the set top box 1240 and the door to the smart card bay or port 1239 are removed to show the interior features. The main printed circuit board can have thermal pad (not shown) that assists with heat extraction from heat generating components on or near the printed circuit board. The thermal pad assists with heat extraction when a heat sink such as top broad heat sink 1223 is placed on the thermal pad. This heat extraction feature can be important, since the smart card 1228 in the smart card reader generally generates substantial heat. Top broad heat sink 1223 has proven to be an effective way to cool the main integrated circuit board of the set top box. The top broad heat sink 1223 can be a generally contoured plate that has a generally planar periphery 1226 and a contoured central feature 1225 such as a pocket, central depression, notch, recess, multilevel depression, or mesa extending from and/or into a plane of the planar periphery 1226, wherein the planar periphery 1226 preferably surrounds the contoured central feature 1225. In the illustrated embodiment, the planar periphery 1226 surrounds three or four sides of the contoured central feature 1225.

In at least one embodiment, there is no complete partition wall 1224 and one of either the air opening 108 or the curved air duct 1 1 1 is directed at the smart card/reader and has exhaust (or intake) directed at the smart card/reader (or drawn directly from) the smart card/reader.

The set top box 1240 can further have a lateral side wall 1229 that can be parallel to the partition wall 1224 (if there a partition wall). The lateral side wall 1229 can be where the first side 1 13 or the second side 1 15 of the blower assembly 104 is positioned and is where the exhaust of the air opening 108 or curved air duct 1 1 1 exits.

The set top box 1240 can further have a rear wall 1235 that can be perpendicular to the partition wall 1224 (if there a partition wall). The rear wall 1235 can be where the first side 1 13 or the second side 1 15 of the blower assembly 104 is positioned and is where the exhaust of the air opening 108 or curved air duct 1 1 1 exits.

The overall thermal management of the two sides can effectively mitigate heat and permit dense packing of a plurality of internal components.

Regarding clearance requirements for the top cooling air intake opening 1 17, it is preferred that the top (if the blower 109 is over the hard drive 101 ) or bottom (if the blower 109 is under the hard drive 101 ) of the set top box 1240 be sufficiently spaced from the top cooling air intake opening 1 17 to permit substantial air flow in the blower 109.

However, it is preferred that the blower 109 face down and that there are vents on the bottom of the set top box 1240 adjacent to and under the top cooling air intake opening 1 17 to draw cooling air from outside the set top box 1240. In this manner, cooling air is drawn up and beneficially spread laterally.

FIG. 13 shows a configuration 1399 of the hard drive system 100 of FIG. 1 incorporated into a set top box 1240 where the curved air duct 1 1 1 is directed at the smart card reader 1288, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. FIG. 14 shows another configuration 1499 of the hard drive system 100 of FIG. 1 incorporated into a set top box 1240 where the air opening 108 is directed at the smart card reader 1288, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. In FIGs. 13 and 14, exhaust (or intake) is directed at the smart card/reader (or drawn directly from) the smart card/reader at the front surface 1234. Here, the other of the air opening 108 or the curved air duct 1 1 1 can be directed out of a side of the set top box 1240 or out of the back of the set top box 1240. These embodiments can include the feature of the smart card/information card being at/or near a corner of the set top box 1240 and the hard drive assembly being at/or near an adjacent corner of the set top box 1240.

FIG. 15 shows yet another configuration 1599 of the hard drive system 100 of FIG. 1 incorporated into a set top box 1240 where air is exhausted from the set top box 1240 and not blown across or directed at the smart card reader 1288, in accordance with an embodiment of the present principles. In the configuration 1599, the air is exhausted to the exterior of the set top box 1240 without blowing any of the air across the components in the set top box such as the smart card reader 1288. The idea is to avoid blowing exhausted and pre-heated air across a component to be cooled.

A description will now be given of some of the many attendant

advantages/features of the present invention, some of which have been mentioned above. For example, one advantage/feature is a cooling system for a heat generating device, the cooling system including a heat generating device having an air current generating device mounting surface through which heat from the heat generating device can be released. The cooling system further has an air current generating device assembly. The air current generating device assembly has an air current generating device having blades, a top side having a cooling air intake opening, a bottom side that faces and connects to the air current generating device mounting surface, a periphery that surrounds the top and bottom sides and substantially follows a periphery of the heat generating device, an air opening and a curved air duct. The air opening is on a first side of the periphery. The curved air duct has a proximate end adjacent to the air current generating device and a distal end on a second side of the periphery that is adjacent to the first side. The air opening and the curved aid duct are respectively configured to permit at least one of cooling air to be drawn into the blades of the air current generating device and exhausted air from the air current generating device to exit there through. Another advantage/feature is the cooling system as described above, wherein a plane in which the air current generating device rotates is parallel to the air current generating device mounting surface.

Yet another advantage/feature is the cooling system as described above, wherein the air opening is configured be directly open, on at least one side thereof, to the air current generating device mounting surface.

Still another advantage/feature is the cooling system as described above, wherein the curved air duct is configured be directly open, on at least one side thereof, to the air current generating device mounting surface.

Moreover, another advantage/feature is the cooling system as described above, wherein the air current generating device is a fan in which the blades thereof are tilted from vertical to draw the cooling air in through at least the cooling air intake opening so as to push the cooling air onto the air current generating device mounting surface and the exhausted air out at least one of the air opening and the curved air duct.

Further, another advantage/feature is the cooling system as described above, wherein the air current generating device is a fan in which the blades thereof are tilted from vertical to draw the cooling air in through at least one of the air opening and the curved air duct and across the air current generating device mounting surface, and the exhausted air out at least the cooling air intake opening.

Also, another advantage/feature is the cooling system as described above, wherein the air current generating device is a blower in which the blades thereof are un-tilted and are vertically oriented to draw the cooling air in from at least one of the air opening and the curved air duct and push or skim the cooling air across the air current generating device mounting surface.

Additionally another advantage/feature is the cooling system as described above, wherein the air current generating device is a blower in which the blades thereof are un-tilted and are vertically oriented to push the exhausted air out through at least one of the air opening and the curved air duct.

Moreover, another advantage/feature is the cooling system as described above, wherein the hard drive system is included within a set top box.

Further, another advantage/feature is the cooling system wherein the hard drive is included within a set top box as described above, wherein the hard drive system is separated from a card reader section of the set top box by a thermal partition wall.

Also, another advantage/feature is the cooling system wherein the hard drive is included within a set top box as described above, wherein the set top box includes a main printed circuit board having a thermal pad and a heat sink disposed on the thermal pad to remove heat from the main printed circuit board.

Additionally, another advantage/feature is the cooling system wherein the set top box includes a main printed circuit board having a thermal pad and a heat sink disposed on the thermal pad to remove heat from the main printed circuit board as described above, wherein the heat sink is a contoured plate having a planar periphery and a contoured central feature.

Moreover, another advantage/feature is the cooling system wherein the heat sink is a contoured plate having a planar periphery and a contoured central feature as described above, wherein the contoured central feature is at least one of a pocket, a central depression, a notch, a recess, a multi-level depression, and a mesa, extending at least one of from and to a plane of the planar periphery.

Also, another advantage/feature is the cooling system wherein the heat sink is a contoured plate having a planar periphery and a contoured central feature as described above, wherein the planar periphery surrounds the contoured central feature.

Additionally, another advantage/feature is the cooling system as described above, wherein the cooling system has a top surface, and wherein the air generating electric device mounting surface is opposite the top surface.

Moreover, another advantage/feature is the cooling system as described above, wherein the heat generating device is a hard drive.

These and other features and advantages of the present principles may be readily ascertained by one of ordinary skill in the pertinent art based on the teachings herein. It is to be understood that the teachings of the present principles may be implemented in various forms of hardware, software, firmware, special purpose processors, or combinations thereof.

Although the illustrative embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present principles is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the pertinent art without departing from the scope or spirit of the present principles. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present principles as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A cooling system for a heat generating device, comprising:

a heat generating device (101 ) having an air current generating device mounting surface (103) through which heat from the heat generating device (101 ) can be released;

an air current generating device assembly (104) having:

an air current generating device (109) having blades (148); a top side having a cooling air intake opening (1 17);

a bottom side (106) that faces and connects to the air current generating device mounting surface (103);

a periphery (107) that surrounds the top and bottom sides and substantially follows a periphery of the heat generating device;

an air opening (108) on a first side (1 13) of the periphery (107); and a curved air duct (1 1 1 ) having a proximate end (1 12) adjacent to the air current generating device (109) and a distal end (1 14) on a second side (1 15) of the periphery (107) that is adjacent to the first side (1 13),

wherein the air opening (108) and the curved aid duct (1 1 1 ) are respectively configured to permit at least one of cooling air to be drawn into the blades (148) of the air current generating device (109) and exhausted air from the air current generating device (109) to exit there through.

2. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein a plane in which the air current generating device (109) rotates is parallel to the air current generating device mounting surface (103).

3. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the air opening (108) is configured be directly open, on at least one side thereof, to the air current generating device mounting surface (103).

4. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the curved air duct (1 1 1 ) is configured be directly open, on at least one side thereof, to the air current generating device mounting surface (103).

5. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the air current generating device (109) is a fan in which the blades (148) thereof are tilted from vertical to draw the cooling air in through at least the cooling air intake opening (1 17) so as to push the cooling air onto the air current generating device mounting surface (103) and the exhausted air out at least one of the air opening (108) and the curved air duct (1 1 1 ).

6. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the air current generating device (109) is a fan in which the blades (148) thereof are tilted from vertical to draw the cooling air in through at least one of the air opening (108) and the curved air duct (1 1 1 ) and across the air current generating device mounting surface (103), and the exhausted air out at least the cooling air intake opening (1 17).

7. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the air current generating device (109) is a blower in which the blades (148) thereof are un-tilted and are vertically oriented to draw the cooling air in from at least one of the air opening (108) and the curved air duct (1 1 1 ) and push or skim the cooling air across the air current generating device mounting surface (103).

8. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the air current generating device (109) is a blower in which the blades (148) thereof are un-tilted and are vertically oriented to push the exhausted air out through at least one of the air opening (108) and the curved air duct (1 1 1 ).

9. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the hard drive system (100) is comprised within a set top box (1240).

10. The cooling system of claim 9, wherein the hard drive system (100) is separated from a card reader section of the set top box (1240) by a thermal partition wall (1224).

1 1 . The cooling system of claim 9, wherein the set top box (1240) comprises a main printed circuit board having a thermal pad and a heat sink (1223) disposed on the thermal pad to remove heat from the main printed circuit board.

12. The cooling system of claim 1 1 , wherein the heat sink (1223) is a contoured plate having a planar periphery (1226) and a contoured central feature (1225).

13. The cooling system of claim 12, wherein the contoured central feature (1225) is at least one of a pocket, a central depression, a notch, a recess, a multilevel depression, and a mesa, extending at least one of from and to a plane of the planar periphery (1226).

14. The cooling system of claim 12, wherein the planar periphery (1226) surrounds the contoured central feature (1225)

15. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the cooling system has a top surface (102), and wherein the air generating electric device mounting surface (103) is opposite the top surface (102).

16. The cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the heat generating device is a hard drive (101 ).

17. A hard drive system, comprising:

a hard drive (101 ) having an air current generating device mounting surface (103) through which heat from the hard drive (101 ) can be released;

an air current generating device assembly (104) having:

a periphery (107) that surrounds the top and bottom sides and substantially follows a periphery of the hard drive;

an air opening (108) on a first side (1 13) of the periphery (107); and a curved air duct (1 1 1 ) having a proximate end (1 12) adjacent to the air current generating device (109) and a distal end (1 14) on a second side (1 15) of the periphery (107) that is adjacent to the first side (1 13), wherein the air opening (108) and the curved aid duct (1 1 1 ) are respectively configured to permit at least one of cooling air to be drawn into the blades (148) of the air current generating device (109) and exhausted air from the air current generating device (109) to exit there through.