Thermal Management Of A Personal Computing Apparatus

• US 20080059004A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Miyashita, Atsushi, Uchida, Hiroyuki, Shimotono, Susumu, Yamazaki, Mitsuhiro, Katoh, Takayuki, Tadokoro, Mizuho
• Granted Patent: US 8,031,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/300
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1919 characterised by the type of controller

Abstract

A method and system are provided for thermal management of a portable computing apparatus. Accelerometers are provided to detect changes in attitude, and temperature sensors are provided to detect changes in temperature. A fan is used to cool the internal temperature of the electronic components of the computer. In response to lift of the computer from a stationary surface, the computer may transition to an alternative state of operation. The transition may include the change of the speed of the fan and/or adjustment of the processor clock.

Claims

1. A method for cooling a portable computing apparatus comprising

detecting movement of said computer from a stationary surface, including a change in inclination of a casing of said computer;

determining if a target temperature is exceeded in response to said movement; and

transitioning said computer to an alternative cooling state in response to a positive determination.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising switching to a cooling phase of heat producing hardware in said computer in response to determining said target temperature has been exceeded.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transitioning said computer to an alternative cooling state includes BIOS sending instructions to adjust processor clock and fan speed.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said cooling phase allows said target temperature to be attained in a short time interval.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising switching to a laptop cooling state following said cooling phase operating for a predefined time interval.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising switching to a laptop cooling state following an internal temperature reaching a target temperature.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said movement is detected by an accelerometer.

8. A portable computing apparatus comprising

a detector that senses tilt movement of said computer from a surface;

a sensor that determines if a target temperature is exceeded in response to said tilt movement; and

a controller that transitions said computer to an alternative cooling state in response to a positive determination.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a manager that switches heat producing hardware in said computer to a cooling phase in response to a determination that said target temperature has been exceeded.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said manager is in communication with BIOS to send instructions to adjust processor clock and fan speed to transition to said cooling phase.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said processor clock and fan speed adjustment reduces performance of the processor and video.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a switch by said controller to a laptop cooling state after operation of said cooling phase for a predefined time interval.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a switch by said controller to a laptop cooling state after an internal temperature has reached a target temperature.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein tilt is detected by an accelerometer.

15. An article comprising:

means for detecting movement of a computer from a stationary surface;

means for determining if a target temperature is exceeded in response to said movement; and

means for transitioning said computer to an alternative cooling state in response to a positive determination.

16. The article of claim 15, further comprising means for switching to a cooling phase of heat producing hardware in said computer in response to said target temperature determination means.

17. The article of claim 16, wherein said means for switching to a cooling phase includes BIOS sending instructions to adjust hardware elements with heat byproduct.

18. The article of claim 17, wherein said hardware elements are selected from the group consisting of:

processor clock and fan speed.

19. The article of claim 17, further comprising means for switching to a cooling state following said cooling phase operating for a predefined time interval.

20. The article of claim 15, further comprising means for switching to a cooling state following an internal temperature reaching a target temperature.