Portable computer systems with thermal enhancements and multiple power modes of operation

• US 20090077296A1
• Filed: 11/05/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GlobalFoundries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Mok, Lawrence Shungwei, Morris, Daniel Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,676,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/304
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3293 by switching to a less power-consuming processor, e.g. sub-CPU
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A portable computer adapted for electrical connection to a docking station having multiple power modes of operation is described. The portable computer has one or more CPU chips which have at least two power modes of operation, a low power mode and a high power mode. When the portable computer is operated as a stand-alone computer, it operates in the low power mode. When the portable computer is operated while electrically connected to the docking station, it operates in a high power mode. The docking station has greater cooling capacity than the portable computer alone to provide enhanced cooling of the high power mode of operation.

Claims

1. an apparatus comprising:

a portable computer;

a docking station;

said portable computer comprises a low performance mode of operation and a high performance mode of operation;

a sensor for sensing if said portable computer is engaged in said docking station or if said portable computer is not engaged in said docking station;

both said high and said low performance modes of operation are actively user usable modes of operation;

a signal generator for switching said computer between said high performance mode of operation and said low performance mode of operation in response to an input;

said input being selected from the group consisting of an output of said sensor indicating that said portable computer is engaged with said docking station and for switching said portable computer into said high performance mode of operation and an output of a temperature sensor which monitors the operating temperature of said computer to switch said computer between said high performance mode of operation and said low performance mode of operation;

said portable computer comprises a low performance CPU comprising said low performance mode of operation and a high performance CPU comprising said high performance mode of operation;

said portable computer comprises a portable computer cooling system;

said docking station comprises a docking station cooling system for engagement and disengagement with said portable computer cooling system for enhanced cooling of said portable computer when engaged with said docking station and operating in said high performance mode of operation and for reduced cooling of said portable computer when disengaged from said docking station and operating in said low performance mode or operation; and

said engaged cooling system comprises a first air blower in said portable computer coupled to a first air port in said portable computer and to a heat sink in said portable computer, a releasable clamp for providing physical and thermal engagement between said portable computer and said docking station, said releasable clamp physically and thermally coupled to a heat conduction member, said heat conduction member thermally coupled to a heat sink in said docking station through a thermoelectric cooler, said heat sink in said docking station is thermally coupled to a second air blower in said docking station for causing airflow over said heat sink in said docking station, said releasable clamp permits said engaged cooling system to provide a higher heat dissipation capacity to said portable computer when operating in said high performance mode of operation from said high performance CPU than the maximum heat dissipation capacity provided by said first air blower to said portable computer when operating in said low performance mode of operation from said low performance CPU.