COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BOOTING UNDER LOW TEMPERATURE STATE

• US 20100070745A1
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Getac Technology Company Limited (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Mitac Technology Corporation (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Chiu, Chia-Chang
• Granted Patent: US 8,176,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/144 by detection, control, regulation of the temperature

Abstract

A method for booting a computer system under a low temperature state is disclosed. When a trigger signal of a pressed power button on the computer system is detected, a hard disk temperature will be obtained via a temperature sensor to determine whether the hard disk temperature is less than a first predetermined temperature. If the hard disk temperature is less than the first predetermined temperature, a heater is activated to heat the hard disk and a low temperature event will be set. Next, if the hard disk temperature has reached or is greater than the second predetermined temperature, the computer system will be under activation. Then before a loading component of the computer system is activated, the low temperature event will be read. Therefore, output loading of the loading component is decreased to activate an system component of the computer system with a low loading state.

Claims

1. A method for booting a computer system under a low temperature state, comprising:

detecting whether a power button of the computer system has been pressed according to a trigger signal;

obtaining a hard disk temperature via a temperature sensor of a hard disk of the computer system;

determining whether the hard disk temperature is less than a first predetermined temperature;

activating a heater of the hard disk to heat the hard disk if the hard disk temperature is less than the first predetermined temperature;

setting a low temperature event;

determining whether the hard disk temperature has reached a second predetermined temperature;

activating the computer system if the hard disk temperature has reached or is greater than the second predetermined temperature;

reading the low temperature event before activating a loading component of the computer system; and

decreasing output loading of the loading component to activate an system component of the computer system with a low loading state.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising activating the system component of the computer system with a normal loading state if the hard disk temperature is not less than the first predetermined temperature.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising continuously heating the hard disk by the heater if the hard disk temperature has not reached the second predetermined temperature.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of decreasing the output loading of the loading component comprises a step of adjusting the brightness of a display device of the computer system to a low brightness.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined temperature is equal to the first predetermined temperature.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined temperature is greater than the first predetermined temperature.

7. A computer system, comprising:

a power button;

a loading component;

a hard disk, equipped with a heater and temperature sensor, wherein the heater is activated to heat the hard disk when a hard disk temperature obtained via the temperature sensor is less than a first predetermined temperature; and

a controller, detecting whether the power button is pressed according to a trigger signal, and if so, obtaining a hard disk temperature via the temperature sensor, wherein when the hard disk temperature is less than the first predetermined temperature, the heater is activated to heat the hard disk and a low temperature event is set, and if the hard disk temperature has reached a second predetermined temperature, the computer system is activated; and

a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), reading the low temperature event upon starting activation of the computer system yet before activating a loading component of the computer system, and decreasing output loading of the loading component to activate a system component of the computer system with a low loading state.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the controller activates the system component of the computer system with a normal loading state if the hard disk temperature is not less than the first predetermined temperature.

9. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the heater continuously heats the hard disk if the temperature sensor detects that the hard disk temperature has not reached the second predetermined temperature.

10. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the loading component is a display device of the computer system and the brightness of the display device is adjusted as a low brightness.

11. A computer-readable medium encoded with computer executable instructions for booting a computer system under a low temperature state, wherein the computer executable instructions comprise:

detecting whether a power button of a computer system is pressed according to a trigger signal;

if a power button of a computer system has been pressed according to a trigger signal, obtaining a hard disk temperature via a temperature sensor of a hard disk of the computer system;

determining whether the hard disk temperature is less than a first predetermined temperature;

activating a heater of the hard disk to heat the hard disk if the hard disk temperature is less than the first predetermined temperature;

setting a low temperature event;

determining whether the hard disk temperature has reached a second predetermined temperature;

activating the computer system if the hard disk temperature has reached or is greater than the second predetermined temperature;

reading the low temperature event before activating a loading component of the computer system; and

decreasing output loading of the loading component to activate an system component of the computer system with a low loading state.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising activating the system component of the computer system with a normal loading state if the hard disk temperature is less than the first predetermined temperature.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising continuously heating the hard disk using the heater of the hard disk if the hard disk temperature has not reached the second predetermined temperature.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein decreasing the output loading of the loading component comprises adjusting the brightness of a display device of the computer system to a low brightness.