Method and apparatus for embedded battery cells and thermal management

• US 20100108291A1
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston-Power Inc.
• Original Assignee: Boston-Power Inc.
• Inventors: Cataldo, Nick, Milne, Scott, Onnerud, Per, Partin, Phillip E., Song, Yanning, Chamberlain, Richard V. II
• Application Number:
  US12/584,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20100108291A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/80.200
• 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: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/623 Portable devices, e.g. mobile telephones, cameras or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6551 Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6552 Closed pipes transferring heat by thermal conductivity or phase transition, e.g. heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/658 by thermal insulation or shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/667 the system being an electronic component, e.g. a CPU, an inverter or a capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/119 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/24 adapted for protecting batteries from their environment, e.g. from corrosion thermal insulation H01M10/658
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0203 Cooling of mounted components H05K1/0272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10037 Printed or non-printed battery
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10537 : Attached components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10689 : Leaded Integrated Circuit [IC] package, e.g. dual-in-line [DIL]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Battery cells are embedded in a device to control thermal management of the device. One embodiment includes an embedded battery arrangement that improves thermal management of a portable computer, such as heat transfer and dissipation from heat generating components of the portable computer (including, for example, central processing unit chips or graphics processing unit chips). In one specific embodiment, a printed circuit board is mounted to a battery pack to cause improved radiation of heat from heat generating components of the portable computer to outside of the portable computer housing. In another embodiment, battery cells are distributed within the housing of a portable computer that improves thermal management.

Claims

1. A portable computer comprising:

a) at least one heat generating component; and

b) a battery cell thermally coupled to the at least one heat generating component.

2. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one radiating wall of the battery cell has an enhanced surface area.

3. The portable computer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the radiating wall includes fins.

4. The portable computer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the radiating wall includes pins.

5. The portable computer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the radiating wall includes extruded features.

6. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery cell is coupled to a cooling assembly.

7. The portable computer as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cooling assembly includes a fan configured to direct airflow across the radiating wall of the battery cell.

8. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery cell is enclosed in a shield configured to protect the battery cell from direct heat radiation.

9. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a motherboard of the portable computer.

10. The portable computer as claimed in claim 9, wherein the battery cell is coupled to the motherboard of the portable computer.

11. The portable computer as claimed in claim 9, wherein the battery cell is coupled using at least one clip.

12. The portable computer as claimed in claim 9, wherein the battery cell is configured for detachment.

13. The portable computer as claimed in claim 9, wherein the battery cell is embedded within the motherboard of the computer.

14. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery cell is located on top of, within, or spanning the motherboard of the portable computer.

15. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat generating component is a processor.

16. The portable computer as claimed in claim 15, wherein the processor is a central processing unit chip.

17. The portable computer as claimed in claim 16, wherein the central processing unit chip is thermally bonded to the battery cell.

18. The portable computer as claimed in claim 15, wherein the processor is a graphics processing unit chip.

19. The portable computer as claimed in claim 18, wherein the graphics processing unit chip is thermally bonded to the battery cell.

20. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery cell is a prismatic aluminum cell.

21. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery cell is a positive electrode.

22. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery cell is oriented under the palm rest of the portable computer.

23. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, including a plurality of cells contained within a battery cell pack housing and coupled to the at least one heat generating component.

24. The portable computer as claimed in claim 23, wherein the battery cell pack housing is located under the palm rest of the portable computer.

25. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein heat capacity of the battery cell is greater than the heat capacity of the heat generating component.

26. The portable computer as claimed in claim 25, wherein the heat capacity of the battery cell is at least an order of magnitude greater than the heat capacity of the heat generating component.

27. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising charge management control that preferentially charges the battery cell during times when cooling is required.

28. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a hard disk.

29. The portable computer as claimed in claim 28, wherein the hard disk is enclosed in a shield and the shield is configured to protect the hard disk from direct heat radiation.

30. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a optical drive.

31. The portable computer as claimed in claim 30, wherein the hard disk is enclosed in a shield and the shield is configured to protect the hard disk from direct heat radiation.

32. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, including a plurality of cells distributed within a portable computer housing and individually, thermally coupled to the at least one heat generating component.

33. The portable computer as claimed in claim 32, wherein the plurality of cells is individually enclosed in a shield configured to protect the plurality of cells from direct heat radiation.

34. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, where the plurality of cells is coupled to a motherboard of the portable computer.

35. The portable computer as claimed in claim 34, wherein the plurality of cells is coupled using at least one clip.

36. The portable computer as claimed in claim 34, wherein the plurality of cells is configured for detachment.

37. The portable computer as claimed in claim 32, wherein the plurality of cells is comprised of prismatic aluminum cells.

38. The portable computer as claimed in claim 32, wherein the plurality of cells is located under the palm rest of the portable computer.

39. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a thermal attachment block is thermally coupled between the at least one heat generating component and the battery cell.

40. The portable computer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a heat pipe thermally coupled between the at least one heat generating component and the battery cell.

41. A method for using a battery cell to assist in heat transfer within a portable computer comprising thermally coupling at least one heat generating component of the portable computer to the at least one heat generating component.

42. The method as claimed in claim 41, further comprising coupling the battery cell to a cooling assembly.

43. The method as claimed in claim 42, further comprising configuring the cooling assembly to direct airflow across at least one radiating wall of the battery cell, wherein the at least one radiating wall of the battery cell has an enhanced surface area.

44. The method as claimed in claim 41, further comprising enclosing the battery cell in a shield configured to protect the battery cell from direct heat radiation.

45. The method as claimed in claim 41, further comprising coupling the battery cell to a motherboard of the portable computer.

46. The method as claimed in claim 45, wherein coupling the battery cell includes using at least one clip.

47. The method as claimed in claim 45, further comprising configuring the battery cell for detachment.

48. The method as claimed in claim 41, further comprising charging the battery cells, preferentially, during times when cooling is required.

49. The method as claimed in claim 41, further comprising including the battery cell in a plurality of cells distributed within a portable computer housing and individually thermally coupled to the at least one heat generating component.

50. The method as claimed in claim 49, further comprising maintaining the temperature difference between each cell at least less than 10°

C.

51. The method as claimed in claim 50, wherein the temperature difference between each cell is at least less than 2°

C.

52. The method as claimed in claim 49, further comprising maintaining the capacity difference between each cell at least less than 60 mAH.

53. The method as claimed in claim 49, further comprising individually enclosing the plurality of cells in a shield configured to protect a respective cell from direct heat radiation.

54. The method as claimed in claim 49, further comprising coupling the plurality of cells to a motherboard of the portable computer.

55. The method as claimed in claim 49, further comprising configuring the plurality of cells for detachment.

56. The method as claimed in claim 41, further comprising regulating processing speeds of the portable computer based on temperature of the at least one heat generating component.

57. A device comprising:

at least one heat generating component; and

a battery cell thermally coupled to the at least one heat generating component.

58. The device of claim 57, wherein the device is portable.

59. The device of claim 57, wherein the battery cell is rechargeable.

60. The device of claim 59, wherein the battery cell includes lithium in a cathode of the battery cell.