Electronic Device

• US 20100259889A1
• Filed: 10/16/2009
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Hsien-Yung, Tsao, Wen-Chun, Chen, Ming-Chih, Jang, Yung-Li
• Granted Patent: US 8,233,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.480
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops

Abstract

An electronic device is provided, including a processing unit and a G-sensor electrically connected thereto. The G-sensor detects the posture of the electronic device and outputs a measurement signal to the processing unit accordingly. The processing unit produces a thermal control signal according to the measurement signal, so as to reduce heat generated from the electronic device or increase cooling efficiency of the electronic device.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a G-sensor detecting a posture of the electronic device and outputting a measurement signal according to the posture; and

a processing unit electrically connected to the G-sensor and receiving the measurement signal, wherein the processing unit produces a thermal control signal according to the measurement signal, thereby reducing heat generated from the electronic device or increasing cooling efficiency of the electronic device.

2. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a thermal module electrically connected to the processing unit, wherein the processing unit transmits the thermal control signal to the thermal module to increase power output of the thermal module for cooling the electronic device.

3. The electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the processing unit comprises a processor and a register, and the processing unit transmits the thermal control signal to the thermal module according to a comparison result of the measurement signal and a predetermined data stored in the register.

4. The electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the register comprises a ROM or RAM.

5. The electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the measurement signal contains an inclined angle value of the electronic device, and when the inclined angle value exceeds a reference value of the predetermined data, the processing unit transmits the thermal control signal to the thermal module to increase power output of the thermal module for cooling the electronic device.

6. The electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the processing unit comprises an IC component with the processor and the register embedded therein.

7. The electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the processor and the register are two individual IC components electrically connected with each other.

8. The electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the processing unit transmits the thermal control signal to the thermal module through a PWM interface.

9. The electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the thermal module comprises a fan, and the processing unit transmits the thermal control signal through the PWM interface to control speed of the fan.

10. The electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the processing unit transmits the thermal control signal to the thermal module through an SMBus.

11. The electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the thermal module comprises a fan and a fan controller, and the processing unit transmits the thermal control signal to the fan controller through the SMBus to control speed of the fan.

12. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the G-sensor comprises a CMOS-MEMS chip.

13. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a heat generating element electrically connected to the processing unit, wherein the processing unit transmits the thermal control signal to the heat generating element and switches the heat generating element to a power saving mode.

14. The electronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the heat generating element is a display.

15. The electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the processing unit transmits the thermal control signal to the display through a PWM interface.

16. The electronic device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the processing unit transmits the thermal control signal to shut off the display.

17. The electronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the heat generating element is a CPU or electronic memory, and operating frequency of the heat generating element is reduced when switched to the power saving mode.

18. The electronic device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the electronic memory is a DDR memory.

19. The electronic device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a system BIOS receiving the thermal control signal from the processing unit, wherein operating frequency of the heat generating element is reduced by the system BIOS.

20. The electronic device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the processing unit transmits the thermal control signal to the system BIOS through an LPC bus.