Media and optical drive operating temperature control system and method
First Claim
1. In an optical disk drive having a plurality of internal heat-generating devices, a system for dynamically regulating an operating temperature of said drive, comprising:
- sensor means for detecting said operating temperature of said drive and producing a sensor output signal representative of said operating temperature and,control means responsive to said sensor output signal for inhibiting operation of at least a selected one but less than all of said internal heat-generating devices when said sensor output signal exceeds a first threshold level.
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Abstract
A control system for dynamically regulating an operating condition of a device used with and controlled by a host computer system. The inventive system includes a sensor arrangement for detecting the desired operating condition of the device and providing a signal in response thereto. A control system dynamically regulates the operation of the device in response to commands generated by the host system and the sensor output signal to maintain the operating condition of the device within predetermined parameters. In a particular implementation, the advantageous teachings of the present invention are incorporated in an optical drive system. One or more sensors are used to detect the operating temperature of the drive and provide an analog output signal in response thereto. The signal is digitized and input to a microprocessor based control circuit. When the temperature of the drive exceeds a first threshold, the control circuit dynamically adjusts the duty cycle of the drive by inhibiting high temperature write and erase operations. When the temperature of the drive exceeds a second threshold, the control circuit inhibits the lower temperature read and verify operations as well. As a result, the controller maintains the operating temperature of the drive within predetermined parameters which may be controlled by the user through the host computer.
53 Citations
31 Claims
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1. In an optical disk drive having a plurality of internal heat-generating devices, a system for dynamically regulating an operating temperature of said drive, comprising:
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sensor means for detecting said operating temperature of said drive and producing a sensor output signal representative of said operating temperature and, control means responsive to said sensor output signal for inhibiting operation of at least a selected one but less than all of said internal heat-generating devices when said sensor output signal exceeds a first threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a computer peripheral device, a system for dynamically regulating an operating temperature of said device comprising:
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sensor means for detecting said operating temperature of said device and producing a sensor output signal representative of said operating temperature and mode changing means for changing a mode of operation of said device from a normal mode of operation to a first heat dissipation mode of operation in which write and erase operations of said device are inhibited, but read and verify operations of said device are not inhibited, in response to said sensor output signal exceeding a first threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. In an optical disk drive having a plurality of internal heat-generating devices, a system for dynamically regulating an operating temperature of said drive, comprising:
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a sensor for detecting said operating temperature of said drive and producing a sensor output signal representative of said operating temperature and a control system responsive to said sensor output signal for inhibiting operation of at least a selected one but less than all of said internal heat-generating devices when said sensor output signal exceeds a first threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. In a computer peripheral device, a system for dynamically regulating an operating temperature of said device comprising:
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a sensor for detecting said operating temperature of said device and producing a sensor output signal representative of said operating temperature and a mode changing system for changing a mode of operation of said device from a normal mode of operation to a first heat dissipation mode of operation in which write and erase operations of said device are inhibited, but read and verify operations of said device are not inhibited, in response to said sensor output signal exceeding a first threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. In a computer peripheral device, a method for dynamically regulating an operating temperature of said device comprising the steps of:
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detecting said operating temperature of said device and producing a temperature-indication signal representative of said operating temperature and changing a mode of operation of said device from a normal mode of operation to a first heat dissipation mode of operation in which write and erase operations of said device are inhibited, but read and verify operations of said device are not inhibited, in response to said temperature-indication signal exceeding a first threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. In an optical disk drive having a plurality of internal heat-generating devices, a method for dynamically regulating an operating temperature of said drive, comprising the steps of:
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detecting said operating temperature of said drive and producing a temperature-indication signal representative of said operating temperature; and
,inhibiting operation of at least a selected one but less than all of said internal heat-generating devices when said temperature-indication signal exceeds a first threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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Specification