Thermal management of computers

• US 6,029,119 A
• Filed: 01/16/1996
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Atkinson, Lee W.
• Primary Examiner(s): ASSOUAD, PATRICK J
• Application Number:
  US08/584,317
• Time in Patent Office: 1,498 Days
• Field of Search: 364/557, 364/707, 364/550, 364/551.01, 364/492, 395/750, 395/559, 395/182.22, 395/750.01-750.08, 340/584, 340/636, 236/49.3, 236/DIG. 8, 236/DIG. 9, 454/184, 702/132
• US Class Current: 702/132
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management

Abstract

The invention is a method and apparatus for the thermal management of computers. The method features determining a temperature of a predetermined location in the computer, reading indirect inputs of the computer, determining desired states of cooling options based on the temperature and the indirect inputs, and placing the cooling options in their desired states. To determine the desired states of the cooling options, an index is formed based on the indirect inputs; and the index indicates to which of a plurality of tables of desired states of the cooling options to refer. Alternatively, the desired states of the cooling options are determined by adjusting the value of the temperature input based on the indirect inputs; the desired states of the cooling options also are dependent on the adjusted value of the measured temperature.

Claims

1. An apparatus for thermal management of a computer, comprising:

a processor,

a device for measuring temperature, an output from said device being communicated to said processor,

a cooling output response table accessible to the processor, said cooling output response table having at least one cooling option entry; and

an indirect input being dynamically communicated to said processor, said indirect input being dynamically used by the processor to select the cooling output response table, and said measure temperature being used to select one of said cooling output response table'"'"'s cooling option entries.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising sensing a temperature of the computer and selecting a cooling option entry from the selected cooling option output response table by matching the sensed temperature with said selected cooling option entry'"'"'s temperature range.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising sensing a temperature of the computer and adjusting the sensed temperature based on said indirect input and using an adjusted sensed temperature to select a cooling option entry from a selected cooling option output response table by matching said adjusted sensed temperature with said selected cooling option entry'"'"'s temperature range.

38. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processor is further connected to control a plurality of devices which affect the thermal load of said computer.

2. A method for use in thermal management of a computer comprising:

obtaining an indirect input from said computer, said indirect input reflecting a condition capable of affecting the computer'"'"'s operating temperature;

selecting, based on said indirect input, a cooling option output response table from possible cooling option output response tables, each said cooling option output response table having at least one cooling option entry indicating a temperature range and an associated cooling option state,

selecting a cooling option entry from said cooling option output response table and effecting the selected cooling option entry'"'"'s cooling option state;

as said indirect input changes, repeating said selecting steps accordingly.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein multiple indirect inputs are obtained.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the cooling option output response table has multiple cooling option entries.

5. The method of claim 2 where said temperature range is a single temperature.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the multiple indirect inputs are used to form an index, said index being used to select the cooling option output response table.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein said indirect input indicates whether the computer is docked to a docking station.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein said indirect input indicates whether a display screen is closed.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein said indirect input indicates whether an option card is installed.

12. The method of claim 2 wherein said indirect input indicates whether a device is present which requires lower ambient temperature or generates disproportionate heat.

13. The method of claim 2 wherein said indirect input indicates whether an audio function is running.

14. The method of claim 2 wherein said indirect input indicates which processor is installed in the computer.

15. The method of claim 2 wherein said indirect input indicates whether a user-setable bit that can customize cooling requirements is set.

16. The method of claim 2 wherein said indirect input indicates a status of a charge of a battery.

17. The method of claim 2 wherein said indirect input indicates a video mode of the computer.

18. The method of claim 2 wherein said indirect input indicates whether there has been a sudden and drastic increase in temperature.

19. The method of claim 2 wherein said indirect input indicates whether a disk drive is being spun up or accessed.

20. The method of claim 2 wherein said indirect input indicates whether the computer is in a power conservation mode.

21. The method of claim 2 wherein said cooling option state specifies a desired state of a fan.

22. The method of claim 2 wherein said cooling option state specifies a complete or partial standby condition of the processor.

23. The method of claim 2 wherein said cooling option state specifies a desired time-out of a peripheral.

24. The method of claim 2 wherein said cooling option state specifies a desired frequency setting of a peripheral.

25. The method of claim 2 wherein said cooling option state specifies turning off the computer.

26. The method of claim 2 wherein at least one of said cooling option output response tables are stored in disk memory.

27. A method for use in thermal management of a computer comprising:

storing a plurality of cooling option output response tables, each cooling output response table having at least one cooling option entry, each cooling option entry including a temperature range and an associated cooling option state;

obtaining indirect inputs of said computer, said indirect inputs reflecting respective conditions capable of affecting said computer'"'"'s operating temperature;

sensing temperature in the computer;

adjusting a sensed temperature based on said indirect input;

selecting one of said plurality of cooling option output response tables based on said indirect input; and

selecting a cooling option entry from said one of said plurality of cooling option output response tables based on a match between said cooling option entry'"'"'s temperature range and an adjusted sensed temperature;

repeating said steps, except said storing step, when said indirect inputs or said sensed temperature change.

28. A computer, comprising:

a first device which determines the temperature at a first position in said computer;

a second device which provides dynamic information regarding at least one condition which affects the temperature at a second position in said computer which is different from said first position;

a third device which receives inputs from said first and said second devices and, in accordance with said inputs, at least partially controls fourth and fifth devices, at least one of which is not a fan, but which affect the temperature in said computer.

29. The computer of claim 28, wherein said fourth device is a disk drive and said third device controls the length of timed inactivity before said disk drive is put on partial standby.

30. The computer of claim 28, wherein said fourth device is a central processing unit and said third device controls the frequency of said central processing unit.

31. The computer of claim 28, wherein said fifth device is a fan.

32. The computer of claim 28, wherein said second device monitors whether said computer is on battery power or AC power.

33. The computer of claim 28 wherein said second device monitors whether said computer is charging a battery.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein said step (b.) detects whether a lid of said computer is closed.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein said step (b.) detects whether said computer has an audio function operating.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein said step (c.) at least partially controls at least two of a group consisting of the following devices:

central processing unit, disk drive, battery charger, fan, graphics controller, and system bus.

34. A method of controlling the temperature in a computer:

(a.) dynamically measuring the temperature at a first position in said computer;

(b.) dynamically receiving information regarding at least one condition which affects the temperature at a second position in said computer which is different from said first position;

(c.) in accordance with the results of said steps (a.) and (b.), at least partially controlling first and second devices, at least one of which is not a fan, but, which affect the temperature in said computer.