Method and apparatus for controlling internal heat generating circuitry

• US 6,701,273 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2002
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Ninomiya, Ryoji, Sakai, Makoto, Nishigaki, Nobutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): ASSOUAD, PATRICK J
• Application Number:
  US10/192,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20020183973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 702/186, 702/132, 713/322, 713/300, 713/320, 713/323
• US Class Current: 702/132
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/81 by operating on the power supply, e.g. enabling or disabling power-on, sleep or resume operations

Abstract

An electronic apparatus comprises a circuit, such as a semiconductor circuit, a temperature detection unit provided in the circuit, and a controlling unit. The temperature detection unit detects a temperature of the circuit and outputs a signal outside of the circuit when the detected temperature exceeds a threshold. The controlling unit powers off the electronic apparatus in accordance with the signal.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a semiconductor circuit including an element having a characteristic that varies with temperature and including a dedicated pin that is electrically connected to said element and outputs a signal corresponding to the characteristic of said element, said dedicated pin being provided on a portion of a connection pin arrangement;

a temperature detecting element configured to detect a temperature of said semiconductor circuit via said dedicated pin; and

a system power controller configured to control said electronic apparatus to be powered off when the temperature detected by said temperature detecting element exceeds a set temperature.

2. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a semiconductor circuit including an element having a characteristic that varies with temperature and including a dedicated pin that is electrically connected to said element and outputs a signal corresponding to the characteristic of said element, said dedicated pin being provided on a portion of a connection pin arrangement, said semiconductor circuit operating according to a clock frequency;

a temperature detecting element configured to detect a temperature of said semiconductor circuit via said dedicated pin; and

a system power controller configured to control the clock frequency of said semiconductor circuit to be decreased when the temperature detected by said temperature detecting element exceeds a first threshold, and to control said electronic apparatus to be powered off when the temperature detected by said temperature detecting element exceeds a second threshold higher than the first threshold.

3. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a semiconductor circuit including an element having a characteristic that varies with temperature and including a dedicated pin that is electrically connected to said element and outputs a signal corresponding to the characteristic of said element, said dedicated pin being provided on a portion of a connection pin arrangement, said semiconductor circuit operating according to a clock frequency;

a temperature detecting element configured to detect a temperature of said semiconductor circuit via said dedicated pin; and

a system power controller configured to control periodically switching a first mode to supply an operating clock to said semiconductor circuit and to a second mode to stop the supply of the operating clock thereto when the temperature detected by said temperature detecting element exceeds a first threshold, and to control said electronic apparatus to be powered off when the temperature detected by said temperature detecting element exceeds a second threshold higher than the first threshold.

4. A control method applied to an electronic apparatus having a semiconductor circuit including an element having a characteristic that varies with temperature and including a dedicated pin that is electrically connected to said element and outputs a signal corresponding to the characteristic of said element, said dedicated pin being provided on a portion of a connection pin arrangement, said method comprising:

outputting the signal outside of the semiconductor circuit via the dedicated pin;

detecting a temperature of said semiconductor circuit according to the signal; and

controlling said electronic apparatus to be powered off by a system power controller when the temperature detected in said detection exceeds a threshold.

5. A control method applied to an electronic apparatus having a semiconductor circuit including an element having a characteristic that varies with temperature and including a dedicated pin that is electrically connected to said element and outputs a signal corresponding to the characteristic of said element, said dedicated pin being provided on a portion of a connection pin arrangement, said semiconductor circuit operating according to a clock frequency, said method comprising:

detecting a temperature of said semiconductor circuit via said dedicated pin; and

controlling the clock frequency of said semiconductor circuit to be decreased by a system power controller when the temperature detected in said detection exceeds a first threshold, and controlling said electronic apparatus to be powered off by said system power controller when the temperature detected in said detection exceeds a second threshold higher than the first threshold.

6. A control method applied to an electronic apparatus having a semiconductor circuit including an element having a characteristic that varies with temperature and including a dedicated pin that is electrically connected to said element and outputs a signal corresponding to the characteristic of said element, said dedicated pin being provided on a portion of a connection pin arrangement, said semiconductor circuit operating according to a clock frequency, said method comprising:

detecting a temperature of said semiconductor circuit via said dedicated pin; and

controlling periodically switching a mode to supply an operating clock to said semiconductor circuit and a mode to stop the supply of the operating clock thereto by a system power controller when the temperature detected in said detection exceeds a first threshold, and controlling said electronic apparatus to be powered off by said system power controller when the temperature detected in said detection exceeds a second threshold higher than the first threshold.

7. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a circuit including a dedicated pin provided on a portion of a connection pin arrangement;

a temperature detection unit provided in the circuit and configured to detect a temperature of the circuit to output a logical signal outside of the circuit via said dedicated pin when the detected temperature exceeds a threshold; and

a system power controller configured to power off the electronic apparatus in accordance with the logical signal output from the temperature detection unit.

8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the threshold indicates a higher limit of temperature that allows continuation of a normal operation of the circuit.

9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the system power controller executes a predetermined sequence to power off the electronic apparatus.

10. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a circuit including a dedicated pin provided on a portion of a connection pin arrangement;

a signal outputting unit provided in the circuit and configured to output a signal outside of the circuit via said dedicated pin when a temperature of the circuit has reached a level where the circuit may be damaged; and

a system power controller configured to power off the electronic apparatus in accordance with the signal output from the signal outputting unit.

11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the level indicates a higher level of temperature that allows continuation of a normal operation of the circuit.

12. The electronic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the system power controller executes a predetermined sequence to power off the electronic apparatus.

13. The electronic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the system power controller executes a predetermined sequence to power off the electronic apparatus after execution of a suspend process.

14. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a circuit including a dedicated pin provided on a portion of a connection pin arrangement;

a temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of the circuit to output a first signal via said dedicated pin when the detected temperature exceeds a first threshold and to output a second signal via said dedicated pin when the detected temperature exceeds a second threshold higher than the first threshold; and

a system power controller configured to control periodically switching to a first mode to supply an operating clock to said circuit and to a second mode to stop the supply of the operating clock thereto in accordance with the first signal output from the temperature detection unit, and to control said electronic apparatus to be powered off in accordance with the second signal output from the temperature detection unit.

15. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a circuit including a dedicated pin provided on a portion of a connection pin arrangement;

a temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of the circuit to output a first signal via said dedicated pin when the detected temperature exceeds a first threshold and to output a second signal via said dedicated pin when the detected temperature exceeds a second threshold higher than the first threshold; and

a system power controller configured to control the clock frequency of said circuit to be decreased in accordance with the first signal output from the temperature detection unit, and to control said electronic apparatus to be powered off in accordance with the second signal output from the temperature detection unit.

16. A method of controlling an electronic apparatus, comprising:

detecting a temperature of a circuit, said circuit including a dedicated pin provided on a portion of a connection pin arrangement;

outputting a logical signal outside of the circuit via said dedicated pin when the detected temperature exceeds a threshold; and

controlling the electronic apparatus to be powered off by a system power controller in accordance with the output logical signal.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the threshold indicates a higher limit of temperature that allows continuation of a normal operation of the circuit.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein said controlling includes executing a predetermined sequence to power off the electronic apparatus.

19. A method of controlling an electronic apparatus, comprising:

detecting a temperature of a circuit, said circuit including a dedicated pin provided on a portion of a connection pin arrangement;

outputting a first signal via said dedicated pin when the detected temperature exceeds a first threshold and outputting a second signal via said dedicated pin when the detected temperature exceeds a second threshold higher than the first threshold; and

controlling periodically switching to a first mode to supply an operating clock to said circuit and to a second mode to stop the supply of the operating clock thereto by a system power controller in accordance with the output first signal, and controlling said electronic apparatus to be powered off by said system power controller in accordance with the output second signal.

20. A method of controlling an electronic apparatus, comprising:

detecting a temperature of a circuit, said circuit including a dedicated pin provided on a portion of a connection pin arrangement;

outputting a first signal via said dedicated pin when the detected temperature exceeds a first threshold and outputting a second signal via said dedicated pin when the detected temperature exceeds a second threshold higher than the first threshold; and

controlling the clock frequency of said circuit to be decreased by a system power controller in accordance with the output first signal, and controlling said electronic apparatus to be powered off by said system power controller in accordance with the outputted second signal.

21. A computer comprising:

a CPU including a dedicated pin provided on a portion of a connection pin arrangement;

a temperature detection unit arranged in the CPU to detect a temperature of the CPU and to output an analog signal based on the temperature to outside of the CPU via said dedicated pin;

an analog-digital converter configured to convert the analog signal from the temperature detection unit to a digital signal; and

a system power controller configured to control the computer to be powered off when a value of the digital signal exceeds a threshold value.

22. A computer comprising:

a CPU;

an element arranged in the CPU having a characteristic that varies with temperature;

a dedicated pin electrically connected to the element and configured to output a signal outside of the CPU corresponding to the characteristic of the element;

a detection unit electrically connected to the dedicated pin and configured to detect the temperature of the CPU according to the signal; and

a system power controller configured to control the computer to be powered off when the temperature of the CPU exceeds a threshold value.

23. A method of controlling a computer, comprising:

detecting a temperature of a CPU by a temperature detection unit arranged in the CPU, said CPU including a dedicated pin provided on a portion of a connection pin arrangement;

outputting an analog signal based on the temperature to outside of the CPU via said dedicated pin;

converting the analog signal from the temperature detection unit to a digital signal; and

controlling the computer to be powered off by a system power controller when a value of the digital signal exceeds a threshold value.

24. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a power switch to power on/off said electronic apparatus;

a semiconductor circuit including an element having a characteristic that varies with temperature and including a terminal that is electrically connected to said element and outputs a signal corresponding to the characteristic of said element;

a temperature detecting element configured to detect a temperature of said semiconductor circuit via said terminal; and

a controlling unit configured to control said electronic apparatus to be powered off when the temperature detected by said temperature detecting element exceeds a set temperature, irrespective of an operation of said power switch.

25. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a power switch to power on/off said electronic apparatus;

a semiconductor circuit including an element having a characteristic that varies with temperature and including a terminal that is electrically connected to said element and outputs a signal corresponding to the characteristic of said element, said semiconductor circuit operating according to a clock frequency;

a temperature detecting element configured to detect a temperature of said semiconductor circuit via said terminal; and

a controlling unit configured to control the clock frequency of said semiconductor circuit to be decreased when the temperature detected by said temperature detecting element exceeds a first threshold, and to control said electronic apparatus to be powered off when the temperature detected by said temperature detecting element exceeds a second threshold higher than the first threshold, irrespective of an operation of said power switch.

26. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a power switch to power on/off said electronic apparatus;

a semiconductor circuit including an element having a characteristic that varies with temperature and including a terminal that is electrically connected to said element and outputs a signal corresponding to the characteristic of said element, said semiconductor circuit operating according to a clock frequency;

a temperature detecting element configured to detect a temperature of said semiconductor circuit via said terminal; and

a controlling unit configured to control periodically switching a first mode to supply an operating clock to said semiconductor circuit and to a second mode to stop the supply of the operating clock thereto when the temperature detected by said temperature detecting element exceeds a first threshold, and to control said electronic apparatus to be powered off when the temperature detected by said temperature detecting element exceeds a second threshold higher than the first threshold, irrespective of an operation of said power switch.

27. A control method applied to an electronic apparatus having a power switch to power on/off said electronic apparatus and having a semiconductor circuit including an element having a characteristic that varies with temperature and including a terminal that is electrically connected to said element and outputs a signal corresponding to the characteristic of said element, said method comprising:

outputting the signal outside of the semiconductor circuit via the terminal;

detecting a temperature of said semiconductor circuit according to the signal; and

controlling said electronic apparatus to be powered off when the temperature detected in said detection exceeds a threshold, irrespective of an operation of said power switch.

28. A control method applied to an electronic apparatus having a power switch to power on/off said electronic apparatus and having a semiconductor circuit including an element having a characteristic that varies with temperature and including a terminal that is electrically connected to said element and outputs a signal corresponding to the characteristic of said element, said semiconductor circuit operating according to a clock frequency, said method comprising:

detecting a temperature of said semiconductor circuit via said terminal; and

controlling the clock frequency of said semiconductor circuit to be decreased when the temperature detected in said detection exceeds a first threshold, and controlling said electronic apparatus to be powered off when the temperature detected in said detection exceeds a second threshold higher than the first threshold, irrespective of an operation of said power switch.

29. A control method applied to an electronic apparatus having a power switch to power on/off said electronic apparatus and having a semiconductor circuit including an element having a characteristic that varies with temperature and including a terminal that is electrically connected to said element and outputs a signal corresponding to the characteristic of said element, said semiconductor circuit operating according to a clock frequency, said method comprising:

detecting a temperature of said semiconductor circuit via said terminal; and

controlling periodically switching a mode to supply an operating clock to said semiconductor circuit and a mode to stop the supply of the operating clock thereto when the temperature detected in said detection exceeds a first threshold, and controlling said electronic apparatus to be powered off when the temperature detected in said detection exceeds a second threshold higher than the first threshold, irrespective of an operation of said power switch.

30. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a power switch to power on/off said electronic apparatus;

a circuit;

a temperature detection unit provided in the circuit and configured to detect a temperature of the circuit to output a logical signal outside of the circuit when the detected temperature exceeds a threshold; and

a controlling unit configured to power off the electronic apparatus in accordance with the logical signal output from the temperature detection unit, irrespective of an operation of said power switch.

31. The electronic apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the threshold indicates a higher limit of temperature that allows continuation of a normal operation of the circuit.

32. The electronic apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the controlling unit executes a predetermined sequence to power off the electronic apparatus.

33. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a power switch to power on/off said electronic apparatus;

a circuit;

a signal outputting unit provided in the circuit and configured to output a signal outside of the circuit when a temperature of the circuit has reached a level where the circuit may be damaged; and

a controlling unit configured to power off the electronic apparatus in accordance with the signal output from the signal outputting unit, irrespective of an operation of said power switch.

34. The electronic apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the level indicates a higher level of temperature that allows continuation of a normal operation of the circuit.

35. The electronic apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the controlling unit executes a predetermined sequence to power off the electronic apparatus.

36. The electronic apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the controlling unit executes a predetermined sequence to power off the electronic apparatus after execution of a suspend process.

37. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a power switch to power on/off said electronic apparatus;

a circuit;

a temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of the circuit to output a first signal when the detected temperature exceeds a first threshold and to output a second signal when the detected temperature exceeds a second threshold higher than the first threshold; and

a controlling unit configured to control periodically switching to a first mode to supply an operating clock to said circuit and to a second mode to stop the supply of the operating clock thereto in accordance with the first signal output from the temperature detection unit, and to control said electronic apparatus to be powered off in accordance with the second signal output from the temperature detection unit, irrespective of an operation of said power switch.

38. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a power switch to power on/off said electronic apparatus;

a circuit;

a temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of the circuit to output a first signal when the detected temperature exceeds a first threshold and to output a second signal when the detected temperature exceeds a second threshold higher than the first threshold; and

a controlling unit configured to control the clock frequency of said circuit to be decreased in accordance with the first signal output from the temperature detection unit, and to control said electronic apparatus to be powered off in accordance with the second signal output from the temperature detection unit, irrespective of an operation of said power switch.

39. A method of controlling an electronic apparatus having a power switch to power on/off said electronic apparatus, comprising:

detecting a temperature of a circuit;

outputting a logical signal outside of the circuit when the detected temperature exceeds a threshold; and

controlling the electronic apparatus to be powered off in accordance with the output logical signal, irrespective of an operation of said power switch.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the threshold indicates a higher limit of temperature that allows continuation of a normal operation of the circuit.

41. The method according to claim 39, wherein said controlling includes executing a predetermined sequence to power off the electronic apparatus.

42. A method of controlling an electronic apparatus having a power switch to power on/off said electronic apparatus, comprising:

detecting a temperature of a circuit;

outputting a first signal when the detected temperature exceeds a first threshold and outputting a second signal when the detected temperature exceeds a second threshold higher than the first threshold; and

controlling periodically switching to a first mode to supply an operating clock to said circuit and to a second mode to stop the supply of the operating clock thereto in accordance with the output first signal, and controlling said electronic apparatus to be powered off in accordance with the output second signal, irrespective of an operation of said power switch.

43. A method of controlling an electronic apparatus having a power switch to power on/off said electronic apparatus, comprising:

detecting a temperature of a circuit;

outputting a first signal when the detected temperature exceeds a first threshold and outputting a second signal when the detected temperature exceeds a second threshold higher than the first threshold; and

controlling the clock frequency of said circuit to be decreased in accordance with the output first signal, and controlling said electronic apparatus to be powered off in accordance with the outputted second signal, irrespective of an operation of said, power switch.

44. A computer comprising:

a power switch to power on/off said computer;

a CPU;

a temperature detection unit arranged in the CPU to detect a temperature of the CPU and to output an analog signal based on the temperature to outside of the CPU;

an analog-digital converter configured to convert the analog signal from the temperature detection unit to a digital signal; and

a controlling unit configured to control the computer to be powered off when a value of the digital signal exceeds a threshold value, irrespective of an operation of said power switch.

45. A computer comprising:

a power switch to power on/off said computer;

a CPU;

an element arranged in the CPU having a characteristic that varies with temperature;

a terminal electrically connected to the element and configured to output a signal outside of the CPU corresponding to the characteristic of the element;

a detection unit electrically connected to the terminal and configured to detect the temperature of the CPU according to the signal; and

a controlling unit configured to control the computer to be powered off when the temperature of the CPU exceeds a threshold value, irrespective of an operation of said power switch.

46. A method of controlling a computer having a power switch to power on/off said computer, comprising:

detecting a temperature of a CPU by a temperature detection unit arranged in the CPU;

outputting an analog signal based on the temperature to outside of the CPU;

converting the analog signal from the temperature detection unit to a digital signal; and

controlling the computer to be powered off when a value of the digital signal exceeds a threshold value, irrespective of an operation of said power switch.