Method and apparatus for thermal management of a display

• US 6,727,824 B1
• Filed: 03/11/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Rahn, John, Fussy, Tom, Castle, Clayton, Miseli, Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US10/095,667
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 340/689, 340/686.1, 340/686.2, 340/686.3, 340/691.1, 340/691.6, 340/693.9, 340/671, 340/584, 200/61.52, 200/61.45 R, 200/52.A
• US Class Current: 340/689
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management

Abstract

Apparatus and method are disclosed for thermally managing a display. A display may be tiltably coupled to a base, and the display may have a tilt sensor disposed therein for providing a tilt output when the display is tilted beyond a tilt threshold. Further aspects include a temperature sensors disposed for providing a high- or low-temperature threshold output when the display the exceeds predetermined temperature thresholds. The disclosure provides for producing a warning signal to the user when sensed signals are positive, and for producing a sleep signal to protect the display from thermal damage.

Claims

1. An apparatus for managing a display comprising:

a display;

a first temperature sensor disposed within said display and configured to provide a low-temperature threshold output when said display exceeds a low-temperature threshold;

a tilt sensor disposed in said display and configured to provide a tilt output when said display is tilted beyond a tilt threshold;

a logical AND circuit configured to receive said low-temperature threshold signal and said tilt threshold signal and produce a warning signal when both said signals are positive;

a second temperature sensor disposed within said display and configured to provide a high-temperature threshold output when said display exceeds a high-temperature threshold; and

a logical OR circuit configured to receive said high-temperature threshold signal and said warning signal and produce a sleep signal when either of said high-temperature threshold or said warning signals is positive.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said logical AND circuit is further configured to provide a warning message to a user prior to providing said warning signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said logical AND circuit is further configured to wait a predetermined amount of time after providing said warning message prior to providing said warning signal.

4. An apparatus for thermally managing a tiltable display comprising:

a display tiltably coupled to a base;

a tilt sensor disposed in said display and configured to provide a tilt output when said display is tilted beyond a tilt threshold;

a first temperature sensor disposed within said display configured to provide a low-temperature threshold output when display exceeds a low-temperature threshold; and

a logical AND circuit configured to receive said low-temperature threshold signal and said tilt threshold signal and produce a warning signal when both said signals are positive.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

a second temperature sensor disposed within said display and configured to provide a high-temperature threshold output when said display exceeds a high-temperature threshold; and

a logical OR circuit configured to receive said high-temperature threshold signal and said warning signal and produce a sleep signal when either of said high-temperature threshold or said warning signals is positive.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said logical AND circuit is further configured to provide a warning message to a user prior to providing said warning signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said logical AND circuit is further configured to wait a predetermined amount of time after providing said warning message prior to providing said warning signal.

8. An apparatus for thermally managing a display comprising:

display means;

first temperature sensor means disposed within said display providing a low-temperature threshold output when said display exceeds a low-temperature threshold;

tilt sensor means disposed in said display for providing a title output when said display is tilted beyond a tilt threshold;

first circuit means for receiving said low-temperature threshold signal and said tilt threshold signal and producing a warning signal when both said signals are positive;

second temperature sensor means disposed within said display for providing a high-temperature threshold output when said display exceeds a high-temperature threshold; and

second circuit means for receiving said high-temperature threshold signal and said warning signal and producing a sleep signal when either of said high-temperature threshold or said warning signals is positive.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second circuit means is further configured to provide a warning message to a user prior to providing said warning signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said second circuit means is further configured to wait a predetermined amount of time after providing said warning message prior to providing said warning signal.

11. An apparatus for thermally managing a tiltable display comprising:

display means tiltably coupled to a base;

tilt sensor means disposed in said display providing a tilt output when said display is tilted beyond a tilt threshold;

first temperature sensor means disposed within said display providing a low-temperature threshold output when said display exceeds a low-temperature threshold; and

first circuit means for receiving said low-temperature threshold signal and said tilt threshold signal and producing a warning signal when both said signals are positive.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

second temperature sensor means disposed within said display for providing a high-temperature threshold output when said display exceeds a high-temperature threshold; and

second circuit means for receiving said high-temperature threshold signal and said warning signal and producing a sleep signal when either of said high-temperature threshold or said warning signals is positive.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said logical AND circuit is further configured to provide a warning message to a user prior to providing said warning signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said logical AND circuit is further configured to wait a predetermined amount of time after providing said warning message prior to providing said warning signal.

15. A method of thermally managing a tiltable display comprising:

providing a display means tiltably coupled to a base;

sensing the tilt angle of said display means;

providing a tilt output when said display means is tilted beyond a tilt threshold;

sensing a first temperature within said display and providing a low-temperature threshold output when said display exceeds a low-temperature threshold; and

producing a warning signal when both said low-temperature threshold signal and said tilt threshold signals are positive.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sensing a second temperature within said display means and providing a high-temperature threshold output when said display exceeds a high-temperature threshold; and

producing a sleep signal when either of said high-temperature threshold or said warning signals is positive.

17. The method of claim 16, further including the act of providing a warning message to a user prior to providing said warning signal.

18. The method of claim 17, further including the act of waiting a predetermined amount of time after providing said warning message prior to providing said warning signal.

19. An apparatus for thermally managing a tiltable display comprising:

a tilt sensor disposed in said tiltable display and configured to provide a tilt output when said tiltable display is tilted beyond a tilt threshold;

a first temperature sensor disposed within said tiltable display configured to provide a low-temperature threshold output when said tiltable display exceeds a low-temperature threshold; and

a logical AND circuit configured to receive said low-temperature threshold signal and said tilt threshold signal and produce a warning signal when both said signals are positive.

20. A method of thermally managing a tiltable display comprising:

sensing the tilt angle of said tiltable display;

providing a tilt output when said tiltable display is tilted beyond a tilt threshold;

sensing a first temperature within said tiltable display and providing a low-temperature threshold output when said tiltable display exceeds a low-temperature threshold; and

producing a warning signal when both said low-temperature threshold signal and said tilt threshold signals are positive.