Status display for temperature regulation of processing unit using LEDs of different color

• US 6,816,975 B1
• Filed: 09/07/2000
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Akazawa, Toru, Sasaki, Dai
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, ALBERT C
• Application Number:
  US09/656,652
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 714/14, 361/103, 340/631, 340/584, 700/299
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/184 Mounting of motherboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/188 Mounting of power supply units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C

Abstract

An electronic device has a temperature sensor that detects temperature of a CPU, an image processing unit, and a microprocessor unit that controls the supply of electric power from a power source unit to the CPU and the image processing unit according to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. If the temperature of the CPU and/or the image processing unit is detected by the temperature sensor to be near the temperature that causes malfunction or damage to them, the supply of electric power to the CPU and the image processing unit is automatically stopped by the microprocessor unit. It is possible to prevent malfunction and damage of the CPU and the image processing unit and to easily prevent the occurrence of runaway programs, etc.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a calculation processing unit that calculation-processes software information that is input;

a power source unit that supplies electric power to said calculation processing unit;

a temperature detection means that detects the temperature of said calculation processing unit;

a power control means that controls supply of electric power from said power source unit to said calculation processing unit according to the temperature detected by said temperature detection means; and

first and second LEDs that each emit light in a different color, the first LED lighting up to indicate a waiting status when a main switch is switched on for the electronic device, the first LED being extinguished while the second LED is lighting up when an electric power is switched on for an operation of said electronic device, said first and second LEDs being not lit simultaneously,

wherein when the temperature that is detected by the temperature detection means is normal, in the waiting status the first LED lights up while the second LED is not lit and during said operation the first LED is extinguished while the second LED lights up, and

wherein when the temperature is abnormal, the second LED is extinguished while the first LED flashes.

2. The electronic device as described in claim 1, further comprising:

a status display means that displays the status of the supply of electric power to the electronic device wherein

when a temperature abnormality of said calculation processing unit is detected by said temperature detection means, said power control means outputs to said status display means a signal indicating that there is a temperature abnormality.

3. The electronic device as described in claim 1, further comprising:

a heat dissipation means that is closely connected to said calculation processing unit and radiates the heat that is produced from said calculation processing unit to the outside, wherein

said temperature detection means is provided on said heat dissipation means.

4. The electronic device as described in claim 3, wherein

said calculation processing unit includes a calculation processing means that calculation-processes software information and an image processing unit that forms output images based on the calculation results of said calculation processing means, and

said heat dissipation means is attached closely, to and straddling both said calculation processing means and said image processing unit.

5. An electronic device comprising:

a calculation processing unit that calculation-processes software information that is input;

a power source unit that supplies electric power to said calculation processing device;

a temperature detection means that detects the temperature of said calculation processing unit, and

a status display means that displays the status of supply of electric power to the electronic device,

wherein said temperature detection means, upon detecting a temperature abnormality of said calculation processing unit, outputs to said status display means a signal indicating that there is a temperature abnormality;

wherein said status display means further comprises first and second LEDs that each unit light in a different color, the first LED lighting up to indicate a waiting status when a main switch is switched on for the electronic device, the first LED being extinguished while the second LED is lighting up when an electric power is switched on for an operation of said electronic device, said first and second LEDs being not lit simultaneously,

wherein when the temperature that is detected by the temperature detection means is normal, in the waiting status the first LED lights up while the second LED is not lit and during said operation the first LED is extinguished while the second LED lights up, and

wherein upon detecting a temperature abnormality, the second LED is extinguished while the first LED flashes.