Method for enhancing battery performance and apparatus using the same

• US 6,946,216 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2001
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acer, Inc., Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Acer, Inc., Wistron Corporation
• Inventors: Mu-Tsai, Chang, Tien-Chun, Tseng, Hsiao-Feng, Li, Yeh, Chih-Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalafut, Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US09/984,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20020090546A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 429/62, 429/120
• US Class Current: 429/62
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/615 Heating or keeping warm
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/623 Portable devices, e.g. mobile telephones, cameras or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/64 characterised by the shape of the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6551 Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6552 Closed pipes transferring heat by thermal conductivity or phase transition, e.g. heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6554 Rods or plates
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/658 by thermal insulation or shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/667 the system being an electronic component, e.g. a CPU, an inverter or a capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Disclosed are method and apparatus for improving battery performance by transferring waste heat generated from heat generating components to the battery that, when brought to a high temperature, attains better performance according to temperature characteristics of the battery. According to the disclosure, an electronic device capable of effecting improved battery performance comprises a central processing unit generating waste heat when being operative; a battery for supplying power to said electronic device; and thermal conducting means, first end thereof making thermal contact with said central processing unit and second end thereof making thermal contact with said battery, causing heat transfer between said central processing unit and said battery. Said waste heat generated by said central processing unit is transferred to alter the temperature of said battery such that its output voltage is stabilized and capacity enlarged. Thermal pads can be disposed between said first end of said thermal conducting means and said electronic component, or between said second end of said thermal conducting means and said battery for increasing heat transfer rate. A fan can also be incorporated to cool the central processing unit.

Claims

1. A method for controlling temperature of a battery installed in an electronic device by utilizing waste heat generated by a heat source therein, wherein said heat source comprises a display apparatus that generates thermal energy when operating, comprising the steps of:

transferring said waste heat to said battery by thermal conduction, thereby bringing the temperature of said battery to a value at which the performance of said battery is enhanced;

varying thermal resistance relating to said conduction heat transfer to bring said temperature value to within a desired temperature range in which the performance of the battery is enhanced; and

transferring said waste heat away by convection to lower the temperature of said heat source to within a desired temperature range, wherein said convection heat transfer is brought about by a fan.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said heat source comprises integrated circuits that generate thermal energy when operating.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said transferring by thermal conduction is brought about by said heat source making thermal contact with said battery through a thermal conducting medium.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said varying thermal resistance relating to said conduction heat transfer is brought about by varying thermal resistance between conducting surfaces causing said conduction heat transfer.

3. A method for controlling temperature of a battery installed in an electronic device by utilizing waste heat generated by a heat source therein, wherein said heat source comprises a display apparatus that generates thermal energy when operating, comprising the step of:

transferring said waste heat to said battery by thermal conduction, thereby bringing the temperature of said battery to a value at which the performance of said battery is enhanced,

wherein said conduction heat transfer is brought about by said heat source making direct thermal contact with said battery.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein said heat source comprises integrated circuits that generate thermal energy when operating.

7. An electronic device capable of effecting improved battery performance, comprising:

an electronic component generating waste heat when operating;

a battery for supplying power to said electronic device;

thermal conducting means, a first end thereof making thermal contact with said electronic component and a second end thereof making thermal contact with said battery, causing heat transfer between said electronic component and said battery; and

heat convecting means for altering the temperature of said electronic component,

wherein said waste heat generated by said electronic component is transferred to alter the temperature of said battery such that improved battery performance is effected.

8. The electronic device according to claim 7, which further comprises conduction enhancing means for increasing heat transfer rate, disposed between said first end of said thermal conducting means and said electronic component, or between said second end of said thermal conducting means and said battery.

9. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein said electronic component is displaced without being superposed upon said battery such that said electronic device is made compact.

10. The electronic device according to claim 7, or claim 9, wherein said thermal conducting means comprises a heat pipe forming said second end thereof that makes thermal contact with said battery.

11. The electronic device according to claim 7 or claim 9, wherein said thermal conducting means comprises a heat sink with a number of fins and a conducting plate extending laterally therefrom to form said second end thereof that makes thermal contact with said battery.

12. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein said electronic component is a central processing unit of said electronic device.