Method for activating a computer system in a low temperature environment

• US 8,176,308 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Getac Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Getac Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Chiu, Chia-Chang
• Primary Examiner(s): Rehman, Mohammed
• Application Number:
  US12/233,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20100070745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 713/2
• US Class Current: 713/2
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/144 by detection, control, regulation of the temperature

Abstract

A method for booting a computer system under a low temperature state is disclosed. When a trigger signal of a pressed power button on the computer system is detected, a hard disk temperature will be obtained via a temperature sensor to determine whether the hard disk temperature is less than a first predetermined temperature. If the hard disk temperature is less than the first predetermined temperature, a heater is activated to heat the hard disk and a low temperature event will be set. Next, if the hard disk temperature has reached or is greater than the second predetermined temperature, the computer system will be under activation. Then before a loading component of the computer system is activated, the low temperature event will be read. Therefore, output loading of the loading component is decreased to activate an system component of the computer system with a low loading state.

Claims

1. A method for booting a computer system under a low temperature state, the computer system comprising at least one system component having a loading component, the method comprising:

detecting whether a power button of the computer system has been pressed according to a trigger signal;

obtaining a hard disk temperature via a temperature sensor of a hard disk of the computer system;

determining whether the hard disk temperature is less than a first predetermined temperature;

when the hard disk temperature is less than the first predetermined temperature, performing the steps of;

activating a heater of the hard disk to heat the hard disk; and

setting a low temperature event; and

activating the computer system when the hard disk temperature has reached or is greater than a second predetermined temperature;

upon activation of the computer system and before activation of the loading component of the system component, reading the low temperature event; and

decreasing output loading of the loading component and then activating the system component of the computer system with a lowered loading state when the low temperature event has been set.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising activating the system component of the computer system with a normal loading state if the hard disk temperature is not less than the first predetermined temperature.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising continuously heating the hard disk by the heater if the hard disk temperature has not reached the second predetermined temperature.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of decreasing the output loading of the loading component comprises a step of adjusting the brightness of a display device of the computer system to a low brightness.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined temperature is equal to the first predetermined temperature.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined temperature is greater than the first predetermined temperature.

7. A computer system, comprising:

a power button;

at least one system component comprising a loading component;

a hard disk, equipped with a heater and temperature sensor;

a controller, detecting whether the power button is pressed according to a trigger signal, and if so, obtaining a hard disk temperature via the temperature sensor, configured such that when the hard disk temperature is less than a first predetermined temperature, the heater is activated to heat the hard disk and a low temperature event is set, and when the hard disk temperature has reached a second predetermined temperature, the computer system is activated; and

a BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), reading the low temperature event upon starting activation of the computer system and before activating the loading component of the system component, and decreasing output loading of the loading component and then activating the system component of the computer system with a lowered loading state when the temperature event has been set.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the controller activates the system component of the computer system with a normal loading state if the hard disk temperature is not less than the first predetermined temperature.

9. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the heater continuously heats the hard disk if the temperature sensor detects that the hard disk temperature has not reached the second predetermined temperature.

10. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the loading component is a display device of the computer system and the brightness of the display device is adjusted as a low brightness.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer executable instructions for booting a computer system under a low temperature state, the computer system comprising at least one system component having a loading component, wherein the computer executable instructions comprise:

detecting whether a power button of a computer system is pressed according to a trigger signal;

when a power button of a computer system has been pressed according to a trigger signal, obtaining a hard disk temperature via a temperature sensor of a hard disk of the computer system;

determining whether the hard disk temperature is less than a first predetermined temperature;

when the hard disk temperature is less than the first predetermined temperature, performing the steps of;

activating a heater of the hard disk to heat the hard disk;

setting a low temperature event;

activating the computer system when the hard disk temperature has reached or is greater than a second predetermined temperature;

upon activation of the computer system and before activation of the loading component of the system component, reading the low temperature event; and

decreasing output loading of the loading component and then activating the system component of the computer system with a lowered loading state when the low temperature event has been set.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising activating the system component of the computer system with a normal loading state if the hard disk temperature is not less than the first predetermined temperature.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising continuously heating the hard disk using the heater of the hard disk if the hard disk temperature has not reached the second predetermined temperature.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein decreasing the output loading of the loading component comprises adjusting the brightness of a display device of the computer system to a low brightness.