Dynamic cooling system for electronic device with air flow path changes

• US 8,515,589 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2010
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Haugh, Julianne F., Jennings, Jeffrey Bart
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US12/949,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20120130545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/300, 621/86, 361/687, 361/704, 236/49.3
• US Class Current: 700/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management

Abstract

A method, programmed medium and system are provided for altering the airflow through an electronic device such as a laptop computer in response to overheating, and feedback about the state of use of a laptop computer. In an exemplary embodiment, a laptop case is constructed such that it has an alternate opening for each intake and/or exhaust port. The primary intake and/or exhaust port is located such that it does not interfere with the user while the laptop is being operated normally. When it is detected that an intake and/or exhaust port is potentially blocked, it is determined whether or not the laptop is actively being used. If the laptop is not being used when an overheated condition is detected, a predetermined action is taken to change the air input/output air flow through an alternate exhaust path. If the laptop is being used, other actions, in terms of altering airflow, may take place, such as enabling a user to selectively choose a different airflow path from a plurality of airflow paths available within the electronic device being cooled.

Claims

1. A method for changing air flow paths in a compartment containing a plurality of electronic components, said compartment containing a plurality of air vents, said air vents being selectively controllable to an open state or a closed state, said air vents being controllable to selectively allow air flow between different ones of said air vents within said compartment and air outside of said compartment, said air flow being along selectively different air flow paths within said compartment, said method comprising:

detecting a predetermined condition relative to air within said compartment, said predetermined condition being a low level air flow below a predetermined level of air flowing through at least a first one of said air vents; and

changing a state of one or more of said air vents in response to said detecting to accomplish air flow between different ones of said air vents along different air flow paths within said compartment to compensate for said low level air flow through said first one of said air vents.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said changing is accomplished automatically in response to said detecting.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said changing is accomplished manually by a user in response to said detecting, said method further including alerting said user when said predetermined condition is detected.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said user is enabled to select which of said air vents are opened and/or closed in response to said detecting of said predetermined condition.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said predetermined condition further includes temperature of air within said compartment.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said predetermined condition further includes an air flow condition within said compartment.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said predetermined condition further includes a predetermined temperature differential between air inflow and air outflow from said compartment.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein multiple ones of said vents are opened simultaneously in response to said detecting of said predetermined condition.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein a number of said vents which are opened is related to fan speed of a cooling fan for said compartment.

10. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable, tangible storage device(s) and computer-readable program instructions stored on the computer-readable, tangible storage device(s) for changing air flow paths in a compartment containing a plurality of electronic components, said compartment containing a plurality of air vents, said air vents being selectively controllable to an open state or a closed state, said vents being controllable to selectively allow air flow between different ones of said air vents within said compartment and air outside of said compartment, said air flow being along selectively different air flow paths within said compartment, the computer-readable program instructions, when executed by a processing system, being operable for implementing a method comprising:

detecting a predetermined condition relative to air within said compartment, said predetermined condition being a low level air flow below a predetermined level of air flowing through at least a first one of said air vents; and

changing a state of one or more of said air vents in response to said detecting to accomplish air flow between different ones of said air vents along different air flow paths within said compartment to compensate for said low level air flow through said first one of said air vents.

11. The computer program product as set forth in claim 10 wherein said changing is accomplished automatically in response to said detecting.

12. The computer program product as set forth in claim 10 wherein said changing is accomplished manually by a user in response to said detecting, said method further including alerting said user when said predetermined condition is detected.

13. The computer program product as set forth in claim 12 wherein said user is enabled to select which of said air vents are opened and/or closed in response said detecting of said predetermined condition.

14. The computer program product as set forth in claim 10 wherein said predetermined condition further includes temperature of air within said compartment.

15. The computer program product as forth in claim 10 wherein said predetermined condition further includes an air flow condition within said compartment.

16. The computer program product as set forth in claim 10 wherein said predetermined condition further includes a predetermined temperature differential between air inflow and air outflow from said compartment.

17. The computer program product as set forth in claim 10 wherein multiple ones of said vents are opened simultaneously in response to said detecting of said predetermined condition.

18. The computer program product as forth in claim 10 wherein a number of said vents which are opened is related to fan speed of a cooling fan for said compartment.

19. A system for changing air flow paths in a compartment containing a plurality of electronic components, said system comprising:

a compartment containing a plurality of air vents, said air vents being selectively controllable to an open state car a closed state, said vents being controllable to selectively allow air flow between different ones of said air vents within said compartment and air outside of said compartment, said air flow being along selectively different air flow paths within said compartment;

a detecting device for detecting a predetermined condition relative to air within said compartment, said predetermined condition being a low level air flow below a predetermined level of air flowing through at least a first cine of said air vents; and

a control device for changing a state of one or more of said air vents in response to said detecting to accomplish air flow between different ones of said air vents along different air flow paths within said compartment to compensate for said low level air flow through said first one of said air vents.

20. The system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said predetermined condition is a predetermined combination of temperature and air flow within said compartment.