Method and apparatus for selective heating for electronic components of a handheld device

• US 8,868,892 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Psion Inc (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Psion Inc (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Ardron, David Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Elamin, M
• Application Number:
  US12/974,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20120159200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 700/79, 700299-300, 360/75
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management

Abstract

A method and apparatus for thermal management of components and functional subsystems of a handheld device, including for a peripheral device electrically coupled to thereto. A power source provides power to a plurality of functional subsystems of the handheld device and optionally the peripheral device. The components and functional subsystems comprise predetermined thermal signatures.

Claims

1. A method of providing thermal management for a handheld device powered by a power source, the power source having an available power amount, the handheld device including a plurality of functional subsystems, the method comprising:

receiving, at a processor of the handheld device, an indication of a thermal management event at the handheld device related to heating of at least one functional subsystem of the plurality of functional subsystems, wherein the thermal management event comprises selection of a peripheral device among the plurality of functional subsystems, wherein the selection of the peripheral device for operation comprises selecting the peripheral device from among a menu list of choices presented at a graphical display screen of the handheld device;

identifying, by the processor, a predetermined thermal signature stored in a non-transitory memory and associated with operation of the peripheral device, the thermal signature including a predetermined minimum operating temperature for the peripheral device;

delaying, by the processor, a start of normal operation of the peripheral device; and

applying, by the processor, a heating current to heat the peripheral device until the peripheral device is heated to a temperature at least equal to the predetermined minimum operating temperature of the peripheral device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the power source of the handheld device comprises at least one battery.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the thermal management event comprises attachment of a peripheral device to a peripheral expansion port of the handheld device, and the at least one functional subsystem comprises that attached peripheral device.

4. A method of providing thermal management for a handheld device powered by a battery, the battery having an available power amount, the handheld device having a plurality of functional subsystems, the method comprising:

receiving, at a processor of the handheld device, an indication of a peripheral device being attached at an expansion port of the handheld device;

identifying, by the processor, a predetermined thermal signature stored in a non-transitory memory and associated with operation of the peripheral device;

determining, by the processor, whether the available power amount is sufficient to heat the peripheral device in accordance with the predetermined thermal signature;

reducing, by the processor, a power state of at least one of the plurality of functional subsystems upon determining that the available power is insufficient to heat the peripheral device in accordance with the predetermined thermal signature; and

redirecting, by the processor, the reduced power to the peripheral device, via the expansion port, to heat the peripheral device in accordance with the predetermined thermal signature.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the predetermined thermal signature includes a predetermined minimum operating temperature of at least one electronic component of the peripheral device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein upon receiving an indication of a peripheral device being attached at an expansion port, further comprises receiving a selection for a peripheral device to be operated from among a software menu of options presented at a display screen of the handheld device.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the expansion port is selected from a group of expansion ports consisting of a USB port, a serial port and an input/output expansion card slot.

8. A method of providing thermal management for a handheld device powered by a power source, the power source having an available power amount, the handheld device comprising a plurality of functional subsystems, the method comprising:

receiving, at a processor of the handheld device, an indication of a thermal management event at the handheld device related to operation of at least one functional subsystem of the plurality of functional subsystems;

delaying, by the processor, a start of normal operation of the at least one functional subsystem;

identifying, by the processor, a predetermined thermal signature stored in a non-transitory memory and associated with operation of the at least one functional subsystem;

determining, by the processor, whether the available power amount is sufficient to heat the at least one functional subsystem in accordance with the predetermined thermal signature;

reducing, by the processor, a power state of at least a second functional subsystem of the plurality of functional subsystems upon determining that the available power is insufficient to heat the at least one functional subsystem; and

directing, by the processor, the reduced power to heat the at least one functional subsystem of the handheld device.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of delaying the start of normal operation until the at least one functional subsystem is heated to a temperature at least equal to the predetermined minimum operating temperature.

10. A handheld device comprising:

a processor;

an expansion port for coupling a peripheral device to the handheld device, the expansion port coupled to the processor;

a battery power source comprising an available power amount, the battery source for powering a plurality of functional subsystems of the handheld device; and

a memory coupled to the processor having instructions stored thereon for execution by the processor, the memory comprising instructions for;

receiving an indication of a thermal management event at the handheld device related to heating of at least one functional subsystem of the plurality of functional subsystems, wherein the thermal management event comprises selection of the peripheral device among the plurality of functional subsystems, wherein the at least one functional subsystem comprises a graphical display screen and the selection of the peripheral device for operation comprises selecting the peripheral device from among a menu list of choices presented at the graphical display screen;

identifying a predetermined thermal signature associated with operation of the peripheral device, the thermal signature including a predetermined minimum operating temperature for the peripheral device;

delaying start of normal operation of the peripheral device; and

applying a heating current to heat the peripheral device until the peripheral device is heated to a temperature at least equal to the predetermined minimum operating temperature of the peripheral device.

11. The handheld device of claim 10 wherein the expansion port is selected from a group of expansion ports consisting of a USB port, a serial port and an input/output expansion card slot.

12. The handheld device of claim 10, wherein the battery power source comprises a rechargeable battery.

13. The handheld device of claim 10, including a functional subsystem comprising a display screen.

14. The handheld device of claim 10, including a functional subsystem comprising a keyboard.

15. The handheld device of claim 10, including a functional subsystem comprising a scanner exit window.

16. The handheld device of claim 10, including a functional subsystem comprising a wireless radio subsystem.