Novel personal electronics device with thermal management

• US 20070043961A1
• Filed: 03/10/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dualcor Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Dualcor Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Glass, Timothy, Cupps, Bryan
• Application Number:
  US11/371,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20070043961A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/324 by lowering clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3293 by switching to a less power-consuming processor, e.g. sub-CPU
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/029 reducing the clock frequency of the controller
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A novel personal electronic device includes a first (embedded) and second (non-embedded) processors including associated operating systems and functions. In one aspect, the first processor performs relatively limited functions, while the second processor performs relatively broader functions under control of the first processor. Often the second processor requires more power than the first processor and is selectively operated by the first processor to minimize overall power consumption. Protocols for functions to be performed by the second processor may be provided directly to the second processor and processed by the second processor. In another aspect, a display controller is designed to interface with both processors. In another aspect, the operating systems work with one another. In another aspect, the first processor employs a thermal control program. Advantages of the invention include a broad array of functions performed by a relatively small personal electronics device.

Claims

1. A personal electronics device responsive to thermal conditions comprising:

a first processor supporting a first operating system and a relatively limited number of functions, where the first processor generates a relatively limited amount of heat;

a second processor supporting a second operating system and a relatively large number of functions, where the second processor generates a relatively large amount of heat;

a thermal sensor coupled to the first processor and configured to generate a thermal signal;

wherein the first processor is configured to control operation of the second processor based at least in part on the thermal signal.

2. The personal electronics device of claim 1, wherein:

the first processor is configured to control the clock rate of the second processor based at least in part on the thermal signal.

3. The personal electronics device of claim 1, further comprising:

a dock sensor coupled to the first processor;

wherein the first processor is configured to control the clock rate of the second processor based at least in part on a dock sensor signal.

4. The personal electronics device of claim 3, wherein:

the first processor is configured to increase the clock rate of the second processor based at least in part on the dock sensor signal.

13. A dock for communicating with and cooling the personal electronics device of claim 1, comprising:

a fan configured to selectively activate in response to docking of the personal electronics device.

5. A method of controlling a temperature of personal electronics device having a first processor and a second processor, comprising the steps of

sensing the temperature of the electronics device and generating a thermal signal;

and

the first processor controlling operation of the second processor based at least in part on the thermal signal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the first processor controlling step includes controlling the clock rate of the second processor based at least in part on the thermal signal.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

sensing a docking signal; and

controlling the clock rate of the second processor based at least in part on a docking signal.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

sensing a docking signal; and

increasing the clock rate of the second processor based at least in part on a docking signal.

9. A personal electronics device having a thermal profile including a number of hot spots comprising:

a case that includes a number of features proximate to the hot spots to dissipate heat from the hot spots and cool the device.

10. The personal electronics device of claim 9, wherein:

the features are dimples.

11. The personal electronics device of claim 9, wherein:

the features are undulations.

14. A dock for communicating with and cooling the personal electronics device of claim 9, comprising:

a fan configured to selectively activate in response to docking of the personal electronics device.

12. A dock for communicating with and cooling a personal electronics device, comprising:

a fan configured to selectively activate in response to docking of the personal electronics device.