Thermal management of a personal computing apparatus

• US 7,412,306 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2005
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo PC International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Shimotono, Susumu, Yamazaki, Mitsuhiro, Katoh, Takayuki, Tadokoro, Mizuho, Uchida, Hiroyuki, Miyashita, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Vincent; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gami; Tejal
• Application Number:
  US11/032,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20060155424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: 700/299, 700/300
• US Class Current: 700/299
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1919 characterised by the type of controller

Abstract

A method and system are provided for thermal management of a portable computing apparatus. Accelerometers are provided to detect changes in attitude, and temperature sensors are provided to detect changes in temperature. A fan is used to cool the internal temperature of the electronic components of the computer. In response to lift of the computer from a stationary surface, the computer may transition to an alternative state of operation. The transition may include the change of the speed of the fan and/or adjustment of the processor clock.

Claims

1. A method for cooling a portable computing apparatus comprising:

detecting movement of said computer from a stationary surface, with said movement detected by an accelerometer;

determining if a target temperature is exceeded in response to said movement;

transitioning said computer to an alternative cooling state in response to said positive determination; and

switching to a rapid cooling phase of heat producing hardware in said computer in response to determining said target temperature has been exceeded, with said rapid cooling phase changing fan speed and forcibly reducing performance of the processor and video.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said rapid cooling phase allows said target temperature to be attained in a short time interval.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising switching to a laptop cooling state following said rapid cooling phase operating for a predefined time interval.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising switching to a laptop cooling state following an internal temperature reaching a target temperature.

5. A portable computing apparatus comprising:

a detector to sense tilt of said computer from a stationary surface, with said tilt detected by an accelerometer;

a sensor to determine if a target temperature is exceeded in response to said tilt;

a controller to transition said computer to an alternative cooling state in response to said positive determination; and

a manager to switch heat producing hardware in said computer to a rapid cooling phase in response to a determination that said target temperature has been exceeded, with said rapid cooling phase changing fan speed and forcibly reducing performance of the processor and video.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said rapid cooling phase allows said target temperature to be attained in a short time interval.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a switch by said controller to a laptop cooling state after operation of said rapid cooling phase for a predefined time interval.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a switch by said controller to a laptop cooling state after an internal temperature has reached a target temperature.

9. An article comprising:

means for detecting movement of a computer between a stationary surface and a non-stationary surface;

means for determining if a target temperature is exceeded in response to said movement;

means for transitioning said computer to an alternative cooling state in response to said positive determination; and

means for switching to a rapid cooling phase of heat producing hardware in said computer in response to said target temperature determination means, with said rapid cooling phase changing fan speed and forcibly reducing performance of the processor and video.

10. The article of claim 9, wherein said rapid cooling phase allows said target temperature to be attained in a short time interval.

11. The article of claim 10, further comprising means for switching to a cooling state following said rapid cooling phase operating for a predefined time interval.

12. The article of claim 9, further comprising means for switching to a cooling state following an internal temperature reaching a target temperature.