Heating circuit, electronic apparatus, and method for entering operation mode in low-temperature environment

• US 9,684,319 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2011
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Getac Technology Company Limited (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Getac Technology Company Limited (MiTAC Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Chiu, Chia-Chang
• Primary Examiner(s): Angwin, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): CALVETTI, FREDERICK F
• Application Number:
  US13/290,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20120168417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,055 Days
• Field of Search: 219486, 219487, 219489, 219490, 219491, 219494, 219507, 219508, 219510, 219511, 374141, 713 2, 713300, 702132
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1932 to control the temperature of a plurality of spaces
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/144 by detection, control, regulation of the temperature

Abstract

A method for entering an operation mode in a low-temperature environment is applicable in a situation that plural electronic devices in an electronic apparatus are not activated. Through performing the method, the electronic apparatus obtains a temperature of each electronic device after receiving a request of a user. Then the electronic apparatus determines whether the temperatures of all the electronic devices reach a threshold value. If the temperatures of at least two electronic devices do not reach the threshold value, the electronic apparatus generates a plurality of corresponding enable signals for the electronic devices having the temperatures lower than the threshold value. The waveforms of the enable signals vary alternately. The electronic apparatus transfers the enable signals to a plurality of corresponding heaters. Being activated by the received enable signal, each of the heaters heats the corresponding electronic device.

Claims

1. A heating circuit used in connection with a plurality of electronic devices that are not activated, the heating circuit comprising:

a plurality of thermal sensors arranged to respectively detect a temperature of a corresponding one of the electronic devices; and

a plurality of heaters arranged to respectively heat a corresponding one of the electronic devices; and

a controller programmed to;

obtain the temperature of each of the electronic devices respectively detected by the thermal sensors;

determine whether the temperature is lower than a threshold value; and

generate an enable signal for each heater corresponding to an electronic device having a temperature below the threshold value when the temperature of at least two electronic devices is lower than the threshold value, wherein an enable signal for each of the heaters comprises a continuous waveform generated while the temperature of the at least two electronic devices is lower than the threshold value and comprising an alternating sequence of high and low voltage levels, and wherein for the continuous waveform of a first one of the enable signals, each single low-voltage level begins and ends during a respective single high-voltage level of the continuous waveform of a second one of the enable signals, such that a pulse width of the second one of the enable signals when it reaches the high voltage level is wider than a pulse width of the first one of the enable signals at the low voltage level.

2. The heating circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is an embedded controller or a keyboard controller.

3. The heating circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each enable signal is a pulse width modulation signal.

4. The heating circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a hard disk driver, and the hard disk driver has a fluid dynamic bearing.

5. The heating circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to generate the plurality of enable signals only for the electronic devices having the temperatures lower than the threshold value when the temperatures of at least two electronic devices are lower than the threshold value.

6. The heating circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the enable signals is transferred to at least one heater.

7. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a processor and a plurality of electronic devices;

a plurality of thermal sensors arranged to respectively detect a temperature of a corresponding one of the electronic devices;

a plurality of heaters arranged to respectively heat a corresponding one of the electronic devices; and

a controller programmed to;

obtain the temperature of each of the electronic devices respectively detected by the thermal sensors before the electronic devices are activated;

determine whether the temperature is lower than a threshold value; and

generate an enable signal for each heater corresponding to an electronic device having a temperature below the threshold value when the temperature of at least two electronic devices is lower than the threshold value, wherein an enable signal for each of the heaters comprises a continuous waveform generated while the temperature of the at least two electronic devices is lower than the threshold value and comprising an alternating sequence of high and low voltage levels, and wherein for the continuous waveform of a first one of the enable signals, each single low-voltage level begins and ends during a respective single high-voltage level of the continuous waveform of a second one of the enable signals, such that a pulse width of the second one of the enable signals when it reaches the high voltage level is wider than a pulse width of the first one of the enable signals at the low voltage level.

8. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the electronic device comprises a hard disk driver, and the hard disk driver has a fluid dynamic bearing.

9. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the controller is an embedded controller or a keyboard controller.

10. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the enable signals is a pulse width modulation signal.

11. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the situation that each electronic device is not activated comprises that the electronic apparatus is in a shutdown mode, a dormant mode, or a sleep mode of an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface.

12. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein after the controller determines that the temperatures of all the electronic devices reach the threshold value, the controller enables the electronic apparatus to enter an operation mode of the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface.

14. The method for entering an operation mode in a low-temperature environment as claimed in claim 11, wherein in the situation that the electronic devices are not activated, the electronic apparatus is in a shutdown mode, a dormant mode, or a sleep mode of an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface, and the operation mode is a mode of the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface.

15. The method for entering an operation mode in a low-temperature environment as claimed in claim 11, wherein if the temperatures of all the electronic devices reach the threshold value, the electronic apparatus is enabled to enter the operation mode.

13. A method for entering an operation mode in a low-temperature environment, applicable in a situation when a plurality of electronic devices in an electronic apparatus are not activated, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a plurality of heaters arranged to respectively heat a corresponding one of the electronic devices, the method comprising:

after receiving a request, obtaining a temperature of each electronic device, wherein the request comprises an event of requiring the electronic apparatus to enter the operation mode;

respectively determining whether temperature of each electronic device is lower than a threshold value;

if the temperatures of at least two electronic devices are lower than the threshold value, generating an enable signal for each heater corresponding to an electronic device having a temperature below the threshold value, wherein an enable signal for each of the heaters comprises a continuous waveform generated while the temperature of the at least two electronic devices is lower than the threshold value and comprising an alternating sequence of high and low voltage levels, and wherein for the continuous waveform of a first one of the enable signals, each single low-voltage level begins and ends during a respective single high-voltage level of the continuous waveform of a second one of the enable signals, such that a pulse width of the second one of the enable signals when it reaches the high voltage level is wider than a pulse width of the first one of the enable signals at the low voltage level;

respectively transferring the enable signals to the corresponding heaters; and

respectively heating the electronic device corresponding to each heater receiving the enable signal according to the received enable signal.

16. The method for entering an operation mode in a low-temperature environment as claimed in claim 13, wherein the enable signal is a pulse width modulation signal.

17. The method for entering an operation mode in a low-temperature environment as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a step of entering the operation mode after all the electronic devices respectively reach the threshold value.