KR100608572B1 - Apparatus and method for cooling a potable computer - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling apparatus and method for a portable computer.

The cooling apparatus of a portable computer according to an embodiment of the present invention is a cooling unit for detecting the movement of the portable computer by the motion sensing unit for detecting the movement of the portable computer, the cooling unit for cooling the portable computer, and the movement sensing unit And a control unit for controlling the intensity.

According to the present invention, the use of a portable computer in a laptop environment can reduce the heat transferred from the portable computer to the user.

Portable computer, cooling system

Description

Apparatus and method for cooling a potable computer}

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a cooling apparatus according to the prior art.

2A illustrates the use of a portable computer in a desktop environment.

2B illustrates the use of a portable computer in a laptop environment.

3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a cooling device of a portable computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a view for explaining the movement of the portable computer detected by the motion sensing unit.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of a cooling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of a cooling apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols on main parts of the drawings>

210: temperature sensing unit 220: control unit

230: cooling unit 240: clock control unit

250: motion sensing unit

The present invention relates to a cooling apparatus and method, and more particularly, to determine whether a portable computer is used in a laptop environment, to increase the cooling strength of the portable computer if it is determined that the portable computer is used in a laptop environment. It relates to a cooling device and a method to make.

Recently, the spread of portable computers such as notebook-sized personal computers is spreading. Portable computers have the advantage of being easy to carry, providing convenience for users who need to work while on the go. In addition, as wireless network technology is developed, the use of portable computers is gradually increasing as it becomes easier to access a network such as the Internet through a portable computer.

Such portable computers, like desktop computers, generate a lot of heat when used. This heat is generated during the operation of various chipsets (hereinafter, referred to as signal processing units) that are powered by a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics card, a sound card, etc. and process electrical signals as desired. .

If the heat generated from the portable computer is left as it is, the performance of the various signal processing units described above is deteriorated or the operation of the signal processing unit is stopped. For this reason, a technique for cooling the signal processing unit by dissipating heat generated in the portable computer to the outside of the portable computer is required.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a cooling apparatus according to the prior art.

Since the main cause of the heat generated in the portable computer is due to the operation of the CPU of the signal processor, the CPU 10 will be described as an example of the signal processor. The illustrated cooling device 100 includes a temperature sensing unit 110, a control unit 120, and a cooling unit 130. In addition, the conventional cooling device may further include a clock control unit 140.

The temperature sensing unit 110 measures the temperature of the CPU 10 and transmits it to the control unit 120.

The controller 120 operates the cooling unit 130 according to the temperature of the CPU 10 measured by the temperature sensing unit 110. For example, when the temperature of the CPU 10 measured from the temperature sensing unit 110 is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, the controller 120 operates the cooling unit 130.

The cooling unit 130 is operated under the control of the control unit 120 to lower the temperature of the CPU 10. For example, the cooling unit 130 includes a heat dissipation pipe and a cooling fan. The heat dissipation pipe transfers heat generated from the CPU 10 to the cooling fan, and the cooling fan rotates under the control of the controller 120 to release heat transferred from the heat dissipation pipe to the outside of the portable computer.

Meanwhile, the controller 120 may adjust the rotation speed of the cooling fan according to the temperature of the CPU 10 measured by the temperature sensing unit 110. For example, the controller 120 increases the rotation speed of the cooling fan as the temperature of the CPU 10 is higher than the preset thresholds, and cooling when the temperature of the CPU 10 is lower than the preset thresholds. It will reduce the rotation speed of the fan.

The clock control unit 140 outputs an interrupt signal (SMI) when the temperature of the CPU 10 reaches a predetermined limit value despite the operation of the cooling unit 130, so that the clock speed of the CPU 10 is increased. Forcibly decreases. As such, the clock controller 140 suppresses heat generation by lowering the data processing speed of the CPU 10 so that the CPU 10 is no longer overheated.

A portable computer, on the other hand, can be used not only in a desktop environment as shown in FIG. 2A but also in a lap-top environment as shown in FIG. 2B. In the portable computer, since various hardware including signal processing units are densely installed in a computer main body case having a compact internal space in consideration of mobility, heat generated in each signal processing unit is easily transferred to the computer main body case. Therefore, when a user uses the portable computer in a laptop environment, heat generated from each signal processor of the portable computer is transmitted to the user through the bottom surface of the computer main body case, causing a user to feel uncomfortable.

However, the cooling device according to the prior art has a main purpose to protect the signal processing unit constituting the portable computer from the generated heat. Therefore, without considering the above-described problems, the cooling intensity is adjusted according to the temperature of each signal processing unit or the heat generation suppression policy for each signal processing unit is performed. As described above, the conventional cooling apparatus performs the same cooling and heat suppression policy when the user uses the portable computer in the desktop environment and the laptop environment.

Accordingly, when a portable computer is used in a laptop environment, there is a need for a cooling device capable of performing an enhanced cooling and heat suppression policy compared to when the portable computer is used in a desktop environment.

Meanwhile, Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-0011151 (CPE oil cooling device and method) uses a fast response thermoelectric module as a CPU cooling element, so that the CPU can operate in a high power mode and rapidly cool down when the temperature rises sharply. Is disclosed. However, Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-0011151 also aims to control the temperature of the CPU, and there is still no problem regarding the case where the portable computer is used in a laptop environment.

It is an object of the present invention to implement an enhanced cooling policy for a portable computer when the portable computer is used in a laptop environment.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects that are not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In order to achieve the above object, a cooling device of a portable computer according to an embodiment of the present invention is a mobile device by a motion sensing unit for detecting the movement of the portable computer, a cooling unit for cooling the portable computer, and the motion sensing unit And a controller for controlling the cooling intensity of the cooling unit as the movement of the computer is detected.

In order to achieve the above object, a cooling method of a portable computer according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of detecting the movement of the portable computer, controlling the cooling intensity according to the movement of the portable computer, and the controlled Cooling the portable computer in accordance with cooling intensity.

Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and the drawings.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various different forms, and only the embodiments make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. It is provided to fully inform the person having the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a cooling device of a portable computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The illustrated cooling device 200 includes a temperature sensing unit 210, a controller 220, a cooling unit 230, a clock adjusting unit 240, and a motion sensing unit 250.

The temperature sensing unit 210 measures the temperature of the various signal processing units 20 and transmits the temperature to the control unit 220. The signal processor 20 processes electrical signals as desired, such as a CPU, a graphics card component chipset that supports graphics performance, and a sound card component chipset that supports sound performance, and generates various types of computer chipsets that generate heat in the processing operation. Can be. Accordingly, the temperature sensing unit 210 may include one or more temperature sensors, and may measure the temperature of each chipset constituting the portable computer.

In addition, the temperature sensing unit 210 measures not only the temperature of the signal processing unit 20 through a plurality of temperature sensors, but also the temperature of the bottom surface of the main body case of the portable computer having many contact surfaces with a user's body part (eg, knee) in a laptop environment. You can also measure.

When the motion of the portable computer is not detected from the motion sensing unit 250, the controller 220 according to the temperature of the signal processor 20 measured by the temperature sensing unit 210, as described through the prior art, may include a cooling unit ( 230) can be activated. For example, the controller 220 compares the temperature of the CPU 10 transmitted from the temperature sensing unit 210 with a preset threshold value, and if the temperature of the CPU 10 is greater than or equal to the threshold value, the cooling unit 230. It can be operated.

In this case, the controller 220 may adjust the cooling strength of the cooling unit 230 according to the temperature of the signal processing unit 20 transmitted from the temperature sensing unit 210. For example, the controller 220 may increase the cooling intensity of the cooling unit 230 as the temperature of the signal processing unit 20 increases, and as the temperature of the signal processing unit 20 decreases, the cooling intensity of the cooling unit 230. Can be reduced.

Meanwhile, when the movement of the portable computer is detected from the motion sensing unit 250, the controller 220 may determine that the portable computer is used in the laptop environment and increase the cooling strength of the cooling unit 230. Preferably, the controller 220 determines that the portable computer is used in the desktop environment when it is determined that the portable computer is used in the laptop environment (when movement of the portable computer is detected from the motion sensing unit 250). In this case, the cooling unit 230 may be controlled to perform an enhanced cooling policy than in the case where the movement of the portable computer is not detected from the moving sensing unit 250. An example thereof is shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1

Cooling fan speed Desk top environment Laptop environment X ℃ N times / min N + 10 times / min X + 10 ℃ N + 10 times / min N + 20 times / min ... ... ... X + n ℃ N + a times / minute N + a + 10 times / minute

When the cooling unit includes a cooling fan, as shown in Table 1, the rotation speed of the cooling fan in the laptop environment may be higher than the rotation speed of the cooling fan in the desktop environment at the same temperature.

More preferably, when it is determined that the portable computer is used in the laptop environment, the controller 220 may control the cooling unit 220 to operate at the highest cooling strength among the ranges of the cooling strengths that can be performed.

In another embodiment of the present invention, when the temperature sensing unit 210 measures the temperature of the bottom surface of the main body case of the portable computer, the controller 220 is configured to preset the temperature of the bottom surface of the portable computer main body case in a laptop environment. Cooling strength of the cooling unit 230 may be controlled to be maintained below the threshold temperature.

The cooling unit 230 is operated under the control of the control unit 220 to lower the temperature of the portable computer. More specifically, the cooling unit 230 may lower the temperature of the portable computer by cooling the various signal processing units 20 constituting the portable computer.

For example, the cooling unit 230 may include a heat dissipation pipe and a cooling fan. The heat dissipation pipe transfers heat generated from the signal processor 20 to the cooling fan, and the cooling fan rotates under the control of the controller 220 to discharge heat transferred from the heat dissipation pipe to the outside of the portable computer.

In the present invention, one or more cooling units may be further included to reduce heat transferred from the portable computer to the user in a laptop environment.

The clock control unit 240 limits the signal processing speed of the signal processing unit 20 when the temperature of the signal processing unit 20 reaches a predetermined limit despite the operation of the cooling unit 230, thereby generating heat generated by the signal processing unit 20. Can also be reduced.

For example, when the cooling unit 230 is operated at the maximum cooling intensity but the temperature of the CPU of the portable computer exceeds a preset threshold, the clock controller 240 outputs an interrupt signal (SMI) to output the CPU. Force the clock speed down.

As such, the clock controller 240 decreases the data processing speed of the signal processor 20 so that the signal processor 20 is no longer overheated.

The motion sensing unit 250 detects the movement of the portable computer. More specifically, the motion sensing unit 250 may determine whether there is motion in the portable computer by detecting whether the portable computer rotates about a predetermined reference axis or whether the portable computer is accelerated in a specific direction. have.

When a user uses a portable computer in a laptop environment, the portable computer is not fixed to the user's lap. Therefore, when the user uses the portable computer in a laptop environment, the portable computer moves up, down, front, back, left, and right on the user's lap. The motion sensing unit 250 detects the movement of the portable computer. To this end, the motion sensing unit 250 may be configured as an inertial sensor such as a gyroscope or an acceleration sensor such as a micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) type accelerometer.

For example, the motion sensing unit 250 may include an inertial sensor (not shown) installed in three reference axes (X, Y, and Z axes) perpendicular to each other as shown in FIG. 4. As a result, the motion sensing unit 250 may measure whether the portable computer rotates about each reference axis, which may be a basis for determining whether the portable computer is used in a laptop environment.

On the other hand, the motion sensing unit 250 is a fine movement of the portable computer that can be detected when the user uses the portable computer in the desktop environment (for example, the movement of the portable computer that can be detected when the user types through the keyboard of the portable computer). ) And the laptop's movement due to the laptop not being held on the user's lap in a laptop environment. To this end, when the portable computer rotates more than the threshold angle based on a predetermined reference axis or when the portable computer receives an acceleration greater than or equal to the threshold value, the portable computer determines that there is movement of the portable computer and transmits the movement of the portable computer to the controller 220. It may be.

Hereinafter, the operation of the cooling apparatus 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of the cooling apparatus 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The first user supplies power to the portable computer in order to use the portable computer (S110).

When power is supplied, the controller 220 operates the cooling unit 130 according to the temperature of the signal processing unit 20 measured by the temperature sensing unit 210 (S120). This may be a cooling process of the method as described in the prior art. For example, when the cooling unit 230 includes a cooling fan, the controller 220 may adjust the rotational speed of the cooling fan according to the temperature of the signal processing unit 20 measured by the temperature sensing unit 210.

At this time, the motion sensing unit 250 detects whether the portable computer is moving (S130). If the motion of the portable computer is not detected by the motion sensing unit 250, the controller 220 may determine that the portable computer is used in the desktop environment. Therefore, in this case, the controller 220 may control the cooling unit 230 to operate according to the related art as described in operation S120.

However, if the movement of the portable computer is detected by the motion sensing unit 250 in step S130, the controller 220 may determine that the portable computer is used in the laptop environment. In this case, the control unit 220 may increase the cooling intensity of the cooling unit 230 in order to reduce the transfer of heat generated from the portable computer to the user (S140). For example, when the cooling unit 230 includes a cooling fan, the controller 220 may increase the rotation speed of the cooling fan. Preferably, the controller 220 may control the cooling fan to have the highest rotation speed within the range of the rotation speed allowed for the cooling fan.

As such, the cooling intensity performed by the cooling unit 230 in the laptop environment has a higher cooling intensity than that performed by the cooling unit 230 in the desktop environment under the same temperature. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize the heat transferred from the portable computer to the user.

In addition, when the cooling unit 230 is operating at the maximum cooling intensity that can be performed, but the temperature of the portable computer exceeds a preset threshold value, the clock control unit 230 may increase the data processing speed of the signal processing unit 20. By reducing the amount of heat generated by the signal processor 20 may be reduced.

Meanwhile, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller 220 may determine that the portable computer is used in the laptop environment when the movement of the portable computer is continuously detected by the motion sensing unit 250 for a predetermined time or more. have. In this case, if the movement of the portable computer is continuously detected for a predetermined time or more in step S130, the controller 220 increases the cooling intensity of the cooling unit 230 according to step S140. If the movement of the portable computer is not continuously detected for a predetermined time or more at step S130, the controller 220 may maintain the cooling policy performed at step S120.

According to this embodiment, the portable computer is used in the laptop environment due to the temporary movement of the portable computer, which may occur when the user changes the position of the portable computer in the desktop environment, or accidentally impacts the portable computer. The controller 220 may reduce the possibility that the controller 220 operates the cooling unit 230 more than necessary.

Meanwhile, when the temperature sensing unit 210 of the cooling device 200 measures the temperature of the bottom surface of the portable computer body case and transmits the temperature to the control unit 220, the control unit 220 may control the cooling unit 230 accordingly. This may be described with reference to FIG. 6.

6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process of a cooling apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The first user supplies power to the portable computer in order to use the portable computer (S210).

When the power is supplied, the controller 220 operates the cooling unit 230 according to the temperature of the signal processing unit 20 measured by the temperature sensing unit 210 (S220). This may be a cooling process of the method as described in the prior art. For example, when the cooling unit 230 includes a cooling fan, the controller 220 may adjust the rotational speed of the cooling fan according to the temperature of the signal processing unit 20 measured by the temperature sensing unit 210.

In this case, the motion sensing unit 250 detects whether the portable computer is moving (S230). If the motion of the portable computer is not detected by the motion sensing unit 250, the controller 220 may determine that the portable computer is used in the desktop environment. Therefore, in this case, the controller 220 may control the cooling unit 230 to operate according to the related art as described in operation S220.

However, if the movement of the portable computer is detected by the motion sensing unit 250 in step S230, the controller 220 may determine that the portable computer is used in the laptop environment. In this case, in order to reduce the transfer of heat generated from the portable computer to the user, the controller 220 may maintain the bottom surface temperature of the portable computer body case measured by the temperature sensing unit 210 below a preset threshold temperature. The cooling strength of the cooling unit 230 may be adjusted (S240).

At this time, the cooling unit 230 is operating at the maximum cooling intensity that can be performed, but when the temperature of the portable computer exceeds a preset threshold, the clock control unit 230 reduces the data processing speed of the signal processing unit 20. As a result, the amount of heat generated by the signal processor 20 may be reduced.

Meanwhile, the cooling policy described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 may be performed in combination with the same portable computer.

Meanwhile, in each of the above-described embodiments, the user activates the enhanced cooling policy in the laptop environment according to the embodiment of the present invention through a user interface unit (eg, a keyboard, a touch pad, a mouse, etc.) (not shown) of the portable computer. Or you can disable it. If the user disables the enhanced cooling policy in a laptop environment, the cooling device may apply the same cooling policy in a desktop environment as described in the prior art.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may implement the present invention in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features thereof. You will understand that. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive.

According to the cooling apparatus and method of the present invention as described above, when the portable computer is used in a laptop environment, the cooling strength of the portable computer is increased, thereby reducing the heat transferred from the portable computer to the user.

Claims (12)

A motion sensing unit for detecting a motion of the portable computer; A cooling unit for cooling the portable computer; And And a controller configured to control a cooling intensity of the cooling unit when the movement of the portable computer is detected by the movement sensing unit. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to increase the cooling intensity when the movement of the portable computer is detected by the motion sensing unit to increase the cooling intensity when the movement of the portable computer is not detected by the motion sensing unit. Cooling apparatus of a portable computer for controlling the cooling unit. The cooling apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller controls the cooling intensity of the cooling unit when the movement of the portable computer is continuously detected by the movement sensing unit for a threshold time or more. The cooling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motion sensing unit detects that the portable computer is in motion when the portable computer rotates more than a threshold angle or is accelerated above a predetermined reference axis based on a predetermined reference axis. The main body case of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensing unit configured to measure a temperature of a bottom surface of the main body case of the portable computer, and wherein the movement of the portable computer is detected by the motion sensing unit. Cooling apparatus of a portable computer for controlling the cooling unit so that the temperature of the bottom surface is maintained below the critical temperature. The data processing unit of claim 1, wherein the data processing unit processes a signal required to operate the portable computer when the temperature of the portable computer exceeds a preset limit while the cooling unit is operating to cool the portable computer. And a clock controller for reducing the processing speed. Detecting whether the portable computer is in motion; Controlling the cooling intensity as the movement of the portable computer is detected; And Cooling the portable computer in accordance with the controlled cooling intensity. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the cooling intensity when the movement of the portable computer is detected is a cooling intensity increased than the cooling intensity when the movement of the portable computer is not detected. The method of claim 8, wherein the control of the cooling intensity is performed when the movement of the portable computer is continuously sensed for more than a threshold time. The method of claim 7, wherein the movement of the portable computer is detected when the portable computer is rotated by more than a threshold angle with respect to a predetermined reference axis or when the portable computer is accelerated by a threshold or more. 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of measuring the temperature of the bottom of the main body case of the portable computer, and when the movement of the portable computer is detected, controlling the cooling intensity of the main body case bottom of the portable computer Controlling the cooling intensity such that a temperature is maintained below a critical temperature. 8. The portable computer cooling method of claim 7, further comprising reducing a data processing speed of a signal processor that processes a signal required for operating the portable computer when the temperature of the portable computer exceeds a preset threshold. Way.

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