KR20040105505A - Method and device for controlling thermal in notebook computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A device and a method for selectively managing heat of each device in a notebook computer are provided to precisely detect the heat generated from respective devices through multiple temperature sensors, and control temperature more precisely by performing control for lowering the heat generated from each device based on the detected temperature. CONSTITUTION: The temperature sensors(31) are respectively installed around the devices(40-46) generating the heat in the notebook computer. A storage stores each reference value of the temperature sensors and a function control value for lowering the heat generated from each device. A temperature control controller(25) performs the control corresponding to the function control value if a detected value is over the reference value by monitoring the value detected from the temperature sensor. A selector selects the device to receive heat management control from the heat generating devices.

Description

Method and device for controlling thermal in notebook computer

The present invention relates to a thermal management apparatus and method of a laptop computer that can effectively manage the heat generated when using the laptop computer to maximize the convenience and efficiency of the user.

In portable devices such as laptop computers, PDAs, and desktop controllers including desktop computers, CPU performance is very important, which can be described as the product's performance. This is because the CPU is a key part of the computer, which is responsible for controlling the input / output device, receiving data, storing it in arithmetic operation, and outputting the result. Therefore, the devices need control of the CPU to perform any one function.

In recent years, the performance of the CPU has been rapidly improving, and related peripherals have also been improving. In particular, the CPU generates a lot of heat during its operation. What's more, CPU performance gains increased CPU heat. Since a CPU that generates a lot of heat is likely to malfunction due to heat, cooling the CPU is important in the device. In fact, if the CPU's temperature rises too much, it may cause a malfunction, causing the computer to jam. Therefore, a thermal problem and a system internal thermal problem caused by the operation of the CPU are seriously raised as one problem.

In order to cool the heat generated by the CPU, a heat sink and a cooling fan are generally used. For example, the Pentium II SECC package uses a cooling fan that is completely blocked by a plastic cartridge, while the Pentium III SECC2 package uses a heat sink and a cooling fan at the same time with an open core. The heat sink is a method of cooling the temperature of the CPU by increasing the area in contact with the air, and the cooling fan is a method for cooling the CPU by forcibly introducing outside air.

Next, a method of cooling a CPU by using a cooling fan in a conventional notebook computer will be described.

1 is a control block diagram for controlling a cooling fan in a conventional notebook computer.

As shown in the drawing, the central processing unit 50 performs overall control over the overall functions provided in the system, embeds a temperature sensing element, detects and outputs temperature information (Tcpu) of the CPU, and the central processing unit. The super I / O controller 55 (hereinafter referred to as 'super I / O') receives the temperature information Tcpu of the central processing unit from the device 50 and stores it in an internally provided CPU temperature register. And a separate controller 60 for controlling the speed of the cooling fan in association with the super I / O 55. The controller 60 uses a microcomputer built-in type. The controller 60 and the super I / O 55 perform data transmission through a communication bus (SM bus). And a cooling fan that receives a pulse width modulation signal (PWM signal) provided by the super I / O 55 under the control of the controller 60 to adjust the duty of power supplied to a cooling fan (not shown). The drive circuit 65 is provided.

In the conventional notebook computer having the above configuration, the cooling fan was controlled by the following process.

The CPU 50 detects heat generated during the operation and provides the CPU temperature information Tcpu to the super I / O 50. The super I / O 55 stores the CPU temperature information in a CPU temperature register allocated therein.

On the other hand, the controller 60 reads the CPU temperature register value stored in the super I / O 55 via the SM bus by a predetermined cooling fan control algorithm. Then, the value set internally is compared with the read CPU temperature register value to determine the PWM duty of the cooling fan according to the difference. The determined PWM duty value is written to the PWM duty register provided in the super I / O 55 using the SM bus.

Subsequently, the super I / O 55 outputs a PWM signal by the PWM duty recorded in the value of the PWM duty register provided therein to the fan driving circuit 65, and the cooling fan is output by the PWM signal. The speed of is determined.

That is, in the conventional notebook computer, the speed of the cooling fan is variably controlled to cool the CPU. However, the cooling fan control in the conventional notebook computer has the following problems.

In conventional notebook computers, only the temperature of the CPU is monitored and based on the overall thermal control of the system. This assumes only the CPU as a factor to increase the temperature of the system and manages it based on this. However, desktop computers, such as notebook computers, generate heat when used in addition to the CPU and other peripheral devices such as video controllers, amplifiers, multi-function ICs, and FET devices for a certain period of time. The heat generated from the devices directly or indirectly affects the system, causing performance degradation and operational errors.

In particular, when users use a notebook computer, the heat generated by the CPU is not directly felt. It only indirectly feels the heat transferred through the outer case. At this time, the heat transmitted to the user is generated by various other devices and elements as well as the heat generated by the CPU.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a thermal management apparatus and method of a notebook computer for controlling thermal management for each of the heat generating devices in the system.

1 is a cooling fan control configuration of a conventional notebook computer,

2 is a control block diagram of a notebook computer according to the present invention,

3 is a detailed configuration diagram for thermal management in the notebook computer of the present invention,

4 is an operation flowchart for thermal management in the notebook computer of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

40-46: device 48: bus

30 ~ 36: Temperature sensor 31: Temperature detector

25: temperature control controller

The thermal management apparatus of the notebook computer according to the present invention for achieving the above object, and a plurality of temperature sensors which are respectively installed in the periphery of the heat generating devices inside the notebook computer; and reference values for each of the plurality of temperature sensors and each of the heat generating device Storage means for storing a function control value for lowering the generated heat; Control means for monitoring whether the detected value of the temperature sensor reaches a reference value and performing control corresponding to a function control value stored in the storage means when the reference value rises above the reference value; And selecting means for selecting to perform thermal management control among the plurality of heat generating devices, wherein the selection value of the selecting means is provided to the control means.

The storage means and the control means, characterized in that using a temperature control controller.

The temperature control controller is characterized in that for controlling the cooling fan for cooling the system.

The temperature control controller is characterized in that for controlling the clock signal for system cooling.

The temperature control controller is characterized in that for controlling the power for system cooling.

The temperature control controller is characterized in that for controlling the output level of each heat generating device for system cooling.

The temperature control controller is characterized in that for outputting a message indicating that the system cooling control state.

In addition, the thermal management method of the notebook computer according to the present invention for achieving the above object, a plurality of temperature sensors, respectively installed in the periphery of the heat generating devices inside the notebook computer, for reducing the reference value for each and the heat generated by each heat generating device A storing step of storing a function control value; A selection step of selecting one of the plurality of heat generating devices to perform thermal management control; And a control step of monitoring whether the detected value of the selected temperature sensor reaches a reference value, and performing control corresponding to the stored function control value when the detection value of the selected temperature sensor rises above the reference value.

The present invention may further include a cooling fan operating step of operating the cooling fan for system cooling when the detected value of the selected temperature sensor rises above the reference value.

The present invention may further include a message output step of informing that system thermal management control is performed when the detected value of the selected temperature sensor rises above the reference value.

Hereinafter, a thermal management apparatus and method for a notebook computer according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 schematically shows the overall configuration of a notebook computer to which the thermal management apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied. The notebook computer, as shown, has a central processing unit 10, a video controller 11, a host PCI bridge 12, a memory 13, a video RAM 14, an audio controller. LAN controller 16, Card BUS controller 17, PCI-ISA Bridge 18, LCD 19, microcomputer 20 And the keyboard 21 are connected via a bus line.

The PC-AS Bridge 18 includes a CMOS RAM 180, and the microcomputer 20 includes a ROM 200, a RAM 201, and a keyboard controller 203. ) Is configured to include.

In the embodiment of the present invention, when the temperature detection unit 31 composed of a plurality of temperature sensors and thermistors for monitoring heat detected from various heat generating devices and heat generated above a predetermined value is generated according to the use of the system, A temperature control controller 25 that performs control for cooling the heat is connected to the PC-AS bridge 18. The temperature control controller 25 controls the fan drive circuit 27 to drive the cooling fan 29 for cooling control. In addition to this, the temperature control controller 25 selectively adjusts a signal output for power control, a signal output for clock control, a message output for notifying control of lowering heat generated, and audio volume for cooling control. Outputs a signal for

The temperature control controller 25 uses a super input / output device controller or a temperature control controller having a cooling fan control function. The function control value and the reference temperature value for thermal management of each heat generating device may be stored in a separate memory. That is, the temperature control controller 25 may be configured to read the stored value of the memory and perform the corresponding control.

In the present invention, the temperature control controller 25 inputs the temperature detected from the various heat generating devices in the system, respectively, and outputs a control signal for lowering the temperature of the system based on the input. Therefore, in the present invention, the temperature control controller 25 is configured to receive a temperature sensed by the temperature detector 31 detecting heat generated from various heat generating devices in the system. The temperature detector 31 is composed of a thermistor, a temperature sensor, or the like, which is a resistive temperature element. The temperature detector 31 is configured to detect at least one temperature sensor of each of the various heat generating devices in the system, thereby generating heat generated by each of the heat generating devices.

For example, the liquid crystal display 19 may include a light emitting device such as a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) device at a lower side or an upper side of the liquid crystal display 19. Although not shown, the liquid crystal display brightness adjusting device includes a power supply unit for converting and supplying battery power or AC adapter power to a constant voltage level, and a power supply having a constant voltage level applied through the power supply unit. An inverter for fast switching according to a pulse width modulation signal and applied to the light emitting device is included.

The inverter generally uses a transistor, a FET, an IGBT element, or the like, which is an electrical switching element capable of on / off switching. The devices generate a lot of heat when used for a certain period of time. Therefore, in the present invention, a temperature sensor is installed around a heat generator that generates a lot of heat after a predetermined time, such as an inverter, a central processing unit, a video controller, an amplifier, and the like.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, at least one temperature detection element 30, 32, 34, 36 around the various heat generating devices 40, 42, 44, 46 connected to the system bus 48. ) Is installed. The detection values of the respective temperature detecting elements 30, 32, 34 and 36 are supplied to the temperature control controller 25. The temperature control controller 25 receives a detection value from each of the temperature detecting devices 30, 32, 34, and 36 and performs a control for lowering a system internal temperature. The temperature control controller 25 is configured to receive a user selection signal. The user selection signal is an enable / disable signal for selecting whether or not to perform temperature control based on the detected value of each temperature detection element.

Next, the operation process of the thermal management apparatus in the notebook computer according to the present invention having the above configuration will be described.

4 is an operation control flowchart of the thermal management apparatus in the notebook computer of the present invention.

The user enters the CMOS during the booting of the system and adjusts the value stored in the CMOS RAM 180 to correspond to the thermal management (step 300). In the CMOS of the present invention, a selection is made to select heat generating devices for performing thermal management in the notebook computer of the present invention and whether to perform thermal management of each heat generating device (enable state) or not (disable state). Mode is provided. The CMOS is configured and provided with the selection mode corresponding to the number of heat generating devices for performing thermal management in the embodiment of the present invention.

That is, in step 300, only the mode of the thermal management apparatus that requires thermal management by user selection is selected. For example, during use of a system (program) that does not require speaker output, there will be no need to control the thermal management of the speaker. In this case, therefore, the thermal management control of the speaker is adjusted to the disabled state. The adjusted CMOS selection value is stored in the CMOS RAM 180.

The value stored in the CMOS RAM 180 is transferred to the temperature control controller 25 through the BIOS during the booting of the system (operation 310).

The temperature control controller 25 provided with the signal in step 310 determines whether or not to perform a thermal management operation on each of the heat generating devices based on the provided signal.

On the other hand, the temperature control controller 25, the reference temperature for determining whether the generated temperature of each of the heat generating apparatus reaches the temperature to perform the heat management, and the function control values required to reduce it are stored . Therefore, the temperature control controller 25 reads and recognizes the necessary control value for the mode selected in step 310 (step 320). The control value is the function control value, reference temperature, and the like described above.

For example, a reference temperature for determining whether the temperature of the speaker reaches a predetermined value or more, and a control value for lowering the speaker volume in order to lower the generated heat according to the use of the speaker are stored. These values are defined and stored for each device individually.

Next, the temperature control controller 25 detects heat generated by each of the heat generating devices 40, 42, 44, and 46 while the system is operating. The temperature detection is performed by temperature sensors 30, 32, 34 and 36 installed around the respective heat generating devices. The temperature detected by each of the temperature sensors is converted into an electrical signal and then input to the temperature control controller 25 (step 330).

The temperature control controller 25 compares the temperature detected in step 330 with a reference temperature set. Then, it is monitored whether the detected temperature is equal to or higher than the set reference temperature (step 340). The reference temperature can be set differently for each temperature sensor.

If the temperature detected by the arbitrary temperature sensor in step 340 rises above the set reference temperature, the temperature control controller 25 performs the control to lower the system temperature (step 350). .

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when the temperature generated by the central processing unit reaches a predetermined value or more, control is performed to adjust the clock of the central processing unit. When the generated temperature of the system power generating unit reaches a predetermined value or more, control to lower the system power is performed. The system power control, for example, may perform a control to adjust the operating duty of the switching element in the inverter of the liquid crystal display. In addition, when the temperature generated by the audio signal output operation reaches a predetermined value or more, a control is performed to lower the volume of the amplifier that amplifies the audio signal by a predetermined amount.

At this time, the temperature control controller 25 may output a warning message indicating that the system temperature has risen above a predetermined value. The warning message thus output is displayed on the liquid crystal display 19 and provided to the user. At this time, the user can detect that the system temperature has risen and recognize that the control to lower it is being performed. Therefore, even when the display brightness of the liquid crystal display 19 changes due to a change in power of the system, the user determines that the system is not abnormal.

In addition, the temperature control controller 25 performs a control to operate the cooling fan 29. That is, the cooling fan 29 is operated through the fan driving circuit 27 to quickly lower the system generation temperature.

As described above, the thermal management apparatus and method of the notebook computer according to the present invention generates a lot of heat in the system, individually monitors the generated heat of the device (component) to be transmitted to the outside, and compares with each reference temperature When reaching a predetermined value or more, it is characterized by performing a control to lower the generated heat. In particular, the present invention is configured so that the user can select whether or not to thermal management of each device. With such control, the present invention effectively manages the heat generated when using the notebook computer to provide convenience to the user.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the detailed description of the specification but should be defined by the claims.

The thermal management apparatus and method of the notebook computer according to the present invention described above can obtain the following effects.

First, the present invention can accurately detect heat generated in each heat generating device through a plurality of temperature sensors.

Second, the present invention performs a control for lowering the generated heat of each heat generator based on the temperature detected through each temperature sensor, it is possible to more accurately temperature control.

Third, the present invention can effectively manage the heat generated when the notebook computer is used, thereby suppressing the error caused by the heat and obtaining the effect of maximizing the use efficiency of the system.

Claims (10)

A plurality of temperature sensors each installed around the heat generating devices of the notebook computer; Storage means for storing reference values for each of the plurality of temperature sensors and a function control value for lowering generated heat of each heat generating device; Control means for monitoring whether the detected value of the temperature sensor reaches a reference value and performing control corresponding to a function control value stored in the storage means when the reference value rises above the reference value; And selecting means for selecting to perform thermal management control among the plurality of heat generating devices, And a selection value of the selection means is provided to the control means. The method of claim 1, And the storage means and the control means use a temperature control controller. The method of claim 2, The temperature control controller is a thermal management device of a notebook computer, characterized in that for controlling the cooling fan for cooling the system. The method of claim 2, The temperature control controller is a thermal management device of a notebook computer, characterized in that for controlling the clock signal for system cooling. The method of claim 2, The temperature control controller is a thermal management device of a notebook computer, characterized in that for controlling the power for cooling the system. The method of claim 2, The temperature control controller is a thermal management device of a notebook computer, characterized in that for controlling the output level of each heat generating device for system cooling. The method of claim 2, The temperature control controller is a thermal management device of a notebook computer, characterized in that for outputting a message indicating that the system cooling control state. A storage step of storing a plurality of temperature sensors respectively installed around the internal heat generating devices of the notebook computer, a reference value for each of them, and a function control value for lowering the generated heat of each heat generating device; A selection step of selecting one of the plurality of heat generating devices to perform thermal management control; And a control step of monitoring whether the detected value of the selected temperature sensor reaches a reference value, and performing a control corresponding to the stored function control value when the detected value of the selected temperature sensor rises above the reference value. The method of claim 8, And a cooling fan operating step of operating a cooling fan for system cooling when the detected value of the selected temperature sensor is higher than a reference value. The method of claim 8, If the detection value of the selected temperature sensor is higher than the reference value, the thermal management method of the notebook computer further comprises a message output step notifying that the system thermal management control is performed.