Device configuration-based thermal management control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10725510-B2
Application number	US-201815924157-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2018
Priority date	Mar 16, 2018
Publication date	Jul 28, 2020
Grant date	Jul 28, 2020

Abstract

Cooling of an electronic device that includes a first portion and a second portion is provided. The first portion and the second portion are rotatable relative to each other. A first sensor measures a first temperature at a first location within or on the electronic device continuously or intermittently. A second sensor measures a second temperature at a second location within or on the electronic device continuously or intermittently. A processor identifies a first state of the electronic device or a second state of the electronic device. The processor controls operation of the electronic device based on the first measured temperature and the second measured temperature when the electronic device is in the identified first state and controls the operation of the electronic device based on the first measured temperatures but not based on the second measured temperatures when the electronic device is in the identified second state.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of thermal management, comprising:
at an electronic device comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the front surface of the first portion comprises a first display, and wherein the front surface of the second portion comprises a second display, the first portion and the second portion being rotatable relative to one another:
while the device is operating in an open configuration:
determining respective temperatures associated with front and back surfaces of each of the first and second portions; and
operating the electronic device with a first set of thermal constraints, the first set of thermal constraints configured to prevent each of the respective temperatures from exceeding corresponding first temperature thresholds, wherein the first temperature thresholds correspond to safe temperatures for user skin contact;

detecting that the device is transitioning from the open configuration to a closed configuration, wherein in the closed configuration the back surface of the first portion is adjacent to the back surface of the second portion; and
in response to detecting the transition, operating the electronic device with a second set of thermal constraints, the second set of thermal constraints configured to:
prevent the respective temperatures associated with the front surfaces from exceeding the corresponding first temperature thresholds, and
allow the respective temperatures associated with the back surfaces to exceed the corresponding first temperature thresholds.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second set of thermal constraints are configured to prevent the respective temperatures associated with the back surfaces from exceeding corresponding second temperature thresholds, wherein the second temperature thresholds are greater than the first temperature thresholds, and wherein the second temperature thresholds corresponds to safe operating temperatures of one or more components of the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second set of thermal constraints are configured to allow for increased system power as compared to the first set of thermal constraints.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the transition comprises detecting activation of a push to open mechanism.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the transition comprises detecting when the electronic device is closed based on a state of a user interface.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portion abuts the second portion in the closed position.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the transition includes detecting when an angular position of the first portion relative to the second portion is less than or equal to a predetermined amount.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the closed configuration the back surface of the first portion contacts the back surface of the second portion such that a user may not contact the back surface of the first portion and the back surface of the second portion.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein allowing the respective temperatures associated with the back surfaces to exceed the corresponding first temperature thresholds includes turning off temperature sensors associated with the back surfaces.

10. A method of thermal management, comprising: at an electronic device comprising a first portion and a second portion, a front surface of the first portion comprises a first display and a front surface of the second portion comprises a second display, and the first portion and the second portion being rotatable relative to one another:
while the device is operating in an open configuration:
determining respective temperatures associated with front and back surfaces of each of the first and second portions; and
operating the electronic device with a first set of thermal constraints, the first set of thermal constraints configured to prevent each of the respective temperatures from exceeding corresponding first temperature thresholds, wherein the first temperature thresholds correspond to safe temperatures for user skin contact;

detecting that the device is transitioning from the open configuration to a closed configuration, wherein in the closed configuration the back surface of the first portion is adjacent to the back surface of the second portion; and
in response to detecting the transition, operating the electronic device with a second set of thermal constraints, the second set of thermal constraints configured to:
prevent the respective temperatures associated with the front surfaces from exceeding the corresponding first temperature thresholds;
prevent the respective temperatures associated with the back surfaces from exceeding corresponding second temperature thresholds, wherein the second temperature thresholds are greater than the first temperature thresholds, and wherein the second temperature thresholds corresponds to safe operating temperatures of one or more components of the electronic device, and
allow the respective temperatures associated with the back surfaces to exceed the corresponding first temperature thresholds.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second set of thermal constraints are configured to allow for increased system power as compared to the first set of thermal constraints.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein detecting the transition comprises detecting activation of a push to open mechanism.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein detecting the transition comprises detecting when the electronic device is closed based on a state of a user interface.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first portion abuts the second portion in the closed position.

15. A method of thermal management, comprising:
at an electronic device comprising a first portion and a second portion, a front surface of the first portion comprises a first display and a front surface of the second portion comprises a second display, the first portion and the second portion being rotatable relative to one another:
while the device is operating in an open configuration:
determining respective temperatures associated with front and back surfaces of each of the first and second portions; and
operating the electronic device with a first set of thermal constraints, the first set of thermal constraints configured to prevent each of the respective temperatures from exceeding corresponding first temperature thresholds, wherein the first temperature thresholds correspond to safe temperatures for user skin contact;

detecting that the device is transitioning from the open configuration to a closed configuration by detecting activation of a push to open mechanism, wherein in the closed configuration the back surface of the first portion is adjacent to the back surface of the second portion; and
in response to detecting the transition, operating the electronic device with a second set of thermal constraints, the second set of thermal constraints configured to:
prevent the respective temperatures associated with the front surfaces from exceeding the corresponding first temperature thresholds, and
allow the respective temperatures associated with the back surfaces to exceed the corresponding first temperature thresholds.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second set of thermal constraints are configured to prevent the respective temperatures associated with the back surfaces from exceeding corresponding second temperature thresholds, wherein the second temperature thresholds are greater than the first temperature thresholds, and wherein the second temperature thresholds corresp

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Ho Chau Van
• Dan Bo
• Gary Brandon Earl
• Mcclary Gary Russell

Classifications

• H04M1/0214

  Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position (combined with translation movement H04M1/0235) · CPC title

• G06F1/1694

  the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer · CPC title

• G06F1/1677

  for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment · CPC title

• G06F1/1649

  the additional display being independently orientable, e.g. for presenting information to a second user · CPC title

• G06F1/1616

  with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position · CPC title