Data processing: measuring – calibrating – or testing – Measurement system – Temperature measuring system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-27
2001-06-05
Assouad, Patrick (Department: 2857)
Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing
Measurement system
Temperature measuring system
C713S300000, C713S320000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243656
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a computer having a function for preventing overheat of a CPU.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, various kinds of battery-powered, lap-top type or notebook type portable personal computers have been developed. In these portable computers, the performance of CPUs has been enhanced, and thereby the users can easily obtain a comfortable environment for use.
However, the amount of heat produced by the CPU increases as the performance thereof becomes higher, and the heat causes various troubles and problems. Specifically, the heat of the CPU raises the temperature of the inside of the computer up to a level exceeding the operation guaranteed temperature of other parts, or the CPU malfunctions due to its own heat.
To solve these problems, some methods have been adopted. For example, the temperature of the CPU itself is monitored and if the amount of heat produced by the CPU is too great, the operation speed of the CPU is lowered or the CPU is cooled by a motor fan.
If the operation speed of the CPU is lowered, however, the performance of the computer is automatically degraded, irrespective of the user's intention, and the environment of use deteriorates. On the other hand, if the motor fan is driven to cool the CPU, a relatively high power is consumed by the motor fan and the battery operation time of the portable computer is shortened.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a computer wherein an optimal cooling function can be selected according to the environment of use of a computer and overheat of a CPU is efficiently prevented without degrading the environment of use of the computer.
According to the present invention, there is provided a computer comprising: a CPU; a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the CPU; CPU speed control means for controlling the operation speed of the CPU; a motor fan for cooling the CPU; setup means for setting an operational environment of said computer, said setup means being capable of selectively setting a first cooling mode for lowering the operation speed of the CPU and a second cooling mode for rotating said motor fan; and CPU cooling control means, controlled by a temperature detection signal from said temperature sensor, for cooling the CPU by using one of the motor fan and the CPU speed control means in accordance with the cooling mode set by said setup means.
In this computer, two cooling functions are provided: one being reduction in operation speed of a CPU, and the other being rotation of a motor fan. The two cooling functions are selectively used in accordance with a cooling mode set by a user. When a first mode is selected by the user, a mode giving a priority to low power consumption is set to make the battery operation time as long as possible. In this case, the motor fan is not rotated and only the CPU operation speed is lowered. On the other hand, when a second mode is selected by the user, a mode giving a priority to performance is set. In this case, the CPU operation speed is not lowered, and only the motor fan is rotated.
Thus, an optimal cooling function can be selected according to an operational environment of the computer set by the user, and overheat of a CPU is efficiently prevented without degrading the present environment of use of the computer.
In this case, it is preferable that a second temperature in the second cooling mode wherein the motor fan is rotated, at which the cooling operation is stopped, be set at a lower level than a second temperature in the first cooling mode wherein the CPU operation speed is lowered, at which the cooling operation is stopped.
The reason for this is that with use of the motor fan, the CPU temperature is lowered in a relatively short time period. Accordingly, if the second temperature is set at a higher level, the time period between the start of rotation of the motor fan and the stop of rotation thereof is shorter and the time period between the stop of rotation of the motor fan and the restart of rotation thereof due to the next overheat of the CPU is also shorter. Consequently, the cycle of alternate rotation and stop of the motor fan becomes shorter and unpleasant noise will be produced by the motor fan. Besides, since the motor fan is situated such that its air passage faces the CPU, the CPU temperature is lowered in a relatively short time period, although the decrease in temperature of other parts is delayed. Thus, it is preferable to set at a lower level the second temperature in the second cooling mode in which the motor fan is rotated.
On the other hand, in the first cooling mode in which the CPU operation speed is lowered, a relatively long time period is needed until the CPU temperature falls to the second temperature. The longer this time period, the lower the computer performance. It is thus preferable to set the second temperature as high as possible in the first cooling mode in which the CPU operation speed is lowered.
As has been described above, the optimal environment of use can be realized by independently setting the second temperatures in consideration of the characteristics of the two cooling functions: the rotation of the motor fan and the reduction in CPU operation speed. Specifically, the second temperature in the second cooling mode wherein the motor fan is rotated, at which the cooling operation is stopped, is set at a lower level than a second temperature in the first cooling mode wherein the CPU operation speed is lowered, at which the cooling operation is stopped.
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Arai Makoto
Ito Hironori
Oda Hiroyuki
Assouad Patrick
Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
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