IP Library Granted Patent US 8,405,975
Granted Patent B2
US 8,405,975 · App. 13/004,741 · Granted Mar 26, 2013

Dual mode portable information handling system cooling

Inventors: Christopher Helberg (Austin, TX); David M. Meyers (Round Rock, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,405,975
App. No.
13/004,741
Filed
Jan 11, 2011
Granted
Mar 26, 2013
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2835
USPC
361/679.47
Abstract

Liquid cooling is selectively enabled at a portable information handling system to provide enhanced processing capabilities when needed or desired. A liquid cooling cold plate conducts thermal energy from a processing component heat pipe or heat sink to a liquid pumped from external to the information handling system housing. The pump operates with power provided from an AC/DC adapter of the information handling system or power provided from an interface with the information handling system, such as a USB port and cable. Alternatively, liquid cooling is included in a cradle to automatically engage with the information handling system is coupled to the cradle.

Claims (43)

1. An information handling system comprising:

a housing;

plural processing components disposed in the housing and operable to process information;

a display integrated with the housing to present information as images;

a battery disposed in the housing and operable to power the processing components;

a first heat transfer device disposed in the housing and interfaced with one or more of the processing components, the heat transfer device operable to transfer heat from the one or more processing components towards a cooling airflow;

a cooling fan disposed in the housing and operable to generate the cooling airflow;

a second heat transfer device disposed in the housing and interfaced with the first heat transfer device, the second heat transfer device operable to transfer heat from the first heat transfer device to a liquid, at least a portion of the second transfer device selectively removable from the housing;

a pump external to the housing and operable to pump liquid to the second heat transfer device to remove heat from within the housing; and

a cable extending from a port of the housing to the pump, the cable providing power and communications to the pump to manage the pump speed for pumping the liquid.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the cable from the housing to the pump provides power from the battery to the pump.

3. The information handling system of claim 2 wherein the cable comprises a USB cable from a USB port of the housing to a USB port of the pump.

4. The information handling system of claim 3 further comprising logic on the pump operable to communicate through the USB cable to the processing components to provide information regarding the pump.

5. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising:

a power adapter external to the housing and operable to provide power to the processing components and battery; and

a power interface between the power adapter and the pump to provide power directly from the power adapter to the pump.

6. The information handling system of claim 5 wherein the pump couples to the power adapter at the power interface to form a contiguous component.

7. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the second heat transfer device comprises a cold plate affixed to the first heat transfer device and a tube removably coupled to the cold plate, the cold plate operable to thermally conduct heat from the first heat transfer device to liquid in the tube, the tube in fluid communication with the pump.

8. The information handling system of claim 7 wherein the first heat transfer device comprises a heat pipe.

9. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the second heat transfer device comprises a cold plate removably coupled to the first heat transfer device, the cold plate selectively removable from the housing.

10. The information handling system of claim 9 wherein the cold plate selectively engages and disengages the first heat transfer device through an opening in housing bottom.

11. A method for cooling an information handling system, the method comprising:

conducting heat from a processing component disposed in a housing to a first thermal device affixed in the housing;

removing heat from the first thermal device with a cooling airflow generated by a fan disposed in the housing;

selectively engaging a second thermal device with the first thermal device, the second thermal device having a liquid that conducts heat from the first thermal device to a heat exchange located external to the housing;

detecting the engagement of the second thermal device with the first thermal device; and

in response to detecting the engagement, altering the operation of the fan.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein altering the operation of the fan comprises at least turning off the fan.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein selectively engaging further comprises:

affixing a cold plate to the first thermal device within the housing; and

selectively interfacing a tube with the cold plate, the tube providing the liquid from external to the housing to the cold plate internal to the housing.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein selective engaging further comprises:

selectively inserting a cold plate from external to the housing into the housing to reside proximate the first thermal device; and

cooling the cold plate with liquid provided from external to the housing.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein selectively inserting the cold plate further comprises inserting the cold plate through an opening in the bottom of the housing.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising powering a pump to pump the liquid with a power adapter that also powers the information handling system.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising powering a pump to pump the liquid with a USB cable from the information handling system to the pump.

18. A system for cooling an information handling system comprising:

a pump operable to pump a liquid;

a radiator interfaced with the pump and operable to transfer heat from the liquid;

cold plate interfaced with the pump and radiator, the cold plate operable to selectively couple and decouple with a heat transfer device of the information handling system to transfer heat from the heat transfer device to the liquid; and

a USB port interfaced with the pump and operable to accept power and management of pump operations.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising an AC/DC adapter operable to covert AC power to DC power for use by the information handling system, the AC/DC adapter having a cable to couple to a power port at the information handling system housing and having an interface to power the pump.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2011
From: HELBERG, CHRISTOPHER; MEYERS, DAVID M.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 025769/0653 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120176745A1 · Jul 12, 2012