IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,222,829
Granted Patent B2
US 10,222,829 · App. 14/963,846 · Granted Mar 5, 2019

Systems and methods to cool mobile device using thermoelectric cooler

Inventors: Song Wang (Cary, NC); Jian Li (Chapell Hill, NC); Jason Matteson (Raleigh, NC); Ming Qian (Cary, NC); Jianbang Zhang (Cary, NC)
Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
G06F1/1632G06F1/20H02J7/025
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,222,829
App. No.
14/963,846
Granted
Mar 5, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one aspect, a device includes a processor and storage accessible to the processor. The storage bears instructions executable by the processor to determine that a trigger regarding an apparatus has been satisfied and, in response to the determination, activate a thermoelectric cooling element (TCE) accessible to the processor.

Claims (44)

1. A first device, comprising:

a processor; and

storage accessible to the processor and bearing instructions executable by the processor to:

determine that a trigger regarding an apparatus has been satisfied; and

in response to the determination, activate a thermoelectric cooling element (TCE) accessible to the processor;

wherein the trigger comprises a wireless charger not wirelessly charging the apparatus;

wherein the first device comprises the TCE and the wireless charger, wherein the apparatus is different from the first device; and

wherein at least part of a cooling portion of the ICE is disposed within a coil of the wireless charger.

2. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the trigger comprises that the apparatus is operatively coupled to the TCE.

3. The first device of claim 1 , comprising a docking station coupled to the TCE.

4. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the trigger comprises a particular application being executed at the apparatus.

5. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the trigger comprises at least a threshold amount of resources of the apparatus first device being used.

6. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the trigger comprises temperature of the apparatus reaching a temperature threshold.

7. A method, comprising:

activating thermoelectric cooler; and

cooling a mobile device using the thermoelectric cooler;

wherein the method comprises activating the thermoelectric cooler in response to cessation of wireless charging, using a wireless charger coupled to the thermoelectric cooler, of the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 7 , comprising:

presenting a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display, the GUI comprising an option that is selectable to configure the thermoelectric cooler to be activated responsive to at least one criterion being met.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the GUI is a GUI for configuring one or more settings related to use of the thermoelectric cooler.

10. The method of claim 7 , comprising:

activating the thermoelectric cooler responsive to identification of a temperature of a battery pack in the mobile device reaching a temperature threshold, the identification being based on input from a temperature sensor inside the battery pack.

11. A device, comprising:

at least one processor;

a transceiver accessible to the at least one processor; and

storage accessible to the at least one processor and comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor to:

determine that a criterion regarding the device is satisfied, the criterion comprising that a particular software application is being executed, the determination being based on identification of the particular software application from a list of currently-executing processes; and

in response to the determination, issue a command via the transceiver to a thermoelectric cooler for the thermoelectric cooler to activate.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the particular software application s a won processing application.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the word processing application is selected by a user prior to the determination.

14. The device of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are executable by the at least one processor to:

present a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display, the GUI comprising an option that is selectable to configure a setting for the thermoelectric cooler to be activated responsive to the particular software application being executed.

15. The device of claim 11 , wherein the instructions are executable by the at least one processor to:

issue a command for the thermoelectric cooler to activate responsive to identification of a temperature of a battery pack reaching a temperature threshold, the identification being based on input from a temperature sensor inside the battery pack.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

storage that is not a transitory signal, the storage comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor to:

determine that a criterion regarding a device is satisfied, the criterion comprising at least a threshold amount of resources of the device being consumed, the resources pertaining to at least one of: processor resources, battery power, and random access memory (RAM); and

responsive to the determination, issue a command to a thermoelectric cooler for the thermoelectric cooler to activate.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the thermoelectric cooler cools the device while the thermoelectric cooler activated.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the resources pertain at least to processor resources.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the resources pertain at least to battery power.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the resources pertain at least to RAM.

21. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the instructions are executable by the at least one processor to:

present a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display, the GUI comprising an option that is selectable to configure a setting for the thermoelectric cooler to be activated responsive to at least one criterion being met.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2015
From: WANG, SONG; LI, JIAN; MATTESON, JASON; QIAN, MING; ZHANG, JIANBANG
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 037249/0977 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170172009A1 · Jun 15, 2017