Adaptable heat dissipation device for a personal computer
View Patent ↗A cooling apparatus, method and article of manufacture are disclosed which provide for selectively providing power to an attached heat-dissipating apparatus having a cooling probe in thermal contact with a cooling unit, to remove heat generated by a heat-generating source within the computer to an external environment outside of the computer. Power may be conserved, portable battery life extended, higher-speed processors utilized, and overall dimensional characteristics of a personal computer may be slimmed and reduced by utilizing the apparatus with a personal computer. Heat energy is transferred across a thermal connection interface from the heat-generating source of the personal computer to a collection face of the apparatus, and thereafter collected heat energy is dissipated in relation to the available power of the power source and/or the planned operating speed of the processor.
1. A method for selectively optimizing operation of a portable cooling apparatus operably connected with a personal computer having a corresponding conductive connection in thermal contact with a heat-generating source within an ambient environment of the computer, comprising the steps of:
(a) determining power operational mode of processor in relation to power source, available power from the power source and planned operational speed of a processor of the personal computer --,--
(b) calculating apparatus power required for dissipating heat energy theoretically generated by the heat-generating source at the planned operational processor speed,
(c) determining to provide power to apparatus when available power is greater than apparatus power required, or adjust planned operational speed of processor to operate within determined power characteristics and providing power accordingly thereafter,
(d) measuring actual junction temperature of the processor and comparing actual temperature with that theoretically determined in step (b), and
(e) adjusting the power to the apparatus in response to step (d) in relation to the determined power characteristics.
2. An article of manufacture a program product comprising a processor useable medium having a processor readable program embodied in said medium, wherein the processor readable program when executed on a processor causes the processor to:
(a) determine power operational mode of processor in relation to power source, available power from the power source and planned operational speed of a processor of the personal computer --,--
(b) calculate apparatus power required for dissipating heat energy theoretically generated by the heat-generating source at the planned operational processor speed,
(c) determine to provide power to apparatus when available power is greater than apparatus power required, or adjust planned operational speed of processor to operate within determined power characteristics and providing power accordingly thereafter,
(d) measure actual junction temperature of the processor and compare actual temperature with that theoretically determined in step (b), and
(e) adjust the power to the apparatus in response to step (d) in relation to the determined power characteristics.