Cooling Unit Control for Battery-Powered Device Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling fan control methods in electronic devices, such as those described in Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 2017-37113, lead to increased power consumption due to continuous operation, which shortens the operable time of devices with limited battery capacity.
Innovation Solution
Implement a control mechanism that dynamically adjusts the operation of a cooling unit based on temperature thresholds and power consumption differences, driving the unit only when the power savings from doing so exceed its operational power requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cooling fan is driven continuously until the power reaches the second predetermined value, then the temperature control reliability is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the cooling fan's operating state changeable between full-speed driving and stopped states based on real-time temperature monitoring. The control unit dynamically adjusts the fan operation: driving at full speed when temperature exceeds the second threshold, and stopping when temperature drops below the first threshold, thereby optimizing both temperature control reliability and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through cyclic temperature monitoring and conditional fan operation. The system periodically checks the temperature of the heating member and alternates the fan's operation state based on whether the temperature exceeds thresholds, creating a rhythmic on-off pattern that maintains temperature control while reducing continuous power consumption.
2Temperature
If the cooling fan is driven continuously, then the cooling effect is improved, but the operable time of the electronic device is shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the cooling fan's operation based on real-time temperature conditions. The control unit monitors the heating member's temperature and activates the fan only when necessary (when temperature exceeds the second threshold), rather than running continuously. This dynamic control maintains effective cooling when needed while preserving battery power to extend operable time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the cooling fan from continuous operation to conditional intermittent operation. By introducing temperature-based thresholds and adjusting the fan's operating state accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between cooling effect and power consumption, thereby extending the device's operable time on battery power.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a control unit that performs a first control for driving a cooling unit for cooling an interior of the electronic device when a temperature of an internal device of the electronic device becomes greater than or equal to a first threshold. The control unit performs a second control for driving the cooling unit when a difference between a first power amount increased by a temperature rising of the internal device if the cooling unit is not driven and a second power amount increased by the temperature rising of the internal device if the cooling unit is driven is greater than driving power of the cooling unit.