Thermal Management Using Dynamic Sensation Model
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional thermal management of electronic devices relies solely on absolute temperature limits, neglecting dynamic human temperature sensation factors, which limits their effectiveness in managing heat generation in portable and wearable devices.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for thermal management that determines a sensation value based on the temperature and temperature rate change of an electronic device, associating a discomfort level to adjust the processing unit's activity, using a user-adjustable sensation model with static and dynamic thermal coefficient constants to dynamically adjust the maximum allowed activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermal management controls the electronic device to operate below an upper absolute temperature limit, then the device temperature is kept safe, but the management does not account for dynamic human temperature sensation factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal management parameter from a static absolute temperature limit to a dynamic sensation value that incorporates both temperature and temperature rate of change. This allows the system to adapt to human thermal sensation characteristics while maintaining safety, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control by considering the rate of temperature change in addition to the absolute temperature. The sensation value is calculated dynamically based on current temperature and its rate of change, allowing the thermal management to respond to how quickly temperature is changing, which affects human perception of thermal comfort and safety.
2Temperature
If the thermal management limits the processing unit activity to maintain temperature below a threshold, then the temperature is controlled, but the device operation and performance are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent allows the processing unit to operate beyond traditional temperature thresholds when the sensation value indicates it is safe to do so. By using the sensation model that incorporates temperature rate of change, the system can permit higher performance operation temporarily when the temperature is rising slowly, while still maintaining overall temperature control, thus achieving partial relaxation of performance limits.
3Device complexity
If the thermal management uses a static upper temperature limit, then the control is simple, but it does not account for the rate of temperature change which affects human thermal sensation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calculation of the sensation value by incorporating the temperature rate of change before making thermal management decisions. This preliminary assessment of thermal sensation allows the system to anticipate how humans will perceive the temperature, enabling more accurate thermal management while maintaining relatively simple control logic.
Data Source
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AI summary
Some implementations provide a method for performing thermal management of an electronic device. The method determines a sensation value based on (i) a temperature of the electronic device, and (ii) a temperature rate change of the electronic device. The method associates a discomfort level from a plurality of discomfort levels, based on the determined sensation value, to the electronic device. At least one discomfort level is dynamically adjustable. The discomfort level specifies a maximum allowed activity for a processing unit of the electronic device. In some implementations, the discomfort level specifies how thermally uncomfortable the electronic device is for a user of the electronic device. In some implementations, each discomfort level from the several discomfort levels is associated with a particular range of sensation values. The sensation value is based on a user adjustable sensation model. The user adjustable sensation model is based on one of several thermal coefficient constants.