Portable Apparatus Thermal Control via Orientation-Based Function Stopping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing MR systems with video see-through HMDs face excessive temperature rises due to increased heat generation from components like semiconductor elements, especially when the heat dissipation properties vary with the apparatus's orientation and installation environment, leading to inadequate temperature control.
Innovation Solution
A portable apparatus equipped with a temperature estimating unit, a heat release property determining unit, and a stop controlling unit that adjusts functions based on estimated temperature and heat dissipation properties to prevent excessive heating, specifically by determining if the apparatus is oriented in a way that impairs heat dissipation and temporarily stopping functions to manage temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the apparatus operates with high performance components (semiconductor elements, capturing/displaying devices), then the processing capability and image quality are improved, but the heat generation increases causing excessive temperature rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic temperature control by continuously monitoring temperature and adjusting the operation state of components based on real-time conditions. The control unit dynamically switches between normal operation, operation restriction, and shutdown states depending on temperature thresholds, allowing the system to maintain high performance when conditions permit while preventing overheating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters (power consumption, processing speed) based on temperature conditions. When temperature exceeds thresholds, the system modifies operating parameters by restricting certain functions or reducing processing load, thereby controlling heat generation while maintaining acceptable performance levels.
2Device complexity
If a fixed temperature threshold is used for stopping the apparatus, then the control logic is simple, but the temperature control is inadequate when heat release property varies with orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the temperature threshold dynamic by adjusting it based on the detected orientation of the apparatus. The control unit selects different temperature thresholds corresponding to different orientations (e.g., horizontal, vertical, tilted positions), allowing the system to adapt to varying heat dissipation conditions without requiring complex real-time thermal modeling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-establishes multiple temperature thresholds corresponding to different orientations before operation. The system detects orientation in advance and selects the appropriate threshold from pre-defined settings, avoiding the need for complex real-time calculations while ensuring appropriate temperature control for each orientation scenario.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the apparatus is placed in various directions, then the installation flexibility is improved, but the heat release property varies causing inadequate temperature control with constant thresholds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptation by detecting the apparatus orientation and adjusting the temperature threshold accordingly. The system maintains installation flexibility while ensuring accurate temperature control for each orientation by selecting from pre-defined thresholds that correspond to different heat dissipation characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature control parameter (threshold value) based on the orientation parameter. Different orientations have different pre-defined temperature thresholds stored in the control unit, allowing the system to adapt to varying heat release properties while maintaining installation flexibility across multiple directions.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention aims to appropriately prevent an excessive temperature rise of a portable apparatus according to a situation of a heat release property of the portable apparatus. For such a purpose, there is provided a portable apparatus which comprises: a temperature estimating unit configured to estimate a temperature of the portable apparatus; a heat release property determining unit configured to determine whether or not a heat release property of the portable apparatus satisfies predetermined performance, based on information related to an orientation of the portable apparatus; and a stop controlling unit configured to stop at least a part of functions of the portable apparatus, based on the temperature estimated by the temperature estimating unit and a determination result by the heat release property determining unit.