Passive CPU cooling and LCD heating for a laptop computer

In a portable computer having a central processor unit (CPU) integrated circuit and a liquid crystal display (LCD), a method for passively warming the LCD with heat generated by the CPU and for protecting the CPU against excessive heat, the method including the following steps:

• (a) disposing a heat dissipating coolant-conducting element adjacent a rear surface of said LCD;
• (b) surrounding said CPU with a coolant-containing chamber
• (c) coupling said heat dissipating coolant-conducting element with said coolant-containing chamber to provide a coolant flow path therebetween;
• (d) providing a biphase coolant in at least a portion of said coolant flow path;
• and
• (e) monitoring pressure in said coolant path and at least slowing clocking of said CPU if a monitored pressure drop exceeds a known threshold;
• wherein heat generated by said CPU is carried by said coolant via said coolant flow path to said element where at least a portion of said heat warms said LCD, wherein said coolant changes phase and is returned via said coolant flow path to said chamber at a lower temperature whereat said CPU is cooled;
• and
• wherein slowing said clocking protects said CPU against overheating.

A heat-transfer unit for a portable computer having a central processor unit (CPU) integrated circuit and a liquid crystal display (LCD), the heat-transfer unit comprising:

• a heat dissipating coolant-conducting element adjacent a rear surface of said LCD, said element having an inlet port and an outlet port;
• a coolant-containing chamber, surrounding said CPU, having an inlet port and an outlet port;
• a first coolant-carrying conductor coupling said outlet port of said coolant-containing chamber with said inlet port of said coolant-conducting element;
• a second coolant-carrying conductor coupling said outlet port of said coolant-conducting element with said inlet port of said coolant-containing chamber;
• a biphase coolant occupying at least a portion of a coolant path defined by said coolant-conducting element, the first and second coolant-carrying conductors, and said coolant-containing chamber;
• wherein heat generated by said CPU is carried by said coolant in the first conductor to said element where at least a portion of said heat warms said LCD, wherein said coolant changes phase and is returned by the second conductor to said chamber at a lower temperature whereat said CPU is cooled.

A portable computer, including:

• a liquid crystal display (LCD);
• a central processor unit (CPU);
• a heat dissipating coolant-conducting element, disposed adjacent a rear surface of said LCD;
• a coolant-containing chamber, surrounding said CPU;
• a coolant flow path coupling said heat dissipating coolant-conducting element with said coolant-containing chamber;
• a biphase coolant, occupying at least a portion of said coolant flow path;
• and
• (e) a pressure monitor coupled to monitor pressure in said coolant path and to output a signal to said CPU causing clocking of said CPU to at least slow if a monitored pressure drop exceeds a known threshold;
• wherein heat generated by said CPU is carried by said coolant via said coolant flow path to said element where at least a portion of said heat warms said LCD, wherein said coolant changes phase and is returned via said coolant flow path to said chamber at a lower temperature whereat said CPU is cooled;
• and
• wherein slowing said clocking protects said CPU against overheating.