Acoustic and thermal energy management system
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsVinod Kamath, Beth Frayne Loebach, Albert Vincent Makley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An acoustic and thermal energy management system and method comprising a microprocessor and a thermal mass positioned at a distance from the microprocessor, the microprocessor and thermal mass being thermally connected to the microprocessor in a manner to transfer thermal energy from the microprocessor to the thermal mass. The acoustic and thermal energy management system transferring heat from the microprocessor to a thermal mass for dissipation reducing the level of heat at the microprocessor, thereby limiting the operation of or the operation level of a fan.
Claims20
A cooling system for an electronic device comprising:
- a microprocessor connected to a motherboard;
- a heat sink positioned proximate the microprocessor;
- a fan functionally connected to the heat sink, the fan operational between an on and off position upon sensing a determined temperature of thermal energy proximate the microprocessor, wherein the fan is operational when the temperature proximate the microprocessor is greater than the determined temperature and the fan is static when the temperature proximate the microprocessor is less than the determined temperature, the fan further operational at various speed levels when the fan is in the on position;
- and
- a thermal mass functionally separate from the heat sink, the microprocessor and thermal mass being directly thermally connected by thermal connector to transfer thermal energy from the microprocessor to the thermal mass.
A method for reducing time of operation of a fan in an electronic device having a heat sink positioned proximate a microprocessor and a fan functionally connected to the heat sink, the fan operating when the temperature proximate the microprocessor is greater than a determined temperature, the method comprising the steps of:
- thermally connecting a thermal mass to the microprocessor, the thermal mass being functionally separate from the heat sink;
- and
- conducting heat produced from the microprocessor to the thermal mass.
An acoustic and thermal management system for an electronic device having a heat sink positioned proximate a microprocessor and a fan functionally connected to the heat sink that operates when the temperature proximate the microprocessor is greater than a determined temperature, the system comprising:
- a thermal mass connected thermally to the microprocessor, the thermal mass functionally separate from the heat sink.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.