Adaptive flow for thermal cooling of devices
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsRajesh Manohar Dighde, Bernie Schultz, David Abzarian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for cooling an electronic device having first and second flow paths for transmitting a coolant. The method includes assessing a merit of impelling the coolant along the first flow path relative to impelling the coolant along the second flow path. When the relative merit is above a threshold, coolant is impelled along the first flow path. When the relative merit is below the threshold, coolant is impelled along the second flow path.
Claims18
A method for cooling an electronic device having first and second flow paths for transmitting a coolant, the first flow path including an inlet vent and an outlet vent, the method comprising:
- assessing a merit of impelling the coolant along the first flow path relative to impelling the coolant along the second flow path, including computing a lower relative merit when a buoyancy of the coolant opposes a flow of the coolant along the first flow path;
- when the relative merit is above a threshold, impelling the coolant along the first flow path;
- and
- when the relative merit is below the threshold, impelling the coolant along the second flow path.
A method for cooling an electronic device having a sensor and first and second flow paths for transmitting a coolant, the first flow path including a first inlet vent and a first outlet vent, the second flow path including a second inlet vent and a second outlet vent, the method comprising:
- receiving an output of the sensor that distinguishes an orientation of the device;
- correlating the orientation of the device to a merit of impelling the coolant along the first flow path relative to impelling the coolant along the second flow path;
- when the relative merit is above a threshold, impelling the coolant along the first flow path;
- and
- when the relative merit is below the threshold, impelling the coolant along the second flow path.
An electronic device comprising:
- first and second flow paths for transmitting a coolant, the first flow path including an inlet vent for admitting the coolant and an outlet vent for discharging the coolant;
- one or more flow controllers coupled fluidically in the first and second flow paths;
- a sensor furnishing an output;
- a communications link to a network, through which one or more of a local ambient condition and a proximity to an obstacle is discoverable based on the output of the sensor;
- and
- an electronic control system operatively coupled to the sensor and to the one or more flow controllers and configured:
- to assess a merit of impelling the coolant along the first flow path relative to impelling the coolant along the second flow path based on the output of the sensor;
- to cause the one or more flow controllers to impel the coolant along the first flow path when the relative merit is above a threshold;
- and
- to cause the one or more flow controllers to impel the coolant along the second flow path when the relative merit is below the threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.