Adaptable heat dissipation device for a personal computer

Abstract

A cooling apparatus, method and article of manufacture are disclosed which provide for selectively providing power to an attached heat-dissipating apparatus having a cooling probe in thermal contact with a cooling unit, to remove heat generated by a heat-generating source within the computer to an external environment outside of the computer. Power may be conserved, portable battery life extended, higher-speed processors utilized, and overall dimensional characteristics of a personal computer may be slimmed and reduced by utilizing the apparatus with a personal computer. Heat energy is transferred across a thermal connection interface from the heat-generating source of the personal computer to a collection face of the apparatus, and thereafter collected heat energy is dissipated in relation to the available power of the power source and/or the planned operating speed of the processor.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A portable cooling apparatus, operable with a personal computer having a corresponding conductive connector in thermal contact with a heat-generating source within an ambient environment of the computer, comprising 
 an adapter housing 
 a cooling probe in thermal contact with  
 a powered cooling unit,  
   wherein when the adapter is mated with the conductive connector, generated heat energy is thermally transferred firstly from the conductive connector to the probe across a connection interface, secondly from the probe to the cooling unit, and lastly from the cooling unit to an external environment apart from the ambient environment.    
     
     
         2 . The invention of  claim 1 , wherein the probe further comprises a collection face of the probe for collecting heat energy from the conductive connector and for conducting collected heat energy to the cooling unit.  
     
     
         3 . The invention of  claim 2 , further comprising a locking means for slidably positioning the probe a predetermined distance to conductively mate the collection face with a conductive face of the conductive connector at the connection interface.  
     
     
         4 . The invention of  claim 3 , wherein power to the apparatus is selectively controlled by a processor of the computer in relation to the operational speed of the processor and available power from a connected power source.  
     
     
         5 . The invention of  claim 4 , wherein the cooling unit comprises a TEC selectively powered from the power source and conductively positioned between the probe and a heat sink, and a thermal radiating means fixedly positioned in proximity to the heat sink for forcedly radiating heat energy from the heat sink to the external environment, whereby when power is applied to the TEC a temperature gradient is generated across the TEC.  
     
     
         6 . The invention of  claim 4 , wherein the apparatus is integral with one of a docking station, the connected power source, or an auxiliary power source, such that the apparatus passes power received from the power source to a computer mated with the apparatus.  
     
     
         7 . The invention of  claim 4 , further comprising a set of the apparatus and the computer.  
     
     
         8 . The invention of  claim 7  wherein the apparatus and the personal computer of the set are operably coupled at a connection interface.  
     
     
         9 . A portable cooling apparatus operably coupled at a connection interface with a personal computer and a power source wherein: 
 the apparatus comprises an adapter housing a cooling probe having a collection face, for collecting heat energy at the connection interface, wherein the probe is in thermal contact with a cooling unit having one or more TECs thermally arranged to transfer heat energy from the probe to an external environment when power is applied to the unit,    the computer comprises a processor and a corresponding conductive connector having a conductive face, for transferring heat energy from a heat-generating source within an ambient environment of the computer to the collection face at the connection interface, wherein the connector is in thermal contact with the heat-generating source,    and the remote power unit is a portable battery,    wherein when operational, the processor selectively provides power to the apparatus in relation to theoretical or actual heat energy generated by the heat-generating source and available power from the a power unit,    whereby heat energy is thermally transferred firstly from the conductive connector to the probe across the connection interface, secondly from the probe to the cooling unit, and lastly from the cooling unit to the external environment apart from the ambient environment.    
     
     
         10 . A method for selectively optimizing operation of a portable cooling apparatus operably connected with a personal computer having a corresponding conductive connection in thermal contact with a heat-generating source within an ambient environment of the computer, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) determining power operational mode of processor in relation to power source, available power from the power source and planned operational speed of a processor of the personal computer    (b) calculating apparatus power required for dissipating heat energy theoretically generated by the heat-generating source at the planned operational processor speed,    (c) determining to provide power to apparatus when available power is greater than apparatus power required, or adjust planned operational speed of processor to operate within determined power characteristics and providing power accordingly thereafter,    (d) measuring actual junction temperature of the processor and comparing actual temperature with that theoretically determined in step (b). and    (e) adjusting the power to the apparatus in response to step (d) in relation to the determined power characteristics.    
     
     
         11 . An article of manufacture a program product comprising a processor useable medium having a processor readable program embodied in said medium, wherein the processor readable program when executed on a processor causes the processor to: 
 (a) determine power operational mode of processor in relation to power source, available power from the power source and planned operational speed of a processor of the personal computer    (b) calculate apparatus power required for dissipating heat energy theoretically generated by the heat-generating source at the planned operational processor speed,    (c) determine to provide power to apparatus when available power is greater than apparatus power required, or adjust planned operational speed of processor to operate within determined power characteristics and providing power accordingly thereafter,    (d) measure actual junction temperature of the processor and compare actual temperature with that theoretically determined in step (b), and    (e) adjust the power to the apparatus in response to step (d) in relation to the determined power characteristics.