Patent Description:
In operation, the electronic circuitry within a PCD generates heat or thermal energy, which at excessive levels may be detrimental to the internal circuitry or, when conducted through the PCD case, could scorch a user's hand. The amount of thermal energy that is generated may vary depending upon the operating conditions. For example, processors may generate substantial thermal energy when operating at high workload levels or data rates. Also, power supply circuitry in the PCD may generate substantial thermal energy when the PCD is coupled to a battery charger.

One or more thermal sensors positioned within the PCD may be monitored to determine if the PCD or a portion thereof has reached a threshold or critical temperature. When a reading of the thermal sensor indicates that the PCD or monitored portion thereof has reached such a threshold temperature, an action intended to reduce thermal energy production or otherwise mitigate adverse effects of the thermal energy may be initiated. For example, the power (e.g., voltage and clock frequency) applied to a processor may be reduced. Using temperature measurements as feedback in a control loop to adjust how a PCD operates is sometimes referred to as "thermal management" or "thermal mitigation. " Adjusting voltage and clock frequency in this manner is sometimes referred to as dynamic clock and voltage scaling ("DCVS"). Such thermal mitigation techniques have traditionally been capable of restraining heat generation to a level below which excess heat can be safely dissipated by passive conduction through the PCD case into the ambient air.

In contrast with the type of thermal mitigation in a PCD described above, thermal mitigation in a desktop or laptop computer or similarly larger, less portable device may include actively removing heat from the device through the device housing or case, because there is space and adequate power source in the housing to accommodate active heat transfer features. For example, a desktop or laptop computer may include a fan that circulates air through ventilation openings in the housing. A desktop or laptop computer may include heat sinks, thermoelectric cooling devices, heat pipes, etc., because the heat can be channeled through the housing and dissipated into the external environment. In contrast, the sealed compact case of a PCD, the limited battery capacity, and the need to maintain the case at a temperature that is comfortable for a user to hold present particular challenges to thermal mitigation. Attention is drawn to <CIT>relating to a system comprising a portable computing device comprising a first graphics controller and a first communication interface, and a turbo station comprising a second communication interface to manage communication with the portable computing device, and at least one auxiliary computing component coupled to the communication interface and configured to process cooperatively with the first graphics controller in the portable computing device. Further attention is drawn to <CIT> relating to thermal management for one or more heat generating components within an information handling system (IHS). An apparatus includes a heat pipe, a thermoelectric cooler (TEC), a heat exchanger, a temperature sensor and a controller. The heat pipe is thermally coupled between the heat generating component(s) and the heat exchanger to transfer thermal energy from the one or more heat generating components to the heat exchanger. The TEC is thermally coupled between the heat pipe and the heat exchanger to transfer excess thermal energy that is not absorbed by the heat pipe to the heat exchanger. The temperature sensor measures an internal temperature within the IHS. The controller receives the internal temperature measurement from the temperature sensor and enables/disables the TEC based on the received temperature measurement.

Systems, methods, and other embodiments are disclosed for thermal mitigation in a PCD by active heat transfer to a docking device, such as a docking station, charging station, or other electronic device to which a PCD may be connected.

An exemplary system for thermal mitigation in a PCD may include a PCD case, a thermal coupler having a portion exposed externally to the PCD case, an active heat transfer system within the PCD case, a thermal sensor within the PCD case, and a control system within the PCD case. The active heat transfer system may have a first portion thermally coupled to a heat source component within the PCD case and a second portion thermally coupled to the thermal coupler. The active heat transfer system may be configured to transfer thermal energy from the first portion to the second portion when activated, and is activated based on a temperature measurement of the heat source component and when the PCD is coupled to a docking device.

Another exemplary system for thermal mitigation in a PCD may include a PCD case, a thermal coupler having a portion exposed externally to the PCD case, a thermoelectric device thermally coupled to the thermal coupler, a heat pipe, a thermal sensor within the PCD case, and a control system within the PCD case. The heat pipe may have a first end thermally coupled to a heat source component within the PCD case and a second end thermally coupled to the thermoelectric device. The heat pipe may be configured to transfer thermal energy from the first end to the second end. The thermoelectric device may be configured to transfer thermal energy from the second end of the heat pipe to the thermal coupler when activated. The thermoelectric device may be activated based on a temperature measurement of the heat source component and when the PCD is coupled to a docking device.

An exemplary method for thermal mitigation in a PCD may include obtaining a plurality of temperature measurements associated with a heat source component of the PCD using a thermal sensor within a PCD case, determining whether the PCD is coupled to a docking device, and activating an active heat transfer system within the PCD case based on at least one of the plurality of temperature measurements when the PCD is coupled to the docking device. Activating the active heat transfer system may include transferring thermal energy from a first portion of the active heat transfer system thermally coupled to a heat source component within the PCD to a second portion of the active heat transfer system and to a portion of a thermal coupler exposed externally to the PCD case.

" The word "illustrative" may be used herein synonymously with "exemplary.

While thermal mitigation techniques such as DCVS have traditionally been capable of restraining heat generation to a level below which excess heat can be safely dissipated by passive conduction through the PCD case, the development of increasingly powerful, feature-rich PCDs may challenge this paradigm. Indeed, dissipating excess heat by passive conduction through the PCD case or associated parts (e.g., a connector port) is inefficient, as the case, connector port, etc., of a conventional PCD are poor thermal conductors. Also, as PCDs become increasingly powerful, faster battery charging is becoming increasingly important. A drawback of fast-charging technology is that a charging PCD may produce more heat than can be safely dissipated by passive conduction through the PCD case into the ambient air. Fast-charging technology may deliver power to a PCD on the order of tens of watts. Conventional fast-charging technology has addressed the potential problem of a PCD overheating from such high power by throttling the charging rate. Throttling the charging rate by fast-charging technology, like throttling PCD performance by traditional PCD thermal management technology, potentially adversely impacts the user experience. The present disclosure presents a novel solution that addresses these various but related issues.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in an illustrative or exemplary embodiment, a PCD <NUM> is coupleable or dockable to a docking device <NUM>, as conceptually indicated by the broken-line arrows <NUM>. The PCD <NUM> may be, for example, a cellular telephone (e.g., smartphone), tablet computer, palmtop computer, portable digital assistant ("PDA"), portable game console, or any other portable electronic device featuring data processing. A user (not shown) may couple the PCD <NUM> to the docking device <NUM> and de-couple the PCD <NUM> from the docking device <NUM> in a conventional manner, as described below. As used in this disclosure, the term "docking device" includes any user-coupleable electronic device that provides an additional feature or service to the PCD <NUM>. Examples of the docking device <NUM> include docking stations that provide the PCD <NUM> with additional processing, storage, user interface, display, communication, sanitation (e.g., ultraviolet irradiation box), or other features. Examples of the docking device <NUM> also include charging devices that charge the battery (not shown in <FIG>) of the PCD <NUM>. As used in this disclosure, to "dock" the PCD <NUM> to the docking device <NUM> broadly includes any manner of coupling the PCD <NUM> to the docking device <NUM>.

The PCD <NUM> may include one or more heat source components <NUM>, such as processors (e.g., an application processor or baseband processor), a radio frequency (RF) integrated circuit (IC), battery charging circuitry, power control circuitry, battery, etc., which produce heat as a by-product of their operation. Once a user has coupled or docked the PCD <NUM> to the docking device <NUM>, an active heat transfer system <NUM> in the PCD <NUM> may be activated, if beneficial to do so. As described below in further detail, activation of the active heat transfer system <NUM> may be based on temperature measurements. Whether it is beneficial to activate the active heat transfer system <NUM> may be determined in various ways. For example, it may be beneficial to activate the active heat transfer system <NUM> when at least one temperature measurement exceeds a threshold. Alternatively, it may be beneficial to activate the active heat transfer system <NUM> when at least one temperature measurement exceeds a previous temperature measurement by a threshold amount (e.g., within a certain time interval), indicating that the temperature is increasing faster than a threshold rate of increase. When the temperature rises rapidly, conventional thermal mitigation techniques and passive PCD heat dissipation by conduction through the PCD case may be insufficient or slower to respond. Still other circumstances or conditions under which it may be beneficial to activate the active heat transfer system <NUM> will occur readily to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of these teachings. When activated, the active heat transfer system <NUM> may transfer heat <NUM> (<FIG>) produced by the one or more components <NUM> from the PCD <NUM> to the docking device <NUM>.

As described below in further detail, the heat may be transferred from the PCD <NUM> to the docking device <NUM> through a thermal coupler <NUM> (<FIG>) of the PCD <NUM>. The thermal coupler <NUM> extends between the interior and exterior of the PCD case <NUM>. The PCD case <NUM> may be substantially sealed to protect internal components against intrusion of moisture, contaminants, etc. Accordingly, the PCD case <NUM> may be devoid of openings such as ventilation holes or grilles. A portion of the thermal coupler <NUM> that is exposed externally to the PCD case <NUM> is thermally coupleable with a portion of the docking device <NUM>. Examples of the thermal coupler <NUM> include structures that extend through the PCD case <NUM> and have a higher thermal conductivity than the PCD case <NUM>. For example, the thermal coupler <NUM> may be made of metal, alloy, boron arsenide, marble, carbon, or other high thermal conductivity material, and the case <NUM> may be made of plastic, glass, or other material having a lower thermal conductivity than the thermal coupler <NUM>. Another example of the thermal coupler <NUM> may be a region of the PCD case <NUM> that has a higher thermal conductivity than other portions of the PCD case <NUM>. Constraining the excess heat largely to a thermal coupler <NUM> having an area that is small relative to the area of the surface of the PCD case <NUM> and that is unobtrusively located on the PCD case <NUM> may be advantageous because a user is unlikely to touch the thermal coupler <NUM> or mating portion of the docking device <NUM> while the PCD <NUM> is docked to the docking device <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in an exemplary embodiment a PCD <NUM> may include an electrical connector <NUM> having a PCD connector body portion <NUM> around a PCD signal contact array <NUM>. The PCD <NUM> may be an example of the above-described PCD <NUM> (<FIG>). The connector body portion <NUM> may be an example of the above-described thermal coupler <NUM> (<FIG>). Examples of the connector body portion <NUM> may include a flange, skirt, escutcheon, housing, shield, mechanically or magnetically mateable plug or socket portion, etc., associated with the electrical connector <NUM>. Note that in the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, both the connector body portion <NUM> and signal contact array <NUM> are exposed externally to the PCD case <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the PCD connector body portion <NUM> and PCD signal contact array <NUM> are configured to mate or couple with a corresponding docking device connector body portion <NUM> and docking device signal contact array <NUM>, respectively, of a docking device <NUM>. In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the docking device <NUM> may be a charging station. (Charging circuitry and other internal details of the docking device <NUM> are not shown for purposes of clarity. Similarly, internal structure or circuitry of the PCD <NUM> not related to the thermal mitigation described herein is not shown in <FIG>. ) A user (not shown) may couple the PCD <NUM> to the docking device <NUM> in a conventional manner, such as by inserting the PCD <NUM> into a receptacle region of the docking device <NUM> until the PCD <NUM> is seated or docked. When the PCD <NUM> is docked with the docking device <NUM>, the PCD signal contact array <NUM> and docking device signal contact array <NUM> may electrically mate or couple in a conventional manner. Also when the PCD <NUM> is docked with the docking device <NUM>, the PCD connector body portion <NUM> and docking device connector body portion <NUM> may thermally couple by contacting each other, thereby providing a thermally conductive path from the PCD connector body portion <NUM> to the docking device connector body portion <NUM>.

The PCD <NUM> may include one or more heat source components <NUM> that produce heat as a by-product of their operation. An example of a heat source component <NUM> is a device that controls charging of a PCD battery (not shown) when the PCD <NUM> is docked to the docking device <NUM>. Once a user has docked the PCD <NUM> to the docking device <NUM>, an active heat transfer system <NUM> in the PCD <NUM> may be activated. As described below in further detail, activation of the active heat transfer system <NUM> may be based on temperature measurements.

The active heat transfer system <NUM> may include a Peltier device or thermoelectric cooler ("TEC") <NUM>, and activation of the active heat transfer system <NUM> may include activation of the TEC <NUM>. The docking device <NUM> may supply the power that the TEC <NUM> consumes in operation, i.e., when activated, through an electrical connection between one or more contacts (not separately shown) in the PCD signal contact array <NUM> and one or more contacts in the docking device conductor array <NUM>.

The active heat transfer system <NUM> may include a heat pipe <NUM>. The heat pipe <NUM> may have a conventional structure and be based on passive or active heat pipe technology. As well understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, heat pipe technology commonly utilizes phase changes in a fluid inside evaporator and condenser portions to facilitate the heat transport. Although heat pipe technology is more commonly employed in desktop, laptop and other computing devices larger than the PCD <NUM>, scaling such heat pipe technology for inclusion in the PCD <NUM> is within the capability of one of ordinary skill in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, the heat pipe <NUM> may be passive. Nevertheless, in another example (not shown) of a PCD, in which the heat pipe utilizes active heat pipe technology, activation of the active heat transfer system may include activation of the heat pipe.

When activated, the active heat transfer system <NUM> may transfer or move heat <NUM> from the one or more components <NUM> of the PCD <NUM> to the docking device <NUM>. For example, a first end of the heat pipe <NUM> may be in contact with one of the components <NUM> or otherwise thermally coupled with the component <NUM>. As used in this disclosure, the term "in contact with" or "directly connected to" refers to the absence of an intervening electronic or mechanical component between the referenced elements but does not exclude the use of a thermal compound between them. A second end of the heat pipe <NUM> may be in contact with the TEC <NUM> or otherwise thermally coupled with the TEC <NUM>. The TEC <NUM>, in turn, may be in contact with or otherwise thermally coupled with the PCD connector body portion <NUM>. The TEC <NUM> may promote active heat transfer from the heat pipe <NUM> to the PCD connector body portion <NUM>. As the structure and operation of the TEC <NUM> are well understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, such details are not described herein. Contact between the PCD connector body portion <NUM> and the docking device connector body portion <NUM> provides a thermally conductive path for heat transfer from the PCD <NUM> to the docking device <NUM>. The docking device connector body portion <NUM> may be in contact with the docking device housing <NUM>, which may serve as a heat sink to dissipate heat conducted from the docking device connector body portion <NUM>.

Although in the embodiment illustrated in <FIG> contact between the PCD connector body portion <NUM> and the docking device connector body portion <NUM> provides the thermally conductive path for heat transfer from the PCD <NUM> to the docking device <NUM>, in other embodiments mating signal contacts of the PCD and docking device may provide not only a conventional signal path but also a thermally conductive path. For example one or more signal contacts similar to those in the PCD signal contact array <NUM> in the illustrated embodiment may be thermally coupled to (but electrically insulated from) a TEC, and one or more mating signal contacts similar to those in the docking device signal contact array <NUM> in the illustrated embodiment may be thermally coupled to (but electrically insulated from) the docking device housing.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in another exemplary embodiment a PCD <NUM> may include a thermally conductive (e.g., made of metal) region <NUM> on the rear face of the PCD case <NUM>. The region <NUM> could be similar material to the rest of the rear face, albeit thinner or thermally coupled to the inside of PCB to a higher degree than the rest of the rear face. (The front face of the PCD <NUM>, which may include, for example, a touch screen, is not shown for purposes of clarity. ) The PCD <NUM> may be an example of the above-described PCD <NUM> (<FIG>). The region <NUM> may have another function in addition to the thermal conduction described herein, or the region <NUM> may serve an ergonomic, ornamental, or other purpose in addition to the heat conduction function described herein. The thermally conductive region <NUM>, which thus may also be referred to for convenience as a PCD thermal pad <NUM>, may be an example of the above-described thermal coupler <NUM> (<FIG>).

As illustrated in <FIG>, a user (not shown) may be couple or dock the PCD <NUM> to a docking device <NUM> by placing the PCD <NUM> on a surface of the docking device <NUM>. Although in the illustrated embodiment the PCD <NUM> and docking device <NUM> are coupled or docked by placing the PCD <NUM> on a surface of the docking device <NUM>, in other embodiments such a PCD and docking device may be coupled or docked by bringing the PCD <NUM> into proximity with the docking device <NUM> in some other manner. For example, in such other embodiment (not shown) a portion of the PCD may be inserted in a receptacle portion of the docking station, in a manner similar to that described above with regard to <FIG>.

In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the docking device <NUM> may be a charging station or pad that wirelessly (e.g., by induction, etc.) charges a battery (not shown) of the PCD <NUM>. (Charging circuitry and other internal structure of the docking device <NUM> are not shown for purposes of clarity. Similarly, internal structure or circuitry of the PCD <NUM> not related to the thermal mitigation described herein is not shown. When the rear surface of the PCD <NUM> rests on the upper surface of the docking device <NUM>, the docking device <NUM> may wirelessly charge the PCD <NUM> in a conventional manner by inductive coupling between respective inductive coils (not shown) in the docking device <NUM> and PCD <NUM>. Also when the PCD <NUM> is docked with the docking device <NUM>, the PCD thermal pad <NUM> and docking device thermal pad <NUM> may thermally couple by contacting each other, thereby providing a thermally conductive path from the PCD thermal pad <NUM> to the docking device thermal pad <NUM>.

The PCD <NUM> may include one or more heat source components <NUM> that produce heat as a by-product of their operation. An example of a heat source component <NUM> is a device that controls charging of a PCD battery (not shown) when the PCD <NUM> is docked to the docking device <NUM>. Once a user has coupled or docked the PCD <NUM> to the docking device <NUM>, an active heat transfer system <NUM> in the PCD <NUM> may be activated. As described below in further detail, activation of the active heat transfer system <NUM> may be based on temperature measurements.

The active heat transfer system <NUM> may include a TEC <NUM>, and activation of the active heat transfer system <NUM> may include activation of the TEC <NUM>. The docking device <NUM> may supply the power that the TEC <NUM> consumes in operation, i.e., when activated, through the wireless charging (inductive) coupling described above.

The active heat transfer system <NUM> may include a heat pipe <NUM>. The heat pipe <NUM> may be similar to the heat pipe <NUM> described above with regard to <FIG>. In the illustrated embodiment, the heat pipe <NUM> may be passive. Nevertheless, in another example (not shown) of a PCD, in which the heat pipe utilizes active heat pipe technology, activation of the active heat transfer system may include activation of the heat pipe.

When activated, the active heat transfer system <NUM> may transfer or move heat from the one or more components <NUM> of the PCD <NUM> to the docking device <NUM>. For example, a first end of the heat pipe <NUM> may be in contact with one of the components <NUM> or otherwise thermally coupled with the component <NUM>, and a second end of the heat pipe <NUM> may be in contact with the TEC <NUM> or otherwise thermally coupled with the TEC <NUM>. The TEC <NUM>, in turn, may be in contact with or otherwise thermally coupled with the PCD thermal pad <NUM>. The TEC <NUM> may promote active heat transfer from the heat pipe <NUM> to the PCD thermal pad <NUM>. Contact between the PCD thermal pad <NUM> and the docking device thermal pad <NUM> provides a thermally conductive path for heat transfer from the PCD <NUM> to the docking device <NUM>. The docking device thermal pad <NUM> may be in contact with the docking device housing <NUM>, which may serve as a heat sink to dissipate heat conducted from the docking device thermal pad <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in an exemplary embodiment a PCD <NUM> may include, among other elements, a control system <NUM> comprising a controller <NUM> and a thermal sensor <NUM>. Other elements of the PCD <NUM> may be similar to those described above with regard to other embodiments, including: a charger IC <NUM>, which may be an example of any of the above-described heat source components <NUM> (<FIG>), <NUM> (<FIG>) or <NUM> (<FIG>); a TEC <NUM>, which may be similar to either of the above-described TECs <NUM> (<FIG>) or <NUM> (<FIG>); and a heat pipe <NUM>, which may be similar to either of the above-described heat pipes <NUM> (<FIG>) or <NUM> (<FIG>). As the PCD <NUM> may be similar to any of the above-described PCDs <NUM> (<FIG>), <NUM> (<FIG>) or <NUM> (<FIG>), the control system <NUM> accordingly may be included in any of those above described PCDs.

As understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the charger IC <NUM> is configured to use power supplied from a docking device (not shown in <FIG>) to charge a PCD battery (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the charger IC <NUM> is a separate device from other integrated circuit devices (not shown) in the PCD <NUM>, such as a system-on-a-chip ("SoC") that may contain various processors. The PCD <NUM> may also include a thermal coupler <NUM>, which may be similar to any of the above-described thermal coupler <NUM> (<FIG>), connector body portion <NUM> (<FIG>), or thermal pad <NUM> (<FIG>). A first end of the heat pipe <NUM> may be in contact with the charger IC <NUM>, and a second end of the heat pipe <NUM> may be in contact with the TEC <NUM>. The TEC <NUM> may be in contact with the thermal coupler <NUM>.

The control system <NUM> may be configured to obtain temperature measurements using the thermal sensor <NUM>. The control system <NUM> may also be configured to determine whether the PCD <NUM> is coupled (i.e., docked) to a docking device. The control system <NUM> may determine whether the PCD <NUM> is connected to a docking device in any manner, such as by detecting signals produced by the docking device through a connector or wirelessly. The control system <NUM> may further be configured to activate the TEC <NUM> based on one or more of the temperature measurements when the PCD <NUM> is connected to the docking device. Note that in the embodiment illustrated in <FIG> the TEC <NUM> and heat pipe <NUM> operate together provide an active heat transfer system that, when activated, may transfer or move heat from the charger IC <NUM> to the docking device.

The controller <NUM> may have an input coupled to an output of the sensor <NUM> to receive the above-referenced temperature measurements and may have an output coupled to an input of the TEC <NUM> to provide a control signal to the TEC <NUM> (e.g., to activate and deactivate the TEC <NUM>). As described below with regard to an exemplary method, the control system <NUM> may base a determination whether to activate the TEC <NUM> on at least one of the temperature measurements, such as for example, on a comparison between a temperature measurement and a threshold. As also described below with regard to another exemplary method, the control system <NUM> may base a determination whether to activate the TEC <NUM> on at least one of the temperature measurements, such as for example, on a comparison between a temperature measurement and a previous temperature measurement, to determine if a rate of temperature increase exceeds a threshold. The controller <NUM> may have another output coupled to the charger IC <NUM> (or similarly to any other heat source component in still other embodiments) to control the charger IC <NUM> based on the temperature measurements when the PCD <NUM> is connected to the docking device. Thermal insulation <NUM> may be included around the charger IC <NUM> or other heat source component to reduce heat transfer from the charger IC <NUM> to components of the PCD <NUM> other than the heat pipe <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, an exemplary method <NUM> for thermal mitigation in a PCD may be performed or controlled in any of the above-described PCDs <NUM> (<FIG>), <NUM> (<FIG>), <NUM> (<FIG>), or <NUM> (<FIG>). For example, the method <NUM> may be controlled by the controller <NUM> (<FIG>). The controller <NUM> may comprise a processor configured with software or firmware that, when executed, controls the method <NUM>. As indicated by block <NUM>, a temperature may be measured using a thermal sensor. Note that as the method <NUM> is performed repeatedly (as indicated by the loop returning to block <NUM> from block <NUM>), a plurality of temperature measurements may be obtained at a periodic time interval. As indicated by block <NUM>, a decision is made whether, based on at least one temperature measurement, whether there is a need for (i.e., a potential benefit from) thermal mitigation. For example, the temperature measurement may be compared with a threshold. If it is determined that the temperature measurement does not exceed the threshold, the method <NUM> may include repeatedly obtaining (block <NUM>) and comparing (block <NUM>) measurements in this manner until such time as it may be determined that a temperature measurement exceeds a threshold. Alternatively, for example, the temperature measurement may be compared with a previous temperature measurement to determine if the difference between the two temperature measurements indicates that a rate of temperature increase exceeds a threshold. If it is determined that the difference between the temperature measurement and the previous temperature measurement does not exceed the threshold, the method <NUM> may include repeatedly obtaining (block <NUM>) and comparing (block <NUM>) measurements in this manner until such time as it may be determined that a difference between a temperature measurement and a previous temperature measurement exceeds a threshold.

If it is determined (block <NUM>) based on at least one of the temperature measurements that there is a need for thermal mitigation, then it may be determined whether the PCD is coupled or docked to a docking device, as indicated by block <NUM>. If it is determined that the PCD is docked to a docking device (and it has been determined that there is a need for thermal mitigation), then the active heat transfer system of the PCD may be activated, as indicated by block <NUM>.

If it determined (block <NUM>) that the PCD is not docked to the docking device (and it has been determined that there is a need for thermal mitigation), then PCD processor throttling may be initiated. Such PCD processor throttling may be of a conventional type, such as applying DCVS to a processor, reducing certain PCD functionality, suspending or exiting certain applications, etc. The method <NUM> may be performed repeatedly, e.g., at time intervals defined by a delay (block <NUM>), so as to provide a type of active thermal mitigation in the PCD while the PCD is being charged or is otherwise docked to a docking station and another type of active thermal mitigation in the PCD while the PCD is not being charged or is otherwise not docked to a docking station.

As illustrated in <FIG>, exemplary embodiments of systems and methods for configuring a thermal management system using one or more TPEs may be provided in a PCD <NUM>. The PCD <NUM> may be an example of any of the above-described PCDs <NUM> (<FIG>), <NUM> (<FIG>), <NUM> (<FIG>), or <NUM> (<FIG>).

The PCD <NUM> may include an SoC <NUM>. The SoC <NUM> may include a CPU <NUM>, a GPU <NUM>, a DSP <NUM>, an analog signal processor <NUM>, or other processors. The CPU <NUM> may include multiple cores, such as a first core 904A, a second core 904B, etc., through an Nth core 904N. In some embodiments, the above-described controller <NUM> (<FIG>) may comprise a functional portion of the CPU <NUM> or other processor of the PCD <NUM>.

A display controller <NUM> and a touch-screen controller <NUM> may be coupled to the CPU <NUM>. A touchscreen display <NUM> external to the SoC <NUM> may be coupled to the display controller <NUM> and the touch-screen controller <NUM>. The PCD <NUM> may further include a video decoder <NUM> coupled to the CPU <NUM>. A video amplifier <NUM> may be coupled to the video decoder <NUM> and the touchscreen display <NUM>. A video port <NUM> may be coupled to the video amplifier <NUM>. A universal serial bus ("USB") controller <NUM> may also be coupled to CPU <NUM>, and a USB port <NUM> may be coupled to the USB controller <NUM>. A subscriber identity module ("SIM") card <NUM> may also be coupled to the CPU <NUM>.

One or more memories may be coupled to the CPU <NUM>. The one or more memories may include both volatile and non-volatile memories. Examples of volatile memories include static random access memory ("SRAM") <NUM> and dynamic RAMs ("DRAM"s) <NUM> and <NUM>. Such memories may be external to the SoC <NUM>, such as the DRAM <NUM>, or internal to the SoC <NUM>, such as the DRAM <NUM>. A DRAM controller <NUM> coupled to the CPU <NUM> may control the writing of data to, and reading of data from, the DRAMs <NUM> and <NUM>. In other embodiments, such a DRAM controller may be included within a processor, such as the CPU <NUM>.

A stereo audio CODEC <NUM> may be coupled to the analog signal processor <NUM>. Further, an audio amplifier <NUM> may be coupled to the stereo audio CODEC <NUM>. First and second stereo speakers <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, may be coupled to the audio amplifier <NUM>. In addition, a microphone amplifier <NUM> may be coupled to the stereo audio CODEC <NUM>, and a microphone <NUM> may be coupled to the microphone amplifier <NUM>. A frequency modulation ("FM") radio tuner <NUM> may be coupled to the stereo audio CODEC <NUM>. An FM antenna <NUM> may be coupled to the FM radio tuner <NUM>. Further, stereo headphones <NUM> may be coupled to the stereo audio CODEC <NUM>. Other devices that may be coupled to the CPU <NUM> include one or more digital (e.g., CCD or CMOS) cameras <NUM>.

A modem or RF transceiver <NUM> may be coupled to the analog signal processor <NUM>. An RF switch <NUM> may be coupled to the RF transceiver <NUM> and an RF antenna <NUM>. In addition, a keypad <NUM>, a mono headset with a microphone <NUM>, and a vibrator device <NUM> may be coupled to the analog signal processor <NUM>.

The SoC <NUM> may have one or more internal or on-chip thermal sensors 970A and may be coupled to one or more external or off-chip thermal sensors 970B. An analog-to-digital converter ("ADC") controller <NUM> may convert voltage drops produced by the thermal sensors 970A and 970B to digital signals. A thermal sensor 970A or 970B may be an example of the above-described thermal sensor <NUM> (<FIG>).

A charger IC <NUM> may be coupled to a power management integrated circuit ("PMIC") <NUM> and to a battery <NUM>. Although not shown for purposes of clarity, the PCD <NUM> includes a connector or circuitry configured to couple power provided by a docking station to the charger IC <NUM>. A heat pipe <NUM> may be coupled to the charger IC <NUM> and the PMIC <NUM>, both of which are examples of heat source components. A first end of the heat pipe <NUM> may be coupled to the charger IC <NUM>, and a second end of the heat pipe <NUM> may be coupled to a TEC <NUM>. A portion of the heat pipe <NUM> between its first and second ends may be coupled to the PMIC <NUM>. The TEC <NUM> and heat pipe <NUM> may function in the manner described above with regard to similar TEC and heat pipe elements in other PCD embodiments. As the PCD <NUM> is shown in block diagram form, mechanical or spatial aspects of the PCD <NUM> that may relate to heat transfer are not shown. Nevertheless, such aspects may be similar to those described above with regard to other PCD embodiments.

Claim 1:
A system for thermal mitigation in a portable computing device, PCD, (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a PCD case (<NUM>, <NUM>) containing one or more PCD processor systems;
a thermal coupler (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) having a portion exposed externally to the PCD case; and
an active heat transfer system (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) within the PCD case, the active heat transfer system having a first portion thermally coupled to a heat source component within the PCD case and a second portion thermally coupled to the thermal coupler, the active heat transfer system comprises a thermoelectric device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) positioned entirely within the PCD case and a control system (<NUM>) also positioned entirely within the PCD case, the active heat transfer system configured to transfer thermal energy from the first portion to the second portion when activated by the control system and is activated by the control system based on a temperature measurement of the heat source component and when the control system detects that PCD is coupled to a docking device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
the portion of the thermal coupler exposed externally to the PCD case comprises a connector body portion of an electrical signal connector configured to communicate electrical signals between the PCD and the docking device; and
the thermoelectric device receives power through the electrical signal connector from the docking device that the thermoelectric device consumes during operation when the active heat transfer system is activated by the control system.