Apparatus, system and method for airflow monitoring and thermal management in a computing device

Abstract

Embodiments of an apparatus, system and method are described for monitoring an airflow and performing thermal management operations for a mobile computing device. An apparatus may comprise, for example, a heat generating component, an air mover, and a thermal management module to monitor one or more parameters of the air mover and to perform one or more thermal management operations based on one or more changes in the one or more parameters indicating one or more changes in an airflow for the apparatus. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a heat generating component;   an air mover; and   a thermal management module to monitor one or more parameters of the air mover and to perform one or more thermal management operations based on one or more changes in the one or more parameters indicating one or more changes in an airflow for the apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air mover comprises a fan or a blower and the one or more parameters comprises a speed of the fan or blower or a voltage of the fan or blower. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the thermal management operation comprises generating a user notification regarding one or more changes in the speed or one or more changes in the voltage, wherein increased speed or decreased voltage indicates a restriction in the airflow. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the user notification includes information regarding the amount of speed or voltage change or a suggested action to remedy the speed or voltage change. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the thermal management operation comprises changing a performance state of the heat generating component based on one or more changes in the speed or voltage. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein changing the performance state comprises throttling the heat generating component if the speed increases or the voltage decreases. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a housing arranged to enclose the heat generating component and the air mover, the housing having one or more external surfaces including one or more openings to facilitate the airflow into and out of the housing, wherein one or more changes in the one or more parameters indicate one or more changes in the airflow into or out of one or more openings of the housing.   
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 a housing arranged to enclose a heat generating component and an air mover, the housing having one or more external surfaces including one or more openings to facilitate airflow into and out of the housing; and   a thermal management module to monitor one or more parameters of the air mover and to perform one or more thermal management operations based on one or more changes in the one or more parameters indicating one or more changes in airflow.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein one or more changes in the one or more parameters indicate one or more changes in airflow into or out of one or more openings of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the air mover comprises a fan or a blower and the one or more parameters comprises a speed or voltage of the fan or blower, wherein increased speed or decreased voltage indicates a restriction in the airflow. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the thermal management operation comprises generating a user notification to be displayed on a digital display, the user notification indicating a restriction of the airflow and including information regarding the amount of restriction or a suggested action to remedy the restriction. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the thermal management operation comprises changing a performance state of the heat generating component based on one or more changes in the speed voltage, wherein changing the performance state comprises throttling the heat generating component if the speed increases or the voltage decreases. 
     
     
         13 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 monitoring one or more parameters of an air mover;   detecting one or more changes in the one or more parameters; and   performing one or more thermal management operations based on one or more changes in the one or more parameters indicating one or more changes in an airflow for a computing device.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , wherein the air mover comprises a fan or a blower and the one or more parameters comprises a speed or voltage of the fan or blower. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , wherein performing one or more thermal management operations comprises generating a user notification regarding one or more changes in the speed or voltage, wherein the user notification includes information regarding the amount of speed or voltage change or a suggested action to remedy the speed or voltage change and wherein increased speed or decreased voltage indicates a restriction in the airflow. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 14 , wherein performing one or more thermal management operations comprises changing a performance state of a heat generating component based on one or more changes in the speed or voltage, wherein changing the performance state comprises throttling the heat generating component if the speed increases or the voltage decreases. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , wherein performing one or more thermal management operations comprises:
 monitoring a maintenance status of the air mover; and   generating a maintenance notification if the maintenance status exceeds a predefined threshold.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 13 , wherein performing one or more thermal management operations comprises:
 selecting a first thermal configuration if no change is detected in the one or more parameters of the air mover; and   selecting a second thermal configuration if one or more changes are detected in the one or more parameters of the air mover.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 18 , wherein the second thermal configuration is arranged to generate less heat than the first thermal configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 19 , wherein a performance state of one or more heat generating components is changed in the second thermal configuration.