Abstract: A thermal control system for an integrated circuit in an electronic device includes a sensing unit, a calculating unit, and a control unit. The sensing unit is for providing a first temperature signal by sensing the temperature of the integrated circuit and providing a second temperature signal by sensing the temperature of a component of the electronic device. The calculating unit computes a target temperature value of the integrated circuit according to the second temperature signal. The control unit adjusts target setting for the integrated circuit according to the target temperature value and the first temperature signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for chip aware thermal policies. In one novel aspect, the thermal performance mapping information is generated. In one embodiment, the process obtains a set of process-dependent power data for each process corner of a semiconductor chip, profiles performance data, and selects an operating thermal policy based on the performance data. The thermal policy, based on the process-dependent power data is a mapping formula, or a combination of a mapping formula and a mapping table. In another novel aspect, chip aware thermal control is based on process-dependent power data of process corners. In one embodiment, the mapping information of process-dependent power data to a corresponding thermal policy is stored in a memory. A thermal policy is applied based on the stored mapping information and an obtained process corner information. The mapping information is applied every time the thermal policy is needed or at boot-up time.

Abstract: A method for controlling circuit modules within a chip is provided, wherein the circuit modules includes at least one processor and at least one network module, and the method includes: obtaining a plurality of temperature-related information of the circuit modules; and allocating power limits or throughput limits of the circuit modules according to the temperature-related information of the circuit modules, respectively.

Abstract: A power budget allocation method includes: obtaining a system setting associated with a multi-core processor system, obtaining a target power budget, and checking, by a power management controller, at least one power management table according to the system setting and the target power budget to generate a power management output for the multi-core processor system. The system setting includes a core combination setting of the multi-core processor system, and further includes a frequency setting of each processor core selected by the core combination setting.

Abstract: A frame rate control method is provided. The frame rate control method includes the following step: detecting a frame rate of an image signal generated by an image processing apparatus to generate a first detection result; detecting a system load on the image processing apparatus to generate a second detection result; and determining whether to provide a frame rate limit to limit the frame rate according to at least the first detection result and the second detection result.

Abstract: A thermal control system for an integrated circuit in an electronic device includes a sensing unit, a calculating unit, and a control unit. The sensing unit is for providing a first temperature signal by sensing the temperature of the integrated circuit and providing a second temperature signal by sensing the temperature of a component of the electronic device. The calculating unit computes a target temperature value of the integrated circuit according to the second temperature signal. The control unit adjusts target setting for the integrated circuit according to the target temperature value and the first temperature signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for adaptive thermal slope control for dynamic thermal management. In one novel aspect, the device monitors and obtains sampling temperatures, calculates a thermal-slope index, determines whether the calculated thermal-slope index is greater than a predefined slope threshold, adjusts a power budget based on a thermal-slope algorithm, and applies the dynamic thermal management (DTM) adaptively based on the adjusted power budget. In one embodiment, fixed slope algorithm is used. The power budget is adjusted such that an adjusted slope of temperatures stays at a constant. In another embodiment, the time prediction algorithm is used. The power budget is adjusted such that a predicted time to reach a predefined thermal threshold stays a constant. In one embodiment, the time-prediction algorithm is a time-to-target-point (T2TP) algorithm. The T2TP is obtained using a linear equation or a LOG equation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for adjusting the power limit based on multiple factors including the current temperature, the previous temperature, and the target temperature. In one novel aspect, the device obtains the total power limit based on the base power and the delta power. The base power is set to be the current power if the temperature-jump is higher than a temperature-jump threshold, otherwise, is set to be the previous power limit. The delta power equals to the weighted conversion sum of the temperature jump and the temperature margin, which is the temperature difference between the current temperature and the target temperature. In another novel aspect, the device calculates one or more component power limit for each corresponding component power source of the device based on the total power limit. The device adjusts power settings for each corresponding component power source based on the component power limit.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermal control method and a thermal control system. The thermal control method comprises: detecting a temperature variance of a component of the electronic device to generate a detecting result; and determining a temperature threshold value for the integrated circuit as a throttling point according to the detecting result. The thermal control system comprises: a detecting unit, for detecting a temperature variance of a component of the electronic device to generate a detecting result; and a determining unit, for determining a temperature threshold value for the integrated circuit as a throttling point according to the detecting result.

Abstract: A voltage converter comprises a second controller as a power switch of the secondary side of the transformer for comparing a detection voltage representing an output voltage and/or load current with a first reference voltage and generating a control signal, and a coupling element for transmitting the control signal generated by the second controller to the first controller on the primary side of the transformer enabling the first controller to generate a first pulse signal driving the power switch to control the on/off state of the primary side winding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a power supply device for voltage converter, which includes a master switch, a first controller for generating a first pulse signal to drive the master switch to be turned on and turned off, a second controller for comparing a detection voltage representing an output voltage and/or load current with a first reference voltage to determine the logic state of a control signal generated by the second controller, and a coupling element connected between the first controller and the second controller for transmitting the logic state of the control signal to the first controller and enabling the first controller to determine the logic state of the first pulse signal according to the logic state of the control signal. The second controller includes a driving module for generating a second control signal to drive a synchronous switch to be turned on and turned off.

Abstract: Techniques pertaining to thermal management for smooth variation in display frame rate are described. A method may involve performing either or both of: (1) determining whether a temperature of at least one portion of an electronic apparatus exceeds a temperature threshold; and (2) determining whether a variation in a frame rate of images displayed on a display device associated with the electronic apparatus exceeds a variation threshold. The method may also involve controlling the frame rate in response to either or both of a first determination that the monitored temperature exceeds the temperature threshold and a second determination that the variation in the frame rate exceeds the variation threshold.

Abstract: A network device and a method for the network device to set operation of a port are provided. The network device is connected to a set of power sourcing equipment (PSE) through a port, and the PSE powers the network device through the port. The network device includes an analysis module and a port control module. The analysis module judges whether the port of the network device is connected to the PSE. The port control module provides a port function switch instruction according to a judgment result of the analysis module, so as to enable or disable the port.

Abstract: A method for controlling circuit modules within a chip is provided, wherein the circuit modules includes at least one processor and at least one network module, and the method includes: obtaining a plurality of temperature-related information of the circuit modules; and allocating power limits or throughput limits of the circuit modules according to the temperature-related information of the circuit modules, respectively.

Abstract: A portable device is provided. The portable device includes: a display; a controller, a processor, a housing, and a touch rim. The controller and the processor are installed inside the housing. The touch rim is configured to detect a gesture performed on the touch rim to generate at least one touch detection signal. The controller is configured to receive at least one detection signal from the touch rim, and to transmit the touch detection signal to the processor. The processor analyzes the touch detection signal to determine the gesture performed on the touch rim, and performs an operation associated with the gesture.

Abstract: A thermal protection method includes: determining a thermal headroom based on a difference between a current temperature and a predetermined threshold temperature; determining a power budget based on the thermal headroom; and utilizing a processor-based system to employ a target computing power setting according to at least the power budget, wherein selection of the target computing power setting is constrained by the power budget to ensure that the target computing power setting does not make the current temperature exceed the predetermined threshold temperature when employed by the processor-based system.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermal control method and a thermal control system. The thermal control method comprises: detecting a temperature variance of a component of the electronic device to generate a detecting result; and determining a temperature threshold value for the integrated circuit as a throttling point according to the detecting result. The thermal control system comprises: a detecting unit, for detecting a temperature variance of a component of the electronic device to generate a detecting result; and a determining unit, for determining a temperature threshold value for the integrated circuit as a throttling point according to the detecting result.

Abstract: The invention includes a barrel, a needle assembly, a catheter, a stopper and a vacuum generator. The needle assembly is disposed in the barrel and has a needle, a needle hub and a needle piston. The needle piston is fastened onto the needle hub. The catheter is axially connected onto the needle hub and passed through by the needle. The stopper is operably disposed at the first end of the barrel and normally stops the needle hub from moving. The vacuum generator has a plunger and a vacuum piston mounted on an end thereof. The vacuum piston is slidably received in the barrel and normally abuts against the needle piston, and the plunger protrudes from the second end of the barrel. The needle assembly will be pulled and retracted in the barrel when the plunger is pulled outward and the stopper releases the needle hub.

Abstract: A metallic housing for an electronic device, the metallic housing includes a main body defining a receiving chamber for receiving electronic components and an opening communicating with the receiving chamber, and a covering plate positioned on the main body adjacent to a side of the main body. The covering plate is welded to the main body by friction stir welding and a welded region is formed on a side surface of the metallic housing such that the welded region is smooth with the main body and the covering plate. A method for making the metallic housing and an electronic device using the metallic housing is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention includes a barrel, a needle assembly, a catheter, a stopper and a vacuum generator. The needle assembly is disposed in the barrel and has a needle, a needle hub and a needle piston. The needle piston is fastened onto the needle hub. The catheter is axially connected onto the needle hub and passed through by the needle. The stopper is operably disposed at the first end of the barrel and normally stops the needle hub from moving. The vacuum generator has a plunger and a vacuum piston mounted on an end thereof. The vacuum piston is slidably received in the barrel and normally abuts against the needle piston, and the plunger protrudes from the second end of the barrel. The needle assembly will be pulled and retracted in the barrel when the plunger is pulled outward and the stopper releases the needle hub.