Abstract: At least certain embodiments of the disclosures relate to methods, devices, and data processing systems for thermal-based acoustic management. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method defers one or more background tasks during normal operation of a system if the system has a reduced performance feature that allows reduced or throttled performance in a non-user state. The system enters a low power state (e.g., sleep state) to cool the system after a period of normal operation. The system enters a different low power state (e.g., dark wake state) with a reduced performance and performs at least one of the deferred background tasks while in this low power state without needing a cooling mechanism.

Abstract: A thermal manager has a digital filter whose input is to receive raw temperature values from a sensor and whose output is to provide processed or filtered temperature values according to a filter function that correlates temperature at the sensor with temperature at another location in the device. The thermal manager has a look-up table that further correlates temperature at the sensor with temperature at the other location. The look-up table contains a list of processed temperature sensor values, and/or a list of temperatures representing the temperature at the other location, and their respective power consumption change commands. The thermal manager accesses the look-up table using selected, filtered temperature values, to identify their respective power consumption change commands. The latter are then evaluated and may be applied, to mitigate a thermal at the other location. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments provide an apparatus that controls a cooling system for a computer system. During operation, the apparatus monitors a temperature signal from the computer system to determine a trend for the temperature signal. Then, a filter parameter for a trend-based filter is selected based on the trend. Next, the temperature signal is filtered using the trend-based filter to generate a filtered temperature signal which is then passed through a controller to generate a control signal for the cooling system.

Abstract: A computing system has a thermal manager that changes a power consuming activity limit in the device based on an estimate of temperature of a target location in the system. There are several temperature sensors that are not at the target location. An estimator computes the target location temperature estimate using a thermal model and, as input to the thermal model, data from the sensors. The thermal model produces different estimates of the target location temperature at different ambient temperatures but without computing or measuring the ambient temperatures. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A gutter cleaning device comprising a nozzle body preferably detachably coupled to a wand in fluid communication with a pressurized water source, the nozzle body having a fluid passage means providing fluid communication to a first nozzle obtusely offset from a coplanar, simultaneously operating, second nozzle wherein the first nozzle and the second nozzle are offset about 158 degrees.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to automatically adjust a thermal requirement of a data processing system are described. One or more conditions associated with a data processing system are detected. A temperature requirement for the data processing system is determined based on the one or more conditions. The performance of the data processing system may be throttled to maintain a temperature of the data processing system below the temperature requirement. Detecting the one or more conditions associated with the data processing system may include determining a location of the data processing system based on a measured motion, a state of a peripheral device, a position of one portion of the data processing system (e.g., a lid) relative another portion of the data processing system (e.g., a bottom portion), a type of application operating on the data processing system, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: Methods of correction of rotational and linear misalignment in multi-link robots are provided. The method allows for precise orientation of an end effector to put or pick substrates at a target destination by correcting for both positional and rotational orientation errors. The method rotates a boom linkage to a position adjacent to the target destination, corrects for linear and rotational error by rotating a boom linkage as well as an upper arm link as well as extending or retracting a wrist member. Systems including long boom linkages are disclosed. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for improving cooling fan operation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a cooling fan's speed is maximized by adjusting a PWM signal driving the fan to change the switching point of the fan motor. In another embodiment, a method for starting a low speed cooling fan by incrementally increasing the amplitude of the PWM signal applied to the fan is disclosed. In a further embodiment, a method for controlling a fan and a fan sensor is disclosed. In this embodiment, a PWM signal is generated, a fan is driven using the PWM signal, a cycle of the PWM signal is modified, and the fan sensors is driven using the PWM signal during the cycle. In a further embodiment, a fan incorporating these improvements is disclosed.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatuses to manage a power of a system that leverage intermediate power margins are described. One or more subsystems of the system are operated at one or more performance points. A power consumed by the one or more subsystems at each of the one or more performance points is measured. An operational power of the one or more subsystems at the one or more performance points is determined. The one or more subsystems are operated at well-known conditions at the one or more performance points. The operational power may be adjusted based on data associated with the one or more subsystems. The operational power is provided to a power lookup table. The power is distributed among the one or more subsystems based on the operational power.

Abstract: A thermal manager has a digital filter whose input is to receive raw temperature values from a sensor and whose output is to provide processed or filtered temperature values according to a filter function that correlates temperature at the sensor with temperature at another location in the device. The thermal manager has a look-up table that further correlates temperature at the sensor with temperature at the other location. The look-up table contains a list of processed temperature sensor values, and/or a list of temperatures representing the temperature at the other location, and their respective power consumption change commands. The thermal manager accesses the look-up table using selected, filtered temperature values, to identify their respective power consumption change commands. The latter are then evaluated and may be applied, to mitigate a thermal at the other location. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatuses to dynamically redistribute power in a system that includes a plurality of subsystems are described. A load profile of the system is identified. The power is redistributed between the subsystems while tracking the load profile. The load profile may be an asymmetric, or a balanced load profile. The load profile is identified based on a utilization factor for each of the subsystems. In one embodiment, the power used by each of the subsystems is sensed by one or more sensors or predicted or estimated. A utilization factor, which may be a ratio of the actual power used by the subsystem to the power allocated to the subsystem, is calculated. The load profile is determined using the utilization factor of each of the subsystems. A power weighting arrangement between the subsystems, for example, a power distribution table, is selected based on the load profile.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed to estimate temperature at one or more critical points in a data processing system comprising modeling a steady state temperature portion of a thermal model at the one or more critical points using regression analysis; modeling the transient temperature portion of the thermal model at the one or more critical points using a filtering algorithm; and generating a thermal model at the one or more critical points by combining the steady state temperature portion of the thermal model with the transient temperature portion of the thermal model. The thermal model may then be used to estimate an instantaneous temperature at the one or more critical points or to predict a future temperature at the one or more critical points.

Abstract: Data processing systems which operate in different modes, including a mode which supports providing an output of images through a port on the systems. In one embodiment, a data processing system includes a processing system, a cellular telephone transceiver, and a port which is configured to provide, as an output from the handheld data processing system, data representing movie video images. Methods and machine readable media are also described.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatuses to manage a power of a data processing system are described. One or more constraint parameters of a system are monitored. The data processing system is forced into an idle state for a first portion of a time while allowed to operate for a second portion of the time based on the one or more constraint parameters, wherein the system is forced into the idle state in response to comparing a target idle time to an actual idle time. The target idle time of the system is determined, in one embodiment, based on the one or more constraint parameters. The actual idle time of the system may be monitored to take into account interrupts which disrupt an idle time and idle times resulting from no software instructions to execute. The system may be allowed to operate based on comparisons of the target idle time and the actual idle time.

Abstract: A predefined mathematical relationship that is stored in the memory of a computing system is accessed, wherein the relationship refers to temperatures of a number of points in the system, wherein the points together define a zone. The mathematical relationship yields a representative temperature for the zone. Temperature data from sensors in the system is obtained and applied to thermal models, to estimate the temperatures of at least some of the points that define the zone. The representative temperature for the zone is computed using the estimated temperatures as input to the mathematical relationship. A decision is then made on whether or not to change a power consuming activity limit in the system, based on the computed representative temperature. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A computing system has a thermal manager that changes a power consuming activity limit in the device based on an estimate of temperature of a target location in the system. There are several temperature sensors that are not at the target location. An estimator computes the target location temperature estimate using a thermal model and, as input to the thermal model, data from the sensors. The thermal model produces different estimates of the target location temperature at different ambient temperatures but without computing or measuring the ambient temperatures. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Data processing systems which operate in different modes, including a mode which supports providing an output of images through a port on the systems. In one embodiment, a data processing system includes a processing system, a cellular telephone transceiver, and a port which is configured to provide, as an output from the handheld data processing system, data representing movie video images. Methods and machine readable media are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for the use of a dual Selective Compliant Assembly Robot Arm (SCARA) robot. In some embodiments two SCARAs are provided, each including an elbow joint, wherein the two SCARAs are vertically stacked such that one SCARA is a first arm and the other SCARA is a second arm, and wherein the second arm is adapted to support a first substrate, and the first arm is adapted to extend to a full length when the second arm supports the first substrate, and wherein the first substrate supported by the second arm is coplanar with the elbow joint of the first arm, and the second arm is further adapted to move concurrently in parallel (and/or in a coordinated fashion) with the first arm a sufficient amount to avoid interference between the first substrate and the elbow joint of the first arm. Numerous other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatuses to manage a power of a data processing system are described. One or more constraint parameters of a system are monitored. The data processing system is forced into an idle state for a first portion of a time while allowed to operate for a second portion of the time based on the one or more constraint parameters, wherein the system is forced into the idle state in response to comparing a target idle time to an actual idle time. The target idle time of the system is determined, in one embodiment, based on the one or more constraint parameters. The actual idle time of the system may be monitored to take into account interrupts which disrupt an idle time and idle times resulting from no software instructions to execute. The system may be allowed to operate based on comparisons of the target idle time and the actual idle time.

Abstract: Data processing systems which operate in different modes, including a mode which supports providing an output of images through a port on the systems. In one embodiment, a data processing system includes a processing system, a cellular telephone transceiver, and a port which is configured to provide, as an output from the handheld data processing system, data representing movie video images. Methods and machine readable media are also described.