Method and apparatus for cooling and energy capture in an electronic device via a photovoltaics

摘要

A method and apparatus for cooling and capturing energy in an electronic device using photovoltaic cells is disclosed. A power supply powers electronic components inside the electronic device. The electronic components produce heat and infrared energy. The photovoltaic cells convert the infrared energy into an electric current to reduce the overall heat level of the electronic device. A power recovery circuit conditions the electric current into a conditioned power signal usable by a system power path manager of the electronic device. The system power path manager uses the converted infrared energy to power the electronic device and/or to charge an energy storage unit.

主权项

1. An apparatus for cooling and energy capture in an electronic device, comprising:
an energy storage unit located in the electronic device; a power supply located in the electronic device, the power supply configured to receive a power signal from the energy storage unit; a first electronic component located in an interior cavity of the electronic device and to receive the power signal from the power supply, the first electronic component configured to consume power as a first system load, generate heat and infrared energy, and radiate the heat and infrared energy into the electronic device; a photovoltaic cell affixed to an interior surface of the electronic device and positioned to face the first electronic component and to absorb radiated infrared energy from the first electronic component, the photovoltaic cell configured to cool the electronic device by absorbing at least a portion of the radiated infrared energy generated by the first electronic component and converting the absorbed radiated infrared energy into an electric current; and a power recovery circuit located in the electronic device, the power recovery circuit configured to receive the electric current from the photovoltaic cell and to condition the electric current to provide a conditioned power signal to at least one of the energy storage unit and the first electronic component.