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A peripheral device with thermal control circuitry is set within a casing of a portable computer. The peripheral device includes at least a peripheral processor set for providing specific operations, and pulse circuitry electrically connected to the peripheral processor for producing pulse signals w

A peripheral device with thermal control circuitry is set within a casing of a portable computer. The peripheral device includes at least a peripheral processor set for providing specific operations, and pulse circuitry electrically connected to the peripheral processor for producing pulse signals with a predetermined first frequency and transmitting to the peripheral processor. The pulses are used so that the peripheral processor can operate according to a predetermined first operation velocity. The peripheral device also includes thermal control circuitry with a thermal sensor. When a temperature detected by the thermal sensor exceeds a first predetermined temperature, the thermal control circuitry produces a first output to the pulse circuitry so as to reduce the frequency of the pulse signals to a predetermined second frequency. This reduces the operating velocity of the peripheral processor to a second operating velocity.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A hard disc drive installed inside a housing of a portable computer, the portable computer comprising a main memory for storing programs and data, a central processing unit for executing programs stored in the main memory, and a bus for connecting the peripheral device and the central processing

1. A hard disc drive installed inside a housing of a portable computer, the portable computer comprising a main memory for storing programs and data, a central processing unit for executing programs stored in the main memory, and a bus for connecting the peripheral device and the central processing unit, the hard disc drive comprising: a housing for protecting elements inside the hard disc drive; a disc module installed inside the housing and having a hard disc set for storing data, a read/write head for writing data into the hard disc set or retrieving data from the hard disc set, and a motor for driving the hard dime set; data process circuitry installed inside the housing and electrically connected to the read/write head of the disc module and the bus for processing data stored in the disc module or data retrieved from the disc module; a microprocessor installed inside the housing for controlling operations of the hard disc drive; pulse circuitry installed inside the housing and electrically connected to the the data process circuitry and the microprocessor for controlling the speed of the data process circuitry and the speed of the microprocessor; and temperature controlled circuitry installed inside the housing having a temperature sensor; wherein when a temperature detected by the temperature sensor exceeds a first predetermined level, the temperature controlled circuitry will generate a first request to the pulse circuitry to reduce a frequency of pulses generated by the pulse circuitry from a first frequency to a second frequency so as to reduce a speed of the data process circuitry and the speed of the microprocessor from a first speed to a second speed. 2. The hard disc drive of claim 1 wherein when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor exceeds the first predetermined level, the temperature controlled circuitry will generate an interrupt signal to interrupt operations of the central processing unit and execute a corresponding interrupt program to process operations relevant to a reduction of the speed of the data process circuitry and the speed of the microprocessor. 3. The hard disc drive of claim 1 further comprising motor driving circuitry for controlling rotations of the motor; wherein when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor exceeds the first predetermined level, the temperature controlled circuitry will generate another request to the motor driving circuitry so that the motor driving circuitry will reduce a rotational speed of the motor. 4. The hard disc drive of claim 1 wherein when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is below a second predetermined level, the temperature controlled circuitry will generate a second request to the pulse circuitry to increase the frequency of pulses generated by the pulse circuitry to the first frequency so as to bring the speed of the data process circuitry and the speed of the microprocessor back to the first speed.