Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Heat dissipation in wearable computers aided by thermal coupling with the user

  • Published:
Mobile Networks and Applications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Wearable computers and PDA's are physically close to, or are in contact with, the user during most of the day. This proximity would seemingly limit the amount of heat such a device may generate, conflicting with user demands for increasing processor speeds and wireless capabilities. However, this paper explores significantly increasing the heat dissipation capability per unit surface area of a mobile computer by thermally coupling it to the user. In particular, a heat dissipation model of a forearm‐mounted wearable computer is developed, and the model is verified experimentally. In the process, this paper also provides tools and novel suggestions for heat dissipation that may influence the design of a wearable computer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. ASHRAE Handbook: Fundamentals (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, 1993).

  2. C. Amon, E. Egan, D. Siewiorek and A. Smailagic, Thermal management and concurrent system design of a wearable multicomputer, IEEE Trans. Comp., Pack. Manuf. Technology 20(2) (1997) 128–137.

    Google Scholar 

  3. H. Barcroft and O. Edholm, The effect of temperature on blood flow and deep temperature in the human forearm, J. Physiology 102 (1943) 5–20.

    Google Scholar 

  4. H. Barcroft and O. Edholm, Temperature and blood flow in the human forearm, J. Physiology 104 (1946) 366–376.

    Google Scholar 

  5. J. Bligh and R. Moore, eds., Essays on Temperature Regulation (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  6. M. Bluestein, R. Harvey and T. Robinson, Thermal Problems in Biotechnology (American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, 1968) pp. 46–60.

    Google Scholar 

  7. J. Breedlove, Heat transfer between blood vessels and perfused tissue during hyperthermia therapy, Master's thesis, MIT Mech. Eng. (September 1996).

  8. L. Carlson and A. Hsieh, Environmental Physiology (Mosby, St. Louis, 1974).

  9. J. Chato, Heat transfer to blood vessels, J. Biomedical Engineering 102 (1980) 110–118.

    Google Scholar 

  10. R. Clark and O. Edholm, Man and His Thermal Environment (Arnold, London, 1985).

    Google Scholar 

  11. R. Clark and B. Mullan, Skin temperature during running – a study using infra-red colour thermography, J. Physiology 267 (1977) 53–62.

    Google Scholar 

  12. J. Detry, G. Brengelmann, L. Rowell and C. Wyss, Skin and muscle components of forearm blood flow in directly heated resting man, J. Applied Physiology 32 (1972) 506–511.

    Google Scholar 

  13. J. Downey, J. Miller and R. Darling, Thermoregulatory responses to deep and superficial cooling in spinal man, J. Applied Physiology 27(2) (1969) 209–212.

    Google Scholar 

  14. M. Ducharme and P. Tikuisis, In vivo thermal conductivity of the human forearm tissues, J. Applied Physiology 70(6) (1991) 2682–2690.

    Google Scholar 

  15. M. Ducharme and P. Tikuisis, Temperature Regulation: Recent Physiological and Pharmacological Advances (Birkhäuser, Basel, 1995).

    Google Scholar 

  16. W. Eden and D. Young, Stress Proteins in Medicine (Dekker, New York, 1996).

    Google Scholar 

  17. O. Edholm, R. Fox and R. Macpherson, Vasomotor control of the cutaneous blood vessels in the human forearm, J. Physiology 139 (1957) 455–465.

    Google Scholar 

  18. P. Fanger, R. Nevins and P. McNall, Thermal Problems in Biotechnology (American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, 1968).

  19. L. Foner, Private correspondence (1997).

  20. A. Gagge and R. Gonzalez, Handbook of Physiology, Vol. I (Oxford Univ. Press, New York, 1996).

    Google Scholar 

  21. J. Johnson, G. Brengelmann and L. Rowell, Interactions between local and reflex influences on human forearm skin blood flow, J. Applied Physiology 41(6) (1976) 826–831.

    Google Scholar 

  22. J. Johnson and D. Proppe, Handbook of Physiology, Vol. I (Oxford Univ. Press, New York, 1996).

    Google Scholar 

  23. K. Kroemer, H. Kroemer and K. Kroemer-Elbert, Ergonomics: How to Design for Ease and Efficiency (Prentice Hall International, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1994).

    Google Scholar 

  24. P. Lele, Ultrasound: synergistic effects and application in cancer therapy by hyperthermia, Ultrasound (1987) 307–332.

  25. N. Leoni and C. Amon, Thermal design for transient operation of the TIA wearable computer, in: ASME INTERpack '97, Vol. 2 (ASME, 1997) pp. 2151–2161.

    Google Scholar 

  26. H. Martin, Heat Exchangers (Hemisphere, Washington, 1992).

    Google Scholar 

  27. D. Morton, Human Locomotion and Body Form (Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 1952).

    Google Scholar 

  28. S. Nachtsheim, Balancing power and performance in mobile PC's (keynote address), in: Intel Power Symposium, San Francisco (September 1997).

  29. R. Nagasaka, K. Hirata, T. Nunomura and M. Cabanac, The effect of local heating on blood flow in the finger and the foream skin, Canadian J. Physiology and Pharmacology 65 (1987) 1329–1332.

    Google Scholar 

  30. L. Newburgh, Physiology of Heat Regulation and the Science of Clothing (Hafner, New York, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  31. K. Pardasani and N. Adlakha, Coaxial circular sector elements to study two-dimensional heat distribution problem in dermal regions of human limbs, Mathematical Computer Modelling 22(9) (1995) 127–140.

    Google Scholar 

  32. W. Roetzel and Y. Xuan, Transient response of the human limb to an external stimulus, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 41(1) (1998) 229–239.

    Google Scholar 

  33. L. Rowell, G. Brengelmann, J. Blackmon and J. Murray, Redistribution of blood flow during sustained high skin temperature in resting man, J. Applied Physiology 28(4) (1970) 415–420.

    Google Scholar 

  34. L. Rowell, C. Wyss and G. Brengelmann, Sustained human skin and muscle vasoconstriction with reduced baroreceptor activity, J. Applied Physiology 34(5) (1973) 639–643.

    Google Scholar 

  35. M. Savage and G. Brengelmann, Reproducibility of the vascular response to heating in human skin, J. Applied Physiology 76(6) (1994) 1759–1763.

    Google Scholar 

  36. T. Starner, Human powered wearable computing, IBM Systems Journal 35(3) (1996).

  37. T. Starner, Heat dissipation in wearable computers, Technical Report 460, Perceptual Computing, MIT Media Laboratory (November 1997).

  38. W. Taylor, J. Johnson, D. O'Leary and M. Park, Effect of high local temperature on reflex cutaneous vasodilation, J. Applied Physiology 57(1) (1984) 191–196.

    Google Scholar 

  39. J. Timbal, J. Colin, J. Guieu and C. Boutelier, A mathematical study of thermal losses by sweating in man, J. Applied Physiology 27(5) (1969) 726–730.

    Google Scholar 

  40. P. Vaz, Woman of the year, New Scientist (February 1996).

  41. R. Weast, ed., CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (CRC Press, 1976).

  42. S. Younis, Asymptotically zero energy computing using split-level charge recovery logic, Technical Report AITR-1500, MIT AI Laboratory (June 1994).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA

    Thad Starner & Yael Maguire

Authors
  1. Thad Starner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yael Maguire
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Starner, T., Maguire, Y. Heat dissipation in wearable computers aided by thermal coupling with the user. Mobile Networks and Applications 4, 3–13 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019113924178

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1019113924178

Keywords

Search

Navigation