Patent · US Expired

Low power fan drive circuit for personal computers

US5469320A · kind A · utility

19Cited by
1References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 29, 1993
Grant dateNov 21, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 29, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG05D23/24
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An efficient fan drive circuit to drive a variable fan used in a power supply of a personal computer system. The fan drive circuit uses a diode to establish the minimum fan speed during operation in the normal temperature range. The bleeder resistor normally coupled between the fan and a negative output voltage is removed and replaced with a current source. The current source also serves to shut down the power supply if the fan is not operating properly or is not installed. A shut down circuit remains to shut down the power supply when excessive temperature occurs, or when the current source detects that the fan is malfunctioning or not installed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.