Patent · US Active

Fan speed control

US8868250B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
5References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 28, 2010
Grant dateOct 21, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 19, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05K7/20209
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In one implementation, an environmental controller operates a cooling system in an electronic device. The environmental controller includes a closed loop control system for operating a cooling fan at a target speed. The environmental controller may select the target speed based on one or more temperature sensors. The environmental controller may select the target speed based on the speeds of additional fans or the fans may be controlled in unison. The closed loop control system includes a proportional weight. When a measured cooling fan speed deviates from the target speed by more than a threshold error value, the proportional weight is constant. As the measured cooling fan speed approaches the target speed, and the threshold error value is crossed, the proportional weight is variable. The variance may be a function of time such as a periodic stair step function.

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