Smart-fan components, controls and systems

A smart-fan apparatus, comprising:

• a fan rotor defining an axis-of-rotation and having a hub and a plurality of airfoils, each in the plurality of airfoils extending radially outward from the hub, the fan rotor defining an outer circumference-of-rotation;
• an electric motor having a rotor configured to urge the fan rotor in rotation about the axis-of-rotation
• a housing defining a duct region for receiving the fan rotor, the duct region being coaxially aligned with and extending longitudinally of the axis-of-rotation from a first face to a second face, wherein the rotor is positioned within the duct region and the duct region is so sized relative to the outer circumference-of-rotation as to define a gap between the fan rotor and the duct, wherein the housing further defines a sidewall extending longitudinally of the axis-of-rotation from the first face to the second face, the sidewall having an outer surface;
• a connector port recessed from the outer surface of the sidewall, the connector port having an internal tongue defining a first major surface and an opposed second major surface, the tongue defining an edge connector having a first plurality of electrical contacts exposed on the first major surface and a second plurality of electrical contacts exposed on the second major surface, wherein the tongue further includes a plurality of electrically conductive tracks, each of the plurality of electrically conductive tracks being electrically coupled with one of the electrical contacts exposed on the first major surface and a corresponding one of the electrical contacts exposed on the second major surface;
• control logic having a plurality of electrical connections;
• and
• a logic bus having a first transmission line and a second transmission line, wherein the first transmission line electrically is electrically coupled with a first one of the plurality of electrically conductive tracks and the second transmission line is electrically coupled with a second one of the plurality of electrically conductive tracks, electrically coupling each of the plurality of electrical connections of the control logic with one of the electrical contacts exposed on the first major surface of the tongue and one of the electrical contacts exposed on the second major surface of the tongue, wherein the control logic comprises a microcontroller and a drop connection to the microcontroller from the first transmission line, the second transmission line, or both.

A smart-fan apparatus, comprising:

• a fan rotor defining an axis-of-rotation and having a hub and a plurality of airfoils, each in the plurality of airfoils extending outward from the hub, the fan rotor defining an outer circumference-of-rotation;
• an electric motor having a rotor configured to urge the fan rotor in rotation about the axis-of-rotation
• a housing defining a duct region for receiving the fan rotor, the duct region being coaxially aligned with and extending longitudinally of the axis-of-rotation from a first face to a second face, wherein the rotor is positioned within the duct region and the duct region is so sized relative to the outer circumference-of-rotation as to define a gap between the fan rotor and the duct, wherein the housing further defines a sidewall extending longitudinally of the axis-of-rotation from the first face to the second face, the sidewall having an outer surface;
• a connector port recessed from the outer surface of the sidewall, the connector port having an internal tongue defining a first major surface and an opposed second major surface, the tongue defining an edge connector having a first plurality of electrical contacts exposed on the first major surface and a second plurality of electrical contacts exposed on the second major surface, wherein the tongue further includes a plurality of electrically conductive tracks, each of the plurality of electrically conductive tracks being electrically coupled with one of the electrical contacts exposed on the first major surface and a corresponding one of the electrical contacts exposed on the second major surface;
• control logic having a plurality of electrical connections;
• and
• a logic bus electrically coupling each of the plurality of electrical connections with at least one of the plurality of electrically conductive tracks, electrically coupling each of the plurality of electrical connections of the control logic with one of the electrical contacts exposed on the first major surface of the tongue and one of the electrical contacts exposed on the second major surface of the tongue, wherein the fan rotor is a first fan rotor, the electric motor is a first electric motor, the housing is a first housing, and the connector port is a first connector port, wherein the smart-fan apparatus further comprises:
• a second fan rotor having a hub and a plurality of airfoils;
• a second electric motor configured to urge the second fan rotor in rotation;
• a second housing, wherein the second fan rotor is rotatably coupled within the second housing, the second housing defining a sidewall having an outer surface;
• a second connector port recessed from the outer surface of the second housing's sidewall, the second connector port having an internal tongue defining a first major surface and an opposed second major surface, the tongue defining an edge connector having a first plurality of electrical contacts exposed on the first major surface and a second plurality of electrical contacts exposed on the second major surface;
• and
• a biscuit-connector having a first end defining an outer contour complementary with the recess of the first connector port and a plurality of internal connector pins complementarily arranged relative to the exposed contacts of the first connector port so as to urge against the exposed contacts of the first connector port when the first end of the biscuit-connector matingly engages with the first connector port, the biscuit-connector further having a second end defining an outer contour complementary with the recess of the second connector port and a plurality of internal connector pins complementarily arranged relative to the exposed contacts of the second biscuit-connector port so as to urge against the exposed contacts of the second connector port when the second end of the biscuit-connector matingly engages with the second connector port.