Smart fan modules and system
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsThomas M. Cipolla, Richard I. Kaufman, Lawrence S. Mok
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fan module including: two or more individual fans, each fan having an air movement means and a motor engaged with the air movement means for accelerating air entering each of the two or more individual fans; a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature associated with the two or more fans and for outputting a first signal corresponding to the temperature; rotational speed sensor for outputting a second signal corresponding to a rotational speed of each of the two or more fans; and a processor for receiving the first and second signals and controlling the two or more individual fans based on the first and second signals.
Claims23
A fan module comprising:
- two or more individual fans, each fan having an air movement means and a motor engaged with the air movement means for accelerating air entering each of the two or more individual fans;
- a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature associated with the two or more fans and for outputting a first signal corresponding to the temperature;
- rotational speed means for outputting a second signal corresponding to a rotational speed of each of the two or more fans;
- and
- a processor for receiving the first and second signals and controlling the two or more individual fans based on the first and second signals.
An array of fans, each fan having an air movement means and a motor engaged with the air movement means for accelerating air entering each fan, the array of fans comprising:
- two or more fan modules, each fan module having two or more individual fans, a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature associated with the two or more fans and for outputting a first signal corresponding to the temperature, rotational speed means for outputting a second signal corresponding to a rotational speed of each of the two or more fans, and a processor for receiving the first and second signals and controlling the two or more individual fans based on the first and second signals;
- and
- a fan frame for housing the at least two or more fan modules.
A computer comprising:
- heat generating elements;
- and
- an array of cooling fans for cooling at least one of the heat generating elements, each cooling fan having an air movement means and a motor engaged with the air movement means for accelerating air entering each cooling fan, the array of cooling fans comprising, two or more fan modules, each fan module having two or more individual cooling fans, a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature associated with the cooling fans and for outputting a first signal corresponding to the temperature, rotational speed means for outputting a second signal corresponding to a rotational speed of each of the cooling fans, a processor for receiving the first and second signals and controlling the individual cooling fans based on the first and second signals, and a fan frame for housing the at least two or more fan modules.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.