Safety features for moving components of electronic devices
AssigneeLenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
InventorsAlbert V. Makley, Marc R. Pamley, Daryl Cromer, William F. Keown, JR.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention broadly contemplates a safety arrangement that transitions a moving component, for example a cooling fan housed within a chassis of an electronic device, between a first operating mode or condition and a second operating mode or condition. The first operating mode is a normal operating mode, allowing the component (fan) to operate (rotate) at full speed. The second operating mode is a safety or service mode, allowing the component (fan) to operate (rotate) at a reduced speed such that it is compliant with applicable safety regulations.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
- a rotating component operatively coupled to the processor and housed within a chassis of the apparatus;
- and
- at least one switch configured to transition the rotating component from a first operating mode to a second operating mode on opening of the chassis;
- wherein the first operating mode comprises an operating mode in which the rotating component rotates above a threshold speed;
- and
- wherein the second operating mode comprises an operating mode in which the rotating component rotates below the threshold speed.
A method comprising:
- rotating a component within a chassis of an electronic device in a first operating mode;
- and
- transitioning the component from the first operating mode to a second operating mode responsive to activation of at least one switch configured to transition the component on opening of the chassis;
- wherein the first operating mode comprises an operating mode in which the component rotates above a threshold speed;
- and
- wherein the second operating mode comprises an operating mode in which the component rotates below the threshold speed.
A tangible program storage device, readable by machine, embodying a program of instructions that when executed by a processor of the machine enable the machine to:
- rotate a component within a chassis of an electronic device in a first operating mode;
- and
- transition the component from the first operating mode to the second operating mode responsive to activation of at least one switch configured to transition the component on opening of the chassis;
- wherein the first operating mode comprises an operating mode in which the component rotates above a threshold speed;
- and
- wherein the second operating mode comprises an operating mode in which the component rotates below the threshold speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.