Method for controlling fan in computer system
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorTakashi Yanagisawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a docking station for a PC, a PCI adapter, an IDE controller, and a PC card controller operate when a PCI clock is supplied from the PC, and stop when the supply of the PCI clock is stopped by the PC entering a sleep mode. A driving signal output circuit outputs an actuation signal to a cooling fan drive circuit when the PCI clock is supplied thereto, and outputs a stop signal to the cooling fan drive circuit when the supply of the PCI clock is stopped. The cooling fan drive circuit includes a temperature sensor for detecting the internal temperature of a power supply unit, and controls on/off of the cooling fan on the basis of the detected temperature by this temperature sensor and an output signal from the driving signal output circuit.
Claims11
A computer adapted for connection to one or more external devices and having a cooling fan for cooling the one or more external devices, comprising:
- an actuation means for actuating the cooling fan;
- a detection means for detecting supply of a clock from the computer to the one or more external devices;
- and
- a signal output means for outputting an actuation signal to the actuation means for actuating the cooling fan on the basis of the clock.
A method of controlling a cooling fan in a computer which is adapted for connection to one or more external devices and including a cooling fan for cooling the one or more external devices, comprising the steps of:
- detecting supply of a clock from the computer to the external devices, and actuating the cooling fan on the basis of the clock.
An expansion unit adapted for connection to a computer system, comprising:
- at least one electronic device;
- a cooling fan for cooling said at least one electronic device;
- interface means for receiving a clock signal from said computer system;
- detection means for detecting supply of said clock signal via said interface means;
- actuation means for turning on said cooling fan responsive to a detection of said clock signal by said detection means.
A computer system comprising:
- a portable computer providing an external interface;
- a docking station connected to said portable computer via said external interface,
- said docking station comprising:
- at least one electronic device;
- a cooling fan for cooling said at least one electronic device;
- detection means for detecting the supply of a clock signal over said external interface;
- actuation means for turning-on said cooling fan responsive to a detection of said clock signal by said detection means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.