Power and control for power supply fans

• US 20030122430A1
• Filed: 01/02/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Aldridge, Tomm V., Winkel, Casey R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,791,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/001 Hot plugging or unplugging of load or power modules to or from power distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources

Abstract

A device is presented having at least one power supply. The power supply is connected to a power supply fan. A first power source terminal is connected to the at least one power supply. A second power source terminal is connected to the at least one power supply. The power supply fan is powered from a source external to the at least one power supply.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one power supply, the at least one power supply coupled to a power supply fan,

a first power source terminal coupled to the at least one power supply,

a second power source terminal coupled to the at least one power supply, wherein the power supply fan is powered from a source external to the at least one power supply.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power supply fan continues to operate upon the at least one power supply failing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a fan speed controller coupled internally to the at least one power supply.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fan speed controller provides a voltage to the power supply fan upon the at least one power supply failing.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source is a server, the at least one power supply providing a portion of power to the server.

6. An apparatus comprising:

at least one power supply, the at least one power supply coupled to a power supply fan,

a first fan speed controller coupled to the power supply fan, the first fan speed controller internally coupled to the at least one power supply,

a first power source terminal coupled to the at least one power supply,

a second power source terminal coupled to the at least one power supply,

a fan speed controller terminal coupled to the power supply fan and the first fan speed controller,

wherein the power supply fan is powered from an external source to the at least one power supply.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the power supply fan continues to operate upon the at least one power supply failing.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first fan speed controller is powered by the at least one power supply.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a second fan speed controller coupled to the fan speed controller terminal.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second fan speed controller provides a voltage to the power supply fan upon the at least one power supply failing.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second fan speed controller is external to the at least one power supply.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first fan speed controller and the second fan speed controller provide a voltage to the power supply fan simultaneously.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the external source is a server, the at least one power supply providing a portion of power to the server.

14. An apparatus comprising:

at least one power supply, the at least one power supply coupled to a power supply fan,

a switch coupled to the power supply fan,

a first fan speed controller coupled to the switch, the first fan speed controller powered by the at least one power supply,

a first internal power source terminal coupled to the switch,

a second internal power source terminal coupled to the switch,

an external fan speed controller terminal coupled to the switch

a first external power source terminal coupled to the switch, and

a second external power source terminal coupled to the switch,

wherein power to operate the power supply fan is switched to an external source upon the at least one power supply failing.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a second fan speed controller coupled to the external fan speed controller terminal.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second fan speed controller provides a voltage to the power supply fan upon the at least one power supply failing.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second fan speed controller is external to the at least one power supply.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the external source is a server, the at least one power supply providing a portion of power to the server.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the external source is coupled to the first and the second external power source terminals.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

a transmission medium coupled to the switch, wherein the switch transmits a signal on the transmission medium upon sensing the at least one power supply failing.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of power supplies, the plurality of power supplies each coupled to a separate power supply fan, each individual power supply of the plurality of power supplies including;

an internal fan speed controller coupled to the separate power supply fan, the fan speed controller powered by the individual power supply,

a first power source terminal coupled to the individual power supply,

a second power source terminal coupled to the individual power supply, and

a fan speed controller coupled to the separate power supply fan, wherein the separate power supply fan receives power from the plurality of power supplies.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further including:

a power supply power bus coupled to the plurality of power supplies.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the power supply fan continues to operate upon the individual power supply failing.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the fan speed controller is powered by the individual power supply.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, further including:

a fan speed controller terminal coupled to the fan speed controller, and

an external fan speed controller coupled to the fan speed controller terminal.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the external fan speed controller provides a voltage to the power supply fan upon the individual power supply failing.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the fan speed controller and the external fan speed controller provide a voltage to the power supply fan simultaneously.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein each fan speed controller of the plurality of power supplies is coupled to a fan speed control bus.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein non-failed power supplies of the plurality of power supplies provide a voltage to the power supply fan upon the individual power supply failing, the voltage controlling the power supply fan'"'"'s speed.