Reversible fan of electronic module

• US 20060169789A1
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Simon, Glenn C., Barsun, Stephan Karl, Cherniski, Andrew Michael, Dobbs, Robert William, Evans, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 7,434,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 236/49.300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20727 within server blades for removing heat from heat source
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20836 Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control

Abstract

An apparatus in one example comprises a reversible fan of an electronic module that rotates in a clockwise direction if the electronic module is communicatively coupled in a first position and a counterclockwise direction if the electronic module is communicatively coupled in a second position.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a reversible fan of a subsystem that rotates in a clockwise direction if the subsystem is communicatively coupled into a first position in the system and a counterclockwise direction if the subsystem is communicatively coupled into a second position in the system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the subsystem comprises a first power supply module, wherein the reversible fan comprises a first reversible power supply fan, wherein the system further comprises a midplane board and a second reversible power supply fan of a second power supply module;

wherein the first power supply module is communicatively coupled with the midplane board in the first position, wherein the second power supply module is communicatively coupled with the midplane board in the second position.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein upon determination that the first power supply module is in the first position, the first reversible power supply fan rotates in the clockwise direction;

wherein upon determination that the second power supply module is in the second position, the second reversible power supply fan rotates in the counterclockwise direction.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the subsystem comprises one of a plurality of subsystems of the system.

5. An apparatus, comprising:

a reversible fan of an electronic module that rotates in a clockwise direction if the electronic module is communicatively coupled in a first position and a counterclockwise direction if the electronic module is communicatively coupled in a second position.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the electronic module is communicatively coupled with a midplane board in the first position or the second position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first position is located on a first side of the midplane board, wherein the second position is located on a second side of the midplane board.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the reversible fan comprises one or more fan blades;

wherein the one or more fan blades are positioned to achieve substantially similar airflow characteristics in opposite airflow directions for both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions of rotation.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the one or more fan blades are rigid and substantially symmetric for rotation in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the reversible fan comprises a hub and the one or more fan blades, wherein the one or more fan blades comprise flat blades that diagonally extend from a first end portion of the hub to a second end portion of the hub.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the reversible fan comprises a hub and the one or more fan blades, wherein the one or more fan blades diagonally extend from a first end portion of the hub to a second end portion of the hub, wherein the one or more fan blades comprise one or more curved portions that promote an increased airflow upon rotation.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the one or more fan blades comprise a fan blade with a flexible blade portion and a blade support component at each end of the flexible blade portion;

wherein upon rotation of the reversible fan in the clockwise direction, the flexible blade portion bends into a first curved position to promote an increased airflow in a first direction;

wherein upon rotation of the reversible fan in the counterclockwise direction, the flexible blade portion bends into a second curved position to promote an increased airflow in a second direction opposite the first direction.

13. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the electronic module comprises a power supply module, wherein the reversible fan comprises a reversible power supply fan.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the power supply module comprises a first power supply module, wherein the reversible power supply fan comprises a first reversible power supply fan, the apparatus further comprising a second reversible power supply fan of a second power supply module;

wherein the first power supply module is communicatively coupled with a midplane board in the first position, wherein the second power supply module is communicatively coupled with the midplane board in the second position.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein upon determination that the first power supply module is in the first position, the first reversible power supply fan rotates in the clockwise direction;

wherein upon determination that the second power supply module is in the second position, the second reversible power supply fan rotates in the counterclockwise direction.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein airflow from a first one of the first and second reversible power supply fans flows through a second one of the first and second reversible power supply fans in a same airflow direction as airflow generated by the second one of the first and second reversible power supply fans.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a fan controller that drives a reversible fan of an electronic module in a clockwise direction if the electronic module is communicatively coupled in a first position and a counterclockwise direction if the electronic module is communicatively coupled in a second position.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the electronic module is communicatively coupled with a midplane board in the first position or the second position;

wherein the first position is located on a first side of the midplane board, wherein the second position is located on a second side of the midplane board.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein a first end portion of the electronic module connects with either a first face of the midplane board in the first position or a second face of the midplane board in the second position;

wherein the fan controller determines whether the electronic module is connected to the first face or the second face of the midplane board to determine whether to drive the reversible fan in the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the electronic module comprises a power supply module, wherein the reversible fan comprises a reversible power supply fan.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the fan controller comprises a first fan controller, wherein the power supply module comprises a first power supply module, wherein the reversible power supply fan comprises a first reversible power supply fan, the apparatus further comprising a second fan controller that drives a second reversible power supply fan of a second power supply module;

wherein the first power supply module is communicatively coupled with a midplane board in the first position, wherein the second power supply module is communicatively coupled with the midplane board in the second position.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first fan controller determines that the first power supply module is in the first position and drives the first reversible power supply fan in the clockwise direction;

wherein the second fan controller determines that the second power supply module is in the second position and drives the second reversible power supply fan in the counterclockwise direction;

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first and second fan controllers set opposite rotation directions for the first and second reversible power supply fans to move air in a same airflow direction through the first and second reversible power supply fans.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the fan controller comprises a direction control output line to the reversible fan, wherein the fan controller sends a rotation direction control signal over the direction control output line to the reversible fan to set a rotation direction of the reversible fan.

25. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the fan controller comprises two output lines to the reversible fan to control a rotation direction of the reversible fan;

wherein if the electronic module is in the first position, the fan controller sets a first line of the two output lines to be electrically high and a second line of the two output lines to be electrically low to drive the reversible fan in the clockwise direction;

wherein if the electronic module is in the second position, the fan controller sets the first line to be electrically low and the second line to be electrically high to drive the reversible fan in the counterclockwise direction.

26. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a midplane board and in combination with the electronic module, wherein the electronic module is communicatively coupled with the midplane board;

wherein the midplane board comprises a pin that extends from one face of the midplane board, wherein the electronic module comprises a hole that aligns with the pin;

wherein if the electronic module connects to the one face of the midplane board with the pin, the hole receives the pin and the pin closes a switch within the electronic module;

wherein if the electronic module connects to another face of the midplane board without the pin, the switch within the electronic module is open;

wherein if the switch is closed, the fan controller drives the reversible fan in a first one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions;

wherein if the switch is open, the fan controller drives the reversible fan in a second one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

27. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a midplane board and in combination with the electronic module, wherein the electronic module is communicatively coupled with the midplane board;

wherein the midplane board comprises optical interrupter on one face of the midplane board, wherein the electronic module comprises a light beam sensor;

wherein if the electronic module connects to the one face of the midplane board with the optical interrupter, the optical interrupter interacts with the light beam sensor and activates an optical switch;

wherein if the electronic module connects to another face of the midplane board without the optical interrupter, the optical switch is not activated;

wherein if the optical switch is activated, the fan controller drives the reversible fan in a first one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions;

wherein if the optical switch is not activated, the fan controller drives the reversible fan in a second one of the clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

28. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a midplane board and in combination with the electronic module, wherein the electronic module is communicatively coupled with the midplane board;

wherein the midplane board comprises a first connector on a first face of the midplane board, wherein the first connector on the first face comprises a jumper that electrically connects two pins of the first connector;

wherein upon connection of the electronic module to the first connector on the first face of the midplane board, the jumper closes a circuit in the electronic module;

wherein upon determination that the circuit is closed, the fan controller determines that the electronic module is coupled with the first face of the midplane.

29. An apparatus, comprising:

a first power supply module connected with a first side of a midplane board, wherein the first power supply module comprises a first reversible fan; and

a second power supply module connected with a second side of the midplane board, wherein the second power supply module comprises a second reversible fan;

wherein upon determination that the first power supply module is on the first side of the midplane board, the first reversible fan spins in a clockwise direction;

wherein upon determination that the second supply is on the second side of the midplane board, the second reversible fan spins in a counterclockwise direction to move air in a same direction as the first reversible fan.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein external connections of the first and second power supply modules are substantially identical.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the first power supply module is connectable with either of the first and second sides of the midplane board, wherein the second power supply module is connectable with either of the first and second sides of the midplane board;

wherein if the first power supply module is connected with the second side of the midplane board, the first reversible fan spins in the counterclockwise direction;

wherein if the second power supply module is connected with the first side of the midplane board, the second reversible fan spins in the clockwise direction to move air in the same direction as the first reversible fan.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the first power supply module comprises a fan controller that determines whether the first power supply module is communicatively coupled with the first side or the second side of the midplane board;

wherein the fan controller comprises a direction control output line to the first reversible fan, wherein the fan controller sends a rotation direction control signal over the direction control output line to the first reversible fan to set a rotation direction of the first reversible fan.

33. A method, comprising the steps of:

determining whether an electronic module is communicatively coupled in a first position or a second position, wherein the electronic module comprises a reversible fan; and

setting a rotation direction of the reversible fan based on whether the electronic module is in the first position or the second position.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the electronic module is communicatively coupled with a midplane board, wherein the step of determining whether the electronic module is communicatively coupled in the first position or the second position comprises the step of:

determining whether the electronic module is communicatively coupled with a first face of the midplane board in the first position or a second face of the midplane board in the second position.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of setting the rotation direction of the reversible fan based on whether the electronic module is in the first position or the second position comprises the steps of:

setting a clockwise rotation direction for the reversible fan if the electronic module is in the first position; and

setting a counterclockwise rotation direction for the reversible fan if the electronic module is in the second position.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of determining whether the electronic module is communicatively coupled in the first position or the second position comprises the step of:

detecting an activation of a switch if the electronic module is in the first position, wherein the switch is not activated if the electronic module is in the second position.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the electronic module comprises a first power supply module, wherein the reversible fan comprises a first reversible power supply fan, wherein a second power supply module is communicatively coupled in either the first or second position, wherein the second power supply module comprises a second reversible power supply fan, the method further comprising the step of:

driving the first and second reversible power supply fans in opposite rotation directions so the first and second reversible power supply fans generate airflow in a same direction.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the reversible fan receives a signal over a direction control input line that controls the rotation direction of the reversible fan, wherein the step of setting the rotation direction of the reversible fan based on whether the electronic module is in the first position or the second position comprises the steps of:

setting the direction control input line to be electrically high if the electronic module is in the first position; and

setting the direction control input line to be electrically low if the electronic module is in the second position.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein the reversible fan receives signals over two input lines that control the rotation direction of the reversible fan, wherein the step of setting the rotation direction of the reversible fan based on whether the electronic module is in the first position or the second position comprises the steps of:

setting a first line of the two input lines to be electrically high and a second line of the two input lines to be electrically low to drive the reversible fan in the clockwise direction if the electronic module is in the first position; and

setting the first line of the two input lines to be electrically low and the second line of the two input lines to be electrically high to drive the reversible fan in the counterclockwise direction if the electronic module is in the second position.

40. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving an electronic module on a first side of a midplane board and a second electronic module on a second side of the midplane board, wherein the first electronic module comprises a first fan and the second electronic module comprises a second fan, wherein a rotational direction of the second fan is reversible; and

means for setting the rotational direction of the second fan to be opposite a rotational direction of the first fan so airflow through the second fan is in a same direction as airflow through the first fan.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the means for setting the rotational direction of the second fan comprises means for sending a rotation direction control signal to the second fan to set the rotation direction of the second fan.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising means for determining whether the second electronic module is communicatively coupled with the first side or the second side of the midplane board;

wherein the means for setting the rotational direction of the second fan drives the second fan either in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction based on whether the second electronic module is communicatively coupled with the first side or the second side of the midplane board.

43. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising means for achieving substantially similar airflow characteristics in opposite airflow directions for both clockwise and counterclockwise rotation directions of the second fan.