Multifunctional control of cooling systems for computers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for controlling a cooling system in a computing apparatus comprising the steps of:
- receiving at a controller for the cooling system a software instruction originated by one of an operating system and an application program running on the computing apparatus;
receiving at the controller for the cooling system a hardware instruction from a hardware controller disposed in the computing apparatus;
retrieving, by the controller in response to receiving the software and hardware instructions, input information corresponding to each instruction and related to the control of the cooling system;
selecting at the controller which of the software and hardware instruction is to be used;
generating a first control signal based on the selected instruction and the corresponding input information, and transmitting the first control signal to the cooling system, the first control signal controlling an amount of cooling provided by the cooling system to the computing apparatus.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fan controller in one exemplary embodiment facilitates control over a cooling system having fans in a computing apparatus, and permits operating system and application program based software inputs as well as hardware inputs to be utilized in the control of the fans.
-
Citations
41 Claims
-
1. A method for controlling a cooling system in a computing apparatus comprising the steps of:
-
receiving at a controller for the cooling system a software instruction originated by one of an operating system and an application program running on the computing apparatus;
receiving at the controller for the cooling system a hardware instruction from a hardware controller disposed in the computing apparatus;
retrieving, by the controller in response to receiving the software and hardware instructions, input information corresponding to each instruction and related to the control of the cooling system;
selecting at the controller which of the software and hardware instruction is to be used;
generating a first control signal based on the selected instruction and the corresponding input information, and transmitting the first control signal to the cooling system, the first control signal controlling an amount of cooling provided by the cooling system to the computing apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A computing apparatus comprising:
-
a cooling system;
a controller means for receiving a software instruction originated by one of an operating system and an application program running on the computing apparatus and for receiving a hardware instruction from a hardware controller;
said controller means retrieving input information related to the control of the cooling system in response to receiving the software and hardware instruction;
said controller means selecting which of the software and hardware instruction is to be used and generating a first control signal based on the selected instruction and the input information, and transmitting the first control signal to the cooling system, the first control signal controlling an amount of cooling provided by the cooling system. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A computing apparatus comprising:
-
a cooling system including at least one fan;
a fan controller adapted to receive a software instruction originated by one of an operating system and an application program running on the computing apparatus and a hardware instruction from a hardware controller;
said fan controller retrieving input information related to the control of the at least one fan in response to receiving the software and hardware instructions;
said fan controller selecting which of the software and hardware instruction is to be used;
said fan controller generating a first control signal based on the selected instruction and the input information, and transmitting the first control signal to the at least one fan, the first control signal controlling an amount of cooling provided by the at least one fan. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
-
-
40. An article, comprising:
-
one or more computer-readable signal-bearing media;
means in the one or more media for receiving a software instruction originated by one of an operating system and an application program running on a computing apparatus and for receiving a hardware instruction from a hardware controller disposed in the computing apparatus;
means in the one or more media for retrieving input information related to the control of a cooling system corresponding to each received instruction;
means in the one or more media for selecting which of the software and hardware instruction is to be used;
means in the one or more media for generating a first control signal based on the selected instruction and its corresponding input information, and transmitting the first control signal to the cooling system, the first control signal controlling an amount of cooling provided by the cooling system to the computing apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (41)
-
Specification