System and method for fan tray control and monitoring system

• US 20090299544A1
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Inventors: Turley, Justin, Riedel, Desi, Tanada, Yukihiro
• Application Number:
  US12/130,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20090299544A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20209 Thermal management, e.g. fan control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

System and method for fan tray control and monitor system. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a fan control system. In the fan control system, one or more fan tray is housed inside a chassis, which provides power to the fan tray. The fan tray includes a communication interface for connecting to a controller module that is external to and separate from the chassis. Through the controller module, a user is able to view information associated with the fan tray. In addition, the user is able to adjust various fan tray parameters through the controller module.

Claims

1. A system for operating a fan tray, the system comprising:

a chassis, the chassis being adapted to house a plurality of hardware modules;

a fan tray, the fan tray being positioned within the chassis, the fan tray being adapted to house one or more fans, the fan tray including a first communication interface and a second communication interface, the first communication interface being coupled to the chassis; and

a controller module, the controller module being separate from the chassis, the controller module being adapted to communicate with the fan tray through the second communication interface, the controller module including a user interface for displaying information associated with the fan tray, the information including at least fan tray speed information.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the second communication interface comprises an Ethernet interface.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the second communication interface comprises a USB interface.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the second communication interface is in compliance with an I2C protocol.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the second communication interface comprises a wireless interface.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface includes an output message panel.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is adapted to receive user inputs.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the user inputs include speed control.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller module is adapted to send a control signal to the fan tray in response to a user input.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the information further includes temperature information.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the information further includes voltage information.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the information further includes operation time information.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface displays a graph.

14. A method for operating a fan tray, the method comprising:

providing a fan tray, the fan tray being located within a chassis, the fan tray including a first communication interface and a second communication interface, the first communication interface being coupled to the chassis;

providing a controller module, the controller module being separate from the chassis, the controller module including program instructions for connecting to the fan tray;

forming a communication link between the controller and the fan tray through the second communication interface;

receiving information from the fan tray by the controller module; and

displaying the information by the controller module.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the forming a communication link comprises entering into a test mode by the fan tray.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising detecting a connection with the fan tray by the controller module.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the communication link comprises a USB communication link.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving a user input;

sending a control signal from controller module to the fan tray, the control signal being associated with the user input.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

receiving a user input;

sending a request to the fan tray based on the user input;

receiving data associated with the request.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising displaying a graph based on the information.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein the information includes speed, temperature, voltage, alarm status, and/or operating time information.

22. The method of claim 14 further comprising updating a fan tray software in response to a user input.

23. The method of claim 14 wherein the fan tray includes two or more fans.

24. The method of claim 14 wherein the information is displayed in real time.

25. The method of claim 14 further comprising performing function override of the fan tray based on a user input received by the controller.

26. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

terminating the communication link between the fan tray and the controller;

resuming fan tray operation.

27. The method of claim 14 further comprising storing the information.