Fan Control System and Method For A Computer System Based On A Time Variable Rate of Current

• US 20150378403A1
• Filed: 06/24/2015
• Published: 12/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Jung-Tai, Chen, Tsung-Yu, Kung, Edward Yu-Chen, Lin, Tzongli, Smith, Bruce A., Chen, Jenseng JS
• Granted Patent: US 10,130,007 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20209 Thermal management, e.g. fan control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A fan control system for a computer system is provided. The computer system includes a fan and a target device. The fan control system includes a controller to control the rotation speed of the fan. The controller controls the rotation speed according to a time-variable rate of current consumed by the target device. Particularly, when the time-variable rate of current exceeds a threshold, the controller controls the fan to operate at a maximum rotation speed.

Claims

1. A fan control system comprising:

a computer system including a fan and at least one target device;

a fan control system in communication with the fan, the control system comprising a controller to control a rotation speed of the fan, wherein the controller adjusts the rotation speed of the fan according to a time-variable rate of current consumed by the at least a target device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising the controller to controllably drive the fan to operate at a maximum rotation speed when the time-variable rate exceeds a predetermined value.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising the controller to adjust the rotation speed of the fan according to the time-variable rate and an operation state of the target device.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising the controller to controllably drive the fan to operate at a maximum rotation speed when the operation state is a first predetermined state and the time-variable rate exceeds a predetermined value.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the target device includes at least two heterogeneous target devices.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a detecting circuit connected to the target device and adapted to detect the time-variable rate and send an indicative signal to the controller in response to the time-variable rate detected.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the indicative signal is provided in form of an interrupt signal to the controller.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the computer system has an operating system, and the detecting circuit provides the indicative signal to the operating system,

wherein the controller controllably drives the fan to operate at a maximum rotation speed when the operation state is a first predetermined state and the time-variable rate exceeds a predetermined value, and

wherein the operating system executes a predetermined operation when the operation state is a second predetermined state and the time-variable rate exceeds the predetermined value.

9. The system of claim 9, wherein the detecting circuit comprises a differentiator based on an operation amplifier.

10. A method comprising:

configuring a computer system with a fan in communication with a target device; and

managing a rotational speed of the fan with a controller, including adjusting the rotational speed of the fan according to a time-variable rate of current consumed by the target device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the controller driving the fan to operate at a maximum rotation speed when the time-variable rate exceeds a predetermined value.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the controller adjusting the rotation speed of the fan according to the time-variable rate and an operation state of the target device.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the controller driving the fan to operate at a maximum rotation speed when the operation state is a first predetermined state and the time-variable rate exceeds a predetermined value.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising connecting a detecting circuit to the target device, the circuit detecting the time-variable rate and sending an indicative signal to the controller in response to detection of the time variable rate.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the computer system has an operating system, and the detecting circuit provides the indicative signal to the operating system,

wherein the controller controllably drives the fan to operate at a maximum rotation speed when the operation state is a first predetermined state and the time-variable rate exceeds a predetermined value, and

wherein the operating system executes a predetermined operation when the operation state is a second predetermined state and the time-variable rate exceeds the predetermined value.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the detecting circuit comprises a differentiator based on an operation amplifier.