Fan monitoring system

• US 5,930,736 A
• Filed: 01/21/1997
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, Kevin L., Rao, Anil V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAH, KAMINI S
• Application Number:
  US08/786,169
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 364/550, 364/131, 364/557, 364/183-187, 395/187, 395/180, 361/695, 388/800-814
• US Class Current: 702/127
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/2815 whereby the speed is regulated by measuring the motor speed and comparing it with a given physical value

Abstract

A fan monitoring system for an electronics system or a computer system. The fan monitoring system includes a fan which produces a rotation signal, where the rotation signal is a function of the fan rotating. The fan monitoring system also includes a detection circuit responsive to the rotation signal and producing an operating signal indicative of the fan rotating. The fan monitoring system also includes a fan detection circuit having a primary connection point capable of being electrically coupled to the fan. The fan detection circuit provides a detection signal indicative of whether or not the fan is electrically coupled to the fan detection circuit. The fan monitoring system further includes an I/O circuit for receiving the fan detection signal and the operating signal. The I/O circuit providing I/O signals to a host computer system as determined by the operating signal and/or the detection signals.

Claims

1. A fan monitoring system comprising:

a fan, the fan providing a fan rotation signal as a function of fan rotation;

a detection circuit, the detection circuit including an electronic storage element having an input and an output, the output providing an operating signal indicative of the fan rotating, the input receiving the rotation signal, the electronic storage element latching at the output the operating signal in response to the rotation, signal;

an input/output (I/O) circuit, the I/O circuit electrically coupled to the output of the electronic storage element, the I/O circuit having an output for providing a reset signal for resetting the electronic storage element, the electronic storage element having an input for receiving the reset signal, the I/O circuit resets the electronic storage element in response to the operating signal being latched.

2. The fan monitoring system of claim 1 wherein:

the fan rotates at a speed;

the rotation signal being an oscillating waveform at a frequency, the frequency proportional to the speed.

3. The fan monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising:

a host computer system including a processor, the host computer system electronically coupled to the I/O circuit by a bus, the I/O circuit providing an I/O rotation signal indicative of whether the fan is rotating as determined by the operating signal, the I/O circuit providing the I/O rotation signal to the host computer system.

4. The fan monitoring system of claim 1, the fan being a three wire fan, the first wire electrically coupling the fan to a power source, the second wire providing the rotation signal, the third wire electrically coupling the fan to a ground.

5. The fan monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising:

a user interface, the user interface electrically coupled to the I/O circuit, the user interface capable of providing at least one information signal to a user, the I/O circuit providing an I/O rotation signal to the user interface indicative of whether the fan is rotating as determined by the operating signal, the user interface providing an information signal of whether the fan is rotating.

6. A fan monitoring system comprising:

a fan;

a fan detection circuit, the fan detection circuit providing a detection signal indicative of whether or not the fan is installed in an electronic system, the fan detection circuit providing a detection signal indicative of whether or not a return connection of the fan is electrically coupled to a ground;

a primary connection point, the detection signal being proportional to the voltage level at the primary connection point, wherein when the return connection of the fan is electrically coupled to the ground, the primary connection point is electrically coupled to the ground.

7. The fan monitoring system of claim 6 wherein:

the voltage level of the detection signal capable of existing at a first level and a second level, the voltage level of the detection signal existing at a first level when the fan is installed in the electronic system, the voltage level existing at a second level when the fan is not installed in the electronic system.

8. A fan monitoring system comprising:

a fan;

a fan detection circuit, the fan detection circuit providing a detection signal indicative of whether or not the fan is installed in an electronic system;

a first connecting device, electrically coupled to a power connection of the fan and a return connection of the fan;

a second connecting device, electrically coupled to a ground and to a power supply, when the first connecting device and the second connecting device are attached, the power connection is electrically coupled to the power supply and the return connection is electrically coupled to the ground;

wherein the fan detection circuit providing the detection signal indicative of whether or not the first connecting device and the second connecting device are attached.

9. The fan monitoring system of claim 8, the detection circuit further including:

a primary connection point, the detection signal being proportional to the voltage level at the primary connection point, wherein the second connecting device is electrically coupled to the primary connection point, where the first connecting device includes an attachment point, the attachment point electrically coupled to the return connection, wherein when the first connecting device is attached to the second connecting device, the primary connection point is electrically coupled to the attachment point.

10. The fan monitoring system of claim 8, the detection circuit further including:

a primary connection point, the detection signal being proportional to the voltage level at the primary connection point, wherein when the first connecting device and the second connecting device are attached, the primary connection point is electrically coupled to the ground.

11. The fan monitoring system of claim 10, the fan detection circuit including a resistive element having two connection points, the first connection point being at a constant voltage level, the second connection point electrically coupled to the primary connection point.

12. A computer system comprising:

a fan, the fan providing a fan rotation signal as a function of fan rotation;

a processor;

a fan monitoring circuit, the fan monitoring circuit including an electronic storage element having an input and an output, the output providing an operating signal indicative of the fan rotating, the input receiving the rotation signal, the electronic storage element providing at the output the operating signal in response to the rotation signal;

an input/output (I/O) circuit, the I/O circuit electrically coupled to the output of the electronic storage element, the I/O circuit electrically coupled to the processor, the I/O circuit receiving the rotation signal, the I/O circuit providing to the processor an I/O rotation signal indicative of whether the fan is rotating as determined by the operating signal;

wherein the I/O circuit sends the I/O rotation signal to the processor in response to the fan not rotating, wherein the I/O signal is an interrupt, wherein sending the I/O signal to the processor in response to the fan not rotating includes the I/O circuit generating an interrupt to the processor in response to the fan not rotating.

13. A computer system comprising:

a fan, the fan providing a fan rotation signal as a function of fan rotation;

a processor;

a fan monitoring circuit, the fan monitoring circuit including an electronic storage element having an input and an output, the output providing an operating signal indicative of the fan rotating, the input receiving the rotation signal, the electronic storage element providing at the output the operating signal in response to the rotation signal;

an input/output (I/O) circuit, the I/O circuit electrically coupled to the output of the electronic storage element, the I/O circuit electrically coupled to the processor, the I/O circuit receiving the rotation signal, the I/O circuit providing to the processor an I/O rotation signal indicative of whether the fan is rotating as determined by the operating signal;

wherein the processor monitors the status of the I/O rotation signal at periodic intervals.

14. A computer system comprising:

a fan, the fan providing a fan rotation signal as a function of fan rotation;

a processor;

a fan monitoring circuit, the fan monitoring circuit including an electronic storage element having an input and an output the output providing an operating signal indicative of the fan rotating, the input receiving the rotation signal, the electronic storage element providing at the output the operating signal in response to the rotation signal;

an input/output (I/O) circuit, the I/O circuit electrically coupled to the output of the electronic storage element, the I/O circuit electrically coupled to the processor, the I/O circuit receiving the rotation signal, the I/O circuit providing to the processor an I/O rotation signal indicative of whether the fan is rotating as determined by the operating signal;

a user interface, the user interface electrically coupled to the processor, the user interface capable of providing at least one information signal to a user, the processor directing the user interface to provide an information signal indicative of fan rotation as determined by the I/O rotation signal.

15. A computer system comprising.

a fan, the fan capable of being electrically coupled to the computer system;

a fan monitoring circuit, the fan monitoring circuit providing a detection signal indicative of whether or not the fan is electrically coupled to the computer system;

a processor,

an input/output (I/O) circuit, electrically coupled to the processor, the I/O circuit electrically coupled to the fan monitoring circuit, the I/O circuit receiving the detection signal, the I/O circuit providing to the processor an I/O detection signal indicative of whether the fan is electrically coupled to the computer system as determined by the detection signal;

wherein the processor monitors the status of the I/O detection signal at periodic intervals.

16. The computer system of claim 15 further comprising:

a periphery device electrically coupled to the computer system;

the processor shutting down the periphery device in response to the I/O detection signal indicating that the fan is not electrically coupled to the computer system.

17. The computer system of claim 15 wherein:

the processor initiates a computer program for monitoring fan rotation in response to the I/O detection signal indicating that the fan is electrically coupled to the computer.

18. The computer system of claim 15 further comprising:

a ground, the fan monitoring circuit providing the detection signal indicative of whether or not a return connection of the fan is coupled to the ground.

19. A computer system comprising:

a fan, the fan capable of being electrically coupled to the computer system;

a fan monitoring circuit, the fan monitoring circuit providing a detection signal indicative of whether or not the fan is electrically coupled to the computer system;

a processor,

an input/output (I/O) circuit electrically coupled to the processor, the I/O circuit electrically coupled to the fan monitoring circuit, the I/O circuit receiving the detection signal, the I/O circuit providing to the processor an I/O detection signal indicative of whether the fan is electrically coupled to the computer system as determined by the detection signal;

wherein the I/O circuit sends the I/O signal to the processor in response to the fan not being electrically coupled to the computer system as determined by the detection signal, wherein the I/O signal is an interrupt, wherein sending the I/O signal to the processor in response to the fan not being electrically coupled to the computer system includes the I/O circuit generating an interrupt to the processor in response to the fan not being electrically coupled to the computer system as determined by the detection signal.

20. The computer system of claim 19 further comprising:

a periphery device electrically coupled to the computer system;

the processor shutting down the periphery device in response to the I/O detection signal indicating that the fan is not electrically coupled to the computer system.

21. The computer system of claim 19 wherein:

the processor initiates a computer program for monitoring fan rotation in response to the I/O detection signal indicating that the fan is electrically coupled to the computer.

22. The computer system of claim 19 further comprising:

a ground, the fan monitoring circuit providing the detection signal indicative of whether or not a return connection of the fan is coupled to the ground.

23. A computer system comprising:

a fan, the fan capable of being electrically coupled to the computer system;

a fan monitoring circuit, the fan monitoring circuit providing a detection signal indicative of whether or not the fan is electrically coupled to the computer system;

a processor,

an input/output (I/O) circuit, electrically coupled to the processor, the I/O circuit electrically coupled to the fan monitoring circuit the I/O circuit receiving the detection signal, the I/O circuit providing to the processor an I/O detection signal indicative of whether the fan is electrically coupled to the computer system as determined by the detection signal,

a power supply;

a ground;

a first connecting device, electrically coupled to a power connection of the fan and a return connection of the fan;

a second connecting device, electrically coupled to the ground and to the power supply, when the first connecting device and the second connecting device are attached, the power connection is electrically coupled to the power supply and the return connection is electrically coupled to the ground, wherein the fan detection circuit providing the detection signal indicative of whether or not the first connecting device and the second connecting device are attached;

wherein the detection circuit further includes a primary connection point, the detection signal being proportional to the voltage level at the primary connection point, wherein when the first connecting device and the second connecting device are attached, the primary connection point is electrically coupled to the ground.

24. A computer system comprising:

a fan, the fan capable of being electrically coupled to the computer system;

a fan monitoring circuit, the fan monitoring circuit providing a detection signal indicative of whether or not the fan is electrically coupled to the computer system;

a processor,

an input/output (I/O) circuit, electrically coupled to the processor, the I/O circuit electrically coupled to the fan monitoring circuit, the I/O circuit receiving the detection signal, the I/O circuit providing to the processor an I/O detection signal indicative of whether the fan is electrically coupled to the computer system as determined by the detection signal;

a user interface, the user interface electrically coupled to the processor, the user interface capable of providing at least one information signal to a user, the processor directing the user interface to provide an information signal indicative of fan detection as determined by the I/O detection signal.

25. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a fan, the fan providing a fan rotation signal as a function of fan rotation, the fan capable of being electrically coupled to the computer system;

a fan monitoring circuit including;

a fan presence detection circuit, the fan detection circuit providing a detection signal indicative of whether or not the fan is coupled to the computer system;

a rotation detection circuit, the rotation detection circuit receiving the rotation signal, the rotation detection circuit providing an operating signal indicative of fan rotation in response to the rotation signal;

an input/output (I/O) circuit, the I/O circuit electrically coupled to the processor and to the fan monitoring circuit, the I/O circuit receiving the detection signal and the operating signal, the I/O circuit providing an I/O signal to the processor as determined by the operating signal and the detection signal;

a user interface, the user interface electrically coupled to the processor, the user interface providing at least one information signal to a user as directed by the processor as determined by the I/O rotation signal and the I/O detection signal.

26. The computer system of claim 25 wherein the I/O signal is an I/O power Ok signal indicating that the fan is rotating and that the fan is electrically coupled to the computer system.

27. The computer system of claim 25 wherein the I/O signal is an I/O malfunction signal indicating that the fan is not rotating and that the fan is electrically coupled to the computer system.

28. The computer system of claim 25 wherein the I/O signal is an I/O fan absent signal indicating that the fan is not rotating and that the fan is not electrically coupled to the computer system.

29. The computer system of claim 25 wherein the I/O signal is an I/O error signal indicating that the fan is rotating and that the fan is not electrically coupled to the computer system.

30. The computer system of claim 25 wherein:

the I/O circuit providing to the processor an I/O rotation signal indicative of whether the fan is rotating as determined by the operating signal, the I/O circuit providing to the processor an I/O detection signal indicative of whether the fan is electrically coupled to the computer system as determined by the detection signal.

31. The computer system of claim 25 wherein:

the processor directing the user interface to provide an information signal indicating that the fan is installed in the computer system but is not rotating.