Fan control module for a system unit

• US 6,268,664 B1
• Filed: 10/08/1999
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Jones, Rhod J., Bushue, Michael J., Tatulian, Stepan, Rolls, Jeremy B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz
• Application Number:
  US09/415,426
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 361/690-697, 307/32, 307/38, 307/117
• US Class Current: 307/32
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20581 Cabinets including a drawer for fans
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/207 Thermal management, e.g. cabinet temperature control

Abstract

A fan control module is provided for a system unit. The fan control module includes power outputs for supplying power to a plurality of fan. It also includes a temperature sensor for giving a temperature signal. It further includes a control unit connected to receive the temperature signal and including preprogrammed control information for determining power signals to be supplied to each of the fan units for controlling the speed thereof. The fan control module can control the fan units in a coordinated manner enabling reliable and effective cooling of the system unit under widely varying parameters. It can mean that existing system components can be employed in harsher temperature environments that they were originally designed for, without needed a complete redesign thereof. The fan control module can be provided with electrical noise isolation circuitry to isolate other components from electrical noise generated by the fan units. The system unit can, for example, be a computer system unit for rack mounting in a telecommunications application.

Claims

1. A fan control module for a system unit, the fan control module comprising power outputs for supplying power to a plurality of fans, a temperature sensor for giving a temperature signal, and a control unit connected to receive the temperature signal and including preprogrammed control information for determining power signals to be supplied to each of the fans for controlling the speed thereof dependent upon the temperature signal;

and wherein speed signals from each of the fans are driven via the fan control unit to a power distribution board and an alarms card.

2. The fan control module of claim 1, comprising at least one power input for receiving power from a power supply, the fan control module including electrical noise isolation circuitry to isolate system components from electrical noise generated by the fans.

3. The fan control module of claim 1, comprising a first part for controlling a first pair of fans, the first part comprising respective first power outputs for supplying power to the first pair of fans, and a first control unit connected to the temperature signal from the temperature sensor and including first preprogrammed control information for determining first power signals to be supplied to each of the first pair of fans for controlling the speed thereof dependent upon the temperature signal;

and a second part for controlling a second pair of fans, the second part comprising respective second power outputs for supplying power to the second pair of fans and a second control unit connected to the temperature signal from the temperature sensor and including second preprogrammed control information for determining second power signals to be supplied to each of the second pair of fans for controlling the speed thereof dependent upon the temperature signal.

4. The fan control module of claim 3, wherein the first and second information is identical.

5. The fan control module of claim 3 comprising one power input for receiving power from a power supply for the first part, the first part including first electrical noise isolation circuitry to isolate system components from electrical noise generated by the first pair of fans, and a second power input for receiving power from a power supply for the second part, the second part including second electrical noise isolation circuitry to isolate system components from electrical noise generated by the second pair of fans.

6. The fan control module of claim 3, wherein a first fan of each pair of fans is a system fan for drawing air into the system unit and a second fan of each pair of fans is a processor fan for driving air over a processor module in the system unit.

7. The fan control module of claim 1, wherein a first fan is a system fan for drawing air into the system unit and a second fan is a processor fan for driving air over a processor module in the system unit.

8. The fan control module of claim 1, configured on a circuit board.

9. A system unit including a fan control module, the fan control module comprising power outputs for supplying power to a plurality of fans, a temperature sensor for giving a temperature signal, and a control unit connected to receive the temperature signal and including preprogrammed control information for determining power signals to be supplied to each of the fans for controlling the speed thereof dependent upon the temperature signal;

and wherein speed signals from each of the fans are driven via the fan control unit to a power distribution board and an alarms card.

10. The system unit of claim 9, wherein a first fan of a pair of fans is a system fan for drawing air into the system unit and a second fan of a pair of fans is a processor fan for driving air over a processor module in the system unit.

11. The system unit of claim 9, wherein the fan control module is configured on a circuit board.

12. The system unit of claim 9, wherein the fan control module comprises at least one power input for receiving power from a power supply, the fan control module including electrical noise isolation circuitry to isolate the power supply from electrical noise generated by the fans.

13. The system unit of claim 12, wherein the fan control module comprises one power input for receiving power from a power supply for the first part, the first part including first electrical noise isolation circuitry to isolate system components from electrical noise generated by a first pair of fans, and a second power input for receiving power from a power supply for the second part, the second part including second electrical noise isolation circuitry to isolate system components from electrical noise generated by a second pair of fans.

14. The system unit of claim 9, wherein the fan control module comprises a first part for controlling a first pair of fans, the first part comprising respective first power outputs for supplying power to the first pair of fans and a first control unit connected to receive the temperature signal from the temperature sensor and including first preprogrammed control information for determining first power signals to be supplied to each of the first pair of fans for controlling the speed thereof dependent upon the temperature signal;

and

a second part for controlling a second pair of fans, the second part comprising respective second power outputs for supplying power to the second pair of fans and a second control unit connected to receive the temperature signal from the temperature sensor and including second preprogrammed control information for determining second power signals to be supplied to each of the second pair of fans for controlling the speed thereof dependent upon the temperature signal.

15. The system unit of claim 14, wherein the first and second information is identical.

16. The system unit of claim 9, wherein the system unit is a computer system unit including at least one processor module.

17. The system unit of claim 16, including up to four processor modules.

18. The system unit of claim 16, wherein the signals output b of the control unit is dependent upon the number of processor modules present.

19. The system unit of claim 9, wherein a first fan is a system fan for drawing air into the system unit and a second fan is a processor fan for driving air over a processor module in the system unit.

20. The system unit of claim 9, rack mountable in a rack.

21. A method of controlling cooling of a system unit, the method comprising:

a fan control module a temperature signal from a temperature sensor;

the fan control module determining power outputs to the fans for controlling the speed thereof dependent upon the temperature signal from the temperature sensor in accordance with preprogrammed control information; and

wherein speed signals from each of the fans are driven via the fan control module to a power distribution board and an alarms card.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the fan control module receiving power from a power supply, and the fan control module providing electrical noise isolation to isolate system components from electrical noise generated by the fans.

23. The fan control module of claim 21, wherein the fan control module individually controls the speed of two pairs of fans with a respective control loop being provided for each pair of fans.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the fan control module individually controls the speed of a first fan for drawing air into the system unit and a second fan for driving air over a processor module in the system unit.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein a first fan of each pair of fans is a system fan for drawing air into the system unit and a second fan of each pair of fans is a processor fan for driving air over a processor module in the system unit.