Method for controlling fan in computer system

• US 6,665,163 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2001
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Yanagisawa, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Leja, Ronald W.
• Application Number:
  US09/797,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20020126431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 361/687, 361/694, 361/695, 361/103, 324/501, 324/584, 713/600, 700/278, 700/299, 700/300, 307/117
• US Class Current: 361/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means

Abstract

In a docking station for a PC, a PCI adapter, an IDE controller, and a PC card controller operate when a PCI clock is supplied from the PC, and stop when the supply of the PCI clock is stopped by the PC entering a sleep mode. A driving signal output circuit outputs an actuation signal to a cooling fan drive circuit when the PCI clock is supplied thereto, and outputs a stop signal to the cooling fan drive circuit when the supply of the PCI clock is stopped. The cooling fan drive circuit includes a temperature sensor for detecting the internal temperature of a power supply unit, and controls on/off of the cooling fan on the basis of the detected temperature by this temperature sensor and an output signal from the driving signal output circuit.

Claims

1. A computer adapted for connection to one or more external devices and having a cooling fan for cooling the one or more external devices, comprising:

an actuation means for actuating the cooling fan;

a detection means for detecting supply of a clock from the computer to the one or more external devices; and

a signal output means for outputting an actuation signal to the actuation means for actuating the cooling fan on the basis of the clock.

2. The computer according to claim 1,

wherein the signal output means is operable to output an actuation signal to the actuation means for actuating the cooling fan when the clock is detected, and to output a stop signal to the actuation means for stopping the cooling fan when the clock is not detected.

3. The computer according to claim 1,

wherein the detection means comprises integration means for integrating the clock signal in an input stage.

4. The computer according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one temperature sensor for detecting the internal temperature of the computer,

wherein the signal output means is operable to output the actuation signal to the actuation means on the basis of the clock and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

5. The computer according to claim 4,

wherein the signal output means is operable to output the actuation signal to the actuation means when the clock is not detected and the temperature detected by the at least one temperature sensor is equal to or larger than a predetermined value.

6. A method of controlling a cooling fan in a computer which is adapted for connection to one or more external devices and including a cooling fan for cooling the one or more external devices, comprising the steps of:

detecting supply of a clock from the computer to the external devices, and actuating the cooling fan on the basis of the clock.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

detecting an internal temperature of the computer, and

actuating the cooling fan on the basis of the clock and the detected temperature.

8. An expansion unit adapted for connection to a computer system, comprising:

at least one electronic device;

a cooling fan for cooling said at least one electronic device;

interface means for receiving a clock signal from said computer system;

detection means for detecting supply of said clock signal via said interface means;

actuation means for turning on said cooling fan responsive to a detection of said clock signal by said detection means.

9. The expansion unit according to claim 8, further comprising:

at least one temperature sensor for detecting a temperature associated with said at least one electronic device, said actuation means turning on said cooling fan responsive to an on-detection of said clock signal and a detection by said temperature sensor of a temperature greater than a predetermined value.

10. A computer system comprising:

a portable computer providing an external interface;

a docking station connected to said portable computer via said external interface,

said docking station comprising;

at least one electronic device;

a cooling fan for cooling said at least one electronic device;

detection means for detecting the supply of a clock signal over said external interface;

actuation means for turning-on said cooling fan responsive to a detection of said clock signal by said detection means.

11. The computer system according to claim 10, further comprising:

at least one temperature sensor in said docking station for detecting a temperature associated with said at least one electronic device;

said actuation means actuating said cooling fan on the basis of the detected clock signal and temperature.