System and method for thermally regulating a computer responsive to a sensor failure

• US 6,702,665 B1
• Filed: 05/02/2003
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Foundry Networks Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tai, Chang-Pen
• Primary Examiner(s): Boles, Derek
• Application Number:
  US10/428,909
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 454/184, 454/185, 454/195, 454/256, 361/695, 361/696, 165/122, 165/80.2, 165/104.33, 312/236, 237/46
• US Class Current: 454/256
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20209 Thermal management, e.g. fan control

Abstract

A method and apparatus for thermally regulating a computing system responsive to a sensor failure is envisioned. The system has a fan. The system also has a sensor placed in the casing that is responsive to an environmental condition. A first circuit is coupled to the sensor and the fan, and is able to regulate the rotational speed at which the fan operates. The first circuit operates the fan at an increased rotational speed upon an indication of a failure of the sensor.

Claims

1. A thermal regulation system for an electronic computing system with a casing, the system comprising:

a fan;

a sensor disposed in the casing and responsive to an environmental condition;

a first circuit, coupled to said sensor and said fan, operable to regulate the rotational speed at which said fan operates;

said first circuit operable to change said rotational speed of said fan upon an indication of failure of said sensor.

2. The thermal regulation system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is a heat sensor.

3. The thermal regulation system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is an air flow sensor.

4. The thermal regulation system of claim 3 wherein the sensor is heat sensor.

5. The thermal regulation system of claim 1 wherein the first circuit is a processor.

6. The thermal regulation system of claim 1 wherein the change of speed is a setting to a maximum speed.

7. The thermal regulation system of claim 1 wherein the change of speed is a setting to a predetermined speed.

8. The thermal regulation system of claim 1 wherein the change of speed is a changing of the speed by a predetermined amount.

9. The thermal regulation system of claim 1 wherein the change of speed is a dependent upon a current operational speed.

10. The thermal regulation system of claim 1, the sensor comprising a plurality of sensors.

11. The thermal regulation system of claim 10 wherein the failure is a failure of one of said plurality of sensors.

12. The thermal regulation system of claim 10 wherein the failure is a failure of a predetermined number of said plurality of sensors.

13. The thermal regulation system of claim 10 wherein the failure is a failure of a subgroup of said plurality of sensors.

14. A thermal regulation system for an electronic computing system with a casing, the system comprising:

a means for expelling air from the casing;

a means for sensing disposed in the casing and responsive to an environmental condition;

a means for regulating, coupled to said means for sensing and said means for expelling, operable to regulate the rate at which said means for expelling operates;

said means for regulating operable to change rate at which said means for expelling operates upon an indication of failure of said means for sensing.

15. The thermal regulation system of claim 14 wherein said means for sensing senses heat.

16. The thermal regulation system of claim 14 wherein said means for sensing senses air flow.

17. The thermal regulation system of claim 16 wherein said means for sensing senses heat.

18. The thermal regulation system of claim 14 wherein said means for regulating is a processor.

19. The thermal regulation system of claim 14 wherein the change of speed is a setting to a maximum speed.

20. The thermal regulation system of claim 14 wherein the change of rate is a setting to a predetermined speed.

21. The thermal regulation system of claim 14 wherein the change of rate is a changing of the speed by a predetermined amount.

22. The thermal regulation system of claim 14 wherein the change of rate is dependent upon a current operational rate of the means for expelling.

23. The thermal regulation system of claim 14, the means for sensing comprising a plurality of means for sensing.

24. The thermal regulation system of claim 23 wherein the failure is a failure of one of said plurality of means for sensing.

25. The thermal regulation system of claim 23 wherein the failure is a failure of a predetermined number of said plurality of means for sensing.

26. The thermal regulation system of claim 23 wherein the failure is a failure of a subgroup of said plurality of means for sensing.

27. A method for thermally regulating an electronic computing system with a casing and a fan, the method comprising:

sensing an environmental condition in the casing;

reading the status of the sensor;

regulating an operational speed of the fan, based on said sensing;

changing the operational speed of the fan, based upon said reading.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said sensing comprises:

sensing thermal characteristics.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein said sensing comprises:

sensing air flow characteristics.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said sensing comprises:

sensing thermal characteristics.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein said changing comprises:

setting the operational speed of the fan to a maximum speed.

32. The method of claim 27 wherein said changing comprises:

setting said operational speed of the fan to a predetermined speed.

33. The method of claim 27 wherein said changing comprises:

changing the operational speed of the fan by a predetermined amount.

34. The method of claim 27 wherein said changing comprises:

determining a current operational speed of the fan; and

based on said determining, changing the operational speed of the fan.

35. The method of claim 27 wherein said sensing is performed by a plurality of sensors.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said reading comprises:

sensing a failure of one of said plurality of sensors.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein said reading comprises:

sensing a failure of a predetermined number of said plurality of sensors.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein said reading comprises:

sensing a failure a subgroup of said plurality of sensors.