Distributed cooling system with adaptive cooling profile and method therefor

• US 10,452,109 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2014
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Woo, Joohyun, Aurongzeb, Deeder M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Matey, Michael A
• Application Number:
  US14/462,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20160047698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,891 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 33/00 Non-positive-displacement pumps with other than pure rotation, e.g. of oscillating type F04D35/00 takes precedence; hand-held fans A45B
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/327 Alarm or error message display
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/467 by flowing gases, e.g. air H01L23/473 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00

Abstract

An operating characteristic of an information handling system is determined. It is determined whether a cooling configuration of a plurality of piezoelectric cooling fans included at the information handling system is providing a designated level of cooling. A cooling profile is stored at a memory device, the cooling profile including the operating characteristic and the cooling configuration.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying a first operating characteristic of an information handling system at a first time, the first operating characteristic including an identity of a first application program executing at the information handling system;

determining a cooling configuration of a first piezoelectric cooling fan included at the information handling system based on the identified first operating characteristic, the cooling configuration including an indication of whether the first piezoelectric cooling fan is operational;

determining a first temperature at a first temperature sensor at the information handling system;

in response to determining that the cooling configuration of the first piezoelectric cooling fan is providing a designated level of cooling based on the first temperature, storing a first cooling profile at a memory device, the first cooling profile including the first operating characteristic and the cooling configuration; and

in response to determining that the cooling configuration is not providing the designated level of cooling, adjusting the cooling configuration of the first piezoelectric cooling fan.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to identifying the first operating characteristic of the information handling system at a second time, configuring operation of the first piezoelectric cooling fan based on the first cooling profile.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the cooling configuration includes a frequency and intensity of a signal applied to the first piezoelectric cooling fan.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first operating characteristic is an identity of a first set of application programs executing at the information handling system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first operating characteristic is a power consumption of a first component included at the information handling system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first operating characteristic is an ambient temperature at the information handling system.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying an operating anomaly at the information handling system in response to determining administering cooling pursuant to the first cooling profile fails to provide the designated level of cooling.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the operating anomaly includes reduced thermal transportation efficiency due to dust buildup at the information handling system.

9. An information handling system comprising:

a memory; and

a controller coupled to the memory, the controller to;

identify a first operating characteristic of an information handling system at a first time, the first operating characteristic including an identity of a first application program executing at the information handling system;

determine a cooling configuration for a first piezoelectric cooling fan included at the information handling system based on the identified first operating characteristic, the cooling configuration including an indication of whether the first piezoelectric cooling fan is operational;

determine a first temperature at a first temperature sensor at the information handling system;

in response to determining that the cooling configuration of the first piezoelectric cooling fan is providing a designated level of cooling based on the first temperature, store a first cooling profile at a memory device, the first cooling profile including the first operating characteristic and the cooling configuration; and

in response to determining that the cooling configuration is not providing the designated level of cooling, adjust the cooling configuration of the first piezoelectric cooling fan.

10. The information handling system of claim 9, wherein the controller is further to:

in response to identifying the first operating characteristic of the information handling system at a second time, configure operation of the first piezoelectric cooling fan based on the first cooling profile.

11. The information handling system of claim 9, wherein the cooling configuration includes a frequency and intensity of a signal applied to the first piezoelectric cooling fan.

12. The information handling system of claim 9, wherein the first operating characteristic is an identity of a first set of application programs executing at the information handling system.

13. The information handling system of claim 9, wherein the first operating characteristic is a power consumption of a first component included at the information handling system.

14. The information handling system of claim 9, wherein the controller is further to:

identify an operating anomaly at the information handling system in response to determining administering cooling pursuant to the first cooling profile fails to provide the designated level of cooling.

15. A non-transitory storage medium embodying a software program, the software program comprising instructions executable by a processor to:

identify a first operating characteristic of an information handling system at a first time, the first operating characteristic including an identity of a first application program executing at the information handling system;

determine a cooling configuration of a first piezoelectric cooling fan included at the information handling system based on the identified first operating characteristic, the cooling configuration including an indication of whether the first piezoelectric cooling fan is operational;

determine a first temperature at a first temperature sensor at the information handling system;

in response to determining that the cooling configuration of the first piezoelectric cooling fan is providing a designated level of cooling, store a first cooling profile at a memory device, the first cooling profile including the first operating characteristic and the cooling configuration; and

in response to determining that the cooling configuration is not providing the designated level of cooling, adjust the cooling configuration of the first piezoelectric cooling fan.

16. The storage medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions are further to:

in response to identifying the first operating characteristic of the information handling system at a second time, configure operation of the first piezoelectric cooling fan based on the first cooling profile.