Electronic apparatus and fan module replacing method

• US 7,116,238 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2001
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishimura, Fumio, Okawa, Mitsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/812,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20020067277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,028 Days
• Field of Search: 340/635, 340/641, 340/648, 340/687, 361/695, 361/687, 312/236
• US Class Current: 340/635
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20836 Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control

Abstract

An electronic apparatus capable of replacing a fan module during operation, includes a unit for instructing a replacement of a fan module, and a unit for controlling a fan drive voltage not to be supplied to a fan module to be replaced when the replacement is instructed.

Claims

1. A method of replacing a fan module during operation of an electronic apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

instructing a replacement of the fan module;

controlling a fan drive voltage supplied to the fan module;

turning off the fan drive voltage when the replacement is instructed; and

confirming a state where a plurality of fan modules are installed, wherein

the controlling step includes the step of controlling the fan drive voltage supplied to a fan module to be replaced if the replacement of a fan module is instructed during the state where the plurality of fan modules are installed.

2. A method of replacing a fan module during operation of an electronic apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

instructing a replacement of the fan module;

controlling a fan drive voltage supplied to the fan module;

turning off the fan drive voltage when the replacement is instructed;

starting a timer count operation at a time when the fan drive voltage supplied to a fan module is controlled; and

alerting an operator when a timer count value of the time count operation reaches a specified value.

3. An electronic apparatus capable of replacing a fan module during operation, comprising:

means for instructing a replacement of the fan module;

means for controlling a fan drive voltage that turns off the fan drive voltage supplied to a fan module to be replaced when the replacement is instructed; and

means for detecting a state where a plurality of fan modules is installed, wherein

the controlling means includes means for controlling the fan drive voltage supplied to a fan module to be replaced if the replacement of a fan module is instructed during the state where the plurality of fan modules are installed.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of fan modules implement redundancy.

5. An electronic apparatus capable of replacing a fan module during operation, comprising:

means for instructing a replacement of the fan module;

means for controlling a fan drive voltage that turns off the fan drive voltage supplied to the fan module to be replaced when the replacement is instructed;

means for starting a timer count operation at a time when the fan drive voltage supplied to a fan module to be replaced is controlled; and

means for alerting an operator when a timer count value of the timer count operation reaches a specified value.

6. An electronic apparatus capable of replacing a fan module during operation, comprising:

means for instructing a replacement of the fan module;

means for controlling a fan drive voltage that turns off the fan drive voltage supplied to the fan module to be replaced when the replacement is instructed; and

means for indicating that the replacement is possible after the fan drive voltage supplied to a fan module to be replaced is controlled.

7. An electronic apparatus capable of replacing a fan module during operation, comprising:

a relay cable coupled to the fan module for transmitting a fan drive voltage and capable of being disconnected from or connected or to the fan module;

means for instructing a replacement of the fan module;

means for controlling a fan drive voltage via the relay cable that turns off the fan drive voltage supplied to the fan module to be replaced when the replacement is instructed; and

means for detecting a state where a plurality of fan modules is installed, wherein

the controlling means includes means for controlling the fan drive voltage supplied to a fan module to be replaced if the replacement of a fan module is instructed during the state where the plurality of fan modules are installed.

8. An electronic apparatus capable of replacing a fan module during operation, comprising:

a relay cable coupled to the fan module for transmitting a fan drive voltage and capable of being disconnected from or connected to the fan module;

means for instructing a replacement of the fan module;

means for controlling a fan drive voltage via the relay cable that turns off the fan drive voltage supplied to the fan module to be replaced when the replacement is instructed;

means for starting a timer count operation at a time when the fan drive voltage supplied to a fan module to be replaced is controlled; and

means for alerting an operator when a timer count value of the timer count operation reaches a specified value.