Electricity: motive power systems – Automatic and/or with time-delay means – Responsive to thermal conditions
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-13
2001-02-27
Masih, Karen (Department: 2837)
Electricity: motive power systems
Automatic and/or with time-delay means
Responsive to thermal conditions
C318S471000, C318S445000, C388S903000, C388S909000, C388S934000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06194858
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cooling technology for a computer system, particularly to a speed control device for a cooling fan and the method of control thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Effective cooling has become a major concern in realizing computer system stability for computer operations with increasing clock speed. Currently, a cooling fan, or a fan cooler, is used for rendering cooling effect to a computer system. However, as power management for personal computers (PCs)
otebook computers becomes more diversified and complicated, and the tolerances for noise and temperature more rigid, the conventional two-level operation mode (“ON” or “OFF”) for controlling a cooling fan fails to meet demands.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Consequently, an object of the present invention is to provide a speed control device for cooling fans, capable of changing the speed while keeping a balance between the temperature and the noise level, and applicable to various desktop computers and notebook computers.
To accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a speed control device for cooling fans and a method of control thereof. The method of controlling speed of cooling fans comprises the following steps of: increasing the power supply to a fan and the speed of the cooling fan when the system temperature exceeds a temperature threshold; and decreasing the power supply to a fan and the speed of the cooling fan when the system temperature becomes lower than the temperature threshold.
Further, the present invention also provides a speed control device for cooling fans. The speed control device comprises a current amplifier, an initial current path, and a plurality of weighted current paths. The current amplifier supplies power from a first output terminal to a fan. The weighted current paths are connected in parallel with the initial current path at a second output terminal of the current amplifier, wherein each of the weighted current paths determines its state of being either ON or OFF in accordance with a control signal.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4962734 (1990-10-01), Jorgensen
patent: 5847644 (1998-12-01), Weisman, II et al.
Darby & Darby
Masih Karen
Mitac Technology Corp.
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