IP Library Granted Patent US 9,176,161
Granted Patent B2
US 9,176,161 · App. 14/048,218 · Granted Nov 3, 2015

Method, identification system, and electronic system for identifying a fan type of a fan

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,176,161
App. No.
14/048,218
Granted
Nov 3, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a method for identifying a fan type of a fan in an electronic system having a controller. The method includes: setting a fan identification characteristic value, the fan identification characteristic value corresponding to a PWM (pulse width modulation) duty cycle with a substantial maximum difference between the fan speed of a first type of fan and the fan speed a second type of fan; receiving, via the fan, the fan identification characteristic value; initiating the fan with the fan identification characteristic value; reading, via the controller, a stable fan speed value of the fan; identifying, via the controller, the fan type of the fan based on which fan has a predetermined fan speed (RPM) that is the closest to the stable fan speed value (RPM) when operating at the fan identification characteristic value (PWM).

Claims (12)

1. A method for identifying a fan type of a fan in an electronic system having a controller, the method comprising:

setting a first fan identification characteristic value, the first fan identification characteristic value corresponding to a PWM (pulse width modulation) duty cycle with a substantial maximum difference between a fan speed of a first type of fan and a fan speed of a second type of fan;

receiving, via the fan, the first fan identification characteristic value;

initiating the fan with the first fan identification characteristic value;

reading, via the controller, a stable fan speed value of the fan; and

identifying, via the controller, the fan type of the fan based on which fan has a predetermined fan speed that is the closest to the stable fan speed value when operating at the first fan identification characteristic value.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein for the first type of fan and the second type of fan, different PWM duty cycles are used to obtain different fan speeds and further to obtain the substantial difference to set the first fan identification characteristic value.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

setting a second fan identification characteristic value, wherein the second fan identification characteristic value corresponds to a time required for the fan to reach the stable fan speed value.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying, via the controller, the type of the fan based on the second fan identification characteristic value responsive to the stable fan speed value.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller is a baseboard management controller or a basic input/output system (BIOS).

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2019
From: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD.
To: LENOVO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 050300/0947 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 4, 2016
From: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: LENOVO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 037696/0522 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0111 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE A TYPO "KUNK" ON THE LAST NAME OF EDWARD YC KUNG. PLEASE CORRECT THE LAST NAME FROM "KUNK" TO "KUNG." PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 031362 FRAME 0153. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR(S) INTEREST LAST NAME FROM "KUNK" TO "KUNG" FOR ASSIGNOR; EDWARD YC KUNG. Recorded Oct 24, 2013
From: HUANG, KELVIN WP; KUNG, EDWARD YC; KELLY, MARCUS A.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031550/0311 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2013
From: HUANG, KELVIN WP; KUNK, EDWARD YC; KELLY, MARCUS A.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031362/0153 →