Changing air flow direction on air-cooled electronic devices

1. An air-cooled electronic device, comprising:

an air flow generator that is able to generate an air flow in first and second directions through the device, the first direction being different from the second direction;

at least one sensor that measures a first temperature of air in the air flow when the air flow is in the first direction and a second temperature of air in the air flow when the air flow is in the second direction; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the air flow generator and the at least one sensor, the controller:

causing the air flow generator to generate the air flow in the first direction and receiving the first temperature;

causing the air flow generator to generate the air flow in the second direction and receiving the second temperature; and

comparing the first temperature to the second temperature and controlling the air flow generator to generate the air flow in one of the first and second directions based on comparison of the first temperature to the second temperature.

2. The air-cooled electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the air flow generator includes at least one fan and a rotational direction of the at least one fan is reversed to change a direction of the air flow.

3. The air-cooled electronic device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one vent that forms a passageway of the air flow and allows a fluid communication between the device and air surrounding the device.

4. The air-cooled electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein, when the air flow is in the first direction, the air flow generator pulls in the air through the at least one vent and discharges the air to an outside of the device.

5. The air-cooled electronic device as recited in claim 1 , wherein, when the air flow is in the second direction, the air flow generator pulls in the air through the air flow generator and discharges the air inside the device to an outside of the device through the at least one vent.

6. A method for cooling an electronic device that has an air flow generator, the method comprising:

(a) causing the air flow generator to generate an air flow in a first direction and measuring a first temperature of air in the air flow;

(b) causing the air flow generator to change the air flow to a second direction and measuring a second temperature of air in the air flow, the second direction being different from the first direction;

(c) upon comparison of the first temperature to the second temperature, selecting one of the first and second directions; and

(d) causing the air flow generator to generate the air flow in the selected direction.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

8. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein a user initiates the steps (a)-(d).

9. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein the steps (a)-(d) are automatically repeated at regular time intervals.

10. The method as recited in claim 6 , further comprising:

sending a notification when the air flow generator changes a direction of the air flow.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the notification includes a simple network management protocol (SNMP) trap.

12. An information handling system, comprising:

an air flow generator that is able to generate an air flow through at least part of the information handling system;

at least one sensor that measures air temperature; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the air flow generator and the at least one sensor, the controller configured to perform a method comprising the steps of:

causing the air flow generator to generate the air flow in a first direction and obtaining a first temperature from the at least one sensor when the air flow is moving in the first direction;

causing the air flow generator to generate the air flow in a second direction and obtaining a second temperature from the at least one sensor when the air flow is moving in the second direction, the second direction being different from the first direction;

comparing the first temperature to the second temperature; and

responsive to the comparison, selecting one of the first and second directions and causing the air flow generator to generate the air flow in the selected direction.

13. The information handling system of claim 12 , wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

14. The information handling system of claim 12 , wherein a user causes the controller to perform the method.

15. The information handling system of claim 12 , wherein the controller performs the method automatically at time intervals.

16. The information handling system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to perform the step comprising:

sending a notification when the air flow generator changes a direction of the air flow.

17. The information handling system of claim 16 , wherein the notification includes a simple network management protocol (SNMP) trap.

18. The air-cooled electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the controller performs, according to a schedule, the steps of:

causing the air flow generator to generate air flow in the first direction and receiving the first temperature;

causing the air flow generator to generate air flow in the second direction and receiving the second temperature; and

comparing the first temperature to the second temperature and controlling the air flow generator to generate the air flow in one of the first and second directions based on comparison of the first temperature to the second temperature.

19. The air-cooled electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to perform the step comprising:

sending a notification when the air flow generator changes a direction of the air flow.

20. The air-cooled electronic device of claim 19 , wherein the notification includes a simple network management protocol (SNMP) trap.