IP Library Granted Patent US 11,340,572
Granted Patent B1
US 11,340,572 · App. 17/100,510 · Granted May 24, 2022

Communication with an information handling system air mover using enhanced data-over-tachometer signal protocol with variable read and write commands

Inventors: Timothy M. Lambert (Austin, TX); Michael J. Stumpf (Cedar Park, TX); Nihit S. Bhavsar (Round Rock, TX); Jeffrey L. Kennedy (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G05B19/042F24F11/30F24F11/58F24F11/65F24F11/72G08B25/06H04L12/2803G05B2219/2614H04B2203/5404H04L67/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,340,572
App. No.
17/100,510
Granted
May 24, 2022
Kind
B1
Abstract

An information handling system may include an air mover configured to drive a flow of air and a processing component communicatively coupled to the air mover for controlling operation of the air mover via a first wire configured to communicate analog air mover speed commands from the processing component to the air mover for controlling a speed of the air mover and a second wire configured to communicate analog tachometer information from the air mover to the processing component. At least one of the air mover and the processing component may be configured to initiate a mode for serial digital communication via the first wire and the second wire. The air mover and the processing component may be configured to communicate information to each other in accordance with a digital communication protocol via the first wire and the second wire during the mode for serial digital communication.

Claims (50)

1. An information handling system comprising:

an air mover configured to drive a flow of air; and

a processing component communicatively coupled to the air mover for controlling operation of the air mover via:

a first wire configured to communicate analog air mover speed commands from the processing component to the air mover for controlling a speed of the air mover, wherein the analog air mover speed commands comprise an analog pulse-width modulated signal such that the speed of the air mover is set as a function of a duty cycle of the analog pulse-width modulated signal; and

a second wire configured to communicate analog tachometer information from the air mover to the processing component; and

wherein the processing component is configured to initiate a mode for serial digital communication by communicating a pulse-width modulated signal via the first wire at a frequency significantly different than a frequency of the analog pulse-width modulated signal; and

wherein the air mover and the processing component are configured to communicate information to each other in accordance with a digital communication protocol via the first wire and the second wire during the mode for serial digital communication.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein in response to the processing component initiating the mode for serial digital communication, the processing component communicates a command via the first wire to the air mover in accordance with the digital communication protocol.

3. The information handling system of claim 2 , wherein, in response to receipt of the command, the air mover communicates a response via the second wire to the processing component in accordance with the digital communication protocol.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein:

the air mover is configured to initiate the mode for serial digital communication by communicating an initiation signal via the second wire; and

in response to the air mover initiating the mode for serial digital communication, the air mover communicates an interrupt via the second wire to the processing component in accordance with the digital communication protocol.

5. The information handling system of claim 4 , wherein in response to the interrupt, the processing component communicates a command via the first wire to the air mover in accordance with the digital communication protocol to determine why the air mover issued the interrupt.

6. The information handling system of claim 5 , wherein, in response to receipt of the command, the air mover communicates a response via the second wire to the processing component in accordance with the digital communication protocol, the response including information regarding why the air mover issued the interrupt.

7. An information handling system comprising:

an air mover configured to drive a flow of air; and

a processing component communicatively coupled to the air mover for controlling operation of the air mover via:

a first wire configured to communicate analog air mover speed commands from the processing component to the air mover for controlling a speed of the air mover; and

a second wire configured to communicate analog tachometer information from the air mover to the processing component, wherein the analog tachometer information comprises a series of pulses indicating the speed of the air mover as a function of a frequency of the series of pulses; and

wherein the air mover is configured to initiate a mode for serial digital communication by communicating a pulsed signal via the second wire at a frequency significantly different than the frequency of the series of pulses; and

wherein the air mover and the processing component are configured to communicate information to each other in accordance with a digital communication protocol via the first wire and the second wire during the mode for serial digital communication.

8. The information handling system of claim 7 , wherein:

the processing component is configured to initiate the mode for serial digital communication by communicating an initiation signal via the first wire; and

in response to the processing component initiating the mode for serial digital communication, the processing component communicates a command via the first wire to the air mover in accordance with the digital communication protocol.

9. The information handling system of claim 8 , wherein, in response to receipt of the command, the air mover communicates a response via the second wire to the processing component in accordance with the digital communication protocol.

10. The information handling system of claim 7 , wherein

in response to the air mover initiating the mode for serial digital communication, the air mover communicates an interrupt via the second wire to the processing component in accordance with the digital communication protocol.

11. The information handling system of claim 10 , wherein in response to the interrupt, the processing component communicates a command via the first wire to the air mover in accordance with the digital communication protocol to determine why the air mover issued the interrupt.

12. The information handling system of claim 11 , wherein, in response to receipt of the command, the air mover communicates a response via the second wire to the processing component in accordance with the digital communication protocol, the response including information regarding why the air mover issued the interrupt.

13. A method comprising, in an information handling system including an air mover configured to drive a flow of air and a processing component communicatively coupled to the air mover for controlling operation of the air mover via a first wire configured to communicate analog air mover speed commands from the processing component to the air mover for controlling a speed of the air mover and via a second wire configured to communicate analog tachometer information from the air mover to the processing component, wherein the analog air mover speed commands comprise an analog pulse-width modulated signal such that the speed of the air mover is set as a function of a duty cycle of the analog pulse-width modulated signal:

initiating, by the processing component, a mode for serial digital communication by communicating a pulse-width modulated signal via the first wire at a frequency significantly different than a frequency of the analog pulse-width modulated signal; and

responsive to initiating the mode for serial digital communication, communicating, by the air mover and the processing component, information to each other in accordance with a digital communication protocol via the first wire and the second wire during the mode for serial digital communication.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising in response to the processing component initiating the mode for serial digital communication, communicating by the processing component a command via the first wire to the air mover in accordance with the digital communication protocol.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising, in response to receipt of the command, communicating by the air mover a response via the second wire to the processing component in accordance with the digital communication protocol.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

the air mover initiating the mode for serial digital communication by communicating an initiation signal via the second wire; and

in response to the air mover initiating the mode for serial digital communication, communicating by the air mover an interrupt via the second wire to the processing component in accordance with the digital communication protocol.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising, in response to the interrupt, communicating a command via the first wire to the air mover in accordance with the digital communication protocol to determine why the air mover issued the interrupt.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising, in response to receipt of the command, communicating, by the air mover, a response via the second wire to the processing component in accordance with the digital communication protocol, the response including information regarding why the air mover issued the interrupt.

19. A method comprising, in an information handling system including an air mover configured to drive a flow of air and a processing component communicatively coupled to the air mover for controlling operation of the air mover via a first wire configured to communicate analog air mover speed commands from the processing component to the air mover for controlling a speed of the air mover and via a second wire configured to communicate analog tachometer information from the air mover to the processing component, wherein the analog tachometer information comprises a series of pulses indicating the speed of the air mover as a function of a frequency of the series of pulse:

initiating, by the air mover, a mode for serial digital communication by communicating a pulsed signal via the second wire at a frequency significantly different than the frequency of the series of pulses; and

responsive to initiating the mode for serial digital communication, communicating, by the air mover and the processing component, information to each other in accordance with a digital communication protocol via the first wire and the second wire during the mode for serial digital communication.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

the processing component initiating the mode for serial digital communication by communicating an initiation signal via the first wire; and

in response to the processing component initiating the mode for serial digital communication, communicating by the processing component a command via the first wire to the air mover in accordance with the digital communication protocol.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising, in response to receipt of the command, communicating by the air mover a response via the second wire to the processing component in accordance with the digital communication protocol.

22. The method of claim 19 , further comprising

in response to the air mover initiating the mode for serial digital communication, communicating by the air mover an interrupt via the second wire to the processing component in accordance with the digital communication protocol.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising, in response to the interrupt, communicating a command via the first wire to the air mover in accordance with the digital communication protocol to determine why the air mover issued the interrupt.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising, in response to receipt of the command, communicating, by the air mover, a response via the second wire to the processing component in accordance with the digital communication protocol, the response including information regarding why the air mover issued the interrupt.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (055479/0342) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 062021/0460 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (055479/0051) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 062021/0663 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (056136/0752) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 062021/0771 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 055408 FRAME 0697 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058001/0553 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2021
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056136/0752 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2021
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055479/0051 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 3, 2021
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055479/0342 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 25, 2021
From: EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 055408/0697 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2020
From: LAMBERT, TIMOTHY M.; STUMPF, MICHAEL J.; BHAVSAR, NIHIT S.; KENNEDY, JEFFREY L.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 054494/0657 →