IP Library Granted Patent US 11,924,994
Granted Patent B2
US 11,924,994 · App. 17/377,979 · Granted Mar 5, 2024

Managing a heatsink of an information handling system

Inventors: Chiu Jung Tsen (Hsinchu, TW); Yi-Te Chih (New Taipei, TW); John T. Morrison (Round Rock, TX); Travis C. North (Cedar Park, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
H05K7/20209G10K11/1785H05K7/20163H05K7/20172G10K2210/11G10K2210/129
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,924,994
App. No.
17/377,979
Granted
Mar 5, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for managing a heatsink of an information handling system includes: determining, by a controller unit of the information handling system, that a vibration event is to occur, the vibration event associated with a vibration unit of the information handling system, the controller unit communicably coupled to the vibration unit, the vibration unit removably coupled to the heatsink; and causing, by the controller unit, the vibration unit to generate the vibration event, the vibration event causing the vibration unit to apply one or more vibrations to the heatsink, the one or more vibrations causing a boundary layer of particles to be removed from a surface of the heatsink.

Claims (58)

1. A method for managing a heatsink of an information handling system, the method comprising:

determining, by a controller unit of the information handling system, that a vibration event is to occur, the vibration event associated with a vibration unit of the information handling system, the controller unit communicably coupled to the vibration unit, the vibration unit removably coupled to the heatsink;

causing, by the controller unit, the vibration unit to generate the vibration event, the vibration event causing the vibration unit to apply one or more vibrations to the heatsink, the one or more vibrations causing a boundary layer of particles to be removed from a surface of the heatsink;

receiving, by the controller unit, an audio stream captured by an audio sensor of the information handling system, the audio stream including a fan noise generated by a fan of the information handling system;

extracting, by the controller unit, a noise waveform from the audio stream, the noise waveform associated with the fan noise;

generating, by the controller unit, a noise-cancelling waveform based on the noise waveform, the noise-cancelling waveform having an inverted phase in relation to the noise waveform; and

causing, by the controller unit, the vibration unit to generate a noise-cancellation event, the noise-cancellation event causing the vibration unit to apply one or more noise-cancelling vibrations to the heatsink based on the noise-cancelling waveform, the one or more noise-cancelling vibrations causing the fan noise to be reduced.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the vibration event is to occur comprises:

determining, by the controller unit, that the boundary layer of particles has accumulated on the heatsink.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining that the boundary layer of particles has accumulated on the heatsink comprises:

identifying, by the controller unit, a fan speed associated with a fan of the information handling system;

identifying, by the controller unit, a device temperature associated with a device of the information handling system;

determining, by the controller unit, that the fan speed is above a threshold fan speed; and

determining, by the controller unit, that the device temperature is above a threshold device temperature.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the vibration event is to occur comprises:

determining, by the controller unit, that the information handling system has been powered on.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the vibration event is to occur comprises:

determining, by the controller unit, that the information handling system is to be powered off.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more vibrations applied to the heatsink comprise one or more ultrasonic vibrations.

7. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software that is operable when executed to:

determine, by a controller unit of an information handling system, that a vibration event is to occur, the vibration event associated with a vibration unit of the information handling system, the controller unit communicably coupled to the vibration unit, the vibration unit removably coupled to a heatsink of the information handling system;

cause, by the controller unit, the vibration unit to generate the vibration event, the vibration event causing the vibration unit to apply one or more vibrations to the heatsink, the one or more vibrations causing a boundary layer of particles to be removed from a surface of the heatsink;

receive, by the controller unit, an audio stream captured by an audio sensor of the information handling system, the audio stream including a fan noise generated by a fan of the information handling system;

extract, by the controller unit, a noise waveform from the audio stream, the noise waveform associated with the fan noise;

generate, by the controller unit, a noise-cancelling waveform based on the noise waveform, the noise-cancelling waveform having an inverted phase in relation to the noise waveform; and

cause, by the controller unit, the vibration unit to generate a noise-cancellation event, the noise-cancellation event causing the vibration unit to apply one or more noise-cancelling vibrations to the heatsink based on the noise-cancelling waveform, the one or more noise-cancelling vibrations causing the fan noise to be reduced.

8. The media of claim 7 , wherein to determine that the vibration event is to occur, the software is further operable when executed to:

determine, by the controller unit, that the boundary layer of particles has accumulated on the heatsink.

9. The media of claim 8 , wherein to determine that the boundary layer of particles has accumulated on the heatsink, the software is further operable when executed to:

identify, by the controller unit, a fan speed associated with a fan of the information handling system;

identify, by the controller unit, a device temperature associated with a device of the information handling system;

determine, by the controller unit, that the fan speed is above a threshold fan speed; and

determine, by the controller unit, that the device temperature is above a threshold device temperature.

10. The media of claim 7 , wherein to determine that the vibration event is to occur, the software is further operable when executed to:

determine, by the controller unit, that the information handling system has been powered on.

11. The media of claim 7 , wherein to determine that the vibration event is to occur, the software is further operable when executed to:

determine, by the controller unit, that the information handling system is to be powered off.

12. The media of claim 7 , wherein the one or more vibrations applied to the heatsink comprise one or more ultrasonic vibrations.

13. A computing environment, comprising:

an information handling system including one or more processors; and

one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media coupled to one or more of the processors and comprising instructions operable when executed by one or more of the processors to cause the system to:

determine, by a controller unit of the information handling system, that a vibration event is to occur, the vibration event associated with a vibration unit of the information handling system, the controller unit communicably coupled to the vibration unit, the vibration unit removably coupled to a heatsink of the information handling system; and

cause, by the controller unit, the vibration unit to generate the vibration event, the vibration event causing the vibration unit to apply one or more vibrations to the heatsink, the one or more vibrations causing a boundary layer of particles to be removed from a surface of the heatsink;

receive, by the controller unit, an audio stream captured by an audio sensor of the information handling system, the audio stream including a fan noise generated by a fan of the information handling system;

extract, by the controller unit, a noise waveform from the audio stream, the noise waveform associated with the fan noise;

generate, by the controller unit, a noise-cancelling waveform based on the noise waveform, the noise-cancelling waveform having an inverted phase in relation to the noise waveform; and

cause, by the controller unit, the vibration unit to generate a noise-cancellation event, the noise-cancellation event causing the vibration unit to apply one or more noise-cancelling vibrations to the heatsink based on the noise-cancelling waveform, the one or more noise-cancelling vibrations causing the fan noise to be reduced.

14. The computing environment of claim 13 , wherein to determine that the vibration event is to occur, the processors are further operable when executed to:

determine, by the controller unit, that the boundary layer of particles has accumulated on the heatsink.

15. The computing environment of claim 14 , wherein to determine that the boundary layer of particles has accumulated on the heatsink, the processors are further operable when executed to:

identify, by the controller unit, a fan speed associated with a fan of the information handling system;

identify, by the controller unit, a device temperature associated with a device of the information handling system;

determine, by the controller unit, that the fan speed is above a threshold fan speed; and

determine, by the controller unit, that the device temperature is above a threshold device temperature.

16. The computing environment of claim 13 , wherein to determine that the vibration event is to occur, the processors are further operable when executed to:

determine, by the controller unit, that the information handling system has been powered on.

17. The computing environment of claim 13 , wherein to determine that the vibration event is to occur, the processors are further operable when executed to:

determine, by the controller unit, that the information handling system is to be powered off.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (058014/0560) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 062022/0473 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (057931/0392) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 062022/0382 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (057758/0286) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 061654/0064 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058014/0560 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057758/0286 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 6, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057931/0392 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 1, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 057682/0830 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 16, 2021
From: TSEN, CHIU JUNG; CHIH, YI-TE; MORRISON, JOHN T.; NORTH, TRAVIS C.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 056882/0506 →
Continuity (1)
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