IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,192,076
Granted Patent B2
US 9,192,076 · App. 13/041,375 · Granted Nov 17, 2015

Methods for managing fans within information handling systems

Inventors: Paul Artman (Austin, TX); Chris Everett Peterson (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
H05K7/20727G06F1/20H05K7/20209
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,192,076
App. No.
13/041,375
Filed
Mar 5, 2011
Granted
Nov 17, 2015
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2121
USPC
700/280
Abstract

A method for managing a fan system in an information handling system (IHS) is disclosed. The method includes providing the fan system comprising a first fan and at least one subsequent fan, wherein the first fan is associated with a first fan speed, the at least one subsequent fan is associated with the at least one subsequent fan speed and the fan system is associated with a system fan speed. The method also includes generating a system fan speed request, adjusting the first fan speed to avoid a critical range when the system fan speed request falls within the critical range, and adjusting the system fan speed to meet the system fan speed request.

Claims (48)

1. A method for managing a fan system in an information handling system (IHS), the method comprising:

providing a fan system comprising:

a first fan associated with a first fan speed; and

a second fan associated with a second fan speed, wherein the second fan speed is different from the first fan speed; and

wherein the fan system is associated with a system fan speed comprising a mean of the first fan speed and the second fan speed;

identifying a first critical range of fan speeds at which a tonality exceeds a predetermined tonality threshold, the predetermined tonality threshold being one of a plurality of tonalities of airborne noise produced by the fan system;

identifying a second critical range of fan speeds at which a hard drive throughput falls below a predetermined hard drive throughput threshold based on fan vibrations;

generating a system fan speed request;

adjusting the first fan speed to avoid the first critical range and the second critical range when the system fan speed request falls within the first critical range or the second critical range;

managing the second fan speed to avoid the first critical range and the second critical range; and

adjusting the system fan speed to meet the system fan speed request.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the system fan speed comprises a weighted mean of the first fan speed and the second fan speed.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the system fan speed comprises an arithmetic mean of the first fan speed and the second fan speed.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fan system is controlled remotely from the IHS.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first fan speed is increased to avoid the first critical range.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second fan speed is decreased to allow the system fan speed to meet the system fan speed request.

7. An information handling system (IHS) comprising:

a plurality of components for processing information;

a fan system for cooling the plurality of components, comprising:

a first fan associated with a first fan speed; and

a second fan associated with a second fan speed, wherein the second fan speed is different than the first fan speed; and

wherein the fan system is associated with a system fan speed comprising a mean of the first fan speed and the second fan speed; and

a fan system controller for controlling the fan system, wherein the controller is operable to:

identify a first critical range of fan speeds at which a tonality exceeds a predetermined tonality threshold, the predetermined tonality threshold being one of a plurality of tonalities of airborne noise produced by the fan system;

identify a second critical range of fan speeds at which a hard drive throughput falls below a predetermined hard drive throughput threshold based on fan vibrations;

generate a fan speed request;

adjust the first fan speed to avoid the first critical range and the second critical range;

manage the second fan speed to avoid the first critical range and the second critical range; and

adjust the system fan speed to meet the fan speed request.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the first fan speed is increased to avoid the first critical range.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein second fan speed is decreased to allow the system fan speed to meet the system fan speed request.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the system fan speed comprises a weighted mean of the first fan speed and the second fan speed.

11. A fan system for cooling an information handling system (IHS), the fan system comprising:

a plurality of fans coupled to the IHS for cooling a component of the IHS, the plurality of fans comprising:

a first fan associated with a first fan speed; and

a second fan associated with a second fan speed, wherein the second fan speed is different from the first fan speed; and

wherein the plurality of fans is associated with a system fan speed comprising a mean of the first fan speed and the second fan speed; and

a fan system controller coupled to the plurality of fans, wherein the fan system controller is operable to:

generate a system fan speed request associated with the plurality of fans;

identify a first critical range of fan speeds at which a tonality exceeds a predetermined tonality threshold, the predetermined tonality threshold being one of a plurality of tonalities of airborne noise produced by the fan system;

identify a second critical range of fan speeds at which a hard drive throughput falls below a predetermined hard drive throughput threshold based on fan vibrations;

determine whether the request falls into the critical range;

adjust the first fan speed to avoid the first critical range and the second critical range when the system fan speed request falls within the first critical range or the second critical range;

manage the second fan speed to avoid the first critical range and the second critical range; and

adjust the system fan speed to meet the request.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the fan system controller operates remotely from the IHS.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the first fan speed is increased to avoid the first critical range.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the system fan speed comprises a weighted mean of the first fan speed and the second fan speed.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2011
From: ARTMAN, PAUL; PETERSON, CHRIS EVERETT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 025906/0497 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120224322A1 · Sep 6, 2012