Brushless DC fan module incorporating integral fan control circuit with a communication port for receiving digital commands to control fan

Abstract

A fan module includes integral fan control circuitry which independently implements a self-contained start and run motor control loop and also includes a communications port to accept commands from a host processor and to provide status and other data in response to queries from the host processor. In one embodiment, the fan module interfaces with a two-wire serial bus, such as an 1 2 C bus or SMbus, and accepts commands and provides status and data in a serial digital format. A variety of commands such as on/off, and various speed control settings may be received from the host system. The actual speed of the fan may be reported back when queried by the host system. In some embodiments the temperature of the fan or of the air flow through the fan may be reported bark when queried. The entire fan control circuit may be incorporated within the fan housing and a simple serial two-wire interface may be provided in addition to the two power terminals for the fan, resulting in a compact four-wire interface for the fan module.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cooling module comprising: 
 a cooling device;    a cooling module circuit comprising:    a cooling device control circuit;    at least one communications port;    wherein each communications port is adapted to receive at least one command; and    wherein said cooling device control circuit is adapted to control the cooling device's operation at least partially responsively to received commands.    
     
     
         2 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling module circuit is implemented so as to be essentially contained in a single integrated circuit (IC).  
     
     
         3 . The module of  claim 2 , wherein the cooling module circuit is implemented so as to be entirely contained in the single IC.  
     
     
         4 . The module of  claim 3 , wherein the single IC comprises: 
 at least one power supply voltage terminal;    at least one reference voltage terminal; and    at least one communications port terminal.    
     
     
         5 . The module of  claim 3 , wherein the single IC comprises a programmable microcontroller.  
     
     
         6 . The module of  claim 3 , wherein the single IC comprises an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).  
     
     
         7 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling module circuit is physically mounted on the cooling device.  
     
     
         8 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling device is a fan.  
     
     
         9 . The module of  claim 8 , wherein the cooling device control circuit comprises a motor control circuit driven by pulse width modulation.  
     
     
         10 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling device is a blower.  
     
     
         11 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the commands comprise digital commands.  
     
     
         12 . The module of  claim 11 , wherein the communications port is adapted to handle serial communications.  
     
     
         13 . The module of  claim 12 , wherein the communications port is SMB-compatible.  
     
     
         14 . The module of  claim 13 , wherein the communications port is I 2 C-compatible.  
     
     
         15 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the communications port is adapted to transmit output data.  
     
     
         16 . The module of  claim 15 , wherein the output data comprises temperature as measured within close proximity to the cooling device.  
     
     
         17 . The module of  claim 15 , wherein the output data comprises current cooling device operational output.  
     
     
         18 . The module of  claim 15 , wherein the cooling device comprises a fan and the output data comprises current fan rotational speed.  
     
     
         19 . A computing device comprising at least one cooling module of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         20 . A network comprising at least one computing device of claim  19 .