Systems and methods for speed control of an air mover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10428824-B2
Application number	US-201213532121-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2012
Priority date	Jun 25, 2012
Publication date	Oct 1, 2019
Grant date	Oct 1, 2019

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a system may include a rotational component for moving air, a speed sensor, an electrical draw sensor, and a controller. The speed sensor may configured to determine a speed of the rotational component. The electrical draw sensor may be configured to determine an electrical draw of the air mover. The controller may be communicatively coupled to the rotational component, the speed sensor, and the electrical draw sensor, and may be configured to control the speed of the rotational component based on the speed and the electrical draw.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An information handling system, comprising:
a processor;
a temperature sensor configured to generate a temperature signal indicative of a temperature within the information handling system;
a first controller, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to:
receive the temperature signal; and
generate, in accordance with the temperature signal, a desired speed signal corresponding to a desired speed for a motor, wherein the motor is configured to:
receive an operating signal; and
drive, in accordance with the operating signal, a rotational component of an air mover;

wherein the air mover includes:
a motor
a speed sensor configured to generate an actual speed signal indicative of an actual speed of the motor;
an electrical draw sensor configured to generate an electrical draw signal indicative of an actual electrical draw of the motor; and
an air mover controller configured to:
receive input signals, wherein the input signals include the actual speed signal, the electrical draw signal, and the desired speed signal; and
perform air mover control operations to generate, in accordance with the input signals, the operating signal, wherein the air mover control operations include:
determining, based on the desired speed signal and the actual speed signal, a first speed signal corresponding to a first speed;
determining, based on the desired speed signal, an electrical draw limit;
determining, based on the electrical draw signal and the electrical draw limit, a second speed signal corresponding to a second speed; and
selecting either the first speed signal or the second speed signal as the operating signal.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the desired speed signal comprises a pulse width modulated signal and wherein a pulse width of the pulse width modulated signal indicates the desired speed.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the air mover comprises either a fan or a blower.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the actual electrical draw indicates an actual current draw of the rotational component.

5. The information handling system claim 1 , wherein the first speed signal is associated with a first voltage, the second speed signal is associated with a second voltage, and wherein the selecting of either the first speed signal or the second speed signal comprises selecting the first speed signal unless the second voltage is lower than the first voltage.

6. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the second speed signal indicates a maximum operating voltage at which the actual electrical draw does not exceed the electrical draw limit.

7. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the selecting either the first speed signal or the second speed signal as the operating signal comprises selecting the first speed signal responsive to determining that the first speed is lower than the second speed.

8. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the speed sensor comprises a Hall-effect transducer configured to generate an output voltage responsive to detecting a magnetic field created by a magnetic element of the air mover.

9. A method comprising:
receiving, by an air mover controller of an information handling system, input signals, wherein the input signals include:
an actual speed signal indicative of an actual speed of a motor configured to receive an operating signal and further configured to drive, in accordance with the operating signal, a rotational component of an air mover in the information handling system;
an electrical draw signal indicative of an actual electrical draw of the motor; and
a desired speed signal indicative of a desired operating speed for the motor;

receiving a temperature signal indicative of an actual temperature associated with the information handling system; and generating the desired speed signal based on the temperature signal;
determining, based on the desired speed signal and the actual speed signal, a first speed signal corresponding to a first operating speed for the motor;
determining, based on the desired speed signal, an electrical draw limit;
determining, based on the electrical draw signal and the electrical draw limit, a second speed signal corresponding to a second operating speed for the motor;
selecting the first speed signal as the operating signal for the motor responsive to determining the first operating speed is less than the second operating speed; and
selecting the second speed signal as the operating signal responsive to determining the second operating speed is less than the first operating speed.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the desired speed signal comprises a pulse width modulated signal and wherein a pulse width of the pulse width modulated signal indicates the desired operating speed.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the air mover comprises either a fan or a blower.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the actual electrical draw indicates an actual current draw of the rotational component.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second speed signal indicates a maximum operating voltage at which the actual electrical draw does not exceed with the electrical draw limit.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving the actual speed signal comprises:
receiving an output voltage generated by a Hall-effect transducer responsive to detecting a magnetic field created by a magnetic element of the air mover.

15. An air mover controller of an information handling system, wherein the air mover controller is configured to receive input signals, wherein the input signals include:
an actual speed signal indicative of an actual speed of a motor configured to receive an operating signal and further configured to drive, in accordance with the operating signal, a rotational component of an air mover in the information handling system;
an electrical draw signal indicative of an actual electrical draw of the motor;
wherein the information handling system is configured to receive a temperature signal from a temperature sensor indicative of an actual temperature associated with the information handling system; and generate, in accordance with the temperature signal, a desired speed signal corresponding to a desired speed for a motor;

wherein, the air mover controller is configured to perform air mover control operations, wherein the air mover control operations include:
determining, based on the desired speed signal and the actual speed signal, a first speed signal corresponding to a first operating speed for the motor;
determining, based on the desired speed signal, an electrical draw limit;
determining, based on the electrical draw signal and the electrical draw limit, a second speed signal corresponding to a second operating speed for the motor;
selecting the first speed signal as the operating signal for the motor responsive to determining the first operating speed is less than the second operating speed; and
selecting the second speed signal as the operating signal responsive to determining the second operating speed is less than the first operating speed.

16. The air mover controller of claim 15 , wherein the desired speed signal comprises a pulse width modulated signal and wherein a pulse width of the pulse width modulated signal indicates the desired operating speed.

17. The air mover controller of claim 15 , wherein the actual electrical draw indicates an actual current draw of the rotational component.

18. The air mover controll

Assignees

• Curtis Robert
• Peterson Chris E
• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• Curtis Robert
• Peterson Chris E

Classifications

• F04D25/0613 Primary

  the electric motor being of the inside-out type, i.e. the rotor is arranged radially outside a central stator · CPC title

• F04D27/004

  by varying driving speed · CPC title

• Y02B30/70

  Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating · CPC title