Techniques for reducing fan cycling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017102744-A1
Application number	US-201514882363-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 13, 2015
Priority date	Oct 13, 2015
Publication date	Apr 13, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fan control module configured to control the speed of a fan receives a signal that indicates the power used by a graphics processing unit (GPU) and a signal that indicates the GPU temperature. Whenever the GPU power exceeds a power threshold level, but the GPU temperature is below a temperature threshold level, the control module turns the fan on and causes the fan to operate at a minimum speed. Whenever the GPU temperature is above the temperature threshold, the control module causes the fan speed to increase with increasing temperature, regardless of power. The control module turns the fan off only when both the GPU temperature is below the temperature threshold and the GPU power is below the power threshold. Although the algorithm is discussed in conjunction with a GPU, the algorithm can be implemented with any type of processor or subsystem that needs to be fan-cooled.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A computer-implemented method for controlling fan speed when cooling a processor, the method comprising:
receiving a first signal based on a first power dissipation level associated with the processor; receiving a second signal based on a first temperature level associated with the processor; and causing a fan to operate at a first speed based on both the first signal and the second signal.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the first power dissipation level corresponding to the first signal is greater than a first power threshold; and determining that the first temperature level corresponding to the second signal is less than a first temperature threshold; wherein causing the fan to operate at the first speed comprises causing the fan to operate at a minimum speed.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the first power dissipation level corresponding to the first signal is greater than the first power threshold; and determining that the first temperature level corresponding to the second signal is greater than the first temperature threshold; wherein causing the fan to operate at the first speed comprises causing the fan to operate at an operating speed that is greater than a minimum speed.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the first speed is based only on a relationship between fan speed and processor temperature.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the first power dissipation level corresponding to the first signal is less than the first power threshold; and determining that the first temperature level corresponding to the second signal is greater than the first temperature threshold; wherein causing the fan to operate at the first speed comprises causing the fan to operate at an operating speed that is greater than a minimum speed.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the first power dissipation level corresponding to the first signal is less than the first power threshold; and determining that the first temperature level corresponding to the second signal is less than the first temperature threshold; wherein causing the fan to operate a first speed comprises causing the fan to turn off.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a third signal based on a second power dissipation level associated with the processor; receiving a fourth signal based on a second temperature level associated with the processor; and causing the fan to operate at a second speed based on both the third signal and the fourth signal.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , further comprising:
determining that the first power dissipation level corresponding to the first signal is less than the first power threshold; determining that the first temperature level corresponding to the second signal is less than the first temperature threshold; wherein causing the fan to operate at the first speed comprises causing the fan to turn off; and determining that the second power dissipation level corresponding to the third signal is greater than the first power threshold; wherein causing the fan to operate at the second speed comprises causing the fan to operate at a minimum speed.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , further comprising:
determining that the first power dissipation level corresponding to the first signal is less than the first power threshold; determining that the first temperature level corresponding to the second signal is less than the first temperature threshold; wherein causing the fan to operate at the first speed comprises causing the fan to turn off; and determining that the second temperature level corresponding to the fourth signal is greater than the first temperature threshold; wherein causing the fan to operate at a second speed comprises causing the fan to operate at an operating speed that is greater than a minimum speed.

10 . A computer system, comprising:
a memory; and a controller coupled to the memory and configured to:
receive a first signal based on a first power dissipation level associated with the processor,
receive a second signal based on a first temperature level associated with the processor, and
cause a fan to operate at a first speed based on both the first signal and the second signal.

11 . The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the memory stores a plurality relationships between fan speed and processor temperature and a plurality of relationships between fan speed and processor power.

12 . The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive a third signal based on a second power dissipation level associated with the processor; receive a fourth signal based on a second temperature level associated with the processor; and cause the fan to operate at a second speed based on both the third signal and the fourth signal.

13 . The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine that the first power dissipation level corresponding to the first signal is less than the first power threshold; determine that the first temperature level corresponding to the second signal is less than the first temperature threshold; wherein the controller causes the fan to operate at the first speed by causing the fan to turn off; and determine that the second power dissipation level corresponding to the third signal is greater than the first power threshold; wherein the controller causes the fan to operate at the second speed by causing the fan to operate at a minimum speed.

14 . The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine that the first power dissipation level corresponding to the first signal is less than the first power threshold; determine that the first temperature level corresponding to the second signal is less than the first temperature threshold; wherein the controller causes the fan to operate at the first speed by causing the fan to turn off; and determine that the second temperature level corresponding to the fourth signal is greater than the first temperature threshold; wherein the controller causes the fan to operate at a second speed by causing the fan to operate at an operating speed that is greater than a minimum speed.

15 . The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine that the first power dissipation level corresponding to the first signal is greater than the first power threshold; determine that the first temperature level corresponding to the second signal is less than the first temperature threshold; wherein the controller causes the fan to operate at the first speed by causing the fan to operate at a minimum speed; and determine that the second power dissipation level corresponding to the third signal is less than the first power threshold; wherein the controller causes the fan to operate at the second speed by causing the fan to turn off.

16 . The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine that the first power dissipation level corresponding to the first signal is greater than the first power threshold; determine that the first temperature level corresponding to the second signal is less than the first temperature threshold; wherein the controll

Assignees

• Nvidia Corp

Inventors

• Haley david
• Schulze Hans

Classifications

• F05D2270/335

  Output power or torque · CPC title

• G06F1/206 Primary

  comprising thermal management · CPC title

• F05D2270/303

  Temperature · CPC title

• F04D27/004

  by varying driving speed · CPC title

• G06F1/20 Primary

  Cooling means · CPC title