US6182902B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device and method for automatically controlling rotating speed of fan cooler
Assignee: Getac Technology Corp
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Filing: 1999-07-22
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Granted: 2001-02-06
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Expires: 2019-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A thermal control method and device for automatically regulating the rotational speed of the fan cooler are disclosed in the present invention. The thermal control device comprises a control-voltage generator having a temperature-sensing device for sensing a temperature and generating a control voltage, a pulse modulator for modulating the pulse width of a clock signal with respect to the control voltage to generate a pulse modulation signal, and a fan driver for regulating the rotational speed of the fan cooler, modulating the refrigerant efficiency, and maintain the internal temperature of an apparatus, thereby consuming moderate power and making less noise.
Inventors
- 👤 Min-Tien Shih
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:57
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/20; G05D23/24; G05D23/1906; G05D23/1913; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S236/00; Y10S236/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A device for controlling a rotational speed of a fan cooler attached to an apparatus, the device comprising: a plurality of control-voltage generators, each of which having a sensing means for sensing a local temperature and generating a local control voltage corresponding to the local temperature; a weighted circuit comprising a plurality of resisters, each of the resisters comprising a weighting coefficient wherein the weighted circuit generates a weighted control voltage by a summation of the local control voltages multiplied by the respective weighting coefficients; a pulse modulator for modulating a clock signal responsive to the control voltage into a pulse modulation signal; and a fan driver for controlling the rotational speed of the fan cooler in response to the pulse modulation signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A device for controlling a rotational speed of a fan cooler attached to an apparatus, the device comprising: a plurality of control-voltage generators, each of which having a sensing means for sensing a local temperature and generating a local control voltage corresponding to the local temperature; a weighted circuit comprising a plurality of resisters, each of the resisters comprising a weighting coefficient wherein the weighted circuit generates a weighted control voltage by a summation of the local control voltages multiplied by the respective weighting coefficients; a pulse modulator for modulating a clock signal responsive to the control voltage into a pulse modulation signal; and a fan driver for controlling the rotational speed of the fan cooler in response to the pulse modulation signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensing means is a thermister.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the control voltage generator includes a first resister connected in series to the thermister and powered by a voltage source such that the control-voltage is proportional to a voltage across the thermister.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pulse modulator is a pulse width modulator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the sensing means comprises a plurality of sensors distributed across the apparatus to obtain an average temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is a notebook computer.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for controlling a rotational speed of a fan cooler attached to an apparatus, comprising the steps of: sensing a local temperature of the apparatus and generating a local control voltage by each of a plurality of sensing means; generating a weighting coefficient for each of the local control voltages; generating a weighted control voltage by summing the local control voltages multiplied by the respective weighting coefficients; modulating a clock signal responsive to the weighted control voltage into a pulse modulation signal; and varying the rotational speed of the fan cooler in response to the pulse modulation signal.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for controlling a rotational speed of a fan cooler attached to an apparatus, comprising the steps of: sensing a local temperature of the apparatus and generating a local control voltage by each of a plurality of sensing means; generating a weighting coefficient for each of the local control voltages; generating a weighted control voltage by summing the local control voltages multiplied by the respective weighting coefficients; modulating a clock signal responsive to the weighted control voltage into a pulse modulation signal; and varying the rotational speed of the fan cooler in response to the pulse modulation signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising the step of sensing an average temperature by distributing a plurality of sensors over the apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the sensing means is a thermister.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the step of modulating the clock signal is implemented by pulse width modulation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of powering a first resister when generating the control voltage that is proportional to a voltage across the sensing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the apparatus is a notebook computer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-02-06 | 2004-08-07 | 2005-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-02-06 | 2008-08-07 | 2009-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-02-06 | 2012-08-07 | 2013-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |