Blanca E Rodriguez

US Patent:

6597972, Jul 22, 2003

Filed:

Feb 27, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/794645

Inventors:

Robert George Emberty - Tucson AZ
Craig Anthony Klein - Tucson AZ
Blanca Rodriguez - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G05B 1918

US Classification:

700304, 700 9, 361695

Abstract:

A fan controller for use with a variable speed fan. The fan controller includes a processor coupled to a communication circuit that, in an advantageous embodiment, includes a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART). The communication circuit allows an external controller to monitor and establish a desired speed setting of the variable speed fan. The fan controller also includes a memory device, such as an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), coupled to the processor, that contains the desired speed setting of the variable speed fan. The fan controller further includes a feedback circuit, coupled to the processor, that receives a feedback signal indicative of the variable speed fan operation and a fan driver circuit, coupled to the processor, that provides a driving signal to control a speed of the variable speed fan.