U.S. patent application number 11/585385 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-21 for motherboard having advanced fan control features.
Invention is credited to Thomas J. Clement, Jerry W. Pearce.
Application Number | 20080198546 11/585385 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39687326 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080198546 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pearce; Jerry W. ; et
al. |
August 21, 2008 |
MOTHERBOARD HAVING ADVANCED FAN CONTROL FEATURES
Abstract
A motherboard is capable of accepting various types of fans from
same or different manufacturers and is capable identifying the type
of fan to which it is connected. In one embodiment, the motherboard
is capable of decoding bar code data originating from a fan of the
type which, rather than including circuitry for generating a single
index pulse, includes an integral optical sensor and bar code pair
for generating the bar code data, the motherboard being further
capable of and identifying the fan based on the bar code data. Fan
identification has a variety of uses including, for example,
adjusting motherboard parameters to properly operate the fan based
on the type of fan presently coupled to the motherboard.
Additionally, fan speed may be calculated from pulses which are
intended to identify the fan.
Inventors: |
Pearce; Jerry W.; (Apex,
NC) ; Clement; Thomas J.; (Raleigh, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LENOVO (US) IP Law
1009 Think Place, Building One, 4th Floor 4B6
Morrisville
NC
27560
US
|
Family ID: |
39687326 |
Appl. No.: |
11/585385 |
Filed: |
October 24, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.48 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/687 |
International
Class: |
H05K 7/20 20060101
H05K007/20 |
Claims
1. A motherboard comprising: an unpopulated processor socket having
processor bus signal lines for controlling processor access and for
delivering processor-addressable data; a memory which stores
instructions to be executed by a provided processor which is
removably attachable to said unpopulated processor socket; fan
circuitry which receives an electrical signal corresponding to
coded indicia disposed on a rotatable portion of a provided fan and
which provides data as processor-addressable data through the
processor bus signal lines of said socket, the data being
representative of the electrical signal; wherein, the data is used
in said motherboard to identify a fan characteristic, and a
fan-related signal is used in said motherboard to perform a second
function, the fan-related signal being selected from the group
consisting of the electrical signal and the data.
2. A motherboard according to claim 1 wherein a parameter which
controls fan speed is established as a function of the data.
3. A motherboard according to claim 2 wherein the second function
is a tachometric function which derives fan speed from the
fan-related signal.
4. A motherboard according to claim 2 wherein said fan circuitry
generates a signal to regulate fan speed at a predetermined speed
while receiving the electrical signal corresponding to coded
indicia, the predetermined speed being slower than a nominal fan
speed.
5. A motherboard according to claim 2 wherein the instructions
stored in said memory include instruction to identify the fan
characteristic by decoding the data.
6. A motherboard according to claim 2 wherein said fan circuitry
further includes: a register which is processor addressable; and a
translator which decodes the electrical signal and generates the
data as decoded data which identifies the fan characteristic and
stores the data in said register as processor-addressable data.
7. A motherboard comprising: a memory which stores instructions; a
processor which executes instructions stored in said memory, the
processor being a processor other than one which executes operating
system code; fan circuitry which receives an electrical signal
corresponding to coded indicia disposed on a rotatable portion of a
provided fan, the fan circuitry being configured to provide data to
said processor as processor-addressable data, the data being
representative of the electrical signal; wherein, the data is used
in said motherboard to identify a fan characteristic, and a
fan-related signal is used in said motherboard to perform a second
function, the fan-related signal being selected from the group
consisting of the electrical signal and the data.
8. A motherboard according to claim 7 wherein a parameter which
controls fan speed is established as a function of the data.
9. A motherboard according to claim 8 wherein the second function
is a tachometric function which derives fan speed from the
fan-related signal.
10. A motherboard according to claim 8 wherein said fan circuitry
generates a signal to regulate fan speed at a predetermined speed
while receiving the electrical signal corresponding to coded
indicia, the predetermined speed being slower than a nominal fan
speed.
11. A motherboard according to claim 8 wherein said processor
executes instructions stored in said memory which are effective to
identify the characteristic of said fan by decoding the data.
12. A motherboard according to claim 8 wherein the fan circuitry
further includes: a register which is addressable by said
processor; and a translator which decodes the electrical signal and
generates the data as decoded data which identifies the
characteristic of said fan and stores the data in said register for
access by said processor.
13. A motherboard comprising: an unpopulated processor socket
having processor bus signal lines for controlling processor access
and for delivering processor-addressable data; a memory which
stores instructions to be executed by a provided processor which is
removably attachable to said unpopulated processor socket; a bar
code translator which receives a bar code signal corresponding to
bar coded indicia disposed on a rotatable portion of a provided fan
and having therein encoded at least one fan characteristic, wherein
the bar code translator provides tachometric processor-addressable
resources based on the bar code signal, generates bar code data as
processor-addressable data through the processor bus signal lines
of said socket, the bar code data identifying one or more fan
characteristics; wherein the instructions stored in the accessible
memory include instructions which are effective to: read the bar
code data; determine fan type; and establish a parameter which
controls fan speed based on the determined fan type.
14. A motherboard according to claim 13 wherein the tachometric
resources are selected from the group consisting of a tachometer
signal and tachometric data stored in a register of said bar code
translator.
15. A motherboard according to claim 14 wherein said bar code
translator generates a signal to regulate fan speed at a
predetermined speed while receiving the bar code signal
corresponding to the bar coded indicia to thereafter generate the
bar code data identifying one or more fan characteristics, the
predetermined speed being slower than a nominal fan speed.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present invention is related to the subject matter of
the following commonly assigned, copending U.S. patent
applications: Ser. No. 10/______ (Docket No. RPS920030190US1)
entitled "Determining Types of Cooling Fans Used in a Personal
Computer Thereby Using Optimum Parameters to Control Each Unique
Cooling Fan" and filed 27 Jun. 2005; and Ser. No. 10/______ (Docket
No. RPS920050017US1) entitled "Advanced Fan Control and
Identification System and Method" and filed contemporaneously
herewith.
BACKGROUND of the INVENTION
[0002] This invention pertains to circuit boards which provide
enhanced features, and, more particularly, to a motherboard which
provides a platform from which detection of fan type and control
therefor is made possible.
[0003] Generally, computer system motherboards provide at platform
on which a computer system can be built, and soldered thereto
include various Large Scale Integration (LSI) chips and sockets for
Very Large Scale Integration (LSI) chips such as a processor
mounted thereon. The computer system, in turn, typically includes a
storage device such as a hard disk, a battery device, and
input/output devices. Each of these is known to generate heat as
each operates in a computer. For some electrical components, such
as a processor, a temperature range is often indicated by
specifications which set a temperature range indicative of
satisfactory and/or optimum performance (hereinafter, as used
herein, this temperature and range may also be referred to as
"rated temperature"), and often one or more cooling fans are
typically provided in conjunction with electrical components in a
computer system to keep the temperature in the system within the
rated temperature.
[0004] A computer system motherboard may include multiple processor
sockets, for attachment of multiple processors at the time a
computer system is manufactured, or electrical components that each
need to be cooled by a different cooling fan. The speed of each of
these cooling fans may be controlled by a program embedded in the
system Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) code. Typically, the speed
of each of these fans is controlled by a pulse width modulated
signal at an input terminal of the more modern fans, and by pulsing
a supply voltage to the fan in older fans. The pulse supplied to
the older fans may vary based on the width, amplitude and frequency
of the pulse. These characteristics (PWM input, and power supply
pulse width, amplitude and frequency) may all be used to control
the speed of the cooling fan.
[0005] Cooling fans may be manufactured from different
manufacturers and may include different designs that each has
specific PWM characteristics or, in the case of older fans, supply
voltage characteristic requirements for optimum performance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] However, in light of the above and as broadly contemplated
by the present invention, it is recognized herein that there is a
need for motherboards to work with a variety of cooling fans. In
order to control fan PWM characteristics or supply voltage for
various cooling fans, the parameters or characteristics typically
used are not optimum for any of the cooling fans. By not using the
optimum parameters or supply voltage characteristics for any of the
cooling fans, the cooling fans may be running faster than necessary
or operating for a longer duration than necessary or using more
power than necessary. Furthermore, the cooling fans may be
operating with a greater amount of noise than necessary by not
using the optimum parameters.
[0007] If, however, each particular cooling fan could be operated
using the optimum parameters for that cooling fan, then the cooling
fans may be operating more efficiently thereby saving power.
Furthermore, the cooling fans may be operating more quietly.
[0008] Therefore, there is a need in the art to operate each unique
cooling fan by using its own optimum parameters or
characteristics.
[0009] Broadly contemplated herein, in accordance with at least one
presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, a
motherboard includes an unpopulated processor socket having
processor bus signal lines for controlling processor access and for
delivering processor-addressable data to other circuits on the
motherboard. A memory stores instructions to be executed by a
provided processor which is removably attachable to said
unpopulated processor socket. Fan circuitry receives an electrical
signal corresponding to coded indicia disposed on a rotatable
portion of a provided fan and provides data as
processor-addressable data through the processor bus signal lines
of the socket. In one embodiment, this data is representative of
the electrical signal. The data is preferably used in said
motherboard to identify a fan characteristic. A fan-related signal
is preferably used in said motherboard to perform a second
function. Examples are provided herein. Broadly, the fan-related
signal can be the electrical signal or the data.
[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, a
motherboard is provided which includes a memory which stores
instructions, a processor which executes instructions stored in
said memory, and fan circuitry. In one embodiment, the processor is
a processor which is other than one which executes operating system
code, which is to say, for example and not for purposes of
limitation, other than the main system processor. The fan circuitry
is configured to receive an electrical signal corresponding to
coded indicia disposed on a rotatable portion of a provided fan,
the fan circuitry being configured to provide data to said
processor as processor-addressable data, the data being
representative of the electrical signal. In one embodiment, the
data is used in said motherboard to identify a fan characteristic;
and a fan-related signal is used in said motherboard to perform a
second function. In broad terms, the fan-related signal can be the
electrical signal or the data.
[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
motherboard is provided which includes a unpopulated processor
socket having processor bus signal lines for controlling processor
access and for delivering processor-addressable data, a memory
which stores instructions to be executed by a provided processor
which is removably attachable to said unpopulated processor socket,
and a bar code translator. The bar code translator is configured to
receive a bar code signal corresponding to bar coded indicia
disposed on a rotatable portion of a provided fan and having
therein encoded at least one fan characteristic. According to one
embodiment, the bar code translator provides tachometric
processor-addressable resources based on the bar code signal and
generates bar code data as processor-addressable data through the
processor bus signal lines of said socket. The bar code data
identifies one or more fan characteristics. In this embodiment, the
instructions stored in the accessible memory include instructions
which are effective to: read the bar code data; determine fan type;
and establish a parameter which controls fan speed based on the
determined fan type.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION of the DRAWINGS
[0012] Some of the purposes of the invention having been stated,
others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a motherboard according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention which supports the
fan control, identification, and reporting features which are to be
described;
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates the type of cooling fan which may be
coupled to and supported by a motherboard in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION of the ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0015] While the present invention will be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a
preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown, it is to be
understood at the outset of the description which follows that
persons of skill in the appropriate arts may modify the invention
here described while still achieving the favorable results of this
invention. Accordingly, the description which follows is to be
understood as being a broad, teaching disclosure directed to
persons of skill in the appropriate arts, and not as limiting upon
the present invention.
[0016] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment,"
"an embodiment," or similar language means that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the
present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one
embodiment," "in an embodiment," and similar language throughout
this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the
same embodiment.
[0017] Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like
numerals indicate like elements or steps throughout the several
views, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a motherboard according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention which incorporates
the fan control, identification, and reporting features herein
described.
[0018] Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is depicted
a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a motherboard 12.
The non-limiting motherboard depicted in FIG. 1 may be used in the
manufacture of computer systems such as desktop computer systems,
for example, in one of the ThinkCentre.RTM. or ThinkPad.RTM. series
of personal computers sold by Lenovo (US) Inc. of Purchase, New
York, or a workstation computer, such as the Intellistation.RTM.,
which are sold by International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation
of Armonk, N.Y. As will become apparent from the following
description, the present invention is applicable to advanced fan
control, and identification for any type of data processing
system.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, non-limiting motherboard 12 includes at
least one system processor socket 42 for removably attaching a
system processor. System processor socket 42 is preferably
unpopulated and includes processor bus signal pins and lines for
controlling processor access and for delivering
processor-addressable data. Unpopulated processor socket 42 is
coupled to a Read-Only Memory (ROM) 40 and a system memory socket
46 by a processor bus 44. System memory socket 46 may be populated
with memory or left unpopulated. Read-only memory 40 may also be
provided as and unpopulated read-only memory socket. System
processor socket 42, which may comprise one of the Sun King
Technology line of zero insertion force (ZIF) sockets, is a socket
for a general-purpose processor that executes boot code 41 stored
within ROM 40 at power-on and thereafter processes data under the
control of operating system and application software stored in
system memory 46. System processor socket 42 is coupled via
processor bus 44 and host bridge 48 to Peripheral Component
Interconnect (PCI) local bus 50.
[0020] PCI local bus 50 supports the attachment of a number of
devices, including adapters and bridges. Among these devices is
network adapter 66, which interfaces computer system 12 to LAN 10,
and graphics adapter 68, which interfaces computer system 12 to
display 69. Communication on PCI local bus 50 is governed by local
PCI controller 52, which is in turn coupled to non-volatile random
access memory (NVRAM) 56 via memory bus 54. Local PCI controller 52
can be coupled to additional buses and devices via a second host
bridge 60.
[0021] Motherboard 12 further includes Industry Standard
Architecture (ISA) bus 62, which is coupled to PCI local bus 50 by
ISA bridge 64. Coupled to ISA bus 62 is an input/output (I/O)
controller 70, which controls communication between motherboard 12
and attachable peripheral devices such as a keyboard, mouse, and a
disk drive. In addition, I/O controller 70 supports external
communication by motherboard 12 via serial and parallel ports.
[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates the type of cooling fan which may be
coupled to and supported by a motherboard in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, cooling
fan 20, 21 may include a housing 201 with a circular recess 202
defined therein and a seat 203 formed at a bottom face thereof. A
circuit board 204, a stator assembly 205, a collar 206, a
self-lubricating bearing 207 and a rotor 208 are in turn coaxially
mounted in recess 202 of housing 201.
[0023] Circuit board 204 is secured on seat 203 of housing 201.
Stator assembly 205 has a coil 209 with an opening (not shown) and
is fixedly mounted on circuit board 204 by a bracket 210 provided
beneath coil 209. A sleeve 211, of which a first end is enclosed,
is received in the opening of coil 209. Sleeve 211 has an external
dome 212 formed at the first end thereof. A fastener 213 composed
of a plurality of wings (not shown) is integrally formed with a
second end of sleeve 211, wherein the wings each comprise a
laterally extended arm (not shown) and a finger (not shown)
perpendicularly extended from a distal edge of the arm and toward
the first end of sleeve 211. The arms of the wings are engaged with
a top face of coil 209 and the fingers of the wings are engaged
with an outer circumference of coil 209 to fasten sleeve 211 on
coil 209.
[0024] Collar 206 defines an aperture (not shown) and is provided
on a bottom face of sleeve 211. The self-lubricating bearing 207 is
received and secured in sleeve 211 and placed upon collar 206.
[0025] Rotor 208 includes coded indicia 280 in the form of a
bar-code label disposed on rotating hub 214. Persons of ordinary
skill in the art will readily recognize alternative placements for
bar-code label 280. Each cooling fan 20, 21 may include a different
barcode label placed on rotating hub 214 thereby allowing different
cooling fans 20, 21 to be identified as explained in further detail
below.
[0026] Rotor 208 may further include a core 215 formed at the
center thereof. Core 215 has a head formed at a distal end thereof.
Core 215 is secured in self-lubricating bearing 207 and the head of
core 215 is inserted through collar 206 and received in dome
212.
[0027] Cooling fan 20, 21 includes an integral optical sensor 290
placed at a fixed location in fan housing 201. For example, optical
sensor 290 may be placed along the outer rim of seat 203 at the
base of housing 201 and in-line with the barcode label 280. To
provide guidance to the artisan, and not for purposes of
limitation, sensor 290 may be an Agilent Technologies HBCS-1100
High Resolution Optical Reflective Sensor (or the like);
information for which can be found at the Agilent web site. Sensor
290 may be configured to detect the passing of the coded indicia
280, the barcode label, placed on rotating hub 214 as cooling fan
20, 21 rotates as discussed above. Sensor 290 may further be
configured to generate a sequence of pulses corresponding to the
detected indicia 280. This generated pulse signal may be
transmitted by sensor 290 to the processor bus signal lines of
socket 42 via I/O controller 70 as will be described in further
detail. A processor provided on the motherboard 12 via system
processor socket 42, or an included processor, may determine a
particular type of cooling fan for cooling fan 20, 21 based on the
generated pulse signal. In an embodiment employing an included
processor which is other than the main processor which executes
operating system code, such as a micro controller soldered directly
to the motherboard (not separately shown although I/O controller 70
could embody this structure and function), such micro controller
would include an instruction code memory or have access to a non
volatile memory, such as NVRAM 56, from which to execute
instructions to perform the described functions. Once the provided
or included processor determines the particular cooling-fan type,
it establishes particular control parameters set for that
particular type of cooling fan to control cooling fan 20, 21 so
that it operates optimally. Depending on the type of fan, the
parameters can control, for example and not for the purposes of
limitation, a voltage level which controls the fan's speed, or a
pulse width modulation signal which controls the fan's speed.
[0028] It is noted that cooling fan 20, 21 may include elements
which are different than those presented herein and that FIG. 2 is
illustrative of a sample embodiment of cooling fan 20, 21. It is
further noted that the present invention is not to be limited in
scope to any particular embodiment, including the embodiment
discussed herein, but rather is to include the principles discussed
herein.
[0029] Returning to FIG. 1, there depicted are two fans 20, 21 of
the type shown and described in FIG. 2 and each of which are to be
mechanically arranged so as to move air in the vicinity of each of
the two system processor sockets 42. When fans 20, 21 are
eventually installed, it is preferable to arrange the fans so as to
blow air across the fins of a heat sink (not shown) which is
thermally coupled to one or more of the processors which are to be
provided on system processor sockets 42.
[0030] Two embodiments are shown in FIG. 1. In one embodiment,
optical sensor 290 of provided fan 21 is coupled to bar code
translator 25, which in turn is coupled to I/O controller 70. In
this embodiment, barcode translator 25 is based on any of a variety
of industry-standard parts and is utilized to directly read the
optical signal pulses emitted by the optical sensor 290 of fan 21.
Fixed optical sensor 290 reads bar coded indicia 280, which is
disposed on rotating hub 214, and generates an electrical signal
corresponding to the coded indicia. Those skilled in the art may
implement barcode translator 25 by combining functions described
herein with macros from industry standard barcode translators such
as National Semiconductor LM93, LM85, or the like. The artisan is
directed to, for example, Application Brief 114 entitled
"Autonomous Fan Control For Processor Systems Using The LM85," as
published by National Semiconductor. Barcode translator 25 directly
decodes the optical signals and generates parallel barcode data, in
byte or word form, which is then made available to I/O controller
70. This parallel barcode data is representative of the electrical
signal generated by the optical sensor of the fan and is made
available to the processor bus signal lines of socket 42 via I/O
controller 70 as processor-accessible or processor-addressable
data.
[0031] In one embodiment, non-limiting optical sensor 290 of fan 20
is to be coupled directly to I/O controller 70 for direct serial
access by a provided processor coupled through system processor
socket 42 of the embodiment. In this embodiment, a provided
processor coupled through the processor bus signal lines of socket
42 directly serially reads the optical signal pulses emitted by
optical sensor 290 of fan 20 according to well-known methods such
as bit polling. Once the data is made available to the provided
processor, well-known methods such as those used by bar code
translator 25 may be used to decode the coded data. Details
concerning the decoding of bar coded data, as performed by industry
standard parts, are well known in the art and are omitted so as to
not obfuscate the present disclosure in unnecessary detail.
Although processor intensive, this embodiment provides a low-cost
and minimal part count solution to a system assembler using the
motherboard 12 of the embodiment.
[0032] As described in these non-limiting embodiments, therefore,
the fan signals can be picked up directly by a provided processor
coupled through the processor bus signal pins/lines of socket 42 as
an electrical signal, in the case of a serial-bit-polling
embodiment wherein the electrical signal emitted by the optical
sensor 290 is read directly, or indirectly as data, in the case
where data is read in parallel as provided by barcode translator 25
via I/O controller 70.
[0033] In a system assembled from the motherboard of the
embodiments, it is preferable to read the optical indicia, in order
to obtain the fan specific data, once each time the system is
started from cold so that the fan may be operated at a speed which
is optimal for the reading of the barcode data. The optimal speed
for reading the barcode data from the fan is slower than expected
fan speeds while the system is running hot. Additionally or
alternatively, system temperature can be taken into account when a
decision is to be made as to whether to operate the fan at a slower
speed in order to read the optical indicia. If the system
temperature is high, the reading may be bypassed.
[0034] For the benefit of the system assembler, when utilizing the
motherboard of any of the embodiments, the decoded data may contain
data of fine granularity as encoded by barcode label 280 and may
include manufacturer data, fan type, fan part number, lot number,
fan serial number, etc. This data may be used in a variety of
different circumstances including the setting of particular control
parameters which correspond to the type of cooling fan to be used,
or the exact model number as the case may be, to optimally control
cooling the fan or fans. For this purpose, for example to determine
the fan type, an inventory program may be executed and may include
a table which may be stored in a non-volatile memory, or downloaded
from the Internet, which gives optimal parameters which correspond
to any of the decoded data. For example, the control parameters may
include parameters which control the speed of fan 20, 21 based on
the determined fan type or part number. The parameters can then be
established in the system to control the speed of the fan based on
the determined fan type or part number. The table may be
implemented as a lookup table with the coded signal or the coded
data being used as a table reference for selecting the fan
type.
[0035] In addition to establishing optimal control parameters for
fan 20, 21, the electrical signal emitted by optical sensor 290 may
also be used to perform a second function. For example, in
non-limiting embodiments the electrical pulses emitted by optical
sensor 290, which correspond to the bar coded indicia, may also be
used to provide a tachometer function. Thus, the electrical pulses
emitted by optical sensor 290 may be processed through an
integrator, whether it be a hardware- or software-implemented
integrator, to give the equivalent of an index pulse from which the
speed of the fan can be derived in real time. It is expected
however that no integrator may be needed while taking tachometric
readings at high speed, that is the speed which is expected for the
fan's cooling function while the system is running hot, since at
high speed any detected edge may serve this purpose.
[0036] In some embodiments, this tachometric function is preferably
built into barcode translator 25 such that tachometric data is
precalculated and provided by barcode translator 25 as tachometric
data stored in a register of bar code translator 25, such register
could be addressed/read directly through the processor bus signal
lines of socket 42 through I/O controller 70. However, the present
invention is not to be limited in scope to any given embodiment. As
alternatives, the tachometer signal may be taken by a provided
system processor which is coupled through the processor bus signal
lines of socket 42 and I/O controller 70 in any form and calculated
directly; it also may be calculated as a function of the frequency
by which barcode translator 25 routinely reports each decode.
[0037] The description returns now to the secondary function of the
fan related signals. As a further example of using any of the fan
related signals, whether they be electrical signals directly read
off of the fan 20 or indirectly via fan 21 through barcode
translator 25, for performing a second function by the motherboard,
the decoded data may be transferred over a network via network
adapter 66 by a provided processor in a system assembled using the
motherboards described herein to report the fan type, or any other
information, to an entity which is other than the assembled system.
The transfer may be to a server or an administrator across the
network and transferred for the purpose of reporting any of the fan
parameters including model number, manufacturer, etc. This
information can be used for quality control purposes, as in, for
example, where it is knowing that a particular type of fan is
having quality control problems, the existence of a particular type
of fan being used in a system may be thus reported and the
administrator may order new parts for replacement. Likewise,
similar reporting and replacement can be made by lot number or even
by a serial number range.
[0038] In the drawings and specifications there has been set forth
a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific
terms are used, the description thus given uses terminology in a
generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of
limitation.
* * * * *