Smart fan and pump controller

Abstract

A pump or DC fan used to cool an electronic system is monitored for speed. When the pump or fan encounters an unexpected increase in impedance, such as an obstruction or a bearing anomaly, the controller temporarily increases the power to the pump or fan to overcome the impedance, and optionally notifies the user of the pump or fan problem. Also, when the pump or fan impedance returns to a normal range, the controller returns the power to the pump or fan to normal levels. In some embodiments, the controller may supply more power to the pump or fan than specified by the manufacturer to temporarily over come the increased impedance or pending failure of the pump or fan. This increased power allows the fan or pump to operate at a speed necessary for cooling an electronic system during a temporary increase in impedance, or during a slow degradation of the efficiency of the fan or pump.

1 . A device, comprising: 
 a fan including a motor, wherein said fan outputs fan speed data;    a power supply electrically coupled to said motor; and    a controller electrically coupled to said fan and said power supply, wherein said controller receives fan speed data and outputs a control signal to said power supply, wherein said controller responds to decreases in fan speed below a normal speed by increasing power supplied to said fan.    
   
   
       2 . The device recited in  claim 1 , 
 wherein said controller responds to increases in fan speed above a normal speed by decreasing power supplied to said fan.    
   
   
       3 . The device recited in  claim 1 , 
 wherein said increasing power supplied to said fan exceeds a normal operating power of said fan.    
   
   
       4 . The device recited in  claim 1 , 
 wherein said controller sends a warning to a user when increasing power supplied to said fan.    
   
   
       5 . A device, comprising: 
 a fan including a motor;    a fan speed sensor configured to output fan speed data;    a power supply electrically coupled to said motor; and    a controller electrically coupled to said fan speed sendor and said power supply, wherein said controller receives fan speed data and outputs a control signal to said power supply, wherein said controller responds to decreases in fan speed below a normal speed by increasing power supplied to said fan.    
   
   
       6 . The device recited in  claim 5 , 
 wherein said controller responds to increases in fan speed above a normal speed by decreasing power supplied to said fan.    
   
   
       7 . The device recited in  claim 5 , 
 wherein said increasing power supplied to said fan exceeds a normal operating power of said fan.    
   
   
       8 . The device recited in  claim 5 , 
 wherein said controller sends a warning to a user when increasing power supplied to said fan.    
   
   
       9 . A device, comprising: 
 a pump including a motor, wherein said pump outputs pump speed data;    a power supply electrically coupled to said motor; and    a controller electrically coupled to said pump and said power supply, wherein said controller receives pump speed data and outputs a control signal to said power supply, wherein said controller responds to decreases in pump speed below a normal speed by increasing power supplied to said pump.    
   
   
       10 . The device recited in  claim 9 , 
 wherein said controller responds to increases in pump speed above a normal speed by decreasing power supplied to said pump.    
   
   
       11 . The device recited in  claim 9 , 
 wherein said increasing power supplied to said pump exceeds a normal operating power of said pump.    
   
   
       12 . The device recited in  claim 9 , 
 wherein said controller sends a warning to a user when increasing power supplied to said pump.    
   
   
       13 . A device, comprising: 
 a pump including a motor;    a flow speed sensor configured to output flow speed data;    a power supply electrically coupled to said motor; and    a controller electrically coupled to said flow speed sensor and said power supply, wherein said controller receives flow speed data and outputs a control signal to said power supply, wherein said controller responds to decreases in flow speed below a normal speed by increasing power supplied to said pump.    
   
   
       14 . The device recited in  claim 13 , 
 wherein said controller responds to increases in flow speed above a normal speed by decreasing power supplied to said pump.    
   
   
       15 . The device recited in  claim 13 , 
 wherein said increasing power supplied to said pump exceeds a normal operating power of said pump.    
   
   
       16 . The device recited in  claim 13 , 
 wherein said controller sends a warning to a user when increasing power supplied to said pump.    
   
   
       17 . A method, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) monitoring the speed a fan;    (b) detecting changes in the fan speed;    (c) increasing power to the fan when decreases in the fan speed below a normal speed are detected.    
   
   
       18 . The method recited in  claim 17 , further comprising the step of: 
 (d) decreasing power to the fan when increases in the fan speed above a normal speed are detected.    
   
   
       19 . The method recited in  claim 17 , further comprising the step of: 
 (d) sending a warning to a user when increasing power to the fan.    
   
   
       20 . A method, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) monitoring the speed a pump;    (b) detecting changes in the pump speed;    (c) increasing power to the pump when decreases in the pump speed below a normal speed are detected.    
   
   
       21 . The method recited in  claim 20 , further comprising the step of: 
 (e) decreasing power to the pump when increases in the pump speed above a normal speed are detected.    
   
   
       22 . The method recited in  claim 20 , further comprising the step of: 
 (e) sending a warning to a user when increasing power to the pump.    
   
   
       23 . A method, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) monitoring the flow of a liquid;    (b) detecting changes in the flow speed;    (c) increasing power to a pump when decreases in the flow speed below a normal speed are detected.    
   
   
       24 . The method recited in  claim 23 , further comprising the step of: 
 (d) decreasing power to the pump when increases in the flow speed above a normal speed are detected.    
   
   
       25 . The method recited in  claim 23 , further comprising the step of: 
 (d) sending a warning to a user when increasing power to the pump.