The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 20, 1997
Filed:
Jan. 31, 1996
Sung-kon Jin, Anyang, KR;
Seung-hwe Hwang, Seoul, KR;
SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd., Kyungki-do, KR;
Abstract
An apparatus for detecting an operating state of a cooling fan in a computer system protects the computer system from damage due to excessive heat by preventing further operation of the computer system when the cooling fan is operating in an abnormal condition. The apparatus includes a pulse generating circuit for generating pulses in accordance with the motion of a cooling fan while the cooling fan revolves. A per revolution pulse generating circuit generates a pulse signal for every revolution of the cooling fan in accordance with the pulse signals provided from the pulse generating circuit. A dividing counter circuit outputs pulse signals having a specified period set in accordance with incoming data and reference clock signals. A revolution state determining circuit sets a time period for checking the operating state of the cooling fan in accordance with the pulse signals provided from the dividing counter circuit. The revolution state determining circuit determines the operating state of the cooling fan based on the pulse signals provided from the per revolution pulse generating circuit during the set time period, and outputs signals for controlling the interrupt state of the computer system when the cooling fan is operating in an abnormal state.