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:
Aug. 19, 2008
Filed:
Oct. 24, 2006
Jerry W. Pearce, Apex, NC (US);
Thomas J. Clement, Raleigh, NC (US);
Jerry W. Pearce, Apex, NC (US);
Thomas J. Clement, Raleigh, NC (US);
Lenovo Singapore Pte. Ltd., Singapore, SG;
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.