Patent ID: 7483270

Claim:
A fan speed control device for an electronic equipment enclosure, comprising: a first input of the fan speed control device, the first input configured to receive a fixed reference signal from external to the fan speed control device wherein a value of the fixed reference signal is representative of a predetermined value of an operating parameter; means for determining temperature configured to receive signals that are representative of temperature at a plurality of locations within the enclosure; means for determining operating parameters for the fan control system wherein the means for determining operating parameters receives the fixed reference signal and converts the fixed reference signal to at least a first operating parameter of the operating parameters, the means for determining operating parameters responsive to the determined temperatures and at least one other operating parameter including one or more of a minimum control temperature value, a temperature increment value, and a critical temperature; means for setting operating speed of at least one cooling fan in response to said operating parameters and the determined temperatures; means for exchanging information signals relating to fan speed control system operation bi-directionally with an external controller; and the means for exchanging information signals being operative to provide to the means for determining operating parameters, from the external controller, at least one of said other operating parameters.