Patents by Inventor Mike Culbert

Mike Culbert has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and apparatus for improved cooling fans
    Patent number: 8368329
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for improving cooling fan operation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a cooling fan's speed is maximized by adjusting a PWM signal driving the fan to change the switching point of the fan motor. In another embodiment, a method for starting a low speed cooling fan by incrementally increasing the amplitude of the PWM signal applied to the fan is disclosed. In a further embodiment, a method for controlling a fan and a fan sensor is disclosed. In this embodiment, a PWM signal is generated, a fan is driven using the PWM signal, a cycle of the PWM signal is modified, and the fan sensors is driven using the PWM signal during the cycle. In a further embodiment, a fan incorporating these improvements is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Depew, Mike Culbert, Keith Cox