JP2000029574A - Cooling system for computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cooling system for computer, which suppresses the power consumption, concerning a system for cooling a heat generating member such as CPU or memory. SOLUTION: This cooling system for cooling heat generating member such as a CPU or a memory in the main body of a computer, is provided with a cooler 2 for cooling the heating member, temperature sensor 3 for detecting the temperature of the heat generating member, temperature setting part 4 for outputting a preset temperature value, comparator part 5 for comparing the temperature of the heat generating member received from the temperature sensor 3 with the set temperature received from the temperature setting part 4 and outputting the difference, and output control part 6 for controlling the output of the cooler 2 based on this difference.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooling system for cooling a heat-generating member such as a CPU and a memory in a computer main body, and more particularly, to reducing the output of a cooler when it is not necessary to cool the heat-generating member. And a computer cooling system that suppresses power consumption.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, for the purpose of improving the performance of a computer, the speed of a central processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as a CPU) has been increased. As the speed of the CPU increases, the CPU becomes hot during operation of the computer, and there is a problem that the CPU itself is destroyed. In order to suppress such heat generation, a cooler having a cooling fan is generally provided together with the CPU, and the air from the cooler is directed to the CPU to cool the CPU. The cooler operates at the same time as the power of the computer is turned on. During the operation of the computer, the CPU is always cooled by blowing air to prevent damage to the CPU due to heat generation.

[0003]

However, the CPU does not heat up immediately after the computer is turned on or when the user does not touch the computer for a while.
Therefore, there is no need for cooling. Also, depending on the user's choice,
For example, there is a computer called a power saving mode that selectively operates a CPU at a low frequency. In this power saving mode, the CPU operates at a relatively low temperature. In a conventional apparatus, even when the temperature of the CPU is kept relatively low and there is no fear of damage due to heat, such as when the CPU is not used or when operating in a power saving mode, the computer is turned on. In this case, the cooler operates at a constant output, during which the computer consumes unnecessary power.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a computer which stops the cooler or reduces its output when the operating temperature of the CPU is relatively low and cooling is not necessary, thereby reducing the power consumption of the entire computer system. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooling system.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a cooling system for cooling a heat generating member inside a computer main body, comprising a cooler for cooling the heat generating member, and a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the heat generating member. A temperature setting unit that outputs a preset temperature value, a comparison unit that compares a temperature of the heat generating member obtained from the temperature sensor with a set temperature obtained from the temperature setting unit, and outputs a difference therebetween, And an output control unit that controls the output of the cooler based on The set temperature output by the temperature setting section is
The temperature is set within a safe range where the heat generating member is not destroyed by heat.

As described above, the temperature of the heat generating member is measured by providing the temperature sensor, the temperature of the heat generating member is compared with the preset temperature by the comparing section, and the temperature of the heat generating member is cooled based on the difference. By providing an output control unit for controlling the output, the cooler can be stopped or its output can be reduced when it is not necessary to cool the heat-generating member (CPU or the like). Can be reduced.

[0007] Further, the cooling system for a computer according to the present invention is characterized in that the set temperature output by the temperature setting section is changed according to the heat generating member. Heat-generating members such as CPUs and memories have different performances and standards for each product type, and thus have different heat resistance performances depending on the product type. It is preferable to select a set temperature suitable for the member.

If the set temperature output from the temperature setting section is changed depending on the heating member to be applied in this manner, for example, the temperature setting section supplies a temperature higher than the heat resistance limit of the heating member, and the heating member is actually cooled. If the temperature is not to be cooled, the member will be damaged without being cooled, or conversely, a temperature lower than the heat-resistant temperature of the heat-generating member will be supplied as the set temperature. Can be prevented from consuming unnecessary power.

It is preferable that the temperature sensor is in contact with the heat generating member or is incorporated in the heat generating member. In this way, by directly contacting the detection terminal of the temperature sensor with the heating member, or by incorporating the temperature sensor inside the heating member, the temperature of the heating member can be detected more accurately, and the precise temperature of the heating member can be determined. Management can be realized.

The output control unit of the computer cooling system of the present invention activates the cooler when the temperature of the heat generating member exceeds a temperature set by the temperature setting unit, and the temperature of the heat generating member is set to the temperature setting. When the temperature is lower than the set temperature of the section, it can be set so that the cooler is stopped. By configuring the output control unit to control the cooler in this way, it is possible to always maintain the heat generating member at a suitable temperature.

[0011] The output control section may calculate a difference between a temperature of the heat generating member and a set temperature from the temperature setting section.
The output of the cooler may be controlled stepwise. The comparing section supplies the difference between the temperature of the heat generating member and the set temperature to the output control section. When operating the cooler, the output control unit suppresses the output of the cooler if the difference between the temperature of the heat generating member and the set temperature is small, and increases the output of the cooler if the difference between the temperature of the heat generating member and the set temperature is large. To If the output of the cooler is controlled in a stepwise manner as described above, more precise temperature control of the heat generating member can be realized, and unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed.

When the output control unit controls the output of the cooler stepwise, the computer cooling system further includes a warning display unit, and the warning display unit displays the warning when the output control unit operates the cooler at the maximum output. Preferably, the unit displays a warning. As is apparent from the above description, when the cooler is operating at the maximum output, the temperature of the heat generating member greatly exceeds the set temperature. The cooler is in a state where cooling cannot be performed at a higher output, and is extremely dangerous for the heat-generating member.However, by providing a means for warning this danger, the user can be protected before the heat-generating member is destroyed. Can take appropriate action.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment according to a computer cooling system of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a cooling system according to the present embodiment includes a cooler 2 for cooling a CPU (heating member) 1.
And a temperature sensor 3 for detecting the temperature of the CPU 1, a temperature setting unit 4 for outputting a preset temperature, and comparing the temperature of the CPU 1 obtained from the temperature sensor 3 with the set temperature obtained from the temperature setting unit 4. A comparison unit 5 that outputs the difference and an output control unit 6 that controls the output of the cooler 2 based on the difference are provided. The cooler 2 includes a cooling fan (not shown), and cools the CPU 1 by blowing wind generated by rotating the fan.

In the temperature sensor 2, the sensor terminal is C
It is desirable to be in contact with PU1. Or CP
It is configured such that the sensor terminal is directly incorporated into U1. If the sensor terminal is far from the CPU 1, the heat is affected by other heat generating members of the computer system, and the CP
This is because the accurate temperature of U1 cannot be measured. The temperature sensor 2 is configured to always or periodically measure the temperature of the CPU 1 and supply the temperature information to the comparison unit 5.

On the other hand, the temperature setting section 4 sets a safe temperature at which the CPU 1 is not destroyed by heat generation, and supplies the set temperature 4a to the comparing section 5. The set temperature 4a is determined by the CPU
By knowledge of the temperature at which 1 is destroyed, CP
U1 is set to the upper limit of the safe temperature at which it is not destroyed. Here, the knowledgeable person is a person who knows what level of temperature rise of the CPU 1 may cause destruction. For example, a technician involved in the development and production of the CPU 1 or a manufacturer of the CPU 1 And the like who has been provided with information by

The comparison unit 5 includes a CPU 1 obtained from the temperature sensor 3.
Is compared with the set temperature 4a obtained from the temperature setting unit 4,
How high the temperature of the CPU 1 is relative to the set temperature 4a,
Alternatively, whether it is low or not is transmitted to the output control unit 6. The output control unit 6 operates / stops the cooler 2 based on the information from the comparison unit 5 and controls the output in a stepwise manner.

The operation of the cooling system according to this embodiment will be described below. The temperature setting unit 4 is set to a temperature within a safe range where a person who has knowledge of the CPU 1 used in the present example does not damage the CPU 1. If this setting is first set for the CPU to which the system of the present invention is applied, there is no need to reset it unless it is replaced with another CPU. The temperature value set here is supplied to the comparison unit 5 as the set temperature 4a. On the other hand, during the operation of the computer system, the temperature sensor 3 measures the temperature of the CPU 1 constantly or at regular time intervals, and supplies the result to the comparison unit 5.

The comparing section 5 compares the temperature of the CPU 1 with the set temperature 4a. If the set temperature 4a is 40 ° C
And the temperature of the CPU 1 obtained from the temperature sensor 3 is 70 ° C.
Then, the comparison unit 5 supplies information of + 30 ° C. to the output control unit 6. This is a dangerous state in which the actual temperature of the CPU 1 is higher by 30 ° C. than the set temperature 4a, which is a value at which the CPU 1 is considered not to be destroyed. Is shown. Further, in the same system, if the temperature of the CPU 1 obtained from the temperature sensor 3 is 30 ° C., since the temperature is lower by 10 ° C. than the set temperature 4a (40 ° C.), the comparison unit 5 outputs information of −10 ° C. Is supplied to the output control unit 6. In this case, it is shown that the temperature of the CPU 1 is within the safe range even if the temperature rises by 10 ° C.

The output control unit 6 obtains information from the comparison unit 5 and controls the output of the cooler 2. FIG. 2 shows the output control unit 6.
Is a graph for explaining the control according to the first embodiment. The horizontal axis indicates the temperature difference between the temperature of the CPU 1 obtained from the comparison unit 5 and the set temperature 4a, and the vertical axis indicates the output of the cooler 2 in percentage. In this example, the output of the cooler 2 is, for example, electric power supplied to a motor for rotating a fan of the cooler 2, and by increasing or decreasing this, the number of revolutions of the fan is increased or decreased, and the amount of generated air is adjusted to blow to the CPU 2. Then, the CPU 1 is cooled.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the temperature of the CPU 1 rises and becomes equal to the set temperature 4a (when the temperature difference becomes 0), the cooler 2 starts to operate, and in proportion to the increase in the temperature difference between the two. The output of the cooler 1 is increased. or,
For example, when the temperature of the CPU 1 decreases due to cooling, the output of the cooler 2 is weakened to reduce the power consumption. Further, C
When the temperature of the PU 1 becomes lower than the set temperature 4a, the operation of the cooler 2 is completely stopped to prevent unnecessary power consumption.

Similarly, when the CPU 1 is switched to the power saving mode and the temperature of the CPU 1 is lowered, the output of the cooler 2 is reduced, and the power consumption of the cooler 2 is suppressed. Since the temperature of the CPU 1 is maintained at the temperature 4a or less set by the temperature setting unit 4 in this manner, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the CPU 1 from being destroyed by heat and to cool the CPU 1 more than necessary. Unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed.

The graph shown in FIG. 2 shows that when the temperature difference between the CPU 1 and the set temperature 4a is minus (when the temperature of the CPU 1 is lower than the set temperature 4a), the cooler 2 is stopped and the temperature difference becomes 0. , The cooler 2 starts to operate, and when the temperature difference reaches T ° C., the output of the cooler 2 becomes maximum and the output does not increase any more. Here, the correlation shown in FIG. 2 is merely an example of the cooling system according to the present invention, and in another embodiment, the correlation may be different from the proportional relationship shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the operation of a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, in this example, the output of the cooler 2 is controlled only in two ways, that is, 0% or 100%. That is, the comparison unit 5 is provided by the CPU 1
Is compared with the set temperature 4a, and the output controller 6 is notified of which value is larger. The output control unit 6 operates the cooler 2 at 100% output if the temperature of the CPU 1 obtained from the temperature sensor 2 is higher, and operates the cooler 2 if the set temperature 4a obtained from the temperature setting unit 4 is higher. Reduce the output to 0% and stop. Even when the cooling system is configured in this manner, the CPU 1 is cooled when the temperature of the CPU 1 is higher (above the set temperature 4a), and is cooled when the temperature of the CPU 1 is lower.
To stop unnecessary power consumption.
In addition, the operation of the cooling system may be selected from two types of operation or stop of the cooler 2, so that the configuration of the system can be simplified.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the cooling system according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the embodiment. The cooling system of the present embodiment includes a warning display unit 7 in addition to the components shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, components other than the warning display unit 7 are the same as the components shown in FIG. 1, and therefore, are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. The warning display unit 7 is connected to, for example, the output control unit 6 and, for example, when the temperature difference shown in FIG. 2 becomes equal to or more than T ° C. (the temperature difference at which the output control unit 6 requires the cooler 2 to output the maximum output). It is configured to display a warning to the user. As a means for displaying this warning, various conventional display means such as an LED can be used. When the temperature of the CPU 1 continues to rise and the temperature difference from the set temperature 4a exceeds T ° C., the warning display unit 7 turns on the LED. When this LED remains lit, the cooler 2 is cooling the CPU 1 at the maximum output, but indicates that the temperature of the CPU 1 does not decrease. Warning to encourage the use of. In addition, it indicates that the current capacity of the cooler 2 cannot cool the CPU 1, and if the warning does not disappear, it informs the user that the CPU 1 or the cooler 2 needs to be replaced.

In the embodiment described above, the C
When the PU is replaced, the set temperature 4a output by the temperature setting unit is reset. For this resetting method, various conventional methods can be used. Thus CP
If the set temperature 4a is set in accordance with U, after the CPU is replaced, a temperature higher than the heat resistance limit of the new CPU is set. Conversely, conversely, a temperature lower than the heat-resistant temperature of the CPU is set, and cooling is performed without actually requiring cooling, thereby preventing a situation where the system consumes useless power.

In each of the embodiments described above, the CPU is used as the heat generating member of the computer. However, the cooling system of the present invention can be applied to other members such as a memory. Although the warning display means shown in FIG. 4 is connected to the output control section, this is connected to the comparison section, and when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature difference (T ° C.), the comparison section turns on the LED of the warning display section. May be turned on. Also, connect the warning display to the temperature sensor,
The system may be configured to display a warning when the temperature of the heat generating member measured by the temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined value.

[0027]

As described above in detail, according to the computer cooling system of the present invention, appropriate cooling can be performed in relation to the temperature rise of the CPU during operation of the computer, and the temperature of the CPU can be reduced. When the temperature is low, unnecessary cooling is not performed, so that unnecessary power consumption of the system can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a computer cooling system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating the operation of the cooling system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a graph showing an operation of a modification of the cooling system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a computer cooling system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CPU 2 Cooler 3 Temperature sensor 4 Temperature setting part 4a Set temperature 5 Comparison part 6 Output control part 7 Warning display part

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A cooling system for cooling a heat generating member inside a computer body, comprising: a cooler for cooling the heat generating member, a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the heat generating member, and a temperature for outputting a preset temperature value. A setting unit, a comparison unit that compares the temperature of the heat generating member obtained from the temperature sensor with the set temperature obtained from the temperature setting unit and outputs a difference therebetween, and controls an output of the cooler based on the difference. A cooling system for a computer, comprising: an output control unit. 2. The computer cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the set temperature output by the temperature setting unit is changed according to the heat generating member. 3. The cooling system for a computer according to claim 1, wherein said temperature sensor is in contact with said heat generating member or is incorporated in said heat generating member. 4. The cooling system for a computer according to claim 1, wherein said output control section activates said cooler when a temperature of said heat generating member exceeds a set temperature of said temperature setting section. The cooling system for a computer, wherein the cooler is stopped when the temperature of the heat generating member is lower than the temperature set by the temperature setting unit. 5. The cooling system for a computer according to claim 1, wherein said output control section outputs the output of said cooler according to a difference between a temperature of said heat generating member and a set temperature from said temperature setting section. A cooling system for a computer, characterized by controlling stepwise. 6. The cooling system for a computer according to claim 5, further comprising a warning display unit, wherein the warning display unit displays a warning when the output control unit operates the cooler at maximum output. A cooling system for a computer characterized by displaying.