JP2006229118A - Method and device for stabilizing wind volume and electronic apparatus comprising it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wind volume stabilizing method for stabilizing wind volume of outside air which a cooling fan takes in a cabinet, a wind volume stabilizing device, and an electronic apparatus comprising it. <P>SOLUTION: A wind volume sensor 11 is provided near the outside air intake of the electronic apparatus cabinet to find a wind volume voltage corresponding to the flow rate of the outside air. A normal voltage as a pre-set reference voltage and a lower limit voltage are comparatively calculated using a voltage level comparatively calculating device 12, and a power source 13 is controlled based on the result to control the number of rotations of the cooling fan 14. Consequently, the wind volume of the outside air is stabilized in the cabinet through the outside air intake of the cabinet. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a forced air cooling technique using a cooling fan, and more particularly, to a method for stabilizing the amount of outside air, a device for stabilizing the amount of air, and an electronic device including the same, for cooling a heating element inside an electronic device casing such as a computer by outside air taken in by the cooling fan About.

  An electronic device or an electric device such as a computer, a server, or a printer (hereinafter collectively referred to as an electronic device) includes a large number of active electronic devices, a large number of passive electric components, a motor, a power supply device, and the like. In general, it is housed in a housing in order to protect it from dust or the like. When the electronic apparatus configured as described above is operated, the temperature inside the casing rises due to the heat generated from the devices as described above.

  When the temperature inside the housing rises, components of electronic equipment, particularly active devices such as semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) are damaged or reliability is reduced. Therefore, a cooling fan is provided to forcibly discharge the warmed air inside the electronic device casing to the outside and take in relatively cool air outside the casing from the outside air intake port of the casing into the casing. In general, forced air cooling (or air cooling) is performed to suppress the temperature rise of the heating element.

  Prior art relating to or relating to temperature control for forcibly air-cooling the temperature inside the casing of such an electronic device by a cooling fan is disclosed in several technical documents. An air blower that automatically corrects even when the output characteristics of the wind speed sensor change is disclosed by detecting the air volume or wind speed of the blower fan with a wind speed sensor and obtaining a temporal change rate (for example, Patent Documents). 1). Further, a filter clogging detector that detects a decrease in the air flow rate of the cooling fan due to filter clogging using a temperature sensor is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-21621 (page 6-7, FIG. 2) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-270518 (Page 2, FIGS. 1 and 2)

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a cooling fan system of a general conventional electronic device or the like. The cooling fan system 100 includes a cooling fan 101 and a computer circuit 102. The cooling fan 101 takes in cold outside air from the outside air intake port of the electronic device casing, and discharges warm air inside the casing to the outside of the casing through the cooling fan 101. On the other hand, when the detected value of a temperature sensor (not shown) that detects the temperature inside the housing reaches a preset value, the computer circuit 102 supplies power to the cooling fan 101 to rotate the cooling fan 101.

  The prior art has the following problems. In general, a filter is provided at the outside air intake port of the housing to prevent dust and foreign matter from entering the housing. It is difficult to control the amount of air taken in by the cooling fan because it is not possible to reliably detect the degree of contamination due to adhesion of dust or the like on the filter. Also, considering the margin due to filter contamination, etc., the cooling fan speed is set higher than necessary, making it difficult to save energy.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and a main object of the present invention is to provide an air volume stabilization method, an air volume stabilization apparatus, and an electronic apparatus including the same that overcome or reduce such problems. .

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an air volume stabilization method, an air volume stabilization apparatus, and an electronic apparatus including the same according to the present invention employ the following characteristic configuration.

(1) In an outside air stabilization method for stabilizing the flow rate of outside air that is taken in from an outside air intake port of a housing by a cooling fan and cools the inside of the housing,
Detecting the amount of air flowing into the housing from the outside air intake port to obtain a corresponding voltage (air amount voltage) and comparing the air amount voltage with a plurality of preset reference voltages An air flow stabilization method comprising: a step; and a step of controlling power supplied to the cooling fan according to the plurality of sections.
(2) The air volume stabilization method according to (1), wherein the plurality of reference voltages are preset normal voltage during normal operation and lower limit voltage at the limit.
(3) The air volume stabilization method according to (1) or (2), including a step of generating an alarm when the air volume voltage is lower than the lower limit voltage.
(4) In an air flow stabilization device that provides a cooling fan in a housing that covers an electronic circuit including a heating element, and stabilizes the flow rate of outside air taken in from an outside air intake port of the housing in order to cool the heating element.
An air volume sensor arranged in the vicinity of the outside air intake opening and outputting a voltage (air volume voltage) corresponding to the air volume of the outside air taken into the housing from the outside air intake opening, and a preset reference for the air volume voltage of the air volume sensor An air flow stabilizing device comprising: a voltage level comparison calculation unit that divides into a plurality of voltage levels, and a power source that controls the number of revolutions of the cooling fan based on a comparison result of the voltage level comparison calculation unit.
(5) The air volume stabilizing device according to (4), wherein the reference voltage is a normal voltage corresponding to a normal operation and a lower limit voltage corresponding to a limit operation, and is stored in the voltage level comparison calculation means.
(6) In a forced air-cooling type electronic device that cools a heating element of a main body circuit such as a computer circuit mounted inside a housing by taking outside air from an outside air intake port of the housing by a cooling fan,
An air volume sensor for obtaining a voltage (air volume voltage) corresponding to an air flow flowing in from the outside air intake port of the housing, and a voltage level comparison calculation for comparing the air volume voltage detected by the air volume sensor with a plurality of preset reference voltages. An electronic apparatus comprising: an air flow stabilizing device including: a power supply for supplying a different voltage to the cooling fan based on a result of the voltage level comparison calculating means.
(7) The electronic device according to (6), wherein the outside air intake port of the housing is provided with a filter that removes dust and foreign matters contained in the outside air.
(8) The electronic device according to (6) or (7), wherein the voltage level comparison calculation means generates an alarm to the main body circuit when the airflow voltage falls below a limit voltage among the plurality of preset reference voltages. .
(9) In the above (8), a timer circuit is further provided between the voltage level comparison calculation means and the main body circuit, and an alarm from the voltage level comparison calculation means is cut off before a predetermined time elapses from the activation of the main body circuit. Electronics.

  According to the present invention, the following practical effects can be obtained. In other words, the airflow flowing into the housing is measured inside the housing, and the airflow is stabilized based on the measurement results, so that the airflow inside the housing is stabilized without depending on the outside air intake port and the contamination of the filter. Is possible. In addition, since a lower limit voltage is set, it is possible to raise an alarm to the computer circuit by detecting the limit of the degree of contamination of the outside air intake port and the filter. Furthermore, when outside air flows into the housing more than necessary, it is possible to reduce power consumption by suppressing the number of rotations of the cooling fan.

  Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of a preferred embodiment of an air flow stabilization method, an air flow stabilization device, and an electronic apparatus including the same according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a preferred embodiment of an electronic apparatus equipped with an air flow stabilizing device according to the present invention. The air flow stabilization device 10 includes an air flow sensor 11, a voltage level comparison operation device (voltage level comparison operation means) 12, a power source 13, and a cooling fan 14. The electronic device on which the air flow stabilizing device 10 is mounted includes, for example, a computer circuit 15 including a heating element that is a main body circuit and is cooled by outside air taken in by the cooling fan 14.

  Here, the air volume sensor 11 is disposed in the vicinity of an outside air intake port (not shown) in the electronic device casing (not shown), detects the air volume taken in from the air intake port by the cooling fan 14, and is supplied with the air volume. Is converted to a monotonically increasing voltage (hereinafter referred to as airflow voltage). The outside air intake port is provided with a filter (not shown) for removing dust and foreign matters contained in the outside air. The voltage level comparison calculation device 12 compares the air flow voltage of the air flow sensor 11 with a normal voltage and a lower limit voltage, which are a plurality of reference voltages stored in advance by user settings. When the airflow voltage of the airflow sensor 11 is higher than the normal voltage, the power supply 13 is instructed to supply the cooling fan 14 with electric power that realizes a lower rotational speed than the current voltage. On the other hand, when the airflow voltage is higher than the lower limit voltage and lower than the normal voltage, the power supply 13 is instructed to supply the cooling fan 14 with electric power that realizes a higher rotational speed than the current voltage. Further, when the airflow voltage is lower than the lower limit voltage, the power supply 13 is instructed to supply power that maximizes the rotation speed of the cooling fan 14, and an alarm is raised to the computer circuit 15.

  Next, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the voltage level comparison arithmetic device 12 shown in FIG. The voltage level comparison operation device 12 includes a first comparator 121, a second comparator 122, and an operation unit 123. The first comparator 121 compares the normal voltage set by the user with the airflow voltage output from the airflow sensor 11. As a result of this comparison, if the airflow voltage of the airflow sensor 11 is greater than the normal voltage, an H (high) level is output to the calculator 123. On the contrary, if the airflow voltage is smaller than the normal voltage, the L (low) level is output to the calculator 123.

  On the other hand, the second comparator 122 compares the lower limit voltage set by the user with the airflow voltage output from the airflow sensor 11. If the output voltage of the air volume sensor 11 is greater than the lower limit voltage, the H level is output to the calculator 123, and if the output voltage is smaller, the L level is output to the calculator 123. If the output from the first comparator 121 is H level, the arithmetic unit 123 instructs the power supply 13 to reduce the power supplied to the cooling fan 14. When the output from the first comparator 121 is L level and the output from the second comparator 122 is H level, an instruction is given to increase the power supplied to the cooling fan 14. When the output from the second comparator 122 is at L level, the arithmetic unit 123 supplies the maximum power allowed by the cooling fan 14 to the power supply 13 and raises an alarm to the computer circuit 15.

  Although the configuration of the embodiment has been described in detail above, the computer circuit 15 in FIG. 1 is well known to those skilled in the art and is not directly related to the present invention.

  Next, the operation of the air flow stabilizing device 10 shown in FIG. 1 and the electronic apparatus including the same will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the air volume sensor 11 measures the amount of air taken in near the outside air inlet in the housing (step S1). The air volume sensor 11 outputs a voltage (air volume voltage) that monotonously increases with respect to the measured air volume. Next, the air volume voltage levels are compared and divided into cases (step S2). That is, (1) when the air volume voltage> normal voltage, (2) when the air volume voltage ≧ lower limit voltage and when the air volume voltage ≦ normal voltage, and (3) when the air volume voltage <lower limit voltage.

  In the case of (1) described above, since the amount of intake air is excessive, the power supply 13 is instructed to reduce the rotational speed of the cooling fan 14 (step S3-1). In the case of (2), since it is assumed that the intake air volume is insufficient and the intake port or the filter is slightly dirty, the power supply 13 is instructed to increase the rotational speed of the cooling fan 14 (step S3- 2). In the case of (3), since it is assumed that the contamination of the intake port or the filter exceeds the limit, the rotation speed of the cooling fan 14 is maximized and an alarm is raised for the computer circuit 15 (step S3). -3).

  After step S3-1 to step S3-3 described above, it is determined whether or not to continue using the computer, printer, etc., in which the air volume stabilizing device 10 is introduced (step S4). When the use is continued (step S4: NO), the process returns to the above-described step S1. On the other hand, when the use is finished (step S4: YES), the process is finished.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the air volume stabilizing device according to the present invention. The air volume stabilizing device 40 includes an air volume sensor 41, a voltage level comparing / calculating device 42, a power source 43, a cooling fan 44, and a timer circuit 49. Moreover, the electronic device on which the air volume stabilizing device 40 is mounted includes, for example, a computer circuit 45 as the main body.

  This air volume stabilizing device 40 is different from the air volume stabilizing device 10 described above with reference to FIG. 1 in that a timer circuit 49 is provided between the voltage level comparison operation device 42 and the computer circuit 45.

  The air volume stabilizing device 40 shown in FIG. 4 is further improved with respect to the air volume stabilizing device 10 shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 4, the timer circuit 49 provided between the voltage level comparison arithmetic unit 42 and the computer circuit 45 receives a power ON signal from the computer circuit 45 when the power of the computer circuit 45 is turned ON. Then, after a time set by the user from that time, the signal of the voltage level comparison arithmetic unit 42 and the computer circuit 45 are connected. In other words, the voltage level comparison operation device 42 and the computer circuit 45 are insulated until this set time comes.

  By configuring as described above, in the air volume stabilizing device 40, the alarm signal is masked immediately after the computer, printer, etc. are turned on. Therefore, when the user appropriately sets the time of the timer circuit 49, an alarm generated from an unstable intake air volume expected immediately after the power is turned on is not raised, so that the operation is further stabilized.

  The configuration and operation of the preferred embodiments of the electronic device, the air flow stabilization method and apparatus according to the present invention have been described in detail above. However, it should be noted that such examples are merely illustrative of the invention and do not limit the invention in any way. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that various modifications and changes can be made in accordance with a specific application without departing from the gist and spirit of the present invention. For example, the cooling fan may be provided near the intake port or near the air discharge port. Further, the number of cooling fans is not limited to one, and a plurality of cooling fans may be juxtaposed depending on the number of heating elements or the amount of heat generated inside the casing.

It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of 1st Example of an electronic device provided with the air volume stabilization apparatus by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the voltage level comparison calculating apparatus in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the air volume stabilization apparatus shown in FIG. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of 2nd Example of an electronic device provided with the air volume stabilization apparatus by this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the forced air cooling apparatus of a general electronic device.

Explanation of symbols

10, 40 Airflow stabilization device 11, 41 Airflow sensor 12, 42 Voltage level comparison calculation means 13, 43 Power supply 14, 44 Cooling fan 15, 45 Main circuit (computer circuit)
49 Timer circuit

Claims (9)

In the outside air stabilization method for stabilizing the flow rate of outside air that is taken in from the outside air intake port of the housing by the cooling fan and cools the inside of the housing,
Detecting the amount of air flowing into the housing from the outside air intake port to obtain a corresponding voltage (air amount voltage) and comparing the air amount voltage with a plurality of preset reference voltages And a step of controlling power supplied to the cooling fan according to the plurality of sections.   The air volume stabilization method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of reference voltages are a normal voltage set during normal operation and a lower limit voltage set during a limit.   The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of generating an alarm when the airflow voltage is lower than the lower limit voltage. In the air volume stabilizing device that provides a cooling fan in a housing that covers an electronic circuit including a heating element, and stabilizes the flow rate of outside air that is taken in from the outside air intake port of the housing in order to cool the heating element.
An air volume sensor arranged in the vicinity of the outside air intake opening and outputting a voltage (air volume voltage) corresponding to the air volume of the outside air taken into the housing from the outside air intake opening, and a preset reference for the air volume voltage of the air volume sensor An air volume stabilizing device comprising: a voltage level comparison calculation means that divides into a plurality of voltage levels, and a power source that controls the number of revolutions of the cooling fan based on a comparison result of the voltage level comparison calculation means.   5. The air volume stabilizing device according to claim 4, wherein the reference voltage is a normal voltage corresponding to a normal operation and a lower limit voltage corresponding to a limit operation, and is stored in the voltage level comparison calculation means. In a forced air cooling type electronic device that cools a heating element of a main body circuit such as a computer circuit mounted inside a housing by taking outside air from an outside air intake port of the housing by a cooling fan,
An air volume sensor for obtaining a voltage (air volume voltage) corresponding to an air flow flowing in from the outside air intake port of the housing, and a voltage level comparison calculation for comparing the air volume voltage detected by the air volume sensor with a plurality of preset reference voltages. An electronic apparatus comprising: an air flow stabilizing device including: a power supply for supplying a different voltage to the cooling fan based on a result of the voltage level comparison calculating means.   The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein a filter for removing dust and foreign matters contained in the outside air is provided at the outside air intake port of the housing.   8. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein the voltage level comparison calculation unit generates an alarm to the main body circuit when the airflow voltage falls below a limit voltage among the plurality of preset reference voltages. machine.   9. A timer circuit is further provided between the voltage level comparison calculation means and the main body circuit, and an alarm from the voltage level comparison calculation means is shut off before a predetermined time elapses from the activation of the main body circuit. The electronic device as described in.

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