JP2007201174A - Cooling device for electronic equipment and method for detecting clogging of filter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cooling device for electronic equipment, which stably and accurately detects the clogging of a filter without being affected by an unexpected disturbance, and sucks the outside air into a box body for the electronic equipment through the filter while exhausting the air to the outside. <P>SOLUTION: A vent hole 43a having a small diameter is formed at one end of a spiral-folding-shaped ventilating passage 41a formed in a housing 41, while an air flow rate sensor section 4 mounting an air flow rate sensor 42 at the other end is fitted separately from the filter 22. The clogging state of the filter 22 is detected by the air flow rate sensor 42 on the basis of the flow rate of the outside air flowing into the box body 1 for the electronic equipment, through the vent hole 43a and the ventilating passage 41a by driving a fan section 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device cooling apparatus including a fan and a filter, and a filter clogging detection method.

  For example, electronic devices such as personal computers, amplifiers, and projectors are equipped with a cooling device for electronic devices that mounts a fan and a filter and vents outside air into the housing for electronic devices in order to cool the inside. .

  Such a cooling device for electronic devices has conventionally been provided with means for detecting a clogged state of a filter. For example, a wind speed sensor is installed in the vicinity of a fan, and the inside of a casing caused by clogging of the filter is provided. Detection is based on a decrease in airflow (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  As another preceding example, when the suction side duct of the air purifier is divided into a positive and sub-filter flow path, a pressure-sensitive switch is provided in the sub-filter, and the flow share of the sub-filter flow path increases, the wind pressure The pressure-sensitive switch is actuated to detect the clogged state of the positive filter (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-042316 (first page, FIG. 1) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 07-213840 (first page, FIG. 1)

  However, any of the electronic device cooling devices described above directly detects the flow rate of air passing through the filter, and therefore, when a person passes near the intake hole or when air from an air conditioner or the like is intermittently passed through the intake hole. In such a case, there was a risk of malfunction in response to a change in air flow from the outside.

  In addition, since the sensor is always applied to the air flow, there has been a change in the sensitivity of the sensor due to adhesion of fine dust that has not been filtered by the filter or dust that has entered from the operation unit or the opening / closing unit of the electronic device.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide a cooling device for electronic equipment and a filter clogging detection method capable of solving the above-described problems.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, the electronic device cooling apparatus and filter clogging detection method according to the present invention employ the following technical means.
In other words, the electronic device cooling device according to claim 1 is provided with a filter that is provided adjacent to an air intake hole that allows the inside and outside of the electronic device casing to communicate with each other, and that is cleaned through the filter. A fan that sucks outside air into the electronic device casing and exhausts air inside the electronic device casing to the outside, and is provided inside the electronic device casing so as to be able to suck outside air. A small-diameter vent hole provided apart from the filter, and an air volume sensor for detecting a clogged state of the filter based on a flow rate of outside air flowing into the electronic device casing through the vent hole; It is characterized by comprising.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the electronic device cooling apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the electronic device casing includes a substantially box-shaped housing formed integrally with or separate from the electronic device casing and having the vent hole formed therein. It is arranged on the wall surface of the housing, and the air volume sensor is attached to the housing.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the electronic device cooling apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the vent hole and the air flow sensor are arranged so as not to be arranged in series.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the electronic device cooling apparatus according to the second or third aspect, wherein the housing is provided with a plurality of ribs standing from the inner surface of the housing so that a distorted air passage is formed therein. The ventilation hole is formed on one end side of the ventilation path, and the air volume sensor is arranged on the other end side of the ventilation path.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the electronic apparatus cooling apparatus according to the fourth aspect, wherein the rib is erected in a direction orthogonal to the wall surface.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the electronic device cooling apparatus according to any one of the second to fifth aspects, wherein the filter is disposed on the wall surface on which the housing is disposed, and the fan is disposed on the opposite wall surface. It is provided.
A filter clogging detection method according to claim 7 is a filter clogging detection method for a cooling apparatus for electronic equipment that sucks outside air into a housing for electronic equipment through a filter and exhausts the outside air through the filter. The clogged state of the filter is detected based on the flow rate of the outside air that has flowed into the inside of the electronic device casing from another ventilation path that is separated from the filter.

  According to the present invention, the clogged state of the filter is detected by the air volume sensor based on the flow rate of the outside air flowing into the inside of the electronic device casing through the small-diameter vent provided apart from the filter. When a person passes near the air intake hole or when air from an air conditioner or the like is intermittently applied to the air intake hole, it does not react linearly to a change in the air flow from the outside, and therefore it is possible to prevent malfunction.

  Also, by reducing the diameter of the air vent, the normal air flow inside the electronic device casing is due to the intake air from the filter (the air intake through the air vent is negligibly small), and the air volume sensor is always used. Since the air is not made into an air flow, fine dust that has not been filtered by the filter or dust that has entered from the operation part or opening / closing part of the electronic device does not adhere to the air flow sensor, and the sensitivity in the initial state over a long period of time. Can be maintained.

  Next, an embodiment of a cooling apparatus for electronic equipment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The electronic device cooling apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an electronic device casing 1, a filter unit 2, a fan unit 3, and an air volume sensor unit 4.

  The electronic device casing 1 is for mounting, for example, a circuit board for realizing the functions of a personal computer, an amplifier, a projector, and the like inside, and as shown in FIG. The filter unit 2 and the air volume sensor unit 4 which will be described later are disposed on one wall surface, and the fan unit 3 which will be described later is disposed on the opposite wall surface.

The filter unit 2 includes a filter cover 21 and a filter 22.
The filter cover 21 is formed in a substantially U shape in a longitudinal sectional view by forming a side wall around a flat portion provided with a plurality of air intake holes 21 a, and is formed in a lower portion of one wall surface of the electronic device casing 1. A side wall is detachably engaged with and attached to one wall surface of the electronic device casing 1 so as to overlap the outside of the rectangular first opening 1a.

The attachment of the filter cover 21 and one wall surface of the electronic device casing 1 is not particularly limited, such as engagement by a bolt / nut, engagement by a locking claw and a locking hole, or the like.
The filter 22 is a dry type capable of removing dust in the atmosphere, and is detachably inserted into the filter cover 21.

  The fan unit 3 includes an electric motor and a fan 31 that is rotated by driving of the electric motor, and a fan casing 32 in which the fan 31 is housed, and one wall surface on which the filter unit 2 is disposed. Is attached to the other wall surface so as to be superimposed on the outside of the second opening 1b formed in the upper part of the other wall surface facing the.

  The fan unit 3 configured as described above sucks the outside air purified through the filter 22 into the electronic device casing 1 and exhausts the air inside the electronic device casing 1 to the outside. Thus, the inside of the electronic device casing 1 is cooled.

The air volume sensor unit 4 includes a housing 41 and an air volume sensor 42.
The housing 41 is formed in a substantially hollow box shape, and as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of ribs 41b are erected from the inner surface of the housing 41 so that a distorted air passage 41a is formed therein. .

  Of the pair of opposed wall surfaces on which the plurality of ribs 41b are erected, a substantially rectangular fitting hole 41c is formed at the end of one wall surface, and a small-diameter vent hole 43a is provided in the fitting hole 41c. The substantially rectangular cap member 43 thus formed is detachably fitted. The engagement between the cap member 43 and the fitting hole 41c is not particularly limited, such as engagement by a bolt / nut or engagement by a locking claw and a locking hole.

  The reason why the cap member 43 provided with the vent holes 43a is detachably fitted to the housing 41 is to remove the cap member 43 from the housing 41 and facilitate cleaning of the housing 41. The ventilation hole 43a may be directly provided in the housing 41, which is not necessary.

  In addition, a vent hole 41d for attaching a later-described air volume sensor 42 is formed at the end of the other wall surface opposite to the side where the cap member 43 is disposed. As shown in FIG. 1, the ventilation hole 41d and the ventilation hole 43a are arranged so as to be displaced in the vertical direction, and the air flow caused by the intake air from the ventilation hole 43a is distorted. In combination with this, the buffering effect is improved. By doing in this way, the air volume sensor 42 does not react linearly to the change of the ventilation from the outside.

  The air volume sensor 42 is a well-known air volume sensor 42 that outputs an analog output signal corresponding to the air volume that is the detection target, and is transmitted to a control unit (not shown) mounted in the electronic device casing 1. Yes. The air volume sensor 42 is connected to the housing 41 so as to overlap the ventilation hole 41d.

  As described above, the housing 41 in which the twisted air passage 41a is formed is arranged so that the air holes 43a and the air flow sensor 42 are not arranged in series. The air volume sensor 42 does not react linearly to changes in the air flow from the outside, such as when the air passes through the vent hole 43a or intermittently due to an air conditioner or the like.

  The air volume sensor unit 4 configured as described above is provided in a third opening 1c formed at a position separated from the filter unit 2 on the one wall surface side of the electronic device casing 1 in which the filter unit 2 is disposed. The air volume sensor 42 is fitted in the electronic device casing 1 so as to be disposed.

  As described above, by disposing the air volume sensor unit 4 at a position separated from the filter unit 2, the air intake hole 21 a of the filter unit 2 and the air vent hole 43 a of the air volume sensor unit 4 are separated from each other, so The air volume sensor 42 does not react linearly to changes in the air flow from the outside, such as when a person passes or when air from an air conditioner or the like is intermittently applied to the intake hole 21a.

  Further, the rib 41b is erected in a direction perpendicular to the wall surface of the electronic device casing 1 so that the crooked air passage 41a extends in the wall surface direction. I try not to reduce it.

  Next, a series of operations for detecting clogging of the filter 22 in the electronic apparatus cooling apparatus according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  First, by driving the fan unit 3, air in the electronic device casing 1 is exhausted to the outside, and at the same time, clean outside air is sucked into the electronic device casing 1 through the filter 22. At this time, when the filter 22 is not clogged, the vent hole 43a is smaller than the filter portion 2, and the vent hole 43a is interposed through a twisted air passage 41a in the housing 41. Since the vent holes 41d and the vent holes 43a are arranged so as to be displaced in the vertical direction and are separated from the intake holes 21a, the outside air is not taken in (the air is taken in temporarily). However, the outside air through the filter unit 2 is normally set so that the outside air is not sucked from the vent hole 43a (the diameter and arrangement of the vent hole 43a). Only enters the inside of the electronic device casing 1.

  Then, the filter 22 is gradually clogged by the dust filtered by the filter 22, and the flow rate of the outside air taken in is reduced. On the other hand, outside air is gradually sucked into the interior of the electronic device casing 1 from the vent holes 43a.

  Then, the air volume sensor 42 is activated by the air that has moved through the air passage 41a, and transmits an analog output signal corresponding to the air volume to the control unit.

  When the analog output signal reaches a predetermined value set in advance, the control unit determines that the filter 22 is clogged, and notifies the lighting of a warning lamp, the sound of a warning sound, and the like. Note that even if a predetermined time has elapsed after the filter 22 is clogged, the electronic device may be controlled to stop abnormally when it is determined by the user that no countermeasure is to be taken for the electronic device. Also at this time, it is preferable to make a notification by turning on a warning light or sounding a warning sound.

  As described above, the electronic device cooling apparatus according to the present embodiment is provided with the small-diameter vent hole 43a at one end of the twisted vent path 41a formed in the housing 41 and the air volume sensor 42 at the other end. The air volume sensor unit 4 is provided apart from the filter 22, and the filter 22 is arranged on the basis of the flow rate of the outside air flowing into the electronic device casing 1 through the vent hole 43 a and the vent path 41 a by driving the fan unit 3. Since the clogged state is detected by the air volume sensor 42 described above, it is assumed that a person passes through the vicinity of the intake hole 21a or the air from the air conditioner or the like is intermittently applied to the intake hole 21a. Therefore, it is possible to always detect clogging stably without reacting linearly to changes in the air flow.

  In addition, since the air volume sensor 42 is not always turned into an air flow, fine dust that has not been filtered by the filter 22 or dust that has entered from the operation unit or the opening / closing unit of the electronic device does not adhere to the air volume sensor 42. The sensitivity in the initial state can be maintained over a long period of time.

  In addition, since the filter 22 is disposed on the wall surface on which the housing 41 is disposed, and the fan 31 is disposed on the opposite wall surface, the outside air sucked from the filter 22 flows inside the electronic device casing 1. It is possible to efficiently move and enhance the cooling effect, and at the same time, the housing 41 is moved away from the fan 31 so that outside air is not forcedly forced from the air vent 43a, so that it is possible to detect clogging with high accuracy. Can do.

  As mentioned above, although the cooling device for electronic devices concerning this Embodiment was demonstrated, embodiment mentioned above shows an example of suitable embodiment of this invention, and this invention is not limited to it. However, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the housing 41 is provided so as to protrude from the electronic device housing 1, but the housing 41 may be provided so as to be flush with the wall surface of the electronic device housing 1. good. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, you may provide in the housing | casing 1 for electronic devices. In this case, it is preferable to form the vent 1d on the wall surface of the electronic device casing 1, while the housing 41 'is configured to open a portion overlapping the vent 1d. Since other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment, the same reference numerals are given in FIG.

  Furthermore, a filter clogging detection method that detects the clogging state of the filter 22 based on the flow rate of the outside air that flows into the inside of the electronic device casing 1 from another ventilation path that is separated from the filter 22 may be used.

It is a typical longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cooling device for electronic devices concerning this Embodiment. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1. It is a typical longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows another modification.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic device housing | casing 1a 1st opening part 1b 2nd opening part 1c 3rd opening part 2 Filter part 21 Filter cover 21a Intake hole 22 Filter 3 Fan part 31 Fan 32 Fan casing 4 Air volume sensor part 41 Housing 41a Airflow path 41b Rib 41c Fitting hole 41d Ventilation hole 42 Air flow sensor 43 Cap member 43a Ventilation hole

Claims (7)

A filter that is provided adjacent to an air intake hole that allows communication between the inside and the outside of the housing for an electronic device and removes dust;
A fan for sucking outside air cleaned through the filter into the interior of the electronic device casing and exhausting air inside the electronic device casing to the outside;
A small-diameter air hole provided inside the electronic device casing so as to be able to inhale outside air and spaced from the filter;
An electronic device cooling apparatus comprising: an air volume sensor that detects a clogged state of the filter based on a flow rate of outside air flowing into the electronic device casing through the vent hole .   A substantially box-shaped housing formed integrally or separately with the electronic device casing and having the vent hole is disposed on a wall surface of the electronic device casing, and the air volume sensor is provided in the housing. The electronic apparatus cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic apparatus is attached.   3. The electronic apparatus cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vent hole and the air flow sensor are arranged so as not to be arranged in series.   The housing has a plurality of ribs erected from the inner surface of the housing so that a distorted air passage is formed therein, the air hole is formed on one end side of the air passage, and the air passage 4. The electronic apparatus cooling device according to claim 2, wherein the air volume sensor is disposed on the other end side.   The cooling apparatus for electronic equipment according to claim 4, wherein the rib is erected in a direction orthogonal to the wall surface.   6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the filter is disposed on a wall surface on which the housing is disposed, and the fan is disposed on an opposing wall surface. Cooling device. A method for detecting clogging of a filter of an electronic device cooling device that sucks outside air into a housing for an electronic device and exhausts the outside through a filter,
A filter clogging detection method, comprising: detecting a clogged state of the filter based on a flow rate of outside air flowing into the inside of the electronic device casing from another ventilation path separated from the filter.

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