JPH01262314A - Controller of fan for air-cooling electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To control a fan appropriately even when temperature distribution differs among electronic devices by a method wherein consumed current of an electronic device is detected and the fan for cooling the electronic device is controlled according to the detected results, CONSTITUTION:In a device equipped with a number of fans 1 which cool various types of electronic devices having LSI's or the like, consumed current to be supplied from a power source 2 to the respective electronic devices is detected by a unit 6. Additionally, temperature of each electronic device and its vicinity is detected by a unit 3 if the need arises. Based on the detected results of the respective units 6, 3, each fan 1 is controlled by a unit 5. In other words, when consumed current or temperature of each electronic device becomes higher than the specified level, the fan 1 is driven, and when the current or temperature is lower than the specified level, the fan 1 is stopped. This enables appropriate control of fans even when temperature distribution differs among the respective electronic devices.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] Regarding an electronic device cooling fan control device for controlling a fan that cools an electronic device equipped with, for example, an LSI, the current consumption of the electronic device is monitored and the current consumption is adjusted. The purpose of this technology is to make it possible to control fans based on current values, and to perform appropriate fan control even when there are differences in temperature distribution within electronic devices. , a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the electronic device or its surroundings, a current consumption detection means for detecting the current consumption of the electronic device, and a fan based on the detection result from the temperature detection means and the detection result from the current consumption detection means. The fan control means is configured to control the fan.

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an electronic device air cooling fan control V for controlling a fan that cools an electronic device equipped with, for example, an LSI.
Regarding equipment.

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, electronic devices equipped with LSIs, such as computers, require forced cooling using fans to prevent the devices from being destroyed or malfunctioning due to heat.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, as a forced cooling method using a fan, there are a continuous fan operation method and a fan control method using a temperature sensor.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a conventional fan continuous operation system. In this FIG.
It operates by receiving power from the Here, the power supply section 2 is configured as a DCfJ source section that converts alternating current from an AC power source into direct current (DC) and outputs it. The power supply section 2 also functions as a DC power source for electronic equipment to be cooled by the fan 1.

With this configuration, when the power source (main power source or secondary power source) is turned on, the fan 1 starts and continues to operate until the power source is turned off (see FIG. 7).

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a conventional fan control method using a temperature sensor. Also in FIG. 8, the electric fan 1 is placed at a suitable location in the electronic device and is operated by receiving power from the power supply section 2. However, the first point is that the fan is operated continuously. different from. That is, temperature sensors 3' such as thermistors are provided at various locations in the electronic device, a switch section 4 is provided between the power supply section 2 and the fan 1, and when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 3' exceeds the set temperature, the switch section A control section 5' is provided for closing 4.

Thermistors are semiconductors with large electrical resistance and negative temperature coefficients, and are suitable for use in temperature sensors.Thermistors are commercially available in bead, disk, washer, and rod shapes. has been done.

With such a configuration? When IHIJX (main power supply or secondary power supply) is turned on and the temperature inside the electronic device exceeds the set temperature, fan 1 starts, and when the temperature inside the electronic device falls below the set temperature, fan 1 stops. To,
Fan 1 is controlled. Note that even though the power is turned off, the fan 1 also stops (see FIG. 9).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above conventional means have the following problems.

First, in the continuous fan operation method, since the fan is operated continuously, the life of the fan is shortened.

Also, in the fan control method using a temperature sensor.

Since a temperature sensor such as a thermistor is used, the range of temperature changes is wide, making it impossible to control the fan accurately with respect to the set temperature. In other words, there is a range in the set temperature.

Furthermore, if there is a difference in temperature distribution within the device, the set temperature is determined by the setting position of the temperature sensor, which also causes a range in the set temperature. This becomes more noticeable as the difference in temperature distribution increases.

Therefore, if the detected temperature is lower than the LSI temperature,
The fan may not operate even though it should normally operate, and in this case, it may cause malfunction or damage to the LSI.

The present invention was made in view of these problems, and it monitors the current consumption of electronic equipment2 and controls the fan based on this current consumption value, thereby making it possible to make differences in temperature distribution within the electronic equipment. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fan control device for air-cooling electronic equipment, which can perform appropriate fan control even when there is a problem.

[Means to solve the problem] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a fan for cooling electronic equipment, and 2 is a power supply section.

3 is a temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the electronic device or its surroundings, and 6 is a current consumption detection means for detecting the current consumption of the electronic device.

A fan control means 5 controls the fan 1 based on the detection result from the temperature detection means 3 and the detection result from the current consumption detection means 6.

Note that the temperature detection means 3 may not be provided.

[Function] With this configuration, when the power is turned on and the temperature inside the electronic device exceeds the set temperature or the current consumption of the electronic device exceeds the set current value, fan 1 starts and the temperature inside the electronic device increases. is lower than the set temperature, and when the current consumption of the electronic device is lower than the set current value, the fan 1 stops.
Fan 1 is controlled. Note that when the power is turned off, the fan 1 also stops (see FIG. 2).

Note that if there is no temperature detection means 3, when the current consumption of the electronic device exceeds the set current value, the fan 1 starts, and when the current consumption of the electronic device becomes lower than the set current value, the fan 1 starts.
Fan 1 is controlled so that it stops.

[Example code] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(a) Description of the first embodiment Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the first embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 3, LA, IB, IC, and ID are electric fans for cooling electronic equipment. , these fans IA~I
D is placed at a proper location within the electronic device.

2 is a DC power supply unit that converts alternating current from an AC power supply into direct current (DC) and outputs it; the DC power from this DC power supply unit 2 is supplied to electronic equipment. Note that the fans IA to ID are also operated by receiving power from the DC power supply unit 2 via the relay switches 7A to 7D.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a temperature detection section that detects the temperature of the electronic device or its surroundings.
It consists of a plurality (4) of temperature sensors 3A to 3D distributed in correspondence with A to ID.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a DC power sensing unit (current consumption detection means) that detects the current consumption of electronic equipment, and this DCC power sensing unit includes:
Commonly known ammeters, relays, magnetic switches, etc. can be considered.

5 is a fan IA based on the detection result (alarm information) from the temperature detection section 3 and the detection result from the DCC power supply detection section.
~A fan control unit that controls the ID, and this fan control unit 5
is the 2-bit detection output A, B from the DCC power supply sensor 4
Bit output Yl, Y2゜Y3. A decoder 51 that converts into Y4 and an output Yl; Y2; Y3 from this decoder 51
: Output from Y4 and temperature sensor 3A; 3B; 3C; 3D C1; C2; C3; C4 (1 if the temperature exceeds the set temperature,
Otherwise, OR gate 52A, 5 receives 0).
2B, 52C, and 52D.

Here, the conversion at the decoder 51 is as follows.

As a result, when the current consumption exceeds the first set current value (01), a signal to start the fan IA is output,
When the current consumption exceeds the second set current value (]0), a signal to start fans LA and IB is output, and when the current consumption exceeds the third set current value (11), all fans IA ~A signal to start the ID is output.

Note that the output from the OR gates 52A to 52I)
Relay switches 7A to 7D are turned on and off.

With the above-described configuration, when the power is turned on and the temperature sensor detects that the temperature inside the electronic device exceeds the set temperature, the fan corresponding to the temperature sensor that detected this starts.9 For example, temperature sensor 3A When it is detected that the temperature inside the electronic device exceeds the set temperature, the corresponding fan IA is started.

In addition, the temperature inside the electronic device is independent of the set temperature, but when the current consumption of the electronic device exceeds the first set current value, the relay switch 7A is turned on, the fan IA is started, and the slave device 11 is turned on. When the current consumption exceeds the second set current value, the relay switches 7A and 7B are turned on and the fans IA and IB are started, and when the current consumption of the electronic device exceeds the third set current value, the relay switches 7A and 7B are turned on. ~7D turns on and all fans IA~ID start.

On the other hand, the temperature inside the electronic device is lower than the set temperature.

Further, when the current consumption of the electronic device becomes lower than the first set current value, the fans IA to ID stop.

Note that even though the power is turned off, the fans IA to ID also stop, of course.

In this way, you can monitor the current consumption of electronic devices even if there are differences in temperature distribution within the device.

Since the fans IA to ID can be controlled based on this current consumption value, appropriate fan control can be performed.

This is especially true when the temperature rises rapidly during a fault (circuit failure), or when an electronic device equipped with peripheral devices such as a floppy disk driver operates the driver motor when accessing the floppy disk. When a sudden change in current occurs, conventional fan control methods cannot adequately follow the change, which has an adverse effect on components other than the faulty part.In contrast, in this first embodiment, This kind of thing can be sufficiently prevented.

(b) Description of Second Embodiment FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 3 indicate substantially similar parts.

By the way, in this second embodiment, as the fan control section 5, for example, a PLA (ProgramW) as shown in FIG.
+able Logic Array).

That is, this PLA receives outputs (alarm information) C1, C2, C3, C4 (1 if the set temperature is exceeded, 0 otherwise) from each temperature sensor 3A to 3D via the input gate section 5A. Fixed AND gate array 5B,
Connected to this AND gate array 5B via a gate section 5C, outputs Yl, Y2 . Y3.
Programmable O outputs Y4 via output gate section 5D
R gate array 5E is provided, and outputs Yl, Y2 . Y3. It is now possible to change the logic of Y4.

For example, 2-bit detection output A from the DC power supply sensing section 6,
As a combination of B, (0,0).

There are (0, l), (1, O), and (1, 1), and in each case, when (0, O), all fans 1 are stopped, and when (0, 1), fan IA is stopped. Turn only one unit, (1
, 0), the fan LA.

Only two IBs are turned, and when (1, 1), all fans IA to ID are set to turn, but when the corresponding temperature sensor output (alarm information) is "1", the corresponding fan is started. Set it so that it continues to rotate.

Even in this case, substantially the same functions and effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained.

(c) Others In each of the above embodiments, even if a certain fan fails, it is possible to back up the failed fan, or each fan IA to ID is configured as a fan with variable rotation speed.
The cooling capacity may be changed by changing the rotation speed. For example, if the temperature or current consumption does not come down even though all the fans are operating, you can consider increasing the cooling capacity by increasing the rotation speed of all the fans all at once.

Note that the temperature detection sensors 3A to 3D can be omitted, and in this case, when the current consumption of the electronic device exceeds the set current value (which may be in multiple stages as in the above embodiment),
The fan 1 is controlled so that when the fan starts and the current consumption of the electronic device becomes lower than a set current value, the fan stops.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the fan control device for cooling electronic equipment of the present invention, the current consumption of the electronic equipment can be monitored and the fan can be controlled based on this current consumption value. Therefore, there is an advantage that appropriate fan control can be achieved even when there is a difference in temperature distribution within the electronic device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an electric circuit diagram of a fan control section in a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a conventional example. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the conventional example, FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing another conventional example, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of another conventional example. In the figure, 1, IA to ID are fans, and 2 is a power supply unit. 3 is a temperature detection unit (temperature detection means), and 3A to 3D are temperature sensors. 5 is a fan control unit (fan control means). 5A is an input gate section, 5B is an AND gate array, and 5C is a gate section. 5D is an output gate section, 5E is an OR gate array, and 6 is a DC power supply sensing section (current consumption detection means). 7A to 7D are relay switches. 51 is a decoder, and 52A to 52D are OR gates. /l-Function of the Invention Singing Mouth Figure 2 5---7γn City II IF Shu 5A-1 Entering 1 Tate Shuttle 5B---AND 1 Ni Do End I 5 cm) r Ni Do Shu 5D-11 5E-=oR) 1'-To complete If 1 So control wholesale ITj/ltM turn II's f-cho Yoshitakaaki Record 7th page 11 of the 1st day of the 1st century, Hosu block qth page 8th page

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Fan for cooling electronic equipment (1, 1A to 1
D), and current consumption detection means (6) for detecting the current consumption of the electronic device.
), and fan control means (5) that controls the fans (1, 1A to 1D) based on the detection result from the current consumption detection means (6).
) A fan control device for cooling an electronic device. (2) Fan for cooling electronic equipment (1, 1A to 1
D), temperature detection means (3) for detecting the temperature of the electronic device or its surroundings, and current consumption detection means (6) for detecting the current consumption of the electronic device.
), and a fan control means (5) for controlling the fan based on the detection result from the temperature detection means (3) and the detection result from the current consumption detection means (6). Features: Fan control device for cooling electronic equipment.