RU2073906C1 - Device for on-line monitoring of heat modes of computer - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: computer engineering. SUBSTANCE: device has air flow speed gauge which is connected to first input of first comparison unit, which second input is connected to output of setter of required speed of air flow. In addition device has temperature detector which is connected to first input of second comparison unit, which second input is connected to output of setter of required temperature. In addition device has circuit for logical signal processing, which has two delay gates, five AND gates, three OR gates, five NOT gates and commutator. In addition device has sound alarm unit and information display. EFFECT: increased reliability due to generation of alarming sounds and displayed information about failure of fan and/or invalid heat mode of computer. 3 cl, 1 tbl, 1 dwg

Description

 The invention relates to the field of designing electronic computers (computers) and can be used to control thermal conditions inside the computer case.

 The reliability of the computer depends on compliance with hard thermal conditions. A wide range of changes in the ambient temperature, a high density of the layout of the electronic components of the computer creates a problem for developers to provide a hard thermal operating mode, the solution of which is associated with the use of electronic elements designed to operate in a wide temperature range, the use of heat-removing and heat-conducting structural elements, forced cooling devices ( ventilation).

 However, even if the above factors are taken into account in the design of the computer, the normal thermal mode of the computer may be violated due to climatic factors, damage to the forced cooling device (for example, failure of fans) [1, p. 160] Violation of the normal thermal regime of a computer leads to a decrease in the reliability of its operation, an increase in the number of malfunctions, failure of equipment.

 In this regard, it is necessary to use a thermal control device inside the computer with the output of information to computer service devices in a form convenient for the operator, which makes it possible to detect a malfunction of the cooling device, as well as a violation of the operating thermal regime for other reasons.

 As forced cooling devices in computers, air-cooling devices using fans were widely used [1, p. 158] in the event of failure of which the field of flow rates of the refrigerant in the computer cooling system is violated. Those. a fan malfunction can be detected by the value of the air flow rate by installing an air flow velocity sensor in the appropriate place on the computer case.

 T.O. from the foregoing, it is advisable to control the thermal conditions of a computer in two ways: the temperature of the air inside the computer case and the speed of the air flow. Moreover, control of the air flow rate allows timely detection of malfunctions of the cooling device, which enables the computer operator to take proactive actions to save information in a running machine until failures associated with violation of the thermal regime appear.

 To organize the operation of the control device, it is necessary to process additional information that is redundant with respect to the main (processed computer in accordance with the task assigned to it). Depending on the method of processing additional information, there are distinguished hardware, software, and program-logic control methods that are the basis for the design of the control system.

 A device for measuring temperature and flow rates [2] The device comprises a temperature sensor, a flow velocity sensor and a signal processing circuit comprising a correction amplifier, an inverter, a multiplier, an integrator, resistors, a stator and a quadrator. A signal proportional to the measured temperature is formed at the output of the inverter, and a signal proportional to the flow velocity is formed at the output of the surstractor.

 The device can be used to measure rapidly changing at high dynamic temperatures and flow rates in automatic control systems and heat engineering processes and can improve measurement accuracy by improving the frequency correction of the temperature sensor.

 However, this device cannot be used to control the thermal regime of a computer without its development, because it lacks logical signal processing and there is no technical means for generating a signal reflecting the excess of air temperature inside the computer of the upper level of the operating temperature range.

 A device for monitoring thermal conditions [3] is used in an IBM 3380 computer magnetic disk drive, comprising a temperature sensor and a corresponding converter, an air flow sensor and a corresponding converter, a signal processing circuit made from a data register, a data multiplexer, and a bus shaper circuit, as well as a power supply control circuit and magnetic disk drive motors.

 This device in violation of the normal thermal regime of a magnetic disk drive disconnects the supply voltage of the magnetic disk drive.

 Thus, the known device for monitoring thermal conditions is used directly in the device of the computer drive on magnetic disks and is structurally integrated into the computer.

 The disadvantage of this device for monitoring thermal conditions is the failure of computational processes in the computer and the loss of working information in case of violation of the operating thermal mode of the computer.

 Known microprocessor control unit for temperature and air speed [4, Fig. 2] designed to control the thermal regime of a computer and containing multifunctional thermistor sensors connected to a temperature and speed converter, the output of which is connected to a series-connected analog-digital converter, microprocessor computer, digital indicators, as well as a keyboard connected to the second input of the microprocessor computer, the second the output of which is connected to the second inputs of the temperature and speed to voltage converter and the analog-to-digital converter. To ensure the functioning of the control unit, microprocessor computer software is required.

 T.O. The program-logic method for controlling the thermal regime is used, which imposes strict time restrictions on it. In addition, in case of violation of the operating thermal mode of the computer, a failure may occur in the implementation of the software of the temperature and speed control unit, which is a disadvantage of the known unit.

 The closest analogue of the claimed device is a digital system for monitoring the thermal conditions of high-performance computers [5, Fig. 4] containing temperature and air flow velocity sensors connected through an analog switch unit, respectively, to temperature and air flow velocity converters, the outputs of which are connected to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) connected to a standalone thermal conditions service adapter based on a microprocessor computing device which is connected to the video service terminal and to the central computer service adapter connected to the central service console and control phenomenon, comprising a display unit to display information. For the exchange between the functional elements of the system data, address information and control signals, respectively, a data bus, address bus and control bus are intended. In a manner generally known to computers, a “Reset” signal is generated to turn on the supply voltage.

 The system allows you to detect malfunctions of the cooling system and warn about them in advance in case of violation of the thermal regime, generating warning signals for this purpose on the display of the central service and control panel.

 To this end, the signals of the temperature and flow rate sensors, converted into digital form, are sent to an autonomous adapter for servicing thermal conditions, where they are processed according to a given program stored in the computer memory, and in the event of a malfunction in the cooling system or violation of the thermal regime, an interrupt signal and signals are generated, informing about the cause of the malfunction, which enter the central computer service adapter connected to the central service and control panel. At the same time, a message about a violation of the thermal regime and the nature of the malfunction appears on the display of the information display unit. Those. The program-logic method for controlling the thermal regime is used.

 It should be noted that the known system uses such temperature and flow rate sensors as thermistors. This necessitates the use of appropriate temperature and flow rate transducers. However, at present, there are a number of temperature and flow rate sensors containing a sensitive element and a corresponding transducer inside a single sensor housing, which allows us to abandon consideration of issues related to transducers in the design of a thermal control system. When choosing sensors with digital output signals, it is possible to abandon the ADC as a separate system unit.

 A disadvantage of the known scheme is the following: in high-performance computers, the load intensity of the blocks and mains of the computer increases to solve the main problem. Distracting them to process the interrupt signal and the output signals of the autonomous adapter for servicing thermal conditions reduces the real computer performance, increases the likelihood of failures in solving real-time problems, and also disrupts the display of information about computational processes due to the need to issue warning signals about violation of the thermal regime into the overall stream of output messages. That is, the reliability of the computer decreases.

 The known system is structurally complicated, with hardware redundancy, which reduces the reliability of the computer.

 The objective of the invention is to provide a device for the operational control of thermal conditions of a computer, based on the hardware method of processing information and to improve the reliability of the computer. Those. reduce the number of computer malfunctions, reduce the likelihood of loss of information being processed by the computer, take timely measures to maintain the operability of the electronic components of the computer.

 The solution to this problem is carried out by using the original logical processing of signals from temperature and flow rate sensors with hardware that is minimally interconnected with the main blocks and mains of the computer, forming sound and optical signals in the form convenient for the operator in case of violation of the thermal regime.

 The corresponding warning signals are generated if the signal from the temperature sensor exceeds the upper limit of the operating temperature range, if the signal from the air velocity sensor decreases below the lower limit of the operating range of the air flow velocities created by the fan of the computer forced cooling system, and also if the signal exceeds temperature sensor of the upper limit of the operating temperature range together with a decrease in the signal from the air speed sensor outflow below the lower boundary of the operating range of air flow rates created by the fan of the computer forced cooling system. The warning sound signals generated for the first, second and third cases differ from each other by parameters (for example, in frequency and duration), which make it possible to distinguish them by ear to a computer operator. Similarly, optical signals are generated in the form of visually perceptible messages characterizing the corresponding case, for example, “Overheating”, “Faulty fan”, “Overheating. Faulty fan”.

 Distinctive features of the proposed solution are the formation of control results by comparing the temperature and air flow velocity with boundary values (settings), the original, compared to the closest analogue, purely hardware-based logic processing of temperature and air flow velocity signals exceeding the boundary values, using except for the visual perceived computer operator warning signal, audible alarm. All this improves the reliability of the computer.

 The drawing shows a functional diagram of a device for operational control of thermal conditions of a computer, where: 1 shaper signal "Reset"; 2 sound alarm unit; 3 information display unit; 4 air speed sensor; 5 setpoint adjuster for air flow rate; 6 first block of the comparator; 7 temperature sensor; 8 set point temperature controller; 9 second comparator unit; 10 the first logical element is NOT; 11 the first logical element And; 12 first logical element OR; 13 first delay element; 14, 15 second and third logical elements AND; 16 second logical element NOT; 17 second logical element OR; 18 fourth logical element And; 19 the fourth logical element is NOT; 20 fifth logical element And; 21 third logical element OR; 22 is a second delay element; 23, 24 the fifth and third logical elements are NOT; 25 - switch; 26 a second parallel to serial converter; 27 shaper control signal electro-acoustic transducer; 28 electro-acoustic transducer; 29 first parallel to serial converter; 30 display.

 The device operates as follows.

 Since the claimed device is part of the design of a computer, it uses a computer supply voltage and other signals generated in well-known computer blocks.

 When you turn on the computer in the signal generator "Reset" 1 when setting the supply voltage level, a "Reset" signal is generated, the level of which corresponds to the level of a logical unit, and the duration is chosen such that it does not interfere with the operation of the computer logical elements.

 When the power is turned on, the state of the device in the part of the logic elements circuit is not defined, therefore, the "Reset" signal forces the signals corresponding to zero at the inputs of the audible alarm unit 2 and the information display unit 3. And thus, during this period, neither sound nor visually perceptible signals are generated in the device for the operator.

 Because when you turn on the thermal mode of the computer corresponds to the operating range and the fan is in good condition (i.e., the fan turns on and works and therefore the air flow rate in the computer case does not fall below the lower working boundary), the signal from the air flow velocity sensor 4 has a level not lower than the installation level set in the setpoint adjuster for air flow rate 5, and the signal at the output of the first unit of comparator 6 as a result of comparing the signal from sensor 4 with the setpoint signal corresponds to a logic zero level. And the signal from the temperature sensor 7 has a level below the level (the upper limit of the operating temperature range of the computer) set in the setpoint setpoint for temperature 8, and the signal at the output of the second unit of the comparator 9 as a result of comparing the signal from the sensor 7 with the setpoint signal for temperature corresponds to the logical level zero.

 Logical zero from the output of the first block of the comparator 6 through the first logical element NOT 10 in the form of a logical unit is supplied to the first input of the first logical element And 11, the second input of which through the first logical element OR 12 and the first delay element 13 receives the delayed signal "Reset", thereby setting element 11 to a state of a logical unit.

 At the same time, a logical zero from the output of the first comparator block sets the second logical element And 14 and the third logical element And 15 to the state of logical zero.

 The signal from the output of the first delay element 13 is supplied to the second logic element NOT 16 and sets it to a logic zero state, which is fed to the first input of the second logic element OR 17 and to the second inputs of blocks 2 and 3. Thus, neither an audio signal nor visually - the received signal is not formed.

 The signal from the output of the second logical element NOT 16 at the same time sets the fourth logical element AND 18 to a state of logical zero.

 Logical zero from the output of the second block of the comparator 9 sets the fourth logical element NOT 19 to the state of the logical unit, which is supplied to the corresponding inputs of the second 14, third 15 and fifth 20 logic elements I.

 The "Reset" signal sets the third logical element OR 21 to the state of the logical unit, which through the second delay element 22 enters the input of the fifth element NOT 23, setting it to a logic zero state, which goes to the first inputs of blocks 2 and 3 and to the second input of the second logical element OR 17, the output of which, thus, forms a logical zero, which is converted by the third element NOT 24 into a signal of a logical unit, which is fed to the control input of the switch 25, thereby allowing the passage of the signal fishing data bus with a third input display unit 3.

 The signal of the logical unit from the output of the second delay element 22 is supplied to the corresponding inputs of the third 15, fourth 18 and fifth 20 logic elements I.

 In accordance with the foregoing, it can be seen that the circuit is designed in such a way that, under the thermal mode of the computer corresponding to the operating range, and after the end of the Reset signal (that is, setting it to zero), by selecting the time constants of the delay elements 13 and 22 and the formation of logical zero signals at the outputs of the first and second block of comparators 6 and 9, the logical unit is provided at the output of the logical element And 11, which saves the logical unit at the output of the logical element OR 12, and also provides the state of the log eskoy unit of the AND gate 20.

 Thus, in the operating thermal mode, the logic unit 21 is set at the output of logic element 21, which, in the form of a logical zero, is fed to the inputs of the sound alarm unit 2 and the display unit 3, corresponding to the inputs of the Overheat signal, which characterizes the temperature in the computer case exceeding the upper limit of the operating range . In block 2, in this mode, an audio signal is not generated. The second inputs of blocks 2 and 3, corresponding to the inputs “Faulty fan”, receive a logic zero signal from the output of the second logical element NOT 16 and the visually perceptible signal “Faulty fan” is not generated, and at this time the third input of block 3 can go through the switch 25 signal from the computer data bus to display information about the solution of the main problem (computational processes) in the computer.

 Now consider the situation when the fan installed in the computer case has failed. In this case, the air flow rate will fall below an acceptable level, and the temperature inside the computer case will remain for a certain period of time within the operating range. In this situation, the device operates as follows.

 The signal from the airflow sensor 4 is lower in level of the setpoint signal from the setpoint adjuster in airflow rate 5 and as a result of their comparison, the output of the first unit of the comparator 6 produces a logical unit signal, which sets the elements 14, 15 to the state of the logical unit, and the element 10 state of logical zero. The signal from the output of element 10 sets element 11 to a state of logical zero, which sets element 12 to a state of logical zero, because at its second input at this time is also a logical zero. In addition, the signal from element 10 sets element 20 to a state of logical zero. Logical zero from the output of element 12 passes through element 13 and is inverted by element 16 and enters the second inputs (“Faulty fan”) of block 2 and block 3 as a signal of a logical unit, and also passes through element 17, is inverted by element 24 and in the form of logical zero is fed to the control input of the switch 25, thereby prohibiting the passage of signals from the computer data bus to block 3. The state of the other logical elements of the device does not change.

 Thus, in this situation, in block 2, an operator warning sound signal is generated with parameters (for example, frequency) corresponding to a fan malfunction. In block 3, the signals from the computer data bus are stopped and a visually perceptible warning signal about a fan malfunction is generated, for example, in the form of the inscription "Fan defective".

 Some time after the failure of the fan, the temperature in the computer case will exceed the upper allowable limit of the operating range.

 In this case, the device operates as follows.

 As a result of comparing the signal from the temperature sensor 7 with the signal from the setter 8, a logic unit signal is generated at the output of the comparator unit 9, which is inverted by element 19 and sets element 15 to a logic zero state, which passes through elements 21, 22 and is inverted by element 23 and in the form logical unit goes to the first inputs ("Overheating") of blocks 2 and 3. The state of the other logic elements does not change. And at the second inputs of blocks 2 and 3, the signal of a logical unit is stored. In this case, unit 2 generates an operator warning sound with parameters (for example, frequency) corresponding to the overheating situation due to a fan malfunction.

 Block 3 generates a visually perceptible warning signal about a computer overheating due to a fan malfunction, for example, in the form of the inscription “Overheating. Fan defective”.

 It is also possible that the fan is running and the temperature exceeds the upper allowable level for some other reason. In this case, at the output of the second block of the comparator 9, a signal of a logical unit is generated and, in accordance with the above, a signal of a logical unit appears at the first inputs of blocks 2 and 3, at the second inputs of which a logic zero signal is generated, because a logical zero signal is available at the output of the first block of the comparator 6. Block 2 generates an audible warning signal with parameters (for example, frequency) that correspond to the computer overheating situation. Block 3 generates a visually perceptible warning signal about a computer overheating, for example, in the form of the inscription "Overheating".

 Thus, the output signals of blocks 2 and 3 can be formed depending on the input signals, for example, in accordance with table 1.

 The device can be performed on elements widely used in instrumentation. It is installed in a computer case and uses widely known computer blocks and its peripheral devices for its work.

 The device improves the reliability of the computer, reduces the likelihood of information loss, makes it possible to prevent the failure of computer elements, while it is characterized by the simplicity of hardware implementation.

Claims (3)

 1. A device for the operational control of thermal conditions of an electronic computer, comprising a temperature sensor, an air flow velocity sensor, an information display unit and a “Reset” signal conditioner, characterized in that the first comparator unit, the first logical element NOT, the first logical element are introduced into it, the first logical element AND, first logical element OR, first delay element, second logical element NOT, second logical element OR, third logical element NOT, switch, second input to The second is connected to the data bus of the electronic computer, the second comparator unit, the fourth logical element NOT, the second logical element AND, the third logical element OR, the second logic element, the fifth logical element NOT and the audio block, as well as the third, fourth and fifth logical elements And, the setpoint signal for the temperature setpoint and the setpoint signal for the setpoint for air flow, while the output of the air flow rate sensor is connected to the first input of the first block a device, the second input of which is connected to the output of the setpoint signal generator for airflow velocity, and the output of the first comparator unit is connected to the second input of the second logic element And and the first input of the third logic element And, the second input of which is connected to the output of the fourth logic element NOT and the first input the fifth logical element And, the second input of which is connected to the output of the first logical element NOT and the first input of the fourth logical element And, the second input of which is connected to the output of the second logic element NOT, and the third input is connected to the output of the second delay element, the third input of the fifth logical element AND and the third input of the third logical element AND, the output of which is connected to the second input of the third logical element OR, the third input of which is connected to the output of the fourth logical element AND , the fourth input is connected to the output of the fifth logical element AND, the fifth input is connected to the output of the driver of the signal "Reset" and the second input of the first logical element OR, the output of the first delay element with is dined with the second input of the first logical element AND and the third input of the second logical element AND, the output of the fifth logical element is NOT connected to the second input of the second logical element OR and the first input of the information display unit, the second input of which is connected to the output of the second logical element NOT and the second input of the block sound alarm, and the third input is connected to the output of the switch, the output of the temperature sensor is connected to the first input of the second unit of the comparator, the second input of which is connected to the output of the setpoint Ki by temperature.  2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the information display unit is made in the form of a series-connected first parallel signal to serial converter and a display, wherein the first, second and third inputs of the parallel to serial signal converter are connected to the first, second and third inputs, respectively information display unit.  3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sound signaling unit is made in the form of a second parallel-to-serial signal converter connected in series, a driver of an electro-acoustic converter and an electro-acoustic converter, and the first and second inputs of the parallel-signal to serial converter are connected to the first and the second inputs of the sound alarm unit.

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