TWI614411B - Automatic air volume compensation control module and fan system thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A control module for air volume automatic compensation and a fan system thereof, the fan system comprising a plurality of fans, each fan having a control module for automatically compensating for air volume, the control module comprising a detecting unit for detecting a fan to which it belongs The rotation speed generates a rotation speed signal; a processing unit is connected to the detection unit to receive the rotation speed signal, and outputs the rotation speed signal to at least another fan, and receives an external rotation speed signal transmitted from the at least another fan, and Comparing the external rotational speed signal with a rotational speed comparison value produces a comparison result, and maintaining or increasing the rotational speed of the fan according to the comparison result.

Description

Air volume automatic compensation control module and fan system thereof

The invention relates to a fan field, in particular to a control module for air volume automatic compensation and a fan system thereof.

With the development and advancement of network technology, the market and demand of servers are also huge. The biggest feature of the server host is its powerful computing power, and the more powerful the computing host, its operation. The heat generated during the period is relatively high. If it is long-term, it will affect the performance of the server. In the long run, the server may be damaged. Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, the server is usually placed in a well-ventilated cabinet. And equipped with multiple fans for heat dissipation.

In order to achieve the predetermined heat dissipation requirements, multiple fans are used for heat dissipation at the same time, and the number of fans used is designed according to the heat dissipation requirements, such as controlling the temperature or maintaining the overall air volume, etc., but when one or more fans stop When the rotation or the rotation speed is reduced, the originally preset heat dissipation effect is deteriorated, and the predetermined heat dissipation requirement cannot be achieved.

Therefore, how to solve the above problems and deficiencies, that is, the inventors of this case and the relevant manufacturers engaged in this industry are eager to study the direction of improvement.

Therefore, in order to effectively solve the above problems, the main object of the present invention is to provide a control module for automatically compensating the air volume of other fans when the speed of one or more fans is low or fails, and the other fans automatically increase the rotational speed to make up the air volume. Its fan system.

Another main object of the present invention is to provide a self-rotating speed signal to other fans, and also to receive the rotation speed signals of other fans to determine whether the rotation speeds of other fans are normal or abnormal, and pass through when other fan speeds are abnormal. A control module that automatically boosts the air volume of the drive signal by driving the drive signal.

Another main object of the present invention is to provide a system having a plurality of fans, wherein when the individual fans have no rotational speed or the rotational speed is low, the air volume of the normal fan will automatically increase to compensate for the total air volume of the system.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a control module for automatic air volume compensation, which is applied to a fan. The control module includes: a detecting unit that detects a rotational speed of the fan to generate a rotational speed signal; and a processing unit Connected to the detecting unit to receive the rotational speed signal, and output the rotational speed signal to at least another fan, and receive an external rotational speed signal transmitted from the at least another fan, and the external rotational speed signal and the The speed comparison value comparison produces a comparison result, and the rotation speed of the fan is maintained or raised according to the comparison result.

The present invention further provides a fan system, comprising: a plurality of fans, each of the fans having a control module for automatically compensating the air volume, the control module comprising: a detecting unit for detecting a rotational speed of a fan to generate a rotational speed signal; a processing unit is connected to the detecting unit to receive the speed signal, and output the speed signal to at least another fan, and receive an external speed signal transmitted from the at least another fan, and the external speed is The signal is compared with a speed comparison value to produce a comparison result, and the rotation speed of the fan is maintained or raised according to the comparison result.

In an embodiment, the fan has a drive motor.

In one embodiment, the processing unit includes: an output component for outputting the rotational speed signal detected by the detecting unit; an input component receiving the external rotational speed signal; and a storage component storing the rotational speed comparison value; Comparing the external speed signal and the speed comparison value to generate the comparison result; a speed control component for outputting a driving signal to the driving motor, and controlling the driving motor of the fan according to the comparison result The speed is maintained or increased.

In one embodiment, the comparison result is that the external speed signal is lower than the speed comparison value, and the speed control element raises the fan speed.

In one embodiment, the comparison result is that the external speed signal is equal to the speed comparison value, and the speed control element maintains the fan speed.

10‧‧‧fan

11‧‧‧Control module

111‧‧‧Detection unit

112‧‧‧Processing unit

1121‧‧‧ Input components

1122‧‧‧ Output components

1123‧‧‧Storage components

1124‧‧‧Comparative components

1125‧‧‧Speed control element

12‧‧‧Drive motor

20‧‧‧First fan

21‧‧‧First Control Module

211‧‧‧First detection unit

212‧‧‧First Processing Unit

2121‧‧‧First input component

2122‧‧‧First output component

2123‧‧‧First storage element

2124‧‧‧First comparison component

2125‧‧‧First speed control element

SF1‧‧‧ first speed signal

22‧‧‧First drive motor

30‧‧‧second fan

31‧‧‧Second control module

311‧‧‧Second detection unit

312‧‧‧Second processing unit

3121‧‧‧Second input component

3122‧‧‧Second output component

3123‧‧‧Second storage element

3124‧‧‧Second comparison component

3125‧‧‧Second speed control element

SF2‧‧‧second speed signal

32‧‧‧Second drive motor

40‧‧‧third fan

41‧‧‧ Third Control Module

411‧‧‧ third detection unit

412‧‧‧ third processing unit

4121‧‧‧ third input component

4122‧‧‧ Third output component

4123‧‧‧ third storage element

4124‧‧‧ third comparison component

4125‧‧‧ Third speed control element

SF3‧‧‧ third speed signal

42‧‧‧ Third drive motor

The following drawings are intended to provide a more complete understanding of the invention, and are in the The specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail by reference to the specific embodiments herein,

1A is a block diagram of a control module applied to a fan according to the present invention; FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a processing unit of the present invention; FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of a serial connection mode of a first embodiment of the fan system of the present invention; 2 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a fan system according to the present invention; and FIG. 2D is a block diagram of a control module of a first embodiment of the fan system of the present invention; The block diagram of the second embodiment of the fan system of the present invention; and FIG. 3B is a block diagram of the control module of the second embodiment of the fan system of the present invention.

The above object of the present invention, as well as its structural and functional features, will be described in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the drawings.

Please refer to FIG. 1A for a block diagram of a control module applied to a fan according to the present invention; FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a processing unit of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a fan 10 includes a control module 11 and a drive motor 12. The control module 11 generates a drive signal (for example, a PWM signal) to drive the drive motor 12 to rotate to drive the fan 10 to rotate. The control module 11 The speed signal of the driving motor 12 is output to other fans, and the external speed signal transmitted by other fans is also received, thereby determining whether the rotation speed of other fans is normal or abnormal, and then the rotation speed of other fans is abnormal (for example, the rotation speed is biased) When there is low or no speed, increase your fan speed to compensate for the air volume of other fans with abnormal speed.

The control module 11 includes a detecting unit 111 and a processing unit 112. The detecting unit 111 senses the rotational speed of the driving motor 12 to generate a rotational speed signal (for example, a sinusoidal square wave FG) to the processing unit 112. The detecting unit 111 is, for example but not limited to, a rotational speed sensor (for example, a Hall element). . The processing unit 112 is connected to the detecting unit 111 to receive the rotation speed signal, and outputs the rotation speed signal to at least another fan, and receives an external rotation speed signal transmitted from at least another fan, and the external rotation speed is obtained. The signal is compared with a speed comparison value to produce a comparison result, and the fan speed is maintained or increased according to the comparison result.

Specifically, the processing unit 112 includes an input component 1121, an output component 1122, a storage component 1123, a comparison component 1124, and a rotational speed control component 1125. The output component 1122 (for example, an output port) is connected to the detecting unit 111 to output the rotation speed signal detected by the detecting unit 111 to other fans. The input component 1121 (eg, an output port) receives the external speed signal transmitted from the other fan. The storage element 1123 (for example, a memory) stores the speed comparison value, for example, a preset speed value. The comparison component 1124 (for example, a comparator or a comparison circuit) is connected to the input component 1121 and the storage component 1123 to compare the external rotation speed signal and the rotation speed comparison value to generate a comparison result. The rotation speed control component 1125 is configured to output a driving signal to the drive The motor 12 is moved, and the rotational speed of the drive motor 12 of the fan 10 is controlled to be maintained or raised based on the comparison result of the comparison element 1124.

In more detail, when the comparison component 1124 compares the external rotational speed signal to the rotational speed comparison value, the rotational speed control component 1125 changes the duty cycle of the output driving signal (Duty Cycle) to drive the driving motor 12 to increase operation. Then increase the fan speed. In addition, the comparison component 1124 compares the external rotational speed signal with the rotational speed comparison value, and the rotational speed control component 1125 maintains a duty cycle of the output driving signal thereof, thereby maintaining the current rotational speed of the fan.

2A and 2B and 2C and 2D are schematic diagrams showing a fan having a control module in a fan system. In the present embodiment, the fan system includes two fans, and each fan and its control module have the same structure as described above. In order to clearly show the relationship between the two fans, one of the fans is referred to as a first fan 20 and the other fan is referred to as a second fan 30.

2A is a schematic view showing a serial connection mode of the first embodiment of the fan system of the present invention; and FIG. 2B is a schematic side view showing the first embodiment of the fan system of the present invention. The fan system may be a fan system in which the first fan 20 and the second fan 30 are connected in series, or a fan system in which the first fan 20 and the second fan 30 are arranged side by side.

2C is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the fan system of the present invention; and FIG. 2D is a block diagram of a control module of the first embodiment of the fan system of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the first fan module 20 includes a first control module 21 and a first driving motor 22, and the first control module 21 generates a first driving signal (such as a PWM signal) to drive the first driving motor. 22 rotates to drive the first fan 20 to rotate. The second fan module 30 includes a second control module 31 and a second driving motor 32. The second control module 31 generates a second driving signal (for example, a PWM signal) to drive the second driving motor 32 to rotate. The two fans 30 rotate. The first driving signal has the same duty cycle and frequency as the second driving signal, that is, the first fan 20 and the second fan 30 are operated at the same rotational speed.

The first control module 21 includes a first detecting unit 211 and a first processing unit 212. The first detecting unit 211 senses the rotation speed of the first driving motor 22 to generate a first rotation speed signal SF1 to the first processing unit 112. The first detecting unit 211 is, for example but not limited to, a speed sensor (for example, Hall element). The first processing unit 212 includes a first input component 2121, a first output component 2122, a first storage component 2123, a first comparison component 2124, and a first rotational speed control component 2125. The first output component 2122 (for example, an output port) is connected to the first detecting unit 211 to output the first rotational speed signal SF1 detected by the first detecting unit 211 to the second fan 20. The first input component 2121 (eg, an output port) receives an external second rotational speed signal SF2 (as described later) transmitted from the second fan 30. The first storage element 2123 (eg, a memory) stores the speed comparison value. The first comparison component 2124 (for example, a comparator or a comparison circuit) is connected to the first input component 2121 and the first storage component 2123 to compare the external second rotational speed signal SF2 and the rotational speed comparison value to generate a comparison result. . The first rotational speed control component 2125 is configured to output a driving signal to the first driving motor 22, and control the operation or maintenance of the first driving motor 22 of the first fan 20 according to the comparison result of the first comparing component 2124.

The second control module 31 includes a second detecting unit 311 and a second processing unit 312. The second detecting unit 311 senses the rotation speed of the second driving motor 32 to generate a second rotation speed signal SF2 to the second processing unit 312. The second detecting unit 311 is, for example but not limited to, a speed sensor (for example, Hall element). The second processing unit 312 includes a second input component 3121, a second output component 3122, a second storage component 3123, a second comparison component 3124, and a second rotational speed control component 3125. The second output component 3122 (for example, an output port) is connected to the second detecting unit 311 to output the second rotational speed signal SF2 detected by the second detecting unit 311 to the first fan 20. The second input component 3121 (eg, an input port) receives the external first rotational speed signal SF1 transmitted from the first fan 20. The second storage element 3123 (eg, a memory) stores the speed comparison value. The second comparison component 3124 (for example, a comparator or a comparison circuit) is respectively connected to the second input component The third storage element 3123 compares the external first rotational speed signal SF1 with the rotational speed comparison value to generate a comparison result. The second rotational speed control component 3125 is configured to output a driving signal to the second driving motor 32, and control the operation or maintenance of the second driving motor 32 of the second fan 30 according to the comparison result of the second comparing component 3124.

The first rotational speed signal SF1 indicates the current rotational speed of the first fan 20, and the second rotational speed signal SF2 indicates the current rotational speed of the second fan 30. The first rotational speed signal SF1 is an external rotational speed signal for the second fan 30. In addition, the second rotational speed signal SF2 is an external rotational speed signal for the first fan 20. The first and second fans 20 and 30 receive the current rotational speed of the other party by receiving the first rotational speed signal SF1 and the second rotational speed signal SF2.

In more detail, the first comparing component 2124 of the first fan 20 compares the rotational speed signal (that is, the second rotational speed signal SF2) with the rotational speed of the first storage element 2132. The second comparing component 3124 of the second fan 30 compares the rotational speed signal (that is, the first rotational speed signal SF1) with the rotational speed of the second storage component 3132. In this manner, the first fan 20 and the second fan 30 compare the current rotational speed of the other party with the rotational speed of the own memory to determine whether the other party's operation is abnormal or not. When any of the first fan 20 or the second fan 30 has abnormal speed or no speed, the other fan then raises the speed to compensate for the lost air volume.

For example, when the operating speed of the second fan 30 is low or not running (ie, the speed is zero), the first comparing component 2124 of the first fan 20 compares the second rotating signal SF2 with the second storage component 2123. The first rotational speed control component 2125 changes the duty cycle of the output driving signal according to the comparison result of the first comparing component 2124 to drive the first driving motor 22 of the first fan 20 to increase the rotational speed to make up the first The amount of air lost by the two fans 30.

Similarly, if the fan speed of the first fan 20 is low or not running (ie, the speed is zero), the second comparing component 3124 of the second fan 30 compares the first speed signal SF1 with the second storage element. When the speed comparison value is 3132, the second speed control component 3125 is configured according to the second comparison component 3124. The comparison result changes the duty cycle of the output driving signal to drive the second driving motor 32 of the second fan 30 to increase the rotational speed to compensate for the lost air volume of the first fan 20.

In addition, if the first comparison component 2124 compares the external rotation speed signal (the second rotation speed signal SF2) with the rotation speed comparison value of the first storage element 2123, the first rotation speed control element 2125 maintains the output of the driving signal. The cycle, in turn, maintains the current rotational speed of the first fan 20.

Similarly, if the second comparison component 3124 compares the external rotational speed signal (the first rotational speed signal SF1) with the rotational speed comparison value of the second storage component 3123, the second rotational speed control component 3125 maintains the output of the driving signal. The duty cycle further maintains the current rotational speed of the second fan 30.

In another alternative implementation, as shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the fan system includes three fans, and a third fan 40 is added in addition to the first and second fans 20, 30 described above, although not shown in the present embodiment. The fan system described with reference to the previous embodiment is, for example, in the form of three cascaded or side-by-side fans. For the structure of the first two fans 20, 30, please refer to the previous description. The third fan module 40 includes a third control module 41 and a third driving motor 42. The third control module 41 generates a third driving signal (for example, a PWM signal) to drive the third driving motor 42 to rotate. The third fan 40 rotates.

The third control module 41 includes a third detecting unit 411 and a third processing unit 412. The third detecting unit 411 senses the rotation speed of the third driving motor 42 to generate a third rotation speed signal SF3 to the third processing unit 412. The third detecting unit 411 is, for example but not limited to, a speed sensor (for example, Hall element). The third processing unit 412 includes a third input component 4121, a third output component 4122, a third storage component 4123, a third comparison component 4124, and a third rotational speed control component 4125. The third output component 4122 (for example, an output port) is connected to the third detecting unit 411 to output the third rotational speed signal SF3 detected by the third detecting unit 411. The third input component 4121 (eg, an output port) receives an external rotational speed signal transmitted from the other two fans. The third storage element 4123 (eg, a memory) stores the speed comparison value. The third comparison component 4124 (for example, a comparator or a comparison circuit) is connected to the third input component 4121 and the third storage component, respectively. 4123 compares the external speed signal and the speed comparison value to produce a comparison result. The third rotational speed control component 4125 is configured to output a driving signal to the third driving motor 42 and control the operation or maintenance of the third driving motor 42 of the third fan 40 according to the comparison result of the third comparing component 4124.

In this embodiment, the first input component 2121 of the first fan 20 receives the second rotational speed signal SF2 of the second fan 30 and the third rotational speed signal SF3 of the third fan 40. The second input component 3121 of the second fan 30 receives the first rotational speed signal SF1 of the first fan 20 and the third rotational speed signal SF3 of the third fan 40. The third input component 4121 of the third fan receives the first rotational speed signal SF1 of the first fan 20 and the second rotational speed signal SF2 of the second fan 30. The first, second, and third fans 20, 30, and 40 respectively receive the other party's rotational speed signals (for example, the first, second, and third rotational speed signals SF1, SF2, and SF3) to know the current rotational speed of the other party.

In more detail, the first comparing component 2124 of the first fan 20 compares the rotational speed signals (that is, the second rotational speed signal SF2 and the third rotational speed signal SF3) with the rotational speed of the first storage element 2132. The second comparison component 3124 of the second fan 30 compares the rotational speed signals (that is, the first rotational speed signal SF1 and the third rotational speed signal SF3) with the rotational speed of the second storage element 3132. The third comparing component 4124 of the third fan 40 compares the rotational speed signals (that is, the first rotational speed signal SF1 and the second rotational speed signal SF2) with the rotational speed of the third storage element 3132. In this manner, the first fan 20, the second fan 30, and the third fan 40 compare the current rotational speed of the other party with the rotational speed comparison value of the own memory, and thereby determine whether the other party's operation is abnormal or not. When the rotational speed of any of the first fan 20 or the second fan 30 or the third fan 40 is abnormal, the other two fans then increase the rotational speed to compensate for the lost air volume.

For example, when the rotational speed of the fan of the second fan 30 is low or not, the first comparison component 2124 of the first fan 20 compares the second rotational speed signal SF2 with the lower rotational speed comparison value of the first storage component 2132. The first rotation speed control element 2125 changes the duty cycle of the output driving signal according to the comparison result of the first comparison component 2124 to drive the first driving motor 22 of the first fan 20 to lift. Rotating speed. At the same time, the third comparison component 4124 of the third fan 40 compares the second rotational speed signal SF2 with a lower speed comparison value in the memory of the third storage component 4132, and the third rotational speed control component 4125 compares the third comparison component 4125 according to the third comparison component 4124. As a result, the duty cycle of the drive signal whose output is changed drives the third drive motor 42 of the third fan 40 to increase the rotational speed. Therefore, the fan system increases the rotational speed of the first fan 20 and the third fan 40 to compensate for the amount of air lost by the second fan 30.

In summary, the control module of the present invention can transmit the rotation speed signal of its own fan to other fans, and can also receive the rotation speed signals of other fans to determine whether the rotation speeds of other fans are normal or abnormal, and When other fan speeds are low or the fan fails and there is no speed output, the fan speed is increased by the drive signal to compensate for the air loss caused by the fan that has failed or the speed is reduced. Especially in a fan system with multiple fans, when individual fans have no speed or low speed, the air volume of other normal fans will automatically increase to compensate for the total air volume of the fan system.

The present invention has been described in detail above, but the foregoing is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. That is, the equivalent changes and modifications made by the scope of the present application should remain within the scope of the patent of the present invention.

10‧‧‧fan

11‧‧‧Control module

111‧‧‧Detection unit

112‧‧‧Processing unit

12‧‧‧Drive motor

Claims (6)

A control module for automatic air volume compensation is applied to a fan having a driving motor. The control module comprises: a detecting unit for detecting a rotational speed of the fan to generate a rotational speed signal; and a processing unit connecting the detecting The measuring unit receives the rotational speed signal, and outputs the rotational speed signal to at least another fan, and receives an external rotational speed signal transmitted from the at least another fan, and compares the external rotational speed signal with a rotational speed comparison value. Generating a comparison result, and maintaining or increasing the rotation speed of the fan according to the comparison result; wherein the processing unit includes: an output component for outputting the rotation speed signal detected by the detection unit; and an input component receiving the An external speed signal; a storage component stores the speed comparison value; a comparison component compares the external speed signal and the speed comparison value to generate the comparison result; and a speed control component outputs a driving signal to the The motor is driven, and the rotational speed of the drive motor of the fan is maintained or raised according to the comparison result of the comparison element. The control module for automatic air volume compensation according to claim 1, wherein the external speed signal is lower than the speed comparison value, and the speed control element increases the fan speed. The control module for automatic air volume compensation according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the external speed signal is equal to the speed comparison value, and the speed control element maintains the fan speed. A fan system comprising: a plurality of fans, each of which has a control module for automatically compensating for air volume, each fan having a drive motor, the control module comprising: a detecting unit for detecting a rotational speed of a fan to generate a rotational speed signal; The processing unit is connected to the detecting unit to receive the rotational speed signal, and outputs the rotational speed signal to at least another fan, and receives an external rotational speed signal transmitted from the at least another fan, and the external rotational speed signal is received. Comparing with a speed comparison value to generate a comparison result, and maintaining or increasing the rotation speed of the fan according to the comparison result; the processing unit includes: an output component for outputting the rotation speed signal detected by the detection unit; The input component receives the external rotational speed signal; a storage component stores the rotational speed comparison value; and a comparison component compares the external rotational speed signal with the rotational speed comparison value to generate the comparison result; and a rotational speed control component for A driving signal is output to the driving motor, and the rotation speed of the driving motor of the fan is controlled to be maintained or raised according to the comparison result of the comparison element. The fan system of claim 4, wherein the external speed signal is lower than the speed comparison value, and the speed control element raises the fan speed. The fan system of claim 4, wherein the external speed signal is equal to the speed comparison value, and the speed control element maintains the fan speed.