TWM653652U - Detection device for computer expansion equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A detection device for a computer expansion device includes a control unit, a detection unit and a load unit. The control unit includes a control module, a power transmission channel connected to the control module, a control transmission channel connected to the control module and a power supply module connected to the power transmission channel. The detection unit includes a control module, ... An electrical detection module between the channels and a switch module arranged between the power supply module and the power transmission channel, the electrical detection module and the switch module are in parallel relationship, the load unit includes at least one load module connected to the power transmission channel and the control transmission channel, the electrical detection module detects the load power value of the load module to analyze the type of the load module.

Description

Computer expansion unit testing device

The invention relates to a detection device, in particular to a detection device which utilizes electric current to analyze various computer expansion devices.

Existing computer systems can already provide users with the ability to set up expansion devices, including fans, water pumps, light-emitting elements (LEDs), etc., and the computer system can control the installed expansion devices.

When the user sets up the expansion equipment, the computer system expects the user to manually select the type, quantity and configuration of the expansion equipment from a predetermined menu so that the computer system can accurately control it. However, in actual use, it still has the following disadvantages:

1. The manual configuration process is cumbersome: Since the existing computer system does not have the ability to automatically detect the connected expansion devices, users must manually select the type, quantity and configuration of the expansion devices from the menu of the computer system. The configuration process is very cumbersome and users need to spend a lot of time to configure.

2. Errors are prone to occur: When users set up a large number of various expansion devices, they must configure each expansion device. However, some users do not understand the expansion devices connected to the computer system. When manually selecting menus, it is very easy to make mistakes. Incorrect settings cannot enable the computer system to control the expansion devices.

3. Unable to self-detect: Some DIY players often replace the expansion devices connected to the computer system, but the computer system cannot automatically check, resulting in the computer being unable to automatically detect each time the expansion device is replaced. The user must manually enter the menu to set it up so that the computer system can control the replaced expansion device.

Therefore, how to enable the computer system to automatically check the type of connected expansion equipment and automatically confirm the number and configuration of settings is a goal that relevant technical personnel urgently need to work hard on.

In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a detection device for a computer expansion device, which includes a control unit, a detection unit and a load unit.

The control unit includes a control module, a power transmission channel connected to the control module, a control transmission channel connected to the control module, and a power supply module connected to the power transmission channel.

The detection unit includes an electrical detection module disposed between the power supply module and the power transmission channel and a switch module disposed between the power supply module and the power transmission channel. The electrical detection module is in parallel with the switch module.

The load unit includes at least one load module connected to the power transmission channel and the control transmission channel.

Another technical means of the present invention is to provide a switch control component in the above-mentioned control module, and the switch control component allows the control module to control the switch module in a short-circuit state and an open-circuit state. When the switch module is in an open-circuit state, the power output by the power supply module passes through the electrical detection module, and when the switch module is in a short-circuit state, the power output by the power supply module passes through the switch module.

Another technical means of the present invention is to provide an electrical detection component in the above-mentioned control module, and the electrical detection component is used by the control module to sense the voltage drop of the electrical detection module to calculate the load power value flowing through the electrical detection module.

Another technical means of the present invention is that the above-mentioned control unit further includes a device comparison module connected to the control module, and the device comparison module stores the type of the load module and the corresponding load power value, so as to analyze the type of the load module from the load power value provided by the control module.

Another technical means of the present invention is to provide an address control component in the above-mentioned control module, the number of the load modules is plural, each load module is provided with a dedicated address, and the address control component is used by the control module to control the operation of the load modules respectively.

Another technical means of the present invention is to provide a rotation control component in the above-mentioned control module, and the rotation control component allows the control module to start the plurality of load modules in turn.

Another technical means of the present invention is that the plurality of load modules are connected in parallel with the power transmission channel, and the plurality of load modules are connected in series with the control transmission channel.

Another technical means of the present invention is that the above-mentioned load module has an electronic component connected to the power transmission channel and the control transmission channel.

Another technical means of the present invention is that the above-mentioned load module has a driving component connected to the power transmission channel and the control transmission channel, and an electronic component connected to the driving component.

Another technical means of the present invention is that the above-mentioned load module is selected from one of a light-emitting diode, a fan, a motor, and a combination thereof.

The beneficial effect of the present invention is that when the computer is turned on, the switch control component will start the multiple load modules one by one, so that the electrical detection component can obtain the current of each load module. The computer will analyze the type, quantity and configuration of each load module based on the obtained current.

The patent application features and technical contents of the present invention are clearly presented in the following detailed description of two preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. Before the detailed description, it should be noted that similar components are represented by the same numbers.

1 and 2 , which are a first preferred embodiment of a detection device for a computer expansion device of the present invention. The detection device for the computer expansion device comprises a control unit 3 , a detection unit 4 , and a load unit 5 .

The control unit 3 includes a control module 31, a power transmission channel 32 connected to the control module 31, a control transmission channel 33 connected to the control module 31, a power supply module 34 connected to the power transmission channel 32, and a device matching module 35 connected to the control module 31. The detection unit 4 includes an electrical detection module 41 disposed between the power supply module 34 and the power transmission channel 32, and a switch module 42 disposed between the power supply module 34 and the power transmission channel 32. The load unit 5 includes at least one load module 51 connected to the power transmission channel 32 and the control transmission channel 33.

Referring back to FIG. 1 , the configuration of the computer, expansion equipment, and detection device in the first preferred embodiment is illustrated. A motherboard 21 is electrically connected to a microcontroller 22 to transmit data and power, the motherboard 21 is electrically connected to the power supply module 34 to transmit power, the power supply module 34 is electrically connected to the plurality of load modules 51 using the power transmission channel 32 to transmit power, the detection unit 4 is disposed in the power transmission channel 32, the electrical detection module 41 and the switch module 42 are disposed in the detection unit 4, the electrical detection module 41 The load power value (current) of the power transmission channel 32 is detected, the switch module 42 is arranged in parallel with the electrical detection module 41, the microcontroller 22 is electrically connected to the detection unit 4 to obtain the detection data of the electrical detection module 41 and control the switch module 42, and the microcontroller 22 is electrically connected to the plurality of load modules 51 using the control transmission channel 33, so that the microcontroller 22 can control the load modules 51 respectively.

In the first preferred embodiment, the device comparison module 35 is a memory chip disposed in the motherboard 21, and the data stored in the device comparison module 35 can be provided to the control module 31 for use.

2 , the control module 31 is disposed in the microcontroller 22. Preferably, the microcontroller 22 is a control circuit independent of the motherboard 21. In actual implementation, the microcontroller 22 can be integrated into the motherboard 21, but the present invention should not be limited thereto.

The power transmission channel 32 is a power transmission line set, which is used to transmit the power of the power supply module 34 to the load module 51. The control transmission channel 33 is an information transmission line set, which is used to enable the control module 31 and the load module 51 to transmit data. The multiple load modules 51 are in parallel with the power transmission channel 32. In other words, each load module 51 is connected to the power supply module 34 through the electrical detection module 41 and the switch module 42. The multiple load modules 51 are in series with the control transmission channel 33, and the information transmitted by the control module 31 will pass through the multiple connected load modules 51 in sequence.

The electrical detection module 41 is in parallel with the switch module 42. The electrical detection module 41 is a shunt resistor. The electrical detection component 312 is used to sense the voltage drop caused by the load module 51 connected to the power supply module 34. The switch module 42 is a power transistor, an analog switch, or a manual switch. In actual implementation, the switch module 42 can use any appropriate device that transmits power to the load module 51 under test, and should not be limited to this.

The control module 31 is provided with a switch control component 311, an electrical detection component 312, an address control component 313, and a rotation control component 314. The switch control component 311 is electrically connected to the switch module 42, and the electrical detection component 312 is electrically connected to the electrical detection module 41. Preferably, the detection unit 4 is independently provided, and the microcontroller 22 and the detection unit 4 use wired or wireless data transmission. In actual implementation, the detection unit 4 can be integrated into the power supply module 34, or into the microcontroller 22, or other positions, and should not be limited thereto. The address control component 313 is electrically connected to the plurality of load modules 51. In addition, the rotation control component 314 is electrically connected to the address control component 313. The connection method between the address control component 313 and the rotation control component 314 is the configuration of the circuit in the semiconductor, which belongs to the general technology and will not be described in detail here.

The switch control component 311 allows the control module 31 to control the switch module 42 to be in a short-circuit state or an open-circuit state. When the switch module 42 is in an open-circuit state, the power output by the power supply module 34 passes through the electrical detection module 41. When the switch module 42 is in a short-circuit state, the power output by the power supply module 34 passes through the switch module 42. The electrical detection component 312 allows the control module 31 to sense the voltage drop of the electrical detection module 41 to obtain the load power value flowing through the electrical detection module 41.

The main purpose of the switch module 42 is to reduce the power consumption in the circuit during normal operation. When the switch module 42 is in a short-circuit state, the load module 51 can consume the minimum power of the power supply module 34. When the power passes through the electrical detection component 312, significant power dissipation will occur, and the power supply module 34 will not be able to provide the full power demand of the computer. Therefore, when the switch module 42 is in a short-circuit state, the power will pass through the switch module 42 with a smaller resistance value, and will not pass through the electrical detection component 312, thereby eliminating the power loss of the electrical detection component 312 to the power supply module 34. For example, when executing the test sequence of the plurality of load modules 51, the switch module 42 is in an open circuit state, and the resistance value of the open circuit state is infinite, so the current all passes through the electrical detection component 312. When the test sequence of the plurality of load modules 51 is completed, the switch module 42 is in a short circuit state, and the resistance value of the short circuit state approaches zero, so the current can flow through the switch module 42 unimpeded, thereby minimizing the power dissipation flowing through the electrical detection component 312.

The equipment comparison module 35 stores the type of the load module 51 and the corresponding load power value, and the load power value is a detection current and/or a detection voltage, which is provided to the control module 31 to analyze the type of the load module 51. Preferably, the number of the load modules 51 is plural, and each load module 51 is provided with a dedicated address. The address control component 313 allows the control module 31 to control the operation of the load module 51 respectively. The rotation control component 314 allows the control module 31 to activate the plurality of load modules 51 in turn.

Referring back to FIG. 2 , in the first preferred embodiment, the load module 51 has a plurality of electronic components (511, 512, and 513) connected to the power transmission channel 32 and the control transmission channel 33. The plurality of electronic components (511, 512, and 513) use addressable light-emitting elements, but are not limited thereto. Each load module 51 is provided with a dedicated address, and the plurality of load modules 51 are in a series relationship. In actual implementation, the control module 31 can use a bus to connect each load module 51 in parallel, but should not be limited thereto. When the control module 31 executes the test sequence, the switch control component 311 controls the switch module 42 to be in an open circuit state, the rotation control component 314 provides a test sequence, and the address control component 313 turns on one or more load modules 51 according to the sequence provided by the rotation control component 314. The electrical detection module 41 flows current and generates a voltage drop. The analog-to-digital converter circuit in the microcontroller 22 can determine the current flowing through the electrical detection module 41 and the corresponding voltage drop. The load power value stored in the device comparison module 35 can provide the control module 31 to compare the type, quantity and configuration of the load module 51.

For example, the control module 31 sends a signal to the plurality of electronic components (511, 512 and 513) to execute the test procedure of the load module 51 by turning them on one at a time. First, the control module 31 turns on the electronic component 511, while the other electronic components 512 and 513 connected to the control module 31 remain turned off. Then, the control module 31 obtains the current and/or voltage from the electrical detection module 41, and then the control module 31 uses the obtained current and/or voltage to test the load module 51. The corresponding type is retrieved and recorded for quantity statistics, and the configuration position is determined by the address. Then, the electronic component 511 is turned off and then the electronic component 512 is turned on, and the electronic component 513 remains turned off. Finally, the above test procedure is repeated to count the type, quantity and configuration of the load module 51. Among them, when the electrical detection module 41 does not obtain the current and voltage at the address used by the control module 31, it means that the load module 51 is not set at the address.

The above-mentioned current sensing and/or voltage sensing methods can be used to determine the type of the load module 51 connected to the control module 31. For example, some light-emitting elements integrate red, green and blue LEDs, and some other light-emitting elements are provided with white LEDs in addition to red, green and blue LEDs. Therefore, the type of the load module 51 of the control module 31 can be determined based on the current consumption of the load module 51, provided that different load modules 51 consume different amounts of power, and the amount of power can be independently detected by the electrical detection module 41.

The load module 51 is selected from one of a light-emitting diode, a fan, a motor, and a combination thereof, but is not limited thereto.

Please refer to FIG. 3 , which is a second preferred embodiment of the detection device of the computer expansion device of the present invention. The second preferred embodiment is substantially the same as the first preferred embodiment, and the similarities are not described in detail here. The difference is that the plurality of load modules 51 respectively have a drive assembly (514, 515 and 516) connected to the power transmission channel 32 and the control transmission channel 33, and an electronic assembly (511, 512 and 513) connected to the drive assembly.

The plurality of drive components (514, 515 and 516) are the drive circuits (IC) of the plurality of electronic components (511, 512 and 513). The plurality of drive components (514, 515 and 516) are electrically connected to the control module 31 via a bus. In actual implementation, the plurality of drive components (514, 515 and 516) can be electrically connected to the control module 31 in series, but this should not be limited to this.

In the second preferred embodiment, the device comparison module 35 is a memory chip disposed in the microcontroller 22, and the data stored in the device comparison module 35 can be provided to the control module 31. In addition, the plurality of drive components (514, 515 and 516) and the plurality of electronic components (511, 512 and 513) are respectively disposed in the plurality of load modules 51.

In the second preferred embodiment, the load module 51 can be a computer fan, a split light emitting diode, a computer cooling pump or other computer components. In the test procedure of the load module 51, the control module 31 supplies power to the plurality of drive components (514, 515 and 516) in sequence, one component at a time. The control module 31 measures the current consumption to determine whether the plurality of drive components (514, 515 and 516) are connected to the power supply module 34. The control module 31 can determine the type of the drive component (514, 515 or 516) by sensing the power consumption of one of the drive components (514, 515 or 516). For example, a computer fan typically consumes more power than an LED, thereby enabling the control module 31 to analyze the type, quantity, and configuration of the load module 51.

From the above description, it can be seen that the detection device of the computer expansion device of the present invention has the following effects:

1. No manual setting required: When the control module 31 performs the detection procedure of the load module 51, the address control component 313 provides multiple detection addresses, and the rotation control component 314 provides the test sequence of the multiple addresses, so that the control module 31 can supply power to the load module 51 in sequence, and detect the load module 51 in turn by turning on one at a time and obtaining its type, quantity and configuration. The user does not need to manually set.

2. No error will occur: Continuing from the above, since the equipment comparison module 35 stores the type of the load module 51 and the corresponding load power value, it can provide the control module 31 with the type, quantity and configuration for comparison, so the microcontroller 22 equipped with the control module 31 will not have an error in setting the type of the load module 51.

3. Capable of self-detection: Since the detection device of the computer expansion device can automatically execute the self-detection program of the load module 51 every time the computer is turned on, even if the user changes the type, quantity and configuration of the load module 51 when the computer is turned off, the control module 31 can automatically detect and set the correct type, quantity and configuration, so that the computer can correctly monitor the load module 51 when it is running.

In summary, the control module 31 first controls the switch module 42 to be in an open circuit state, and analyzes the type, quantity and configuration of the load module 51 by sequentially turning on the load module 51 and detecting the load power value, so that the microcontroller 22 can monitor the load module 51. When the control module 31 completes the detection program of the load module 51, it controls the switch module 42 to be in a short circuit state to prevent the current from flowing through the electrical detection module 41 again, thereby eliminating the power loss of the electrical detection component 312 to the power supply module 34, and can reduce the power dissipation of the computer when it is full of power, so that the purpose of this novel invention can be achieved.

However, the above are only two preferred embodiments of the present invention, and should not be used to limit the scope of implementation of the present invention. In other words, simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the scope of the patent application of the present invention and the content of the description of the present invention are still within the scope of the present patent.

21: Motherboard 22: Microcontroller 3: Control unit 31: Control module 311: Switch control component 312: Electrical detection component 313: Address control component 314: Alternate control component 32: Power transmission channel 33: Control transmission channel 34: Power supply module 35: Equipment comparison module 4: Detection unit 41: Electrical detection module 42: Switch module 5: Load unit 51: Load module 511: Electronic component 512: Electronic component 513: Electronic component 514: Drive component 515: Drive component 516: Drive component

FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a device setting, which is a first preferred embodiment of a detection device of a computer expansion device of the present invention, illustrating a state in which the detection device of the computer expansion device is connected to a motherboard; FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a functional module setting, which illustrates a functional module setting state of the detection device of the computer expansion device in the first preferred embodiment; and FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a functional module setting, which is a second preferred embodiment of a detection device of a computer expansion device of the present invention, illustrating a functional module setting state of the detection device of the computer expansion device.

22: Microcontroller

3: Control unit

31: Control module

311: Switch control assembly

312: Electrical detection components

313: Address control component

314: Rotation control component

32: Power transmission channel

33: Control transmission channel

34: Power supply module

35: Equipment comparison module

4: Detection unit

41: Electrical detection module

42: Switch module

5: Load unit

51: Load module

511: Electronic components

512: Electronic components

513: Electronic components

Claims (10)

A detection device for a computer expansion device comprises: a control unit, including a control module, a power transmission channel connected to the control module, a control transmission channel connected to the control module, and a power supply module connected to the power transmission channel; a detection unit, including an electrical detection module disposed between the power supply module and the power transmission channel, and a switch module disposed between the power supply module and the power transmission channel, the electrical detection module and the switch module being in parallel relationship; and a load unit, including at least one load module connected to the power transmission channel and the control transmission channel. A detection device for a computer expansion device as described in claim 1, wherein a switch control component is provided in the control module, and the switch control component is provided for the control module to control the switch module in a short-circuit state and an open-circuit state. When the switch module is in an open-circuit state, the power output by the power supply module passes through the electrical detection module, and when the switch module is in a short-circuit state, the power output by the power supply module passes through the switch module. As described in claim 1, the detection device of the computer expansion device has an electrical detection component in the control module, and the electrical detection component is used by the control module to sense the voltage drop of the electrical detection module to calculate the load power value flowing through the electrical detection module. A detection device for a computer expansion device as described in claim 3, wherein the control unit further includes a device comparison module connected to the control module, and the device comparison module stores the type of the load module and the corresponding load power value so as to analyze the type of the load module from the load power value provided by the control module. As described in claim 1, the detection device of the computer expansion device has an address control component in the control module, the number of the load modules is plural, each load module has a dedicated address, and the address control component is used by the control module to control the operation of the load modules respectively. As described in claim 5, the detection device of the computer expansion device comprises a rotation control component in the control module, and the rotation control component allows the control module to start the multiple load modules in turn. The detection device of the computer expansion device as described in claim 5, wherein the plurality of load modules are connected in parallel with the power transmission channel, and the plurality of load modules are connected in series with the control transmission channel. A detection device for a computer expansion device as described in claim 1, wherein the load module has an electronic component connected to the power transmission channel and the control transmission channel. A detection device for a computer expansion device as described in claim 1, wherein the load module has a drive component connected to the power transmission channel and the control transmission channel, and an electronic component connected to the drive component. The detection device of the computer expansion device as described in claim 1, wherein the load module is selected from one of a light-emitting diode, a fan, a motor, and a combination thereof.

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