U.S. patent application number 11/454846 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-20 for electronic device and program storage medium.
This patent application is currently assigned to FUJITSU LIMITED. Invention is credited to Yuji Aoyama.
Application Number | 20070217920 11/454846 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38518026 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070217920 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Aoyama; Yuji |
September 20, 2007 |
Electronic device and program storage medium
Abstract
A rotation number calculating section calculates rotation
numbers per unit time on the basis of pulse signals, a CPU
calculates an accumulated rotation number on the basis of a sum of
products of the rotation numbers read at a predetermined time
interval and the predetermined time, determines whether the
accumulated rotation number exceeds a predetermined threshold
value, and gives a warning aiming at urging a user to clean a fan
in response to a determination result that the accumulated rotation
number exceeds the threshold value.
Inventors: |
Aoyama; Yuji; (Kawasaki,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAAS & HALSEY LLP
SUITE 700, 1201 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
FUJITSU LIMITED
Kawasaki
JP
|
Family ID: |
38518026 |
Appl. No.: |
11/454846 |
Filed: |
June 19, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/20 20130101; F04D
27/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/63 |
International
Class: |
F04B 49/00 20060101
F04B049/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 17, 2006 |
JP |
2006-074261 |
Claims
1. An electronic device with a fan built therein to perform
air-cooling by an air flow generated by rotation of the fan,
comprising: an accumulated rotation number calculating section
which calculates an accumulated rotation number of the fan; a
determining section which determines whether the accumulated
rotation number calculated by the accumulated rotation number
calculating section exceeds a predetermined threshold value; and a
warning section which gives a warning in response to a
determination result that the accumulated rotation number exceeds
the threshold value, the determination result being obtained by the
determination section.
2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the fan
outputs a pulse signal synchronized with rotation of the fan, and
the accumulated rotation number calculating section calculates
rotation numbers per unit time at a predetermined time interval and
calculates an accumulated rotation number on the basis of a sum of
products of the rotation numbers and the predetermined time.
3. The electronic device according to claim 1, comprising: a reset
section which resets the accumulated rotation number and the
warning in response to a manual operation.
4. The electronic device according to claim 1, comprising: at least
one of a power source cord which can be freely connected to an
external power source and a detachable battery; and a reset section
which resets the accumulated rotation number and the warning in
response to connection of at least one of the power source cord and
the battery after both the power source cord and the battery are
temporarily disconnected.
5. A program storage medium in which a program executed in an
electronic apparatus with a fan built therein to perform
air-cooling by an air flow generated by rotation of the fan is
stored, the program storage medium storing the program which causes
the electronic apparatus to operate as an apparatus comprising: an
accumulated rotation number calculating section which calculates an
accumulated rotation number of the fan; a determining section which
determines whether the accumulated rotation number calculated by
the accumulated rotation number calculation section exceeds a
predetermined threshold value; and a warning section which gives a
warning in response to a determination result that the accumulated
rotation number exceeds the predetermined threshold value, the
determination result being obtained by the determining section.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a an electronic device
which is cooled by an air flow generated by rotation of a built-in
fan and a program storage medium in which a program executed by the
electronic device is stored.
[0003] 2. Background Art
[0004] In a conventional art, when a heat-generating part which
generates heat with operation must be mounted in an electronic
device, position arrangement of the heat-generating part in the
electronic device is schemed, or, if the cooling is not satisfied
by scheming the position arrangement, the heat-generating part is
cooled by an air flow generated around the heat-generating
part.
[0005] For example, in an electronic device such as a server or a
personal computer, heat generation from an LSI (Large Scale
Integration: large-scale integrated circuit) constituting the
circuit of a CPU is high. The upper-limit temperature of operation
guarantee is not too high, for example, about 95.degree. C. When
the LSI strongly generates heat, the operation of the LSI becomes
unstable, or the LSI may be damaged by heat to make the electronic
device nonusable. Some LSI has a function of degrading the
performance to suppress further heat generation when the LSI
generates heat to a predetermined temperature. In order to maintain
the performance of an LSI and avoid damage, a cooling
heat-radiating fin is attached to the LSI, and a fan is arranged in
the electronic device. An air flow is generated by the fan to
air-cool the LSI.
[0006] As such a fan, a fan which blows air out of an electronic
device through an exhaust port arranged on the housing of the
electronic device or a fan which blows air into an electronic
device through an intake port arranged on the housing of the
electronic device are known. In addition, an electronic device in
which a filter which removes foreign matter such as dust or dirt in
air passing through an exhaust port or an intake port is arranged
on the exhaust port or the intake port is known.
[0007] However, even though such a filter is arranged on the
exhaust port or the intake port, if foreign matter is collected on
the filter to clog the filter, it is difficult to generate
necessary, sufficient air flow in air-cooling by the fan. For this
reason, a heat-radiating part is damaged by heat, or the
heat-radiating part excessively generates heat, so that the
heat-radiating part may take fire. Therefore, it is necessary to
clean the filter regularly.
[0008] As a technique related to clean the filter is proposed a
technique which determines whether an accumulation of operation
time for which an electronic device operates exceeds a
predetermined threshold value and which gives a warning aiming at
urging a user to clean the filter in response to a determination
result that the accumulated operation time exceeds the threshold
value (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
3-8407).
[0009] As a technique related to cleaning of a filter, for example,
the following technique is also proposed. That is, a rate of a
change in an in-device temperature measured by changing a rotating
speed of the fan in a cleaned filter state is recorded and stored
in advance. In this state, when start of detection of filter
clogging is designated according to an operation, the rotating
speed of the fan is changed, and the in-device temperature is
measured. A change rate of the in-device temperature is calculated
on the basis of the measured temperature, and the calculated change
rate and the change rate of the in-device temperature recorded and
stored in advance are compared with each other to determine the
necessity of filter cleaning. In response to a determination result
that the filter cleaning is necessary, the necessity of the filter
cleaning is displayed (for example, see Japanese Patent Application
Laid-open No. 2-64329).
[0010] According to the technique proposed by Japanese Patent
Application Laid-open No. 3-8407, since a filter may be cleaned
when a warning aiming at urging a user to clean the filter is
given, the user can know time for cleaning without being conscious
of the time for cleaning of the filter in use of an electronic
device, and the filter can be periodically cleaned.
[0011] In this case, as a fan mounted on an electronic device, a
fan which repeats rotation and stop depending on a temperature of a
heat-generating part and the rotation speed of which changes as
needed in rotation is generally used. However, in the technique
proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 3-8407, time
for cleaning of a filter is determined depending on only operation
time of the electronic device. For this reason, the technique can
cope with an electronic device in which a fan which always rotates
at a predetermined rotating speed is arranged. However, when the
technique is applied to an electronic device in which a fan which
repeats rotation and stop depending on a temperature of a
heat-generating part and the rotating speed of which changes as
needed in rotation is arranged, correct time for cleaning of the
filter cannot be determined, disadvantageously.
[0012] According to the technique proposed by Japanese Patent
Application Laid-open No. 2-64329, when detection of filter
clogging is designed depending on an operation, a user can be
automatically notified of a determination whether the filter must
be cleaned. For this reason, even an ordinary user except for a
maintenance people can know the necessity of filter cleaning.
[0013] However, in the technique proposed in Japanese Patent
Application Laid-open No. 2-64329, since determination whether the
filter must be cleaned is executed depending on an operation of
designating detection of filter clogging, when a state in which the
operation is not executed continues for a long period of time,
foreign matter is collected on the filter without notifying a user
of the necessity of the filter cleaning, and the filter may be
clogged. As a result, it is difficult to generate an air flow
necessary and sufficient for air-cooling by a fan. A
heat-generating part may be damaged by heat, or the heat-generating
part may excessively generate heat to take fire.
[0014] Furthermore, in the technique proposed by Japanese Patent
Application Laid-open No. 2-64329, at an environmental temperature
at which an out-of-device temperature (to be referred to as an
environmental temperature hereinafter) obtained when a change rate
of an in-device temperature recorded and stored in advance is
measured and an environmental temperature obtained when a change
rate of an in-device temperature calculated depending on an
operation are almost equal to each other, the necessity of filter
cleaning is correctly determined. However, at an environmental
temperature at which the environmental temperatures are
considerably different from each other, the change rate calculated
depending on the operation is influenced by the difference between
the environmental temperatures. In such a determination result
using the change rate, the necessity of filter cleaning may not be
correctly determined.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present invention has been made in view of the above
circumstances and provides an electronic device which can correctly
and reliably notify a user of time for cleaning of a fan itself
arranged on the electronic device or time for cleaning of a filter
arranged in an exhaust port or an intake port of the electronic
device and a program storage medium in which a program which gives
the function to the electronic device is stored.
[0016] According to the present invention, there is provided an
electronic device in which a fan is built to perform air-cooling by
an air flow generated by rotation of the fan, including:
[0017] an accumulated rotation number calculating section which
calculates an accumulated rotation number of the fan;
[0018] a determining section which determines whether the
accumulated rotation number calculated by the accumulated rotation
number calculating section exceeds a predetermined threshold value;
and
[0019] a warning section which gives a warning in response to a
determination result that the accumulated rotation number exceeds
the threshold value, the determination result being obtained by the
determination section.
[0020] In this case, the fan arranged in the electronic device
generally repeats rotation and stop depending on a temperature of a
heat-generating part mounted in the electronic device, and a
rotating speed of the fan changes as needed in rotation. Therefore,
a cumulative amount of foreign matter such as dust or dirt
collected on a filter arranged on an exhaust port or an intake port
of the electronic device is in proportion to a total volume of an
air flow generated by the fan, i.e., the accumulated rotation
number of the fan.
[0021] The electronic device according to the present invention
determines whether the calculated accumulated rotation number of
the fan exceeds the predetermined threshold value and gives a
warning in response to the determination result that the
accumulated rotation number exceeds the threshold value. Therefore,
according to the electronic device of the present invention, since
the warning is given on the basis of the accumulated rotation
number being in proportion to the cumulative amount of foreign
matter collected on the fan itself or the filter, time for cleaning
of the fan itself or the filter can be correctly and reliably
notified.
[0022] In this case, in the electronic device according to the
present invention,
[0023] it is preferable that
[0024] "the fan outputs a pulse signal synchronized with rotation
of the fan, and
[0025] the accumulated rotation number calculating section
calculates rotation numbers per unit time at a predetermined time
interval and calculates an accumulated rotation number on the basis
of a sum of products of the rotation numbers and the predetermined
time".
[0026] According to the preferable aspect, it is preferable that
the accumulated rotation number is correctly calculated.
[0027] The electronic device according to the present invention
preferable includes a reset section which resets the accumulated
rotation number and the warning in response to a manual
operation.
[0028] According to the preferable embodiment, the accumulated
rotation number and the warning are reset upon completion of
cleaning of the fan itself or the filter, so that the warning is
preferably given when foreign matter is collected on the cleaned
fan itself or the cleaned filter again.
[0029] Furthermore, the electronic device according to the present
invention includes
[0030] "at least one of a power source cord which can be freely
connected to an external power source and a detachable battery,
and
[0031] a reset section which resets the accumulated rotation number
and the warning in response to connection of at least one of the
power source cord and the battery after both the power source cord
and the battery are temporarily disconnected".
[0032] In this case, when the fan itself or the filter is cleaned,
the electronic device must be generally decomposed. For this
reason, it is very dangerous that a cleaning operation is not
started after both the power source cord and the battery are
disconnected.
[0033] According to the electronic device including the reset
device, for example, for example, the warning section gives a
warning having a content that "Please turn off the power of the
system and clean the fan and the filter while disconnecting the AC
adaptor and the battery from the system". According to the warning,
the fan itself or the filter are cleaned to make it possible to
safely perform a cleaning operation.
[0034] According to the electronic device including the-reset
section, in response to reconnection of at least the power source
cord and the battery, the accumulated rotation number and the
warning are reset. For this reason, it is more preferable that a
warning is given when foreign matter is collected on the cleaned
fan itself or the cleaned filter without performing an operation
except for the reconnection.
[0035] The electronic device-according to the present invention is
operated as an electronic device having the above functions by
executing the program of the present invention. An operation effect
obtained by the program of the present invention is as the same as
described above.
[0036] According to the present invention, there is provided an
electronic device which correctly and reliably notifies a user of
time for cleaning of a fan itself arranged on the electronic device
and time for cleaning of a filter arranged on an exhaust port or an
intake port of the electronic device and a storage medium in which
a program which gives the function to the electronic device is
stored.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a first
embodiment of a notebook PC to which an embodiment of an electronic
device according to the present invention is applied;
[0038] FIG. 2 is a software block diagram of the notebook PC
according to the first embodiment, the appearance of the notebook
PC 10 being shown in FIG. 1;
[0039] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a main part serving to perform
an operation of urging a user to clean a on the basis of an
accumulated rotation number calculated by the CPU shown in FIG.
2;
[0040] FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining a flow of operations
performed from when the fan arranged in the main-body unit is
rotated to when the rotation number per unit time of the fan is
temporarily stored;
[0041] FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining a flow of operations
performed from when the rotation numbers per unit time temporarily
stored in the temporary storing region are read to when a warning
of fan cleaning is given to reset the accumulated rotation
number.
[0042] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a warning window
displayed on a display screen;
[0043] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of main parts which serves to
perform a reset operation of the accumulated rotation number and
the warning when at least of an AC adaptor and a battery is
connected after both the AC adaptor and the battery are temporarily
disconnected;
[0044] FIG. 8 is a hardware block diagram of the second embodiment
of the notebook PC the appearance of which is shown in FIG. 1;
[0045] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of main parts serving to perform
an operation of giving a warning aiming at urging a user to clean
the fan 54 on the basis of an accumulated rotation number
calculated by an accumulated rotation number calculating
section;
[0046] FIG. 10 is a flow chart for explaining a flow of operations
performed from when the fan mounted in the main-body unit is
rotated to when the accumulated rotation number of the fan is
stored in the accumulated rotation number calculating section;
and
[0047] FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of operations
performed from when an accumulated rotation number stored in an
EEPROM is read to when a warning to clean a fan is given to reset
the accumulated rotation number.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0048] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0049] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a first
embodiment of a notebook personal computer (to be referred to as a
"notebook PC" hereinafter) 10 to which an embodiment of the present
invention is applied.
[0050] The notebook PC 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a main-body unit
20 and a display section 30. The main-body unit 20 and the display
section 30 are connected by a connecting section 40 such that the
display section 30 is openable/closable with respect to the
main-body unit 20 in a direction of an arrow A-A. In FIG. 1 shows a
notebook PC in a state in which the display section 30 is opened
with respect to the main-body unit 20.
[0051] In the main-body unit 20, on the upper surface, a keyboard
21, a track pad 22, a left-click button 23, a right-click button
24, and an engagement section 25 which engages the display section
30 when the display section 30 is closed are arranged. On side
surfaces of the main-body unit 20, a side surface 26 of an optical
disk drive on which an optical disk such as a CD or a DVD is loaded
to access the optical disk and an opening/closing lid 27 of an MO
drive on which an MO is loaded to access the MO are exposed to the
outer surface of main-body unit 20.
[0052] In the display section 30 of the notebook PC 10, a large
display screen 31 spreads on the front surface. A fastening section
32 which is engaged with the engagement section 25 of the main-body
unit 20 when the display section 30 is closed is arranged above the
display screen 31.
[0053] FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram of the notebook PC 10
according to the first embodiment, the appearance of the notebook
PC 10 being shown in FIG. 1.
[0054] In the hardware block diagram shown in FIG. 2, a hard disk
controller 111, an keyboard controller 115, an optical disk drive
113, a track pad controller 114, a keyboard controller 115, a
display controller 116, a fan control section 117, a rotation
number calculating section 118, a CPU 119, a main memory 120, an
EEPROM 121, and a power source management section 122 are shown.
These components are connected to each other by a bus 110.
[0055] The hard disk controller 111 is a constituent element which
serves to access a hard disk 51 built in the notebook PC 10. In the
hard disk 51, an OS (operating system) executed in the notebook PC
10 and various application programs are stored.
[0056] The MO drive 112 serves to access an MO 52 loaded from the
opening/closing lid 27 shown in FIG. 1. The optical disk drive 113
serves to access a loaded optical disk 53.
[0057] The track pad controller 114, the keyboard controller 115,
and the display controller 116 serve to detect an operation of a
track pad 22 (including the left-click button 23 and the
right-click button 24), to detect an operation of the keyboard 21,
and to control screen display on the display screen 31.
[0058] The fan control section 117 serves to control rotation of
the fan 54 arranged in the main-body unit 20, and the rotation
number calculating section 118 serves to calculate a rotation
number per unit time of the fan 54. The rotation number calculating
section 118 has a temporary storing region 1181 which temporarily
stores the calculated rotation number per unit time.
[0059] Furthermore, the CPU 119 serves to read various programs
stored in the hard disk 51, to develop the programs on the main
memory 120, and to execute the various programs developed on the
main memory 120. The CPU 119 serves to read a rotation number per
unit time temporarily stored in the temporary storing region 1181
in the rotation number calculating section 118 and to calculate an
accumulated rotation number. The CPU 119 is a circuit part with
high heat generation in operation. The CPU 119 is air-cooled as
needed such that an air flow is generated around the CPU 119 by the
fan 54. The combination of the CPU 119 and the rotation number
calculating section 118 corresponds to an example of the
accumulated rotation number calculating section according to the
present invention. The notebook PC 10 gives a warning on the basis
of the accumulated rotation number calculated by the CPU 119 to
urge a user to clean the fan 54. Details related to the warning of
the fan cleaning will be described later.
[0060] In the main memory 120, the programs are developed as
described above, and various data in execution of the programs in
the CPU 119 are stored.
[0061] In the EEPROM 121, the accumulated rotation number
calculated by the CPU 119 is written by the CPU 119 as needed and
overwritten in a nonvolatile manner. In the EEPROM 121, a
predetermined threshold value is stored in advance.
[0062] The power source management section 122 manages a power
source function of the notebook PC 10 and monitors a charging state
of a battery 55 detachably connected to the main-body unit 20 and
input power from the AC adaptor 56 which can be freely connected to
an external power source to control selection of a power source or
a charging state of the battery 55. The battery 55 corresponds to
an example of the battery according to the present invention, and
the AC adaptor 56 corresponds to an example of the power source
cord according to the present invention.
[0063] In this case, a characteristic feature of an embodiment of
the present invention in the notebook PC 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2
is an operation of urging a user to clean the fan 54 on the basis
of the accumulated rotation number calculated by the CPU 119 shown
in FIG. 2. The operation will be further concretely described below
in detail.
[0064] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a main part serving to perform
an operation of urging a user to clean the fan 54 on the basis of
the accumulated rotation number calculated by the CPU 119 shown in
FIG. 2.
[0065] In FIG. 3, of the parts built in the main-body unit 20, the
fan 54, the fan control section 117, the rotation number
calculating section 118, the temporary storing region 1181, the CPU
119, and the EEPROM 121 are shown. A filter 541 which removes
foreign matter such as dirt or dust in air passing through an
exhaust port or an intake port (not shown) is arranged in the
exhaust port or the intake port.
[0066] The fan 54 repeats rotation and stop depending on a
temperature of the CPU 119. The rotation of the fan 54 is
controlled by the fan control section 117 such that the rotation
number changes in rotation as needed. The fan 54 outputs a pulse
signal (2 pulses a rotation) synchronized with the rotation of the
fan 54 to the rotation number calculating section 118.
[0067] The rotation number calculating section 118 calculates
rotation numbers per unit time at a predetermined time interval on
the basis of the pulse signal output from the fan 54 and
temporarily stores the calculated rotation numbers per unit time in
the temporary storing region 1181 in the rotation number
calculating section 118.
[0068] The CPU 119, as described above, is a circuit part with high
heat generation in operation. The CPU 119 most requires to be
cooled since the upper-limit temperature of the operation guarantee
is about 95.degree. C. For this reason, the fan 54 is arranged at
such a position that the CPU 119 is concentrically cooled.
[0069] The CPU 119 reads rotation numbers per unit time temporarily
stored in the temporary storing region 1181 in the rotation number
calculating section 118 at predetermined time intervals. On the
basis of a sum of products of the rotation numbers and the
predetermined time, an accumulated rotation number is
calculated.
[0070] The CPU 119 writes the accumulated rotation number
calculated as described above on the EEPROM 121 as needed and
overwritten in a nonvolatile manner.
[0071] The CPU 119 determines whether the accumulated rotation
number stored in the EEPROM 121 exceeds a predetermined threshold
value stored in the EEPROM 121 in advance. The CPU 119 corresponds
to an example of a deciding section according to the present
invention.
[0072] Furthermore, in response to a decision result that the
accumulated rotation number exceeds the threshold value, the CPU
119 gives a designation signal according to a designation which
displays a warning aiming at to urging a user to clean the fan 54
on the display screen 31 to the display controller 116 (see FIG.
2). The designation signal is given to the display controller 116,
the display controller 116 displays the warning aiming at urging a
user to clean the fan 54 on the display screen 31. The CPU 119, the
display controller 116, and the display screen 31 corresponds to an
example of the warning section according to the present
invention.
[0073] FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining a flow of operations
performed from when the fan 54 arranged in the main-body unit 20 is
rotated to when the rotation number per unit time of the fan 54 is
temporarily stored in the rotation number calculating section
118.
[0074] The operations described in the flow charts shown in FIG. 4
are started such that the notebook PC 10 to which the battery 55 is
connected and the AC adaptor 56 connected to an external power
source is connected as needed is driven, the CPU 119 generates a
heat at a predetermined temperature or higher, and the fan 54
rotationally controlled by the fan control section 117 depending on
the temperature of the CPU 119 is rotated.
[0075] A pulse signal (2 pulses a rotation) synchronized with the
rotation of the fan 54 is input (step S11).
[0076] On the basis of the pulse signal input in step S11, rotation
numbers per unit time are calculated at a predetermined time
interval (step S12).
[0077] The rotation numbers per time unit calculated in step S12
are temporarily stored in the temporary storing region 1181 in the
rotation number calculating section 118 (step S13).
[0078] Hereinafter, the operations in steps S11 to S13 are
repeatedly executed.
[0079] FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining a flow of operations
performed from when the rotation numbers per unit time temporarily
stored in the temporary storing region 1181 are read to when a
warning of fan cleaning is given to reset the accumulated rotation
number.
[0080] The operations explained in the flow chart shown in FIG. 5
are started by accessing the temporary storing region 1181 in the
rotation number calculating section 118 at a predetermined time
interval.
[0081] The rotation numbers per unit time temporarily stored in the
temporary storing region 1181 are read at a predetermined interval
(step S21).
[0082] An accumulated rotation number is calculated on the basis of
a sum of products of the rotation numbers read in step S21 and the
predetermined time (step S22).
[0083] The accumulated rotation number calculated in step S22 is
written in the EEPROM 121 as needed and overwritten in the EEPROM
121 in a nonvolatile manner (step S23).
[0084] It is determined whether the accumulated rotation number
stored in the EEPROM 121 in step S104 exceeds a predetermined
threshold value stored in the EEPROM 121 in advance (step S24).
[0085] When the result obtained by the determination in step S105
is a determination result that the accumulated rotation number
exceeds the threshold value (step S24: Yes), a designation signal
according to the designation for displaying a warning aiming at to
urging a user to clean the fan 54 on the display screen 31 is given
to the display controller 116 (see FIG. 2) in response to the
decision result, and displays a warning window 311 (will be
described later) on the display screen 31 (step S25).
[0086] When the determination result obtained in step S105 is a
decision result that the accumulated rotation number is less than
the threshold value (step S24: No), the operations shown in the
flow chart are ended.
[0087] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the warning window
311 displayed on the display screen 31.
[0088] When the designation signal is given to the display
controller 116 by the CPU 119 in step S25 (see FIG. 5), as shown in
FIG. 6, the warning window 311 such as "Please turn off the power
of the system and clean the fan and the filter while temporarily
disconnecting the AC adaptor and the battery from the system" to
urge a user to clean the fan 54 is on the display screen 31.
[0089] When the fan 54 and the filter 541 are to be cleaned, the
electronic device must be discomposed, it is very dangerous to
start a cleaning operation without temporarily disconnecting both
the AC adaptor 56 and the battery 55. Therefore, the warning having
the contents displayed on the warning window 311 shown in FIG. 6 is
given, and the fan 54 and the filter 541 are cleaned according to
the warning, so that the cleaning operation can be safely
performed.
[0090] Returning to FIG. 5, the explanation of the flow chart is
continued.
[0091] After the warning window 311 which urges a user to clean the
fan 54 is displayed on the display screen 31 in step S25, in
response to a connection of at least one of the AC adaptor 56 and
the battery 55 after both the AC adaptor 56 and the battery 55 are
disconnected, the accumulated rotation number stored in the EEPROM
121 is reset, and a designation signal according to a designation
for closing the warning window 311 (see FIG. 6) displayed on the
display screen 31 in step S25 is given to the display controller
116 (see FIG. 2) to close the warning window 311 (see FIG. 6) (step
S26).
[0092] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of main parts which serves to
perform a reset operation of the accumulated rotation number and
the warning when at least of the AC adaptor 56 and the battery 55
is connected after both the AC adaptor 56 and the battery 55 are
temporarily disconnected.
[0093] In FIG. 7, of the parts built in the main-body unit 20, the
AC adaptor 56, the battery 55, a PMU_VCC 1221, a PMU 1222, and the
CPU 119 are shown. A combination of the PMU_VCC 1221 and the PMU
1222 corresponds to the power source management section 122 shown
in FIG. 2.
[0094] To the PMU_VCC 1221, power is always supplied from the AC
adaptor 56 or the battery 55 electrically connected to the notebook
PC 10 regardless of the ON/OFF state of the power switch of the
notebook PC 10.
[0095] The PMU 1222 is to manage a power source function of the
notebook PC 10. The power source management section 122 monitors a
charging state of the battery 55 detachably connected to the
main-body unit 20 or input power from the AC adaptor 56 which can
be connected to an external power source to control selection of
power source or a charging state of the battery 55. Since power is
supplied to the PMU 1222 from the PMU_VCC 1221 to which power is
always supplied from the AC adaptor 56 or the battery 55, when the
AC adaptor 56 or the battery 55 is electrically connected to the
notebook PC 10, the notebook PC 10 always operates regardless of
the ON/OFF state of the power switch of the notebook PC 10.
[0096] Therefore, when both the AC adaptor 56 and the battery 55
are disconnected in step S26 (see FIG. 5), with power off to the
PMU_VCC 1221, power to the PMU 1222 operated by power from the
PMU_VCC 1221 is stopped.
[0097] When at least one of the AC adaptor 56 and the battery 55 is
connected after both the AC adaptor 56 and the battery 55 are
temporarily disconnected in step S26 (see FIG. 5), power is
supplied from the connected AC adaptor 56 or the connected battery
55 to the PMU_VCC 1221, and power is supplied from the PMU_VCC 1221
to the PMU 1222. The PMU 1222 recognizes that the AC adaptor 56 or
the battery 55 is connected to the notebook PC 10 again.
[0098] When the recognition is performed by the PMU 1222, the CPU
119 resets the accumulated rotation number stored in the EEPROM 121
in step S23 (see FIG. 5), and a designation signal according to a
designation for closing the warning window 311 (see FIG. 6)
displayed on the display screen 31 in step S25 (see FIG. 5) is
given to the display controller 116 (see FIG. 2) to close the
warning window 311 (see FIG. 6). The CPU 119 corresponds to an
example of the reset section according to the present
invention.
[0099] As described above, in the notebook PC 10 according to the
first embodiment, the rotation number calculating section 118
calculates rotation numbers per unit time on the basis of pulse
signals, the CPU 119 calculates an accumulated rotation number on
the basis of a sum of products of the rotation numbers read at a
predetermined time interval and the predetermined time, determines
whether the accumulated rotation number exceeds a predetermined
threshold value, and gives a warning aiming at urging a user to
clean the fan 54 in response to the determination result that the
accumulated rotation number exceeds the threshold value. Therefore,
in the notebook PC 10 according to the first embodiment, the
warning is performed on the basis of the accumulated rotation
number which is in proportion to a cumulative amount of foreign
matter collected on the fan 54 or the filter 541, so that time for
cleaning the fan 54 or the filter 541 is correctly and reliably
notified.
[0100] In the notebook PC 10 according to the first embodiment, in
response to reconnection of at least one of the AC adaptor 56 and
the battery 55, the accumulated rotation number and the warning are
reset. For this reason, without performing an operation except for
the reconnection, a warning is given when foreign matter is
collected on the cleaned fan 54 or the cleaned filter 541 again.
For this reason, the notebook PC 10 is more preferable.
[0101] A second embodiment of the present invention will be
described below.
[0102] Since the second embodiment (will be described below) almost
has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment. For
this reason, attention is paid to different points between the
second embodiment and the first embodiment. The same reference
numerals as in the first embodiment denote the same parts in the
second embodiment, and a description thereof is omitted.
[0103] FIG. 8 is a hardware block diagram of the second embodiment
of the notebook PC 10 the appearance of which is shown in FIG.
1.
[0104] In the hardware block diagram shown in FIG. 8, a hard disk
controller 111, an MO drive 112, an optical disk drive 113, a track
pad controller 114, a keyboard controller 115, a display controller
116, a fan control section 117, an accumulated rotation number
calculating section 218, a CPU 119, a main memory 120, and a power
source management section 122. These components are connected to
each other by a bus 110.
[0105] The accumulated rotation number calculating section 218
serves to calculate an accumulated rotation number of the fan 54
arranged in the main-body unit 20. The accumulated rotation number
calculating section 218 corresponds to an example of the
accumulated rotation number calculating section according to the
present invention. The accumulated rotation number calculating
section 218 has an EEPROM 221 in which the calculated accumulated
rotation number is written as needed and overwritten in a
nonvolatile manner. In the EEPROM 221, a predetermined threshold
value is stored in advance. The notebook PC 10 also gives a warning
aiming at urging a user to clean the fan 54 on the basis of the
accumulated rotation number calculated by the accumulated rotation
number calculating section 218. An explanation about the warning of
the fan cleaning will be described later.
[0106] Furthermore, various programs stored in a hard disk 51 are
read and developed on the main memory, and the CPU 119 serves to
execute the various programs developed on the main memory 120.
[0107] In the notebook PC 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, a
characteristic feature of an embodiment of the present invention is
an operation in which a warning aiming at urging a user to clean
the fan 54 on the basis of the accumulated rotation number
calculated by the accumulated rotation number calculating section
218 shown in FIG. 8. The operation will be described below in more
detail.
[0108] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of main parts serving to perform
an operation of giving a warning aiming at urging a user to clean
the fan 54 on the basis of the accumulated rotation number
calculated by the accumulated rotation number calculating section
218.
[0109] In FIG. 9, of the parts built in the main-body unit 20, the
fan 54, a filter 541, the fan control section 117, the accumulated
rotation number calculating section 218, the EEPROM 221, and the
CPU 119 are shown.
[0110] The accumulated rotation number calculating section 218
calculates rotation numbers per unit time at a predetermined time
interval on the basis of pulse signals output from the fan 54 and
calculates an accumulated rotation number on the basis of a sum of
products of the rotation numbers and the predetermined time.
[0111] The accumulated rotation number calculating section 218
writes the calculated accumulated rotation number in the EEPROM 221
in the accumulated rotation number calculating section 218 as
needed. The calculated accumulated rotation number is overwritten
and stored in a nonvolatile manner. A predetermined threshold value
is set and stored in the EEPROM 221 through a BUS in advance.
[0112] The CPU 119 monitors and determines as needed by an Alert
output whether the accumulated rotation number calculated by the
accumulated rotation number calculating section 218 and stored in
the EEPROM 221 exceeds the predetermined threshold value stored in
the EEPROM 221 in advance. The CPU 119 corresponds to an example of
the determining section according to the present invention.
[0113] FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of operations
performed from when the fan 54 mounted in the main-body unit 20 is
rotated to when the accumulated rotation number of the fan 54 is
stored in the accumulated rotation number calculating section
218.
[0114] The operations explained in the flow chart shown in FIG. 10
is started so that the notebook PC 10 to which the battery 55 is
connected and the AC adaptor 56 connected to an external power
source is connected as needed is driven, the CPU 119 generates a
heat at a predetermined temperature or higher, and the fan 54
rotationally controlled by the fan control section 117 depending on
the temperature of the CPU 119 is rotated.
[0115] A pulse signal (2 pulses a rotation) synchronized with the
rotation of the fan 54 is input (step S31).
[0116] On the basis of the pulse signal input in step S31, rotation
numbers per unit time are calculated at a predetermined time
interval (step S32).
[0117] An accumulated rotation number is calculated on the basis of
a sum of products of the rotation numbers per unit time calculated
in step S32 and the predetermined time (step S33)
[0118] The accumulated rotation number calculated in step S33 is
written in the EEPROM 221 in the accumulated rotation number
calculating section 218 as needed and overwritten and stored in a
nonvolatile manner (step S34).
[0119] Hereinafter, the operations in steps S31 to S34 are
repeatedly executed.
[0120] FIG. 11 is a flow chart for explaining a flow of operations
performed from when the accumulated rotation number stored in the
EEPROM 221 is read to when a warning to clean a fan is given to
reset the accumulated rotation number in the CPU 119.
[0121] The operations explained in the flow chart shown in FIG. 11
are started by accessing the EEPROM 221 in the accumulated rotation
number calculating section 218 at a predetermined time
interval.
[0122] The accumulated rotation number stored in the EEPROM 221 is
read at a predetermined time interval (step S41).
[0123] It is determined whether the accumulated rotation number
read in step S41 exceeds a predetermined threshold value stored in
the EEPROM 221 in advance (step S42).
[0124] When the determination result obtained by the determination
in step S42 is a determination result that the accumulated rotation
number exceeds the threshold value (step S42: Yes), a designation
signal according to a designation for displaying a warning aiming
at urging a user to clean the fan 54 on the display screen 31 is
given to the display controller 116 (see FIG. 8) in response to the
decision result, and displays a warning window 311 (see FIG. 6) is
displayed on the display screen 31 (step S43)
[0125] When the determination result obtained in step S42 is a
determination result that the accumulated rotation number is less
than the threshold value (step S42: No), in response to the
determination result, the operations shown in the flow chart are
ended.
[0126] After the warning window 311 ( see FIG.6 ) which urges a
user to clean the fan 54 is displayed on the display screen 31 in
step S43, in response to a connection of at least one of the AC
adaptor 56 and the battery 55 after both the AC adaptor 56 and the
battery 55 are disconnected, the accumulated rotation number stored
in the EEPROM 221 is reset, and a designation signal according to a
designation for closing the warning window 311 (see FIG. 6)
displayed on the display screen 31 is given to the display
controller 116 (see FIG. 8) to close the warning window 311 (see
FIG. 6) (step S44).
[0127] As described above, the notebook PC 10 according to the
second embodiment determines whether the accumulated rotation
number of the fan 54 calculated by the accumulated rotation number
calculating section 218 exceeds the predetermined threshold value
and gives a warning aiming at urging a user to clean the fan 54 in
response to the determination result that the accumulated rotation
number exceeds the threshold value. According to the notebook PC 10
of the second embodiment, a warning is given on the basis of the
accumulated rotation number which is in proportion to a cumulative
amount of foreign matter collected on the fan 54 or the filter 541.
For this reason, time for cleaning the fan 54 or the filter 541 is
correctly and reliably notified.
[0128] In each of the embodiments, the example in which a notebook
PC is used as an electronic device according to the present
invention is described. However, the present invention is not
limited to the notebook PC. The present invention can be applied to
any type of electronic device in which air-cooling is performed by
an air flow generated by rotation of a fan built in the electronic
device.
[0129] In each of the embodiments, the example in which the warning
section displays an image expressing a warning on a display screen
to perform a warning is described. However, the warning section
according to the present invention is not limited to the warning
section described here. For example, a warning section or the like
which gives a warning by a warning lamp or warning sound may be
used.
[0130] In each of the embodiments, the example, the power source
cord according to the present invention is an AC adaptor is
explained. However, the power source cord according to the present
invention is not limited to the power source cord described here.
Any power source cord which can be connected to an external power
source may be used.
[0131] In each of the embodiments, the example in which the reset
section according to the present invention resets an accumulated
rotation number and a warning in response to connection of at least
one of the AC adaptor and the battery after both the AC adaptor and
the battery are disconnected is explained. However, the reset
section according to the present invention is not limited to the
reset section described here. For example, a reset section which
resets the accumulated rotation number and the warning in response
to a manual operation such as a keyboard operation may be used.
* * * * *