Wireless Remote-control Cooler Assembly For Motherboard

Abstract

A wireless remote-control cooler assembly adapted to be used with a motherboard include a fan, and a circuit unit electrically connected with the fan and adapted to be electrically connected with the motherboard for obtaining power supply from the motherboard. A first signal transceiver module is electrically connected to the circuit unit and provided with a first transmitter for transmitting a feedback signal indicating the operation status of the fan, and a first receiver. A second signal transceiver module is adapted to be electrically connected to the motherboard and provided with a second receiver for receiving the feedback signal, and a second transmitter for transmitting a control signal to the first receiver to regulate the operation status of the fan via the circuit unit.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to computer hardwares and more particularly, to a wireless remote-control cooler assembly for a motherboard.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] According to conventional techniques, the cooling of a motherboard is done by means of mounting at least one fan at a boarder of the motherboard and/or at a location adjacent to a specific chip set on the motherboard and then electrically connecting each fan to the motherboard with multiple electric wires through which the motherboard provides power supply to each fan and controls the operation of each fan to cause air current for carrying heat energy away from the motherboard.

[0005] In the aforesaid arrangement, the electric wires that connect each fan to the motherboard constitute a control loop for enabling the motherboard to control the operation of each fan. Under the condition of being not modify the layout design of the circuit board, the fan can only be installed at the border of the motherboard or at a specifically assigned location. This design does not provide flexibility to the fan installation. It enables the air current to flow only in a limited space area of the motherboard. Therefore, this design cannot achieve the best optimal heat dissipation effect.

[0006] Further, when multiple fans are installed to provide enhanced heat dissipation efficiency, the arrangement of the complicated electric wiring greatly increases the cost. Arranging a big number of electric wires in the same work space affects flowing of air current and lowers the heat dissipating efficiency. In other words, increasing the number of fans cannot effectively eliminate the problem of poor dispersion of heat energy in the center area of the motherboard. Further, the arrangement of a big number of electric wires complicates the mechanics inspection or dismounting operation, making the maintenance work difficult.

[0007] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a cooler assembly for motherboard that eliminates the aforesaid problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above-noted circumstances. It is therefore one objective of the present invention to provide a wireless remote-control cooler assembly for a motherboard, which can be installed on a motherboard subject to actual heat dissipation requirement, improving the heat dissipation effect.

[0009] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a wireless remote-control cooler assembly for a motherboard, which can save wiring consumption, and facilitate inspection and dismounting operation during a maintenance work.

[0010] To achieve these objectives of the present invention, the wireless remote-control cooler assembly adapted to be used with a motherboard comprises a fan, a circuit unit electrically connected with the fan and adapted to be electrically connected with the motherboard for obtaining power supply from the motherboard, a first signal transceiver module electrically connected with the circuit unit, and a second signal transceiver module adapted to be electrically connected with the motherboard. The first signal transceiver module includes a receiver. The second signal transceiver module comprises a transmitter for transmitting a control signal to the receiver of the first signal transceiver module to regulate the operation status of the fan through the circuit unit.

[0011] By means of the aforesaid arrangement, the wireless remote-control cooler assembly of the present invention can be installed on the motherboard at any suitable location subject to actual heat dissipation requirement, for example, the center area of the motherboard. Therefore, the invention eliminates the drawback of installation limitation of the prior art. Further, the invention saves wiring consumption, simplifying the arrangement of wiring, and facilitating inspection and dismounting operation during maintenance work.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention to be detailedly described hereinafter, the first signal transceiver module further includes a transmitter for transmitting a feedback signal indicating the operation status of the fan, and the second signal transceiver further includes a receiver for receiving the feedback signal from the transmitter of the first signal transceiver. In addition, the circuit unit includes a circuit board having a plug terminal adapted to be electrically connected to a power socket of the motherboard for obtaining power supply from the motherboard. Further, a mounting frame is used to secure the circuit unit and the fan together; a bus line is used to electrically connect the circuit unit with the fan in a short distance.

[0013] Preferably, the control signal and the feedback signal are transmitted by means of one of the techniques of infrared ray, radio frequency and bluetooth. In addition, the control signal is preferably a pulse width modulation signal for controlling the circuit unit to regulate the rotational speed of the fan.

[0014] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0015] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wireless remote-control cooler assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the wireless remote-control cooler assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and

[0018] FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of the wireless remote-control cooler assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a wireless remote-control cooler assembly 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising a fan 20, a circuit unit 30, a first signal transceiver module 40, and a second signal transceiver module 50. As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless remote-control module 10 is used with a motherboard 60.

[0020] The fan 20 is a conventional DC electric fan. Therefore, no further detailed description in this regard is necessary.

[0021] The circuit unit 30 includes a printed circuit board provided at a bottom thereof with a plug terminal 32 connectable to a power socket 62 of the motherboard 60 for obtaining power supply from the motherboard 60. The circuit unit 30 is coupled to the fan 20 by a mounting frame 33, and electrically connected to the fan 20 by means of a bus line 34 in a short distance for controlling on/off status of the fan 20.

[0022] The first signal transceiver module 40 is electrically connected to the circuit unit 30 and provided with a first transmitter 42 and a first receiver 44. The first signal transceiver module 40 detects the operation status of the fan 20 through the circuit unit 30 and transmits a feedback signal carrying the information of the detected operation status of the fans 20 out of the first transceiver module 40 through the first transmitter 42. The feedback signal contains at least, but not limited to, the information relating to the rotational speed of the fan 20. According to this embodiment, the feedback is transmitted, but not limited to, by means of infrared rays. That is, the feedback signal can be transmitted by means of infrared rays, radio frequency, or bluetooth technique in practice.

[0023] The second signal transceiver module 50 is adapted to be electrically connected to and mechanically mounted on the motherboard 60. The second signal transceiver module 50 includes a second transmitter 52 and a second receiver 54. The second receiver 54 is adapted for receiving the feedback signal from the first transmitter 42 and transmitting it to the motherboard 60, enabling the motherboard 60 to monitor the rotational speed of the fan 20. When regulating the rotational speed of the fan 20, the motherboard 60 drives the second transmitter 52 to transmit a control signal to the first receiver 44 of the first transceiver module 40, controlling the circuit unit 30 to regulate the rotational speed of the fan 20. The control signal is a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal for controlling the circuit unit 30 to regulate the rotational speed of the fan 20, thereby changing the operation status of the fan 20. According to this embodiment, the control signal is transmitted, but not limited to, by means of infrared rays. As will be however appreciated, the control signal can be transmitted by means of infrared rays, radio frequency, or bluetooth technique.

[0024] During the operation of the fan 20, the first signal transceiver module 40 transmits a feedback signal to the second signal receiver module 50 at the motherboard 60 so that the motherboard 60 can control the operation of the fan 20 subject to the information carried in the feedback signal. When it is necessary to change of the rotational speed of the fan 20 in regulating the heat dissipation performance, the motherboard 60 drives the second signal transceiver module 50 to transmit a control signal to the first signal transceiver module 40, causing the circuit unit 30 to regulate the rotational speed of the fan 20, and therefore the heat dissipation efficiency is relatively regulated.

[0025] As indicated above, the wireless remote-control cooler assembly of the present invention can be installed on the motherboard 60 at any location subject to actual heat dissipation requirement, for example, the center area of the motherboard 60. Therefore, the invention eliminates the drawback of installation limitation of the conventional designs. Further, the invention saves wiring consumption, simplifying the arrangement of wiring, and facilitating inspection and dismounting operation during maintenance work.

[0026] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A wireless remote-control cooler assembly adapted to be used with a motherboard, the wireless remote-control cooler assembly comprising: a fan; a circuit unit electrically connected with the fan and adapted to be electrically connected with the motherboard; a first signal transceiver module electrically connected to the circuit unit and provided with a receiver; and a second signal transceiver module adapted to be electrically connected with the motherboard and provided with a transmitter for transmitting a control signal to the receiver to regulate the operation status of the fan via the circuit unit.

2. The wireless remote-control cooler assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitter transmits the control signal by means of one of the techniques of infrared ray, radio frequency and bluetooth.

3. The wireless remote-control cooler assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first signal transceiver module further comprises a transmitter for transmitting a feedback signal indicating the operation status of the fan; the second signal transceiver further comprises a receiver for receiving the feedback signal from the transmitter of the first signal transceiver.

4. The wireless remote-control cooler assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control signal is a pulse width modulation signal for controlling the circuit unit to regulate the rotational speed of the fan.

5. The wireless remote-control cooler assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit unit includes a circuit board having a plug terminal adapted to be electrically connected to a power socket of the motherboard for obtaining power supply from the motherboard.

6. The wireless remote-control cooler assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a mounting frame that secures the circuit unit and the fan together, and a bus line electrically connecting the circuit unit with the fan.