U.S. patent application number 13/844927 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-22 for fan control device.
This patent application is currently assigned to INVENTEC CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is INVENTEC CORPORATION, INVENTEC (PUDONG) TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Hao-Yen Kuan, Shu-Yen Wang.
Application Number | 20140140847 13/844927 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50728110 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140140847 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wang; Shu-Yen ; et
al. |
May 22, 2014 |
FAN CONTROL DEVICE
Abstract
A fan control device is used for controlling at least one fan.
The fan control device comprises a signal modulation unit and a
shield unit. The signal modulation unit is used for providing a
modulation signal and a duty status signal. The shield unit is
coupled to the signal modulation unit and the at least one fan for
receiving a standby voltage, the duty status signal, and the
modulation signal, as well as for shielding the modulation signal
or transmitting the modulation signal to the at least one fan
according to the standby voltage and the duty status signal.
Inventors: |
Wang; Shu-Yen; (Taipei,
TW) ; Kuan; Hao-Yen; (Taipei, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
INVENTEC (PUDONG) TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
INVENTEC CORPORATION |
Shanghai
Taipei |
|
CN
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
INVENTEC CORPORATION
Taipei
TW
INVENTEC (PUDONG) TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Shanghai
CN
|
Family ID: |
50728110 |
Appl. No.: |
13/844927 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
416/35 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 27/004 20130101;
F04D 25/0613 20130101; F05D 2260/85 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
416/35 |
International
Class: |
F04D 27/00 20060101
F04D027/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 16, 2012 |
CN |
201210465181.6 |
Claims
1. A fan control device for controlling at least one fan, the fan
control device comprising: a signal modulation unit for providing a
modulation signal and a duty status signal; and a shield unit
coupled to the signal modulation unit and the at least one fan for
receiving a standby voltage, the duty status signal, and the
modulation signal, as well as for shielding the modulation signal
or transmitting the modulation signal to the at least one fan
according to the standby voltage and the duty status signal.
2. The fan control device according to claim 1, wherein before the
signal modulation unit finishes an initialization stage, the signal
modulation unit provides the duty status signal at a high logic
level and the modulation signal at the high logic level, and the
shield unit shields the modulation signal of the high logic level
according to the duty status signal of the high logic level.
3. The fan control device according to claim 1, wherein when the
signal modulation unit finishes an initialization stage, the signal
modulation unit provides the duty status signal at a low logic
level and the modulation signal in a pulse form, and the shield
unit transmits the modulation signal in the pulse form to the at
least one fan according to the duty status signal at the low logic
level.
4. The fan control device according to claim 1, wherein the signal
modulation unit provides the duty status signal via a general
purpose input/output pin.
5. The fan control device according to claim 1, wherein the shield
unit comprises: a transistor including a first end, a second end,
and a third end, the first end of the transistor receives the
standby voltage and the duty status signal, the second end of the
transistor receives the modulation signal, and the third end of the
transistor is coupled to a ground end.
6. The fan control device according to claim 1, further comprising
a power supply coupled to the shield unit for providing the standby
voltage, and the power supply is further coupled to the signal
modulation unit and the at least one fan for providing an operating
voltage required for the signal modulation unit and the at least
one fan.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This non-provisional application claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 201210465181.6
filed in China, P.R.C. on Nov. 16, 2012, the entire contents of
which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field of the Invention
[0003] The disclosure relates to a control device and more
particularly to a fan control device.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally speaking, heat dissipation devices, such as fans
or heat dissipation modules, are installed in most servers or
computer systems in order to reduce the heat generated from the
operation of the electronic components inside the servers or the
computer systems, so as to enhance the work efficiency of the
electronic components and the overall operational performance. The
heat generated from the operation of the electronic components is
directly absorbed by the heat dissipation modules through thermal
conduction. The heat absorbed by the heat dissipation modules is
dissipated to an external environment by the heat exchange of the
cross-ventilation produced by the operation of the fans.
[0006] In controlling the operation of the fans, a pulse width
modulation (PWM) generator is usually used for generating a pulse
width modulation signal to control the operation of the fans. When
the server or the computer system starts working, the pulse width
modulation (PWM) generator starts with an initialization stage and
performs initialized settings, and then the pulse width modulation
signal is generated correspondingly for controlling the fans to
operate under a rotational speed correspondingly.
[0007] However, when the pulse width modulation (PWM) generator
starts with the initialization stage and before it finishes the
initialization stage, all the pulse width modulation signals
produced by the pulse width modulation (PWM) generator are at a
high logic level. This causes the fan to start operating under a
full rotational speed. Thus, power is wasted. Therefore, the
controlling of the fan still needs to be improved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The fan control device disclosed by the disclosure is used
for controlling at least one fan. The fan control device comprises
a signal modulation unit and a shield unit. The signal modulation
unit is used for providing a modulation signal and a duty status
signal. The shield unit is coupled to the signal modulation unit
and the at least one fan for receiving a standby voltage, the duty
status signal, and the modulation signal, as well as for shielding
the modulation signal or transmitting the modulation signal to the
at least one fan according to the standby voltage and the duty
status signal.
[0009] In an embodiment, before the signal modulation unit finishes
the initialization stage, the signal modulation unit provides the
duty status signal at a high logic level and the modulation signal
at the high logic level, as well as the shield unit shields the
modulation signal of the high logic level according to the duty
status signal of the high logic level.
[0010] In an embodiment, when the signal modulation unit finishes
the initialization stage, the signal modulation unit provides the
duty status signal at a low logic level and the modulation signal
in a pulse form, and the shield unit transmits the modulation
signal in the pulse form to the at least one fan according to the
duty status signal of the low logic level.
[0011] In an embodiment, the signal modulation unit provides the
duty status signal via a general purpose input/output pin.
[0012] In an embodiment, the shield unit comprises a transistor.
The transistor includes a first end, a second end, and a third end.
The first end of the transistor receives the standby voltage and
the duty status signal. The second end of the transistor receives
the modulation signal. The third end of the transistor is coupled
to a ground end.
[0013] In an embodiment, the fan control device further comprises a
power supply. The power supply is coupled to the shield unit for
providing the standby voltage. The power supply is further coupled
to the signal modulation unit and the at least one fan for
providing an operating voltage required for the signal modulation
unit and the at least one fan.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The disclosure will become more fully understood from the
detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and
thus does not limit the disclosure, wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fan control device
according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fan control device
according to another embodiment of the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] In the following detailed description, for purposes of
explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It
will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be
practiced without these specific details. In other instances,
well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order
to simplify the drawing.
[0018] In each embodiment mentioned hereinafter, the same numbers
are used for representing the same or similar elements.
[0019] Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a
fan control device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. A
fan control device 100 of this embodiment is used for controlling
fans 170_1.about.170_N. The fans 170_1.about.170_N are disposed in
a server or a computer system, but the disclosure is not limited
thereto. The fans 170_1.about.170_N are used for dissipating the
heat from the server or the computer system. N presents a positive
integer greater than 1.
[0020] The fan control device 100 comprises a signal modulation
unit 110 and a shield unit 120. The signal modulation unit 110 is
used for providing a modulation signal VPWM and a duty status
signal VWS. The signal modulation unit 110 is, for example, a pulse
width modulation (PWM) generator. The signal modulation unit 110 is
used for providing the modulation signal VPWM at a low logic level,
at a high logic level, or in a pulse form.
[0021] In this embodiment, when the signal modulation unit 110
begins operating and starts with an initialization stage, the
signal modulation unit 110 provides, for example, the duty status
signal VWS at the high logic level and the modulation signal VPWM
at the high logic level. When the signal modulation unit 110
finishes the initialization stage, the signal modulation unit 110
provides the duty status signal VWS at the low logic level. Also,
the signal modulation unit 110 provides, for example, the
modulation signal VPWM in the pulse form.
[0022] The shield unit 120 is coupled to the signal modulation unit
110 and the fans 170_1.about.170_N for receiving a standby voltage
VS, the duty status signal VWS, and the modulation signal VPWM. The
shield unit 120 shields the modulation signal VPWM or transmits the
modulation signal VPWM to the fans 170_1.about.170_N according to
the standby voltage VS and the duty status signal VWS.
[0023] For example, when one of the standby voltage VS and the duty
status signal VWS is at the high logic level, or when both the
standby voltage VS and the duty status signal VWS are at the high
logic level, the shield unit 120 shields the modulation signal VPWM
at the high logic level. In other words, the shield unit 120 does
not transmit the modulation signal VPWM at the high logic level to
the fans 170_1.about.170_N.
[0024] Because the shield unit 120 shields the modulation signal
VPWM at the high logic level, the shield unit 120 provides, for
example, a signal at the low logic level to the fans
170_1.about.170_N to cause the fans 170_1.about.170_N to operate
under the lowest rotational speed.
[0025] On the other hand, when the duty status signal VWS is at the
low logic level, the shield unit 120 transmits the modulation
signal VPWM to the fans 170_1.about.170_N to cause the fans
170_1.about.170_N to operate under a corresponding rotational speed
according to the control of the modulation signal VPWM. Thereby,
before the signal modulation unit 110 finishes the initialization
stage, the fans 170_1.about.170_N do not operate under the full
rotational speed in order to avoid wasting power and to enhance the
convenience in usage.
[0026] In this and some other embodiments, the signal modulation
unit 110 includes a general purpose input/output (GPIO) pin, but
the disclosure is not limited thereto. The signal modulation unit
110 produces the duty status signal VWS via the general purpose
input/output (GPIO) pin. The standby voltage VS is, for example, a
P3V3_STBY standby voltage.
[0027] Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a
fan control device according to another embodiment of the
disclosure. A fan control device 200 of this embodiment is used for
controlling fans 170_1.about.170_N. The fan control device 200
comprises a signal modulation unit 110, a shield unit 120, and a
power supply 210. The coupling between the signal modulation unit
110 and the shield unit 120 as well as the corresponding
operations, which can be referred to the descriptions of the
embodiment in FIG. 1, are not mentioned herein again.
[0028] The power supply 210 is used for providing an operating
voltage VCC and a standby voltage VS. The operating voltage VCC is
the operating voltage required for the operations of the signal
modulation unit 110 and the fans 170_1.about.170_N.
[0029] The shield unit 120 comprises a transistor M. The transistor
M includes a first end, a second end, and a third end. The first
end of the transistor M receives the standby voltage VS and the
duty status signal VWS. The second end of the transistor M receives
the modulation signal VPWM. The third end of the transistor M is
coupled to a ground end GND.
[0030] In this and some other embodiments, the transistor M is an
N-type transistor. The first end of the transistor M is a gate of
the N-type transistor, the second end of the transistor M is a
drain of the N-type transistor, and the third end of the transistor
M is a source of the N-type transistor, but the disclosure is not
limited thereto. The transistor M is, for example, a P-type
transistor or other types of transistors. For examples, the
transistor is a bipolar junction transistor or a junction field
effect transistor.
[0031] First, when the power supply 210 only provides the standby
voltage VS (e.g. P3V3_STBY) and the standby voltage VS is supplied
to the first end (the gate) of the transistor M, the transistor M
turns on and the connection point 220 is conducted to the ground
end GND.
[0032] Because the connection point 220 is connected to the ground
end GND, the shield unit 120 can shield the modulation signal VPWM.
In other words, the modulation signal VPWM is not transmitted to
the fans 170_1.about.170_N, and the shield unit 120 produces, for
example, a signal at a low logic level to the fans
170_1.about.170_N corresponding to the ground end GND. At this
point, the power supply 210 does not provide the operating voltage
VCC for the fans 170_1.about.170_N and therefore the fans
170_1.about.170_N do not operate.
[0033] Then, the power supply 210 provides the operating voltage
VCC in order that the fan control device 200 and the fans
170_1.about.170_N can start to operate. When the fan control device
200 starts to operate, the signal modulation unit 110 starts with
the initialization stage and performs initialized settings.
[0034] In the initialization stage, the signal modulation unit 110
provides the duty status signal VWS at a high logic level and the
modulation signal VPWM at the high logic level. The duty status
signal VWS at the high logic level and the modulation signal VPWM
at the high logic level are provided to the first end (the gate) of
the transistor M of the shield unit 120 and the connection point
220 (e.g. the second end of the transistor M, i.e. the source)
respectively.
[0035] Then, because the duty status signal VWS and the standby
voltage VS received by the first end of the transistor M are at the
high logic level, the transistor M turns on and the connection
point 220 is conducted to the ground end GND. Thereby, the shield
unit 120 shields the modulation signal VPWM at the high logic
level. In other words, the modulation signal VPWM at the high logic
level is not transmitted to the fans 170_1.about.170_N.
[0036] At this point, the shield unit 120 produces, for example,
the signal at the low logic level to the fans
170.sub.--1.about.170_N corresponding to the ground end GND to
cause the fans 170_1.about.170_N to operate at the lowest
rotational speed corresponding to the signal at the low logic
level.
[0037] Afterwards, when the signal modulation unit 110 finishes the
initialization stage, the signal modulation unit 110 provides, for
example, the duty status signal VWS at the low logic level and the
modulation signal VPWM in the pulse form. The duty status signal
VWS at the low logic level and the modulation signal VPWM in the
pulse form are provided to the first end (the gate) of the
transistor M of the shield unit 120 and the connection point 220
(e.g. the second end of the transistor M, i.e. the source)
respectively.
[0038] At this point, because the duty status signal VWS received
by the first end of the transistor M is at the low logic level, the
transistor M does not turn on and the connection point 220 is not
conducted to the ground end GND. Thereby, the shield unit 120
transmits the modulation signal VPWM in the pulse form to the fans
170_1.about.170_N to cause the fans 170_1.about.170_N to operate
under the corresponding rotational speed according to the control
of the modulation signal VPWM.
[0039] Thereby, before the signal modulation unit 110 finishes the
initialization stage, the fans 170_1.about.170_N do not operate
under the full rotational speed in order to avoid wasting power and
to enhance the convenience in usage.
[0040] According to the fan control device disclosed in the
embodiments, according to the standby voltage and the duty status
signal provided by the signal modulation unit, the shield unit
determines whether to shield the modulation signal provided by the
signal modulation unit or to transmit the modulation signal
provided by the signal modulation unit to the at least one fan.
Thereby, the at least one fan can be prevented from operating under
a full rotational speed when the signal modulation unit starts with
the initialization stage and before the signal modulation unit
finishes the initialization stage in order to avoid wasting
electric power and to enhance the convenience in usage.
[0041] Note that the specifications relating to the above
embodiments should be construed as exemplary rather than as
limitative of the invention, with many variations and modifications
being readily attainable by a person skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit or scope thereof as defined by the
appended claims and their legal equivalents.
* * * * *