JP2001125682A - Computer and method for controlling rotating speed of fan for heat radiation - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a computer and a rotating speed control method for a fan for heat radiation which can perform rotary driving control over the fan for heat radiation in an optimum state of good heat radiation efficiency and low noise by recognizing the actual rotation state of the fan for heat radiation and controlling the rotating speed of the fan for heat radiation according to the state. SOLUTION: According to the rotating speed indication from a BIOS-ROM 13, a microprocessor (MPC) 12 performs variable control over the fan driving voltage (POD) applied from a driving voltage control circuit 14 to the fan 11 for heat radiation in fan rotation control state (fan rotation control mode) with the pulse signal (FANG) outputted by a fan rotation pulse detector 11D provided to the fan for heat radiation to perform driving control over the fan 11 for heat radiation so that a target rotating speed is always attained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer having a built-in radiating fan and a method of controlling the rotational speed of the radiating fan.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as means for controlling the rotation of a heat radiating fan in a personal computer, a power supply line of the fan is controlled so that the voltage applied to the fan is constant in consideration of noise, heat radiation, and the like. A voltage control means having a resistor inserted therein or a voltage control means in which a resistor and an FET are connected in parallel so that the voltage applied to the fan can be switched and set in a plurality of stages has been used.

[0003] However, in this type of conventional radiating fan rotation control means, even if the voltage applied to the fan is kept constant in consideration of noise, the amount of radiated heat, etc., depending on the radiating fan to be mounted. However, there are variations in the number of rotations per unit time, characteristics, and the like, and accordingly, there is a problem in that, depending on the device, there is a problem that a rotation driving state with a high noise level or a rotation driving state with low heat radiation efficiency occurs. .

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional rotation control means of the heat radiating fan, even if the voltage applied to the fan is kept constant in consideration of noise, heat radiation amount and the like. There are variations in the number of rotations per unit time, characteristics, etc., depending on the heat-dissipating fan to be mounted.Therefore, the inconvenience of setting the rotational drive state with a high noise level or the rotational drive state with poor heat radiation efficiency depending on the device is accompanied. There was a problem that would occur.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
Irrespective of the number of rotations per unit time, characteristics, etc. of the mounted heat dissipation fan, the heat dissipation efficiency is always good and the noise is low.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer having a heat-dissipation fan rotation drive control mechanism and a heat-dissipation fan rotation speed control method capable of controlling the heat-dissipation fan rotationally and accurately in an optimum state.

Further, the present invention provides a heat dissipation fan to be used,
Regardless of the equipment configuration, etc., by simply changing the control program, a radiating fan rotation drive control mechanism that can always control the radiating fan rotationally with high heat radiation efficiency, low noise, and in the optimum state with high accuracy by changing the control program It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer equipped with the method and a method for controlling the rotation speed of a heat dissipation fan.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a computer provided with a rotation drive control mechanism for a heat radiating fan recognizes an actual rotation state of the heat radiating fan and determines a rotation speed of the heat radiating fan according to the state. , The heat radiation efficiency is always good, the noise is low, and the heat radiation fan can be rotationally controlled in an optimal state.

That is, according to the present invention, in a computer provided with a rotation drive control mechanism for a radiating fan, a radiating fan provided in a computer housing and the number of rotations of the radiating fan per unit time are obtained. And a means for controlling the rotation speed of the heat dissipation fan within a predetermined range based on the acquired rotation speed.

Further, the present invention provides a heat dissipating fan comprising a means for outputting a rotation detection signal in accordance with a rotation speed of the fan in a computer having a heat dissipating fan rotation drive control mechanism. A drive voltage control circuit that variably controls a power supply voltage for rotationally driving the heat dissipation fan according to external control, and the drive voltage control circuit based on the rotation detection signal such that a rotation speed of the heat dissipation fan is constant. And control means for controlling

[0010] The present invention also provides the control means, wherein a predetermined drive voltage is applied to the heat-dissipating fan for a predetermined period when the heat-dissipating fan is started, and thereafter, the drive voltage is set to be constant. Characterized by comprising means for controlling

Further, according to the present invention, a predetermined driving voltage is applied to the control means for a predetermined period of time when the heat release fan is started, and the heat release fan is driven to rotate at a high speed. After confirming the above, there is provided a means for controlling the drive voltage so as to reach a predetermined target rotation speed.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the control means has means for controlling the drive voltage stepwise in predetermined time units.

Further, in the present invention, the control means has means for controlling the drive voltage control circuit based on the rotation detection signal and a preset target rotation speed and characteristic data of the radiating fan. It is characterized by becoming.

The present invention also relates to a method for controlling the rotational speed of a heat-dissipating fan provided in a computer, the method comprising: acquiring a rotational speed of the heat-dissipating fan per unit time; The rotation speed of the heat dissipation fan is controlled stepwise within a predetermined range.

The present invention also relates to a method for controlling the rotational speed of a heat-dissipating fan provided in a computer, wherein a predetermined drive voltage is applied to the heat-dissipating fan for a predetermined period when the heat-dissipating fan is started. Then, the heat dissipation fan is driven to rotate at a high speed, and after confirming the state, the drive voltage is controlled so as to reach a predetermined target rotation speed.

Further, in the above-described method of controlling the rotational speed of the heat radiating fan, the rotational speed of the heat radiating fan is controlled based on preset target rotational speed and characteristic data of the heat radiating fan. I do.

As a specific example, in the embodiment of the present invention, the heat radiation fan is provided with a function of outputting a pulse signal in accordance with the rotation of the fan, and the microprocessor operates in accordance with the target rotational speed instruction of the BIOS. The driving power supply voltage of the heat-dissipating fan is controlled in accordance with the rotational speed per unit time of the heat-dissipating fan obtained based on the pulse signal and the target rotational speed indicated by the BIOS, and the rotational speed of the heat-dissipating fan is controlled. Is controlled so as to approach the target rotation speed.

Also, by providing the BIOS with the target rotational speed of the heat radiating fan and the characteristic data of the heat radiating fan as an interface with the microprocessor, even if the mounted heat radiating fan and the system configuration are changed, the BIOS is changed.
The optimum rotation control of the heat-dissipating fan can be performed only by changing the IOS.

Further, since this type of heat radiating fan needs to apply a certain constant voltage at the time of startup, the fan rotates at a high speed. After applying a predetermined drive voltage to the radiating fan, the rotation of the radiating fan is controlled.
When detecting the state where the fan does not rotate when the power of the heat radiation fan is turned on, the drive voltage of the heat radiation fan is turned off for a certain period of time as a heat radiation fan lock, and then, again,
The power of the radiating fan is turned on to control the rotation of the radiating fan.

By providing the above-described function of controlling the rotational speed of the heat-dissipating fan, the heat-dissipating fan always has good heat-dissipating efficiency and low noise regardless of the number of rotations per unit time, characteristics, etc. of the mounted heat-dissipating fan. The heat dissipation fan can be rotationally driven and controlled with high accuracy in an optimal state.

In addition, regardless of the radiating fan to be used, the configuration of the equipment, and the like, the control of the radiating fan can be controlled with high accuracy in an optimal state by always changing the control program by simply changing the control program with good radiating efficiency, low noise. it can.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing essential components of an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a heat-dissipating fan which is a target of rotation control. Here, a fan rotation pulse detector 11D which outputs a pulse signal (FANG) according to the rotation of the fan, for example, using an optical sensor. Is provided.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a control microprocessor (MP
C) and the BIOS stored in the BIOS-ROM 13
In accordance with the rotation speed instruction of S, the start control and the rotation speed control of the heat dissipation fan 11 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are performed.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a BIOS-ROM storing a control BIOS program, which is executed by the microprocessor (MPC) 12 in FIGS.
A heat radiation control program (MRT) for executing the processing shown in FIG.

14 is the microprocessor (MPC)
12 is a drive voltage control circuit for controlling the rotation of the heat radiating fan 11 under the control of a fan drive voltage (POD) for controlling the rotation of the heat radiating fan 11 stepwise under the control of a microprocessor (MPC) 12. ) Is applied to the heat radiating fan 11 to start the heat radiating fan 11 in accordance with the fan drive voltage (POD) to control the rotation speed.

Reference numeral 15 denotes the microprocessor (MPC)
This RAM is provided for the processing of Step 12, and has a reference table (TBL) in which the target rotation speed, the characteristic data of the heat dissipation fan, and the like are set.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the above BIOS-R, respectively.
The microprocessor (MP
C) is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by C12, FIG. 2 shows a processing routine executed at the time of fan startup control, and FIG. 3 shows a processing of fan rotation control after fan startup (step S17 in FIG. 2). Shows a routine.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of mounting the heat dissipation fan 11. In the figure, reference numeral 41 denotes a housing of the computer main body in which the heat dissipation fan 11 is housed, and reference numeral 42 denotes a housing housed in the housing 41 and provided on the upper surface of the heat dissipation fan 11, for example,
A circuit board on which U is mounted, and 43 is a mounting plate for the heat radiating fan 11 also serving as a heat radiating plate. 11s denotes a circuit connection between the motor of the heat dissipation fan 11 and the drive voltage control circuit 14, a fan rotation pulse detector 11D provided in the heat dissipation fan 11, and a control microprocessor (MP
C) Wiring for making a circuit connection with 12, 12c is a three-terminal connector for the same wiring connection. FA and FB respectively indicate the exhaust flow from the heat dissipation fan 11.

Here, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the above-mentioned drawings.

In response to a fan rotation instruction from the BIOS, the control microprocessor (MPC) 12 first applies a predetermined drive voltage at the time of startup to the heat dissipation fan 11 via the drive voltage control circuit 14. And the heat dissipation fan 1
1 is driven at high speed, and thereafter, the processing routine shown in FIG. 2 is executed, for example, every one second.

Here, the count number per second obtained by counting the pulse signal (FANG) output from the fan rotation pulse detector 11D provided on the heat radiation fan 11 is used as the current fan rotation number (rps). (Step S11 in FIG. 2) and is stored in a predetermined register area of the RAM 15 (step S12 in FIG. 2).

Subsequently, the detected fan speed (rp)
From step s), it is determined whether or not the heat dissipation fan 11 is currently warming up (startup mode) (step S1 in FIG. 2).
3). If it is during the warm-up (start-up mode), it is determined whether or not 2 seconds (warm-up period) has elapsed after the start-up (step S14 in FIG. 2), and 2 seconds (warm-up period) has elapsed. If so, the warm-up (startup mode) ends (step S15 in FIG. 2).

In the processing in the actual machine, it is determined from the fan rotation speed (rps) during the warm-up (startup mode) whether or not the heat radiation fan 11 is normally started to rotate, and is normally started. If not, the warm-up is stopped (that is, the supply of the fan drive voltage (POD) is stopped), and after a predetermined time elapses, a check routine for trying the warm-up again is interposed, but the processing routine is omitted here. Is shown.

If it is determined in step S13 in FIG. 2 whether or not the radiating fan 11 is currently warming up (startup mode), if the fan rotation is in progress. From the number (rps), it is determined whether or not a fan rotation control state (fan rotation control mode) requiring the rotation control of the heat radiation fan 11 is performed (step S16 in FIG. 2), and the fan rotation control state (fan rotation control) is determined. If it is in the mode, the fan rotation control routine shown in FIG. 3 is executed (step S17 in FIG. 2), and if not, the process is ended.

In the above-described fan rotation control routine,
First, the fan rotation speed (rps) of the radiating fan 11 and RA
By comparing with the target rotation speed (rps) indicating the target rotation speed set in the reference table (TBL) of M15, the fan rotation speed (rps) of the radiating fan 11 is set to the target rotation speed (r
ps) (step S2 in FIG. 3).
1).

Here, when the fan rotation speed (rps) of the radiating fan 11 is larger than the target rotation speed (rps), the fan rotation speed (rps) is set to the fan rotation speed set in the reference table (TBL) of the RAM 15. It is determined whether or not the upper limit of the setting range has been reached (step S22 in FIG. 3). If the upper limit of the fan rotation setting range has been reached, the rotation speed of the radiating fan 11 is reduced by one step (step S23 in FIG. 3). That is,
The fan drive voltage (POD) is reduced by the set voltage value for one stage, and the rotational speed of the heat dissipation fan 11 is reduced stepwise. If the fan rotation speed (rps) has not reached the upper limit of the fan rotation setting range, the process ends.

In determining whether the fan rotation speed (rps) of the radiating fan 11 is higher than the target rotation speed (rps) (step S21 in FIG. 3), the fan rotation speed of the radiating fan 11 (step S21) is determined. rps) is the target speed (rps)
If the fan rotation speed (rps) is less than
It is determined whether or not the lower limit of the fan rotation setting range set in the reference table (TBL) is reached (step S24 in FIG. 3). The speed is increased by one step (step S25 in FIG. 3), and if the lower limit of the fan rotation setting range has not been reached, the process is terminated as it is.

As described above, in the fan rotation control state (fan rotation control mode), the pulse signal (FANG) output from the fan rotation pulse detector 11D provided in the heat dissipation fan 11 is used. The fan drive voltage (POD) applied from the drive voltage control circuit 14 to the radiating fan 11 is variably controlled, and the radiating fan 11 is driven and controlled to always reach the target rotation speed.

By such a fan rotation control, regardless of the number of rotations per unit time, characteristics, etc., which are unique to each of the heat radiating fans 11, the heat radiating fan always has good heat radiating efficiency, low noise, and is optimal. 11 can be rotationally driven.

Also, the change of the model, the change of the radiating fan 11 and the like can be easily applied to other models and other radiating fans only by changing the setting contents of the BIOS.

In this embodiment, the BIOS control in which the processing routine shown in FIG. 2 is executed every second and the warm-up (startup mode) is performed for two seconds has been described as an example. When applied, each unit time can be arbitrarily changed as needed, and in essence, it can be applied to various devices without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0044]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, regardless of the number of rotations per unit time, characteristics, etc. of the mounted radiating fan, the radiating fan always has a good radiating efficiency, low noise, and an optimal state. High-precision rotation control of the heat dissipation fan
It is possible to provide a computer provided with a rotation drive control mechanism for the heat radiating fan and a method for controlling the rotation speed of the heat radiating fan.

Further, according to the present invention, regardless of the radiating fan and the equipment configuration to be used, the radiating efficiency is always high, the noise is low, and the radiating heat is highly accurate in the optimum state by simply changing the control program. A computer having a rotational drive control mechanism for the heat dissipation fan, which can rotationally control the fan,
In addition, a method for controlling the rotational speed of the heat radiating fan can be provided.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably start the radiating fan. A computer and a method for controlling a rotation speed of a heat dissipation fan can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure executed by a microprocessor in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure (the processing procedure of step S17 in FIG. 2) executed by the microprocessor in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a mounting example of the heat dissipation fan 11;

[Explanation of symbols]

11: heat dissipation fan 11s: circuit connection between the motor of the heat dissipation fan and the drive voltage control circuit, and circuit connection between the fan rotation pulse detector provided on the heat dissipation fan and the control microprocessor 11c ... three-terminal connector for wiring connection 12 ... microprocessor (MPC) for control 13 ... BIOS-ROM 14 ... drive voltage control circuit 15 ... RAM 41 ... housing of computer body, 42 ... circuit board, 43: Mounting plate of heat dissipation fan POD: Fan drive voltage FANG: Pulse signal MRT: Fan rotation control BIOS TBL: Lookup table FA, FB: Exhaust flow by heat dissipation fan

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Ryoji Ninomiya 2-9-9 Suehirocho, Ome-shi, Tokyo F-term in the Toshiba Ome factory (reference) 5H550 AA08 BB02 BB05 DD01 FF01 FF03 FF08 GG03 JJ02 JJ03 JJ18 KK06 LL06

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A heat dissipation fan provided in a computer housing, means for acquiring a rotation speed per unit time of the heat dissipation fan, and a rotation speed of the heat dissipation fan based on the acquired rotation speed Means for controlling the distance within a predetermined range. 2. A heat radiating fan having means for outputting a rotation detection signal according to a rotation speed of the fan, and a drive voltage control for variably controlling a power supply voltage for rotationally driving the heat radiating fan according to external control. A computer comprising: a circuit; and control means for controlling the drive voltage control circuit based on the rotation detection signal so that the rotation speed of the heat dissipation fan is constant. 3. The control means applies a predetermined drive voltage to the heat-dissipating fan for a certain period of time via the drive-voltage control circuit when the heat-dissipating fan is started. 3. The computer according to claim 2, wherein the drive voltage is controlled to be constant. 4. The control means applies a predetermined drive voltage to the heat-dissipating fan for a certain period of time at the time of starting the heat-dissipating fan via the drive voltage control circuit, thereby controlling the heat-dissipating fan. 3. The computer according to claim 2, wherein the computer is driven at a high rotational speed, and after confirming the state, the drive voltage is controlled so as to reach a predetermined target rotational speed. 5. The computer according to claim 2, wherein the drive voltage control circuit controls the drive voltage stepwise in predetermined time units under the control of the control means. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to:
3. The computer according to claim 2, wherein the drive voltage control circuit is controlled based on preset target rotational speeds and characteristic data of the heat radiation fans. 7. A method for controlling the rotation speed of a heat dissipation fan provided in a computer, the method comprising recognizing an actual rotation state of the heat dissipation fan and controlling the rotation speed of the heat dissipation fan according to the state. A method for controlling the rotational speed of a heat dissipation fan. 8. A method for controlling the rotation speed of a heat dissipation fan provided in a computer, comprising: acquiring a rotation speed of the heat dissipation fan per unit time; and calculating the rotation speed of the heat dissipation fan based on the acquired rotation speed. A method for controlling a rotation speed of a heat-dissipating fan, wherein the rotation speed is controlled stepwise within a predetermined range. 9. A method for controlling a rotation speed of a heat-dissipating fan provided in a computer, comprising applying a predetermined drive voltage to the heat-dissipating fan for a predetermined period of time when the heat-dissipating fan is started. For high-speed rotation of the fan
A method for controlling the rotation speed of a radiating fan, wherein the driving voltage is controlled so as to reach a predetermined target rotation speed after confirming the state. 10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the rotation speed of the heat radiating fan is controlled based on preset target rotation speed and characteristic data of the heat radiating fan.