TW201823989A - Fan monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

A fan monitoring system includes a first fan, a complex programmable logic device and a fan status reminder module. The first fan operates according to a rotating speed signal of the first fan and generates a first pulse signal which has a first pulse frequency. The complex programmable logic device counts according to the first pulse signal having the same first pulse frequency to generate a data value of the first pulse duration. When the complex programmable logic device determines that the first pulse frequency reaches a first peak value and the data value of the first pulse duration is greater than a first predetermined value, the complex programmable logic device determines the first fan operates abnormally and generates an abnormal signal of the first fan. The fan status reminder module receives the abnormal signal of the first fan and displays an abnormal status reminder of the first fan.

Description

Fan monitoring system

The present invention relates to a fan monitoring system, and more particularly to a fan monitoring system for a server.

The server usually has components such as a chassis, a power supply, a motherboard, and a Baseboard Management Controller (BMC). Among them, one of the main functions of the baseboard management controller on the existing server is to collect the operation status of the server and the system status information, etc., including the rotational speed of the fan. That is, the server can display the current fan speed through the baseboard management controller. When the baseboard management controller detects that the fan speed does not meet the predetermined conditions, it will display abnormal information or cut off the system power. However, some new types of servers are not provided with the substrate management control chip. Under such circumstances, these servers cannot control the fans in the chassis through the substrate management controller, and can not monitor and display the speed of each fan in the system. Therefore, for a new type of server that does not have a substrate management control chip, How to effectively control the fan inside the chassis becomes a problem.

The invention provides a fan monitoring system, which can determine whether the fan speed is normal by the setting of the complex programmable logic device.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a fan monitoring system is disclosed, which is suitable for a server. The fan monitoring system includes a first fan, a complex programmable logic, and a fan status prompting module. The first fan receives and rotates according to the first fan speed signal, and generates a first pulse signal. The first pulse signal includes a first pulse frequency value. The complex programmable logic device is in communication with the first fan and receives the first pulse signal. The complex programmable logic clocks the first pulse signal having the same first pulse frequency value continuously received to generate a first pulse duration data value. When the complex programmable logic determines that the first pulse frequency value reaches the first peak value and the first pulse duration data value is greater than the first rated time value, the complex programmable logic device determines that the first fan heat dissipation abnormality and generates the first fan abnormality signal. The fan status prompt module is electrically connected to the complex programmable logic. When the fan status prompting module receives the first fan abnormality signal, the first fan abnormal status prompt is displayed.

In summary, the fan monitoring system disclosed in the present invention counts the first pulse signal generated by the first fan and has the same first pulse frequency value by using a complex programmable logic, and is complicated by The program logic determines the duration when the first pulse frequency value of the first pulse signal reaches the first peak value, and further determines whether the first fan is abnormal. When the complex programmable logic device determines that the first fan heat dissipation is abnormal, the fan state is The prompt module prompts for an abnormal state.

The above description of the disclosure and the following description of the embodiments of the present invention are intended to illustrate and explain the spirit and principles of the invention, and to provide further explanation of the scope of the invention.

The detailed features and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the Detailed Description of the Detailed Description of the <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> </ RTI> </ RTI> <RTIgt; The objects and advantages associated with the present invention can be readily understood by those skilled in the art. The following examples are intended to describe the present invention in further detail, but are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a fan monitoring system according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the fan monitoring system 1 is applied to a server. The fan monitoring system 1 includes a first fan 10, a complex programmable logic unit 14, and a fan status prompting module 16. The first fan 10 receives the first fan speed signal and rotates according to the first fan speed signal, and generates a first pulse signal. In this embodiment, the first fan 10 is a fan that provides heat dissipation from a central processing unit (CPU). In other embodiments, the first fan 10 may be a cooling fan suitable for other computer hardware. The first pulse signal has a first pulse frequency value, that is, a frequency value at which the first fan 10 operates, such as 10 Hertz (HZ).

The complex programmable logic 14 is communicatively coupled to the first fan 10. When the complex programmable logic 14 receives the first pulse signal from the first fan 10, the complex programmable logic 14 counts the first pulse signal having the same first pulse frequency value continuously to generate the first Pulse duration data value. The first pulse duration data value is a time segment in which the first pulse signal having the same first pulse frequency value continues. For a practical example, please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 together. FIG. 2 is a timing diagram of a first pulse signal according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, it is assumed that the first pulse signal S1 has a period of 100 milliseconds, that is, the first pulse frequency value is 10 Hz. When the complex programmable logic 14 receives the first pulse signal S1 having a pulse frequency value of 10 Hz, it starts timing for the first pulse signal S1.

As shown in FIG. 2, in another embodiment, the complex programmable logic 14 counts the first pulse signal S1 at a clock frequency CLK to represent the first pulse duration data value. When the first pulse frequency value reaches the first peak value, that is, the first pulse frequency value reaches the preset maximum peak value, if the complex programmable logic device 14 counts the first pulse duration data value obtained by the first pulse frequency value If the value is greater than the first rated time value, the complex programmable logic 14 determines the first fan heat dissipation abnormality and generates a first fan abnormality signal. In this embodiment, the first pulse frequency value reaches the first peak value. If the first nominal time value is assumed to be 10 seconds, the first pulse duration data value in FIG. 2 is assumed to be 12 seconds, which is greater than the first rated value. The time value is 10 seconds, which indicates that the first fan is operating at the preset maximum speed and the operation lasts for more than 10 seconds of the first nominal time value. At this time, the complex programmable logic 14 determines that the first fan cannot provide a normal heat dissipation function, thereby generating a first fan abnormality signal.

After the complex programmable logic 14 generates the first fan abnormality signal, the fan status prompting module 16 receives the first fan abnormality signal and displays the first fan abnormal state prompt. In one embodiment, the fan status prompting module 16 may be provided with a light-emitting diode (LED) to display a different color (eg, red) to remind the user of the first fan 10 in the system. The effect of being in an abnormal state and unable to provide heat dissipation normally allows the user to further perform maintenance on the first fan 10.

In an embodiment, the fan monitoring system 1 further includes a hardware monitoring module 18. The hardware monitoring module 18 is electrically connected to the complex programmable logic device 14 and the first fan 10, as shown in FIG. The complex programmable logic device 14 receives the first pulse signal S1 through the hardware monitoring module 18 and transmits a first fan speed signal to the first fan 10 to control the operating state of the first fan 10. In this embodiment, the hardware monitoring module 18 has a function of Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), which can convert the first fan speed signal into a pulse wave with a fixed period for controlling the first fan 10 The running state. In addition, the hardware monitoring module 18 monitors the rotational speed of the first fan 10 and transmits the first pulse signal S1 generated by the first fan 10 to the complex programmable logic unit 14.

In one embodiment, the hardware monitoring module 18 is connected to the first temperature sensor 20, and the hardware monitoring module 18 receives the temperature monitoring information of the central processing unit through the first temperature sensor 20 and transmits the temperature monitoring information to the complex programmable logic device 14 . . The complex programmable logic unit 14 generates a first fan speed signal according to the temperature monitoring information of the central processor to change the speed of the first fan. That is to say, the first temperature sensor 20 can detect the temperature of the central processing unit through the remote temperature detecting diode (Thermal Diode), thereby generating temperature monitoring information associated with the central processing unit and transmitting to the hard Body monitoring module 18. The hardware monitoring module 18 then transmits the temperature monitoring information to the complex programmable logic 14 so that the complex programmable logic 14 can adjust the rotational speed of the first fan based on the temperature monitoring information. For example, if the temperature monitoring information indicates that the current temperature of the central processing unit is too high, the complex programmable logic unit 14 can generate a first fan speed signal to increase the speed of the first fan. In this way, the heat dissipation effect of the first fan is improved to prevent the central processor from being damaged due to excessive temperature during operation.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 together, FIG. 3 is a timing diagram of a first initial pulse signal according to an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, when the first fan 10 is started, the hardware monitoring module 18 drives the first fan 10 to rotate at a preset initial speed, and the first fan 10 generates a first initial pulse signal S_int, the first initial pulse frequency. The value is less than the first peak, that is, the first initial pulse frequency value is less than the preset maximum peak value. The complex programmable logic 14 receives the first initial pulse signal S_int through the hardware monitoring module 18 and clocks it to generate a first initial pulse duration value. The complex programmable logic 14 generates a first fan normal signal when the complex programmable logic 14 determines that the first initial pulse duration value reaches a predetermined threshold. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the complex programmable logic 14 receives the first initial pulse signal S_int through the hardware monitoring module 18. In some embodiments, the first initial pulse signal S_int may have a first initial pulse frequency value of 2.5 Hz, and the complex programmable logic 14 may have a clock frequency CLK (assumed to be 128 Hz) for the first initial pulse signal. S_int is counted to indicate the initial pulse duration value. When the complex programmable logic 14 determines that the first initial pulse duration value reaches a predetermined threshold (assumed to be 5 seconds), the complex programmable logic 14 generates a first fan normal signal and passes it to the fan status prompt module 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the first initial pulse duration is 5 seconds, reaching a preset threshold. That is to say, the first fan is operated at a higher than the minimum preset speed, and the operation time continues until the preset threshold is reached. At this time, the complex programmable logic device 14 generates a first fan normal signal, and the fan status prompting module 16 displays a first fan normal status prompt (for example, displaying a green light number) according to the first fan normal signal to indicate the first fan 10 The heat dissipation is normal. In another embodiment, after the first fan 10 starts and receives the first fan speed signal, when the complex programmable logic 14 determines that the first pulse frequency value is less than the first peak value and not lower than the third peak value, that is, the complex When the programmable logic device 14 determines that the first pulse frequency value is less than the preset maximum peak value and is not lower than the preset minimum peak value, the fan state prompting module continuously displays the first fan 10 normal state prompt. Specifically, when the first pulse frequency value is less than the first peak value, the rotational speed of the first fan 10 is not greater than a preset maximum rotational speed. When the first pulse frequency value is not lower than the third peak value, the rotation speed of the first fan 10 is greater than or exactly equal to a preset minimum rotation speed. That is, in this embodiment, when the rotational speed of the first fan 10 is higher than the preset minimum rotational speed and does not exceed the preset maximum rotational speed, the complex programmable logic device 14 determines that the first fan 10 is normal. The operation is performed, and the fan status prompting module continuously displays the first fan 10 normal status prompt. Wherein, the first peak represents a preset maximum peak of the first pulse, and the third peak represents a preset minimum peak of the first pulse, and the first peak is greater than the third peak.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 , the hardware monitoring module 18 and the complex programmable logic device 14 are electrically connected to the south bridge 22 respectively. When the first fan 10 is started, the south bridge 22 searches for and transmits fan control data information from the basic input/output system module 30 to the hardware monitoring module 18 and the complex programmable logic unit 14. Specifically, when the system is powered on, the south bridge 22 controls the data information from the capture fan in the basic input/output system module 30, and the fan control data information includes the preset initial speed and the preset threshold of the first fan 10. , the first peak and the first rated time value. The south bridge 22 transmits the fan control data information to the hardware monitoring module 18 and the complex programmable logic 14 for configuration.

In one embodiment, the fan monitoring system 1 includes a second fan 12, as shown in FIG. The air duct position of the second fan 12 is different from the air duct position set by the first fan 10. That is to say, in a practical example, the second fan 12 can dissipate heat from the overall system through the corresponding air duct. The first fan 10 can dissipate heat to one of the components (such as the central processing unit) in the system through another corresponding air duct. In this embodiment, the second fan 12 is connected to the complex programmable logic through the hardware monitoring module 18. The second fan 18 receives the second fan speed signal from the complex programmable logic unit 14 and rotates according to the second fan speed signal. When the second fan 12 rotates, a second pulse signal is generated. The second pulse signal has a second pulse frequency value.

The complex programmable logic unit 14 counts the second pulse frequency value from the receipt of the second pulse frequency value to generate a second pulse duration data value. When the complex programmable logic 14 determines that the second pulse frequency value is the same as the second peak value, and the second pulse duration data value is greater than the second nominal time value, the complex programmable logic 14 determines that the second fan is faulty and generates The second fan abnormality signal. The method of how the complex programmable logic 14 determines that the second pulse frequency value is the same as the second peak is the same as the previous embodiment, and details are not described herein again. When the fan status prompting module 16 receives the second fan abnormality signal, the second fan abnormal state prompt is displayed, wherein the second peak is the preset maximum peak of the second pulse.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the fan monitoring system 1 includes a plurality of system temperature sensors 24, 26. The complex programmable logic 14 is electrically coupled to the system temperature sensors 24, 26 to receive system temperature monitoring information. In this embodiment, the system temperature sensor 24 includes a motherboard area temperature sensor that is disposed in the motherboard area 28 for monitoring the temperature status of the motherboard area. Specifically, there are a plurality of expansion slots on the motherboard area 28, and a plurality of expansion cards are plugged. During the operation of these expansion cards, temperatures are generated. The motherboard area temperature sensor is used to monitor the temperature status of the expansion card in the motherboard area 28. The complex programmable logic 14 can receive system temperature monitoring information associated with the motherboard area 28 via the motherboard area temperature sensor. The system temperature sensor 26 includes a south bridge temperature sensor that is disposed at a location of the south bridge 22 for monitoring the temperature state of the south bridge 22. The complex programmable logic 14 can obtain system temperature monitoring information associated with the south bridge 22 through the south bridge temperature sensor. In one example, the complex programmable logic 14 generates a second wind speed signal based on the received system temperature monitoring information to control the operating state of the second fan 12.

In one embodiment, the complex programmable logic 14 generates a shutdown command when the complex programmable logic 14 generates a first fan anomaly signal or a second fan anomaly signal. For example, when the rotational speed of the first fan or the second fan is too slow, that is, less than the respective preset minimum rotational speed, components on the server (such as the CPU) may have a problem of poor heat dissipation. Therefore, the complex programmable logic 14 generates a shutdown command and passes the shutdown command to the motherboard system module 32. At this time, the motherboard system module 32 will turn off the server to prevent the components on the server from being degraded due to poor heat dissipation, resulting in reduced performance or damage.

In summary, the fan monitoring system disclosed in the present invention measures the pulse frequency value of the fan through a complex programmable logic device and determines whether the state of the fan is determined by determining whether the pulse frequency value reaches a peak value. The fan status prompting module displays the current state of the fan, thereby replacing the traditional basic management controller BMC with the complex programmable logic to complete the control and display of the fan operating state in the entire server.

Although the present invention has been disclosed above in the foregoing embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention. It is within the scope of the invention to be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Please refer to the attached patent application for the scope of protection defined by the present invention.

1‧‧‧Fan monitoring system

10‧‧‧First fan

12‧‧‧second fan

14‧‧‧Complex programmable logic

16‧‧‧Fan Status Prompt Module

18‧‧‧ hardware monitoring module

20‧‧‧First temperature sensor

22‧‧‧ South Bridge

24, 26‧‧‧ system temperature sensor

28‧‧‧Main board area

30‧‧‧Basic input and output system module

32‧‧‧Motherboard system module

S1‧‧‧ first pulse signal

S_int‧‧‧ first initial pulse signal

CLK‧‧‧ clock frequency

1 is a functional block diagram of a fan monitoring system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a timing diagram of a first pulse signal according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a timing diagram of a first initial pulse signal according to an embodiment of the invention.

Claims (10)

A fan monitoring system, applicable to a server, comprising: a first fan, receiving and rotating according to a first fan speed signal, and generating a first pulse signal, the first pulse signal having a first pulse frequency value; a complex programmable logic device, communicatively coupled to the first fan, and receiving the first pulse signal, the complex programmable logic device according to the continuously received first pulse signal having the same first pulse frequency value Timing to generate a first pulse duration data value, wherein when the complex programmable logic determines that the first pulse frequency value reaches a first peak value, and the first pulse duration data value is greater than a first nominal time value Determining that the first fan is abnormal in heat dissipation and generating a first fan abnormality signal; and a fan status prompting module electrically connecting the complex programmable logic device, and the fan status prompting module receiving the first fan abnormality signal A first fan abnormal status prompt is displayed. The fan monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a hardware monitoring module, wherein the hardware monitoring module is electrically connected to the complex programmable logic device and the first fan, and the complex programmable logic device passes The hardware monitoring module receives the first pulse signal and transmits the fan speed signal to the first fan to control an operating state of the first fan. The fan monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the hardware monitoring module is coupled to at least one first temperature sensor, and the hardware monitoring module receives a temperature monitoring of a central processor through the at least one first temperature sensor. The information is transmitted to the complex programmable logic device, and the complex programmable logic device generates the first fan speed signal according to the temperature monitoring information of the central processor to change the rotation speed of the first fan. The fan monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the hardware monitoring module drives the first fan to rotate at a preset initial speed when the first fan is started, the first fan generating includes a first initial pulse frequency a first initial pulse signal of the value, wherein the first initial pulse frequency value is less than the first peak value, the complex programmable logic device receives the first initial pulse signal through the hardware monitoring module and times to generate a a first initial pulse duration value, when the complex programmable logic determines that the first initial pulse duration value reaches a predetermined threshold, the complex programmable logic generates a first fan normal signal and transmits the same to the fan The state prompting module, the fan state prompting module displays a first fan normal state prompt according to the first fan normal signal to indicate that the first fan heats up normally. The fan monitoring system of claim 4, wherein when the first fan starts and receives the first fan speed signal, when the complex programmable logic determines that the first pulse frequency value is less than the first peak value and does not When the value is lower than a third peak, the fan status prompting module continuously displays the first fan normal status prompt. The fan monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the hardware monitoring module and the complex programmable logic device are respectively electrically connected to a south bridge, and when the first fan is started, the south bridge is a basic input/output system module. Searching and transmitting a fan control data information to the hardware monitoring module and the complex programmable logic, the fan control data information including the preset initial speed, the preset threshold, the first peak, and the first Rated time value. The fan monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a second fan, wherein the second fan is a fan different from the air duct of the first fan, and the second fan is electrically connected through a hardware monitoring module. The second programmable fan receives a second fan speed signal from the complex programmable logic unit to rotate according to the second fan speed signal, and generates a second pulse signal, the second pulse signal having a a second pulse frequency value, the complex programmable logic clocks the second pulse signal having the same second pulse frequency value continuously received to generate a second pulse duration data value, when the complexity is When the program logic determines that the second pulse frequency value is the same as a second maximum peak value, and the second pulse duration data value is greater than a second rated time value, the complex programmable logic device determines that the second fan is faulty and A second fan abnormality signal is generated, and the fan status prompting module receives the second fan abnormality signal and displays a second fan abnormal state prompt. The fan monitoring system of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of system temperature sensors electrically connected to the system temperature sensors to receive a system temperature monitoring information, and the complex programmable logic device is configured according to the The system temperature monitoring information generates a second wind speed signal to control the operating state of the second fan. The fan monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the at least two system temperature sensors comprise at least one motherboard area temperature sensor and at least one south bridge temperature sensor to monitor a motherboard area and a south bridge temperature state. The fan monitoring system of claim 7, wherein when the complex programmable logic generates the first fan abnormality signal or the second fan abnormality signal, the complex programmable logic generates a shutdown command and transmits the same to a motherboard. System module to shut down the server.