TWI392442B - Channel device and flow channel clogging detecting method - Google Patents

Description

Flow channel device and flow path resistance detecting method

The present invention relates to a flow channel device and method, and more particularly to a flow channel resistance detecting method and a flow channel device using the same.

When a consumer normally uses an electronic flow path device such as a computer, the inside of the cabinet of the electronic flow path device is not regularly subjected to dust removal according to the use environment. However, dust is a major killer for electronic products. Based on this situation, merchants and the media will advise consumers to regularly remove dust from the electronic products in use. However, when it is time to clean up, it is still up to the consumer to think about it.

When designing a product, sometimes a dust filter, such as an electrostatic adhesion filter, is added to the air inlet of the electronic flow channel device to reduce dust intrusion. However, the filter is too clean, it is easy to reduce the degree of dust adhesion, and the dust will accumulate in the box; the filter is too lazy to clean, the amount of dust attached to the filter is too large, and the heat dissipation effect in the case will be changed. Poor, increase the temperature inside the box of the electronic flow channel device, affecting the service life of the electronic components of the electronic flow channel device.

The common detection method is to detect the temperature inside the electronic flow channel device, and when the temperature is overheated, a warning will be sent to remind the user to clean the filter. However, since there are many variations in the temperature inside the electronic flow path device, the electronic components in the electronic flow path device are used in addition to heat during operation. The temperature of the environment, such as hotter in summer, colder in winter, and whether it is used in a cold air room, will affect the temperature inside the cabinet of the electronic flow channel device. Therefore, it is only determined by temperature whether the cleaning filter is not absolutely objective.

The invention provides a method for detecting a flow channel resistance, which is used for detecting whether a flow path of a channel device is blocked.

The present invention provides a flow path device that can detect whether a flow path thereof is blocked by the above-described flow path resistance detecting method.

The present invention provides a method for detecting a flow channel resistance, which is suitable for detecting whether a first-class track in a first-class device is blocked. A fan is disposed in the flow channel device, and the fan is located in the flow channel. The following steps: providing a specific voltage to rotate the fan; and providing a detecting circuit for detecting a current value of the fan, and determining a degree of resistance of the flow path by the current value.

In an embodiment of the flow path resistance detecting method of the present invention, the method further comprises: determining whether to issue a warning according to the degree of resistance of the flow channel, wherein the method for issuing the warning is displayed on a display to make the flow path device The luminaire illuminates or uses a speaker to sound.

In an embodiment of the flow path resistance detecting method of the present invention, the method further includes using a speed controller to adjust the speed of the fan.

In an embodiment of the flow path resistance detecting method of the present invention, the method for determining the degree of resistance of the flow channel includes establishing a database, and storing the current value of the fan in the data library corresponding to the degree of resistance of the flow channel. In addition, the database The data of the current value corresponding to the different speeds of the fan corresponding to the resistance of the flow channel is stored in the plurality of pieces.

The invention further provides a flow channel device comprising a first-class track and a first-class track resistance detection system. The flow channel resistance detection system is disposed in the flow channel device, and the flow channel resistance detection system includes a fan and a detection circuit. The fan is disposed in the flow channel, wherein a specific voltage drives the fan to rotate, and the detecting circuit is electrically connected to the fan, and the detecting circuit detects a current value of the fan to determine the degree of resistance of the flow channel.

In an embodiment of the flow channel device of the present invention, the detection circuit includes an operational amplifier, an analog-digital converter, and a firmware, and the operational amplifier is used. Amplifying the measured voltage drop, and the analog-to-digital converter is electrically connected to the operational amplifier to convert the voltage drop into a digital signal, and the firmware is electrically connected to the analog-to-digital converter for comparing the digital signals. To determine the degree of obstruction of the flow channel.

In an embodiment of the flow channel device of the present invention, a filter screen disposed in the flow channel is further included, wherein the filter mesh has a plurality of filter holes. In addition, the filter can be removed from the flow path.

In an embodiment of the flow channel device of the present invention, a warning device electrically connected to the detecting circuit is further included, and the alerter is configured to provide a warning.

Based on the above, the flow channel resistance detecting method of the present invention can detect whether the flow path of the flow channel device is blocked, to remind the user to clean the filter mesh to improve the heat dissipation effect. In addition, the screen can be detached from the flow path to increase the convenience of the user to clean the filter.

The above described features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description.

[First Embodiment]

1 is a partial perspective view of a flow channel device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the flow channel device of FIG. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 simultaneously, the flow channel device 100 can be a computer host, including a first-class channel 110 and a first-class obstacle detection system 120. The flow channel resistance detection system 120 includes a fan 122 and a detection. Circuit 124. The fan 122 is disposed in the flow channel 110 and gives the fan 122 a specific voltage to drive the fan 122 to rotate. The detecting circuit 124 is electrically connected to the fan 122, and the detecting circuit 124 is configured to detect the current value of the fan 122 to determine the degree of resistance of the flow channel 110. It should be noted that the flow path 110 of the present embodiment is not a materialized flow path limited by a tubular object in a narrow sense, but the wind enters and exits the fan 122 when the fan 122 is driven by a specific voltage to rotate and form a forced flow of the air flow. The flow path 110 of the present embodiment can be broadly defined as the flow path 110 of the present embodiment. In order to enable the reader to understand the flow path 110 referred to in this embodiment, the flow path 110 is roughly illustrated by a broken line in FIG. Possible range. 3 is a circuit diagram of the flow channel resistance detecting system of FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 simultaneously, the detecting circuit 124 includes an operational amplifier 124a, an analog-to-digital converter 124b, and a firmware 124c, wherein the operational amplifier 124a is used to amplify a voltage drop, and the voltage drop is provided to The voltage difference generated by the current of the fan 122 flowing through the resistor R1, that is, the difference between the input voltage (V _in ) flowing into the resistor R1 and the output voltage (V _out ) after passing through the resistor R1, and the analog-digital converter The 124b is electrically coupled to the operational amplifier 124a and is configured to convert the voltage drop into a digital signal, and the firmware 124c is electrically coupled to the analog-to-digital converter 124b and uses the digital signal to determine the current value supplied to the fan 122. Since the voltage value of the supply fan 122 and the resistance value of the resistor R1 are known, the current value supplied to the fan 122 can be obtained by calculation using the formula V = IR to determine the degree of resistance of the flow path 110. The operational amplifier 124a may be a differential amplifier, and the resistance of the resistor R1 must be small to avoid affecting the power supply to the fan 122.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the steps of a method for detecting a channel obstruction according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 , the flow channel resistance detecting method is used to detect whether the flow channel 110 in the flow channel device 100 is blocked. The flow channel resistance detecting method includes at least the following steps: providing a specific voltage to The fan 122 is rotated, as in step S110; and the detection circuit 124 detects the current value of the fan 122, and the current value determines the degree of resistance of the flow path 110, as by step S120. In addition, before providing a specific voltage to the fan 122, a database may be established, and the data of the current value of the fan 122 in the database corresponding to the degree of resistance of the flow channel 110 is stored, as in step S100. The above-mentioned resistance value of the flow path 110 is determined by the current value, that is, the measured current value is compared with the data in the database.

Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the specific voltage of the fan 122 is 12 volts (V) as an example. The specific voltage causes the fan 122 to rotate at a fixed rotational speed. Series resistance R1 because the fan 122, so there will be a difference from the output voltage of the resistor R1 (V _out) with the original input voltage (V _in) and for the pressure drop, the operational amplifier 124a amplifies the measured pressure drop. After the voltage drop is amplified, it still belongs to an analog signal. Therefore, the analog signal is transmitted to the analog-digital signal converter 124b, and the analog signal is converted into a digital signal by the analog-digital signal converter 124b. The digital signal is transmitted to the firmware 124c, and the current value is calculated by the firmware 124c, and the obtained current value and the data in the database are compared to determine the degree of resistance of the flow path 110. Incidentally, the firmware 124c of the present embodiment is independent of the analog-digital signal converter 124b. In other embodiments not shown, the firmware 124c may also be built in the analog-digital signal converter 124b. in.

Table 1 shows the current values measured for the apertures of different flow channels 110 at a fixed rotational speed. Figure 5 is a line graph showing the relationship between the pore size of the flow channel and the current value in Table 1. Among them, the data in Table 1 is the data that will be stored in the database.

Please refer to Table 1, Figure 1 and Figure 5 at the same time. The X-axis of Figure 5 is the coverage of the runner aperture, and the Y-axis is the current value. Wherein, the degree of coverage of the flow channel aperture can be divided into completely covered, extra small, small, medium, large, and extra large And there is no coverage at all to indicate the degree of blockage of the flow channel 110. "Completely covered" means that the entire flow path 110 is completely covered by the foreign matter, or dust is accumulated in the flow path 110, and the accumulated dust completely blocks the flow path 110, so that the air flow cannot pass. "No coverage at all" means that the flow path 110 is unobstructed and is not blocked by foreign matter, or there is no accumulation of dust in the flow path 110.

It can be seen from Table 1, FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 that when the flow path 110 is completely unblocked without being blocked by foreign matter or no dust accumulates therein, the inflow and out of air may be the load of the fan 122, so a large current value is required. The drive fan 122 rotates. When the foreign matter blocks the flow channel 110 or the dust gradually adsorbs and accumulates in the flow channel 110, the accumulation of dust changes the aperture size of the flow channel 110, so that the air intake amount is reduced, and the load of the fan 122 is reduced, so the current value gradually decreases. Become smaller. When the flow path 110 is completely covered by the foreign matter or is completely blocked by the dust, the vacuum effect will be caused because there is no airflow in and out, and the fan 122 will idle, thereby causing the current value to drop. From the above results, the user can judge the degree of obstruction of the flow path 110 from the detected current value, and then move the flow path device 100 to a relatively ventilated place to remove the foreign matter from the flow path 110 or It is to clean the dust accumulated in the flow path 110 to keep the flow path 110 clear.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 , the flow channel device 100 further includes a warning device 130 electrically connected to the detection circuit 124 , and the alarm device 130 can issue an alarm to alert the user. In detail, when the detecting circuit 124 determines that the blocked degree of the flow channel 110 affects the normal use of the flow channel device 100, the detecting circuit 124 can determine whether the blocked channel 110 is blocked according to the measured degree of blocking. A warning is issued to alert the user, as in step S130. at this time, The user can decide whether to move the flow channel device 100 to a relatively ventilated place, remove foreign matter that obstructs the wind flow, or clean the dust accumulated in the flow path 110. The type of the alerter 130 can be used according to the needs of the user. For example, the alerter 130 can be a display, and can use a monitoring software to display the measured current value when the runner device 100 is used, to remind the user to keep the flow path 110 clear. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the speed, intensity, and degree of obstruction of the flow path of the fan by using the monitoring software on the display. Wherein, X RPM represents the rotation speed of the fan 120 is X, and the dust coverage rate is corresponding to the degree of resistance, wherein the higher the dust coverage rate, the higher the degree of resistance of the flow channel. In addition, the warning device 130 can also be a speaker. When it is detected that the blocking degree of the flow channel 110 affects the normal operation of the flow channel device 100, the speaker can sound a warning tone to remind the user. Moreover, the alerter 130 can also be a light fixture, and the light fixture can illuminate to alert the user.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, it is worth mentioning that the flow channel device 100 can further include a rotational speed controller 140 for adjusting the rotational speed of the fan 122. In general, as the operation time of electronic components (not shown) such as a display card in the flow channel device 100 increases, the heat generated by the electronic components causes the temperature in the flow channel device 100 to rise, and the rotational speed controller 140 at this time The rotational speed of the fan 122 can be adjusted, for example, increased or decreased, for the temperature within the flow channel device 100. In the present embodiment, the rotational speed controller 140 can include a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature within the flow channel device 100. Of course, depending on the needs, users can also choose other different types of sensors to replace.

According to the rotation speed of the fan 122, it is necessary to store a plurality of different speeds corresponding to the fan 120 in the database, and the current value of the fan 122 corresponds to The data of the degree of resistance of the flow channel 110. Table 2 shows the relationship between the aperture of the flow path 110 and the measured current value in the case of different rotational speeds of the fan 122. Figure 7 is a line diagram of Table 2.

Please refer to Table 2 and Figure 7. At the same time, in Table 2, the speed is from the fast to the slow, the first speed, the second speed, the third speed and the fourth speed, and the value of Table 1 is the first speed. Fixed speed measurement. The size of the aperture is expressed in the same manner as in Table 1, and therefore will not be described again. As can be seen from Fig. 7, the slower the rotational speed, the smaller the measured current value.

Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 7 and Table 2, it is worth mentioning that when the speed controller 140 changes the speed of the fan 122, the detecting circuit 120 detects the current of the fan 122, and the firmware 124c is based on The rotational speed of the fan 122 and the detected current value are used to find the degree of obstruction of the corresponding flow channel 110. For example, the detection circuit 120 measures a current value of about 65.4 milliamperes (mA), and a similar current has a fan 122 rotating at a third speed and 65 amps when the aperture size is extra large, and the fan 122 is 65.8 mA at the second rotation speed and the aperture size is “None”, at this time, the single current value It is not possible to discriminate the degree of resistance of the flow path 110. Therefore, it is necessary to refer to the rotation speed of the fan 122 to accurately determine the degree of resistance of the flow path 110.

As described above, in the case where the fan 122 is rotated at a fixed rotational speed, the flow path resistance detecting method of the present embodiment is not based on a temperature having a large variation factor as a reference variable, but simply by the aperture size of the flow channel. Determine the degree of obstruction of the flow channel. In addition, considering the electronic components will increase the temperature in the flow channel device 100, and the rotational speed of the fan 122 needs to be adjusted to increase the heat dissipation effect. Therefore, the apertures of the different flow channels and the measured current are stored in the database at different rotational speeds. The value of the data, together with the reference speed and the measured current value, can be used to know the degree of obstruction of the flow channel. Therefore, compared with the conventional one, the variation of the flow path resistance detecting method of the present embodiment is simpler and less, and there is no change caused by the external environment, so it is more objective and accurate. Therefore, it is less likely to occur when the user starts cleaning the flow path 110, and the degree of dust accumulation in the flow path 110 is found to be slight, which is actually insufficient for cleaning.

Although the flow channel device 100 of the present embodiment is exemplified by a computer mainframe, other flow path devices having electronic components or flow channel devices not equipped with electronic components may be externally connected to the flow path of the embodiment. The detecting system uses the flow path blocking method of the embodiment to detect the degree of resistance of the flow channel.

[Second embodiment]

This embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment, and the same or similar parts will not be described again. Figure 8 is a partial schematic view of a flow path device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 8, the difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment. The flow channel device 200 of the present embodiment further includes a screen 250 disposed in the flow channel 110. The filter 250 has a plurality of filter holes 252, and the filter screen 250 can be detached from the flow channel device 200. For example, the filter 250 of the present embodiment is assembled with the electronic component 260, and the electronic component 260 is a video graphic array (VGA) display card.

The screen 250 of the present embodiment may be an electrostatically attached filter screen, and when the fan 122 rotates, airflow may pass through the filter 250 to enter and exit the flow channel device 200. In a broad sense, the airflow into and out of the runner device 200 may form the flow channel 110. The suspended particles or dust floating in the airflow are adsorbed on the screen 250.

The same as the first embodiment, the flow channel device 200 of the present embodiment also uses the flow channel resistance detection method of the first embodiment to detect the degree of blockage of the flow channel 110, and the flow channel blockage degree here is the filter mesh. The degree of dust adsorption on the 250. The method for detecting the degree of blocking of the flow path 110 has been described in detail in the first embodiment, and will not be described again in this embodiment.

Furthermore, the screen 250 is detachably assembled with the runner device 200, for example by means of mutual engagement, tight fit or sliding of the structure. Therefore, when the warning device 130 (shown in FIG. 2) issues a warning signal to notify the user to clean the filter 250, the user can easily remove the filter 250 from the flow channel device 200 or pull out the flow channel device. In addition to 200, the cleaning of the screen 250 is performed.

Although the fans of the above two embodiments are respectively installed with the power supply and the display card, those skilled in the art can also install the fan elsewhere in the flow path device according to actual needs.

In summary, the reference variable of the method for detecting the resistance of the flow channel of the present invention is comparatively The conventional knowledge is simple and rare, and there is no change that will be affected by the external environment. Therefore, the measured results are more objective and accurate than the conventional ones. In addition, a flow channel resistance detection system is installed in the flow channel device, and the flow path resistance method can be used to measure and know the degree of blockage of the flow channel device to move the flow channel device to the ventilation and shift. In addition to dust accumulated in the flow path device or dust adsorbed on the filter holes of the filter. Since the result measured by the flow path resistance method is more objective, when the user removes the filter screen from the flow path device, it is found that the dust adsorption degree of the filter net is actually insufficient to be cleaned, and the user is It is more convenient to use. Furthermore, the filter screen is detachably assembled to the flow path device so that the user can easily remove the filter screen from the flow path device or remove it from the flow path device for cleaning.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art can make some modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

100, 200‧‧‧ flow channel device

110‧‧‧ flow path

120‧‧‧Flow Obstruction Detection System

122‧‧‧fan

124‧‧‧Detection circuit

124a‧‧‧Operational Amplifier

124b‧‧‧ Analog-Digital Converter

124c‧‧‧ Firmware

130‧‧‧ warning device

140‧‧‧Speed Controller

250‧‧‧Filter

252‧‧‧filter holes

260‧‧‧Electronic components

1 is a partial perspective view of a flow path device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram of the flow channel device of FIG. 1.

3 is a circuit diagram of the flow channel resistance detecting system of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the steps of a method for detecting a channel obstruction according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a line graph showing the relationship between the pore size of the flow channel and the current value in Table 1. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the speed, intensity, and degree of obstruction of the flow path of the fan by using the monitoring software on the display.

Figure 7 is a line diagram of Table 2.

Figure 8 is a partial schematic view of a flow path device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

100‧‧‧Flow channel device

110‧‧‧ flow path

120‧‧‧Flow Obstruction Detection System

122‧‧‧fan

124‧‧‧Detection circuit

124a‧‧‧Operational Amplifier

124b‧‧‧ Analog-Digital Converter

124c‧‧‧ Firmware

130‧‧‧ warning device

140‧‧‧Speed Controller

Claims (11)

A method for detecting a blocked channel is suitable for detecting whether a first-class track in a first-class device is blocked. A fan is disposed in the channel device, and the fan is located in the channel, and the method for detecting the blocked channel includes: providing a specific voltage that causes the fan to rotate; and a detection circuit that detects a current value of the fan and determines the degree of resistance of the flow path from the current value. The method for detecting the obstruction of the flow channel as described in claim 1 of the patent application further includes determining whether to issue a warning according to the degree of obstruction of the flow channel. The method for detecting a channel obstruction as described in claim 2, wherein the method for issuing the alarm is displayed on a display, causing a lamp of the flow path device to emit light or using a speaker to sound. For example, the method for detecting a flow path of the first embodiment of the patent application includes the use of a speed controller to adjust the speed of the fan. For example, the method for detecting the resistance of the flow channel according to the first aspect of the patent application, the method for determining the degree of resistance of the flow channel includes establishing a database, and storing the current value of the fan in the database corresponding to the obstruction of the flow channel Degree of information. For example, in the method for detecting the blocked flow path described in claim 5, the database further stores a plurality of data corresponding to the current value of the fan at different rotational speeds corresponding to the degree of obstruction of the flow channel. A flow channel device comprising: a first-class track; a first-class track resistance detecting system disposed in the flow channel device, the flow channel The blocked detection system includes: a fan disposed in the flow channel, wherein a specific voltage drives the fan to rotate; and a detecting circuit electrically connected to the fan, the detecting circuit detecting a current value of the fan, To determine the degree of obstruction of the flow channel. The flow channel device of claim 7, wherein the detecting circuit comprises: an operational amplifier for amplifying the measured voltage drop; and an analog-to-digital converter electrically connected to the operational amplifier, Converting the voltage drop into a digital signal; and a firmware coupled to the analog-to-digital converter for comparing the digital signal to determine the degree of resistance of the flow path. The flow channel device of claim 7, further comprising a screen disposed in the flow channel, wherein the filter mesh has a plurality of filter holes. The flow path device of claim 9, wherein the filter screen is detachable from the flow path. The flow channel device of claim 7, further comprising a warning device electrically connected to the detection circuit for providing a warning.