TWI473476B - Network switch and method for preventing a network switch from overheating - Google Patents

Description

Network switch and method for preventing overheating of network switch

The present invention relates to a method of preventing overheating of a network switch, and more particularly to a method of preventing overheating of a network switch by reducing power consumption to avoid an excessive rise in ambient temperature.

When an Ethernet switch is connected to a network card, it will be connected at the highest speed that can be supported after the auto negotiation procedure; that is, the Ethernet with 1G bit speed When the network switch connection also has a network card that supports 1G bit speed, the Ethernet switch usually connects to the network card at a speed of 1G bit.

However, when the Ethernet switch is connected at a speed of 1 Gbit, the power consumption generated by the internal physical layer transfer chip (commonly known as the PHY chip) is compared with the power consumption at 100 Mbit. When connecting, it is very large; and once the power consumption of the Ethernet switch is increased, the internal temperature will be higher. In addition, when connected at high speed, the power consumption generated by the power supply inside the Ethernet switch increases, and the power supply temperature also rises.

Therefore, in order to avoid overheating of the Ethernet switch, most existing Ethernet switches currently have thermal sensors and fans; when the thermal sensor detects the ambient temperature inside the Ethernet switch, When the altitude is high, the control unit controls the fan speed increase to enhance the heat dissipation efficiency inside the Ethernet switch and achieve rapid cooling. This method can solve the problem of overheating of the existing temperature, but once the Ethernet switch is required to be used at a higher temperature, it must be combined with a fan with a higher speed or increased. The number of fans can achieve the corresponding cooling effect; thus, the hardware cost will increase and the user will be burdened.

Therefore, it is necessary to invent a new network switch to solve the lack of prior art.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a method for preventing overheating of a network switch by reducing power consumption.

Another main object of the present invention is to provide a network switch that can perform the above method

To achieve the above object, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the method of the present invention for preventing overheating of a network switch is applicable to a network switch. The network switch includes a plurality of switch ports and a signal conversion module, and the signal conversion module is configured to adjust the transmission speed of each switch. The method for preventing the network switch from overheating includes the steps of: detecting an ambient temperature inside or outside the network switch to obtain a first sensing temperature value; and determining whether the first sensing temperature value is greater than a temperature standard value; If the first sensing temperature value is greater than the temperature standard value, the signal conversion module reduces the transmission speed of at least one of the plurality of switching ports.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the method of the present invention for preventing overheating of a network switch is applicable to a network switch. The network switch includes a power supply module and a plurality of power transmission modules, and the power supply module is configured to supply power to at least one external connection device electrically connected to the transmission port. The method for preventing overheating of the network switch includes the steps of: detecting an ambient temperature inside or outside the network switch to obtain a first sensing temperature value; and determining whether the first sensing temperature value is It is greater than a temperature standard value; if the first sensing temperature value is greater than the temperature standard value, the power supply module is reduced or stopped to supply power to the external device.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the network switch of the present invention comprises a plurality of switching ports, a signal conversion module, a sensing module and a control unit. The signal conversion module is configured to adjust the transmission speed of the complex transfer port; the sensing module is configured to detect the ambient temperature inside or outside the network switch to obtain a first sensing temperature value; the control unit is configured to determine the first The sensing signal value is greater than a temperature standard value, and when the first sensing temperature value is greater than the temperature standard value, the control signal conversion module reduces the transmission speed of at least one of the plurality of switching ports.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the network switch of the present invention includes a plurality of transmission ports, a power supply module, a sensing module, and a control unit. The plurality of transmission ports are used for electrically connecting at least one external device; the power supply module is configured to supply power to the external device connected to the transmission port; and the sensing module is configured to sense an ambient temperature inside or outside the network switch. Obtaining a first sensing temperature value; the control unit is configured to determine whether the first sensing temperature value is greater than a temperature standard value, and when the first sensing temperature value is greater than the temperature standard value, controlling the power supply module to reduce or stop the pair The external device is powered.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more <

Please refer to Figure 1 first. 1 is a block diagram of a device of a network switch of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, in an embodiment of the present invention, the network of the present invention The switch 1 includes a plurality of switches 10, a signal conversion module 20, a power supply module 30, a power supply 40, a sensing module 50, and a control unit 60.

The plurality of adapters 10 are configured to provide at least one external device 90 to be plugged so that the data of each external device 90 can be exchanged through the network switch 1. In the specific embodiment of the present invention, the external device 90 is a wireless access point (AP or WAP), but the invention is not limited thereto.

The signal conversion module 20 is configured to convert the signal input by the external device 90 into an electrical signal, and the signal conversion module 20 can adjust the transmission speed of the plurality of switches 10 . Specifically, the signal conversion module 20 is a current physical layer transmission chip (ie, a PHY chip); the technical features and principles of using the physical layer to transmit a chip for signal conversion are currently known technologies, and are networks. The field of communication is familiar to those of ordinary skill and is not intended to be repeated here.

The power supply module 30 is configured to supply power to the external device 90 electrically connected to the adapter 10, so that when the external device 90 is plugged into the adapter 10, the network switch 1 can simultaneously transmit with the external device 90. The data is supplied to the external device 90. Specifically, the power supply module 30 of the present invention can enable the network switch 1 to simultaneously transmit power and data to the external device 90 through a twisted pair cable, and the technology is also a conventional technology, generally called an Ethernet network. Power Over Ethernet.

The power supply 40 is electrically connected to the signal conversion module 20 and the power supply module 30 for supplying power to the signal conversion module 20 and the power supply module 30.

In an embodiment of the invention, the sensing module 50 is configured to detect an ambient temperature inside the network switch 1 to obtain a sensed temperature value.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 60 is electrically connected to the signal conversion module 20, the power supply module 30, the power supply 40, and the sensing module 50. The control unit 60 is configured to determine the sensing module 50. The detected sensing temperature value is greater than a temperature standard value, and the signal conversion module 20 and the power supply module 30 are controlled according to different judgment results. The mechanism for the control unit 60 to specifically control the signal conversion module 20 and the power supply module 30 will be more clearly and clearly explained below, and therefore will not be described herein. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 60 is a central processing unit, but the invention is not limited thereto.

Next, please refer to FIG. 2, which is a flow chart showing the steps of the method for preventing overheating of the network switch according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In order to clearly illustrate the method for preventing overheating of the network switch of the present invention, the steps shown in FIG. 2 will be sequentially described in conjunction with the network switch 1 shown in FIG. However, it should be noted here that although the network switch 1 described above is taken as an example to illustrate the method for preventing overheating of the network switch of the present invention, the method for preventing overheating of the network switch of the present invention is not used. It is limited to the aforementioned network switch 1.

First, step 201 is performed: detecting an ambient temperature inside the network switch to obtain a first sensing temperature value.

When the network switch 1 is turned on and operated for a period of time, the power consumption is increased due to the increasing number of external devices 90 connected thereto, or the external environment temperature is increased, and the temperature inside the network switch 1 is affected. Therefore, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the sensing module 50 disposed inside the network switch 1 detects the ambient temperature inside the network switch 1 to obtain the first sensing temperature value, and The information of the first sensed temperature value is transmitted to the control unit 60 for interpretation.

Then proceed to step 202: determining whether the first sensed temperature value is greater than a temperature standard value.

After receiving the information of the first sensing temperature value, the control unit 60 further determines whether the first sensing temperature value is greater than a temperature standard value; wherein the temperature standard value is stored in the control unit 60 in advance, and the temperature component is high or low. Depending on the temperature range tolerated, for example, it can be set to 60 degrees Celsius.

Step 203 is executed to reduce the transmission speed of the at least one of the plurality of switches to a preset low speed from a preset high speed.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, once it is determined that the detected first sensing temperature value is greater than the temperature standard value, the control unit 60 transmits a control signal to the signal conversion module 20 to control the signal conversion mode. The group 20 reduces the transmission speed of at least one of the plurality of switches 10 from a predetermined high speed to a predetermined low speed, thereby reducing the power consumption of the network switch 1. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the preset high speed is a 1 G bit speed, and the preset low speed is a 100 M bit speed, but the invention is not limited thereto.

In a specific embodiment of the present invention, a part of the transfer port 10 has a priority, and when the signal conversion module 20 receives the control signal, it first makes the transfer without priority. The interface 10 reduces the transmission speed and maintains the transmission speed of the priority transfer port 10 at a preset high speed (priority to transmit at a high speed) to first reduce the power consumption of the network switch 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that the transfer port 10 of the external device 90 connected to the uppermost portion is set with priority. Once the signal conversion module 20 is to perform the speed reduction operation, it will first target the top of the connection. The transfer port 10 other than the transfer port 10 of the external device 90 is decelerated. Once the speed of the unrestricted transfer 埠 10 is reduced, the network switch 1 can be made inside. When the ambient temperature is lowered below the standard temperature value, the transfer speed of the transfer port 10 connecting the uppermost external device 90 is no longer reduced; otherwise, if the ambient temperature inside the network switch 1 cannot be lowered to the temperature When the standard value is below, the transfer speed of the transfer port 10 connecting the uppermost external device 90 is further reduced to a preset low speed (ie, step 208).

When the first sensing temperature value is not greater than the temperature standard value, the control unit 60 does not generate the control signal, and the transmission speed of the plurality of switching ports 10 is maintained at the preset high speed, and the sensing module 50 continues to detect. The ambient temperature inside the network switch 1 is measured (ie, step 201 is performed).

Step 204: Detecting an ambient temperature inside the network switch to obtain a second sensed temperature value.

After the transmission speed of the transfer port 10 has been lowered to the preset low speed, the sensing module 50 will continue to detect the ambient temperature change inside the network switch 1 to obtain the second sensed temperature value, and the second The information of the sensed temperature value is transmitted to the control unit 60.

Step 205 is performed: determining whether the second sensing temperature value is greater than a temperature standard value.

When the control unit 60 receives the information of the second sensing temperature value, it also judges whether the currently measured ambient temperature (ie, the second sensing temperature value) is greater than the temperature standard value, and performs separately according to the difference of the judgment results. Step 206 or step 207.

Go to step 206: Raise the transmission speed of the transfer port from the preset low speed to the preset high speed.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, once the second sensing temperature is determined When the value is not greater than the temperature standard value, it means that the ambient temperature inside the network switch 1 has been effectively reduced by the execution of the pre-extracting step, so when the second sensing temperature value is no longer greater than the temperature standard value, the control unit 60 The control signal conversion module 20 will return the transmission speed of the decelerated transfer port 10 from the preset low speed to the preset high speed, so that each transfer port 10 can transmit at the optimum speed.

Step 207 is performed to determine whether the transmission speeds of the plurality of transfer ports have been lowered from the preset high speed to the preset low speed.

When it is determined in step 205 that the second sensing temperature value is greater than the temperature standard value, it means that the internal temperature of the network switch 1 is not effectively reduced after performing step 203, so it is necessary to try to reduce the power consumption again. The ambient temperature inside the network switch 1 is also reduced by reducing power consumption. In the first embodiment of the present invention, once the second sensing temperature value is greater than the temperature standard value, the control unit 60 first determines whether the transmission speeds of the plurality of switching ports 10 have all been lowered from the preset high speed to the preset low speed. If the transmission speeds of the plurality of switches 10 are not all reduced from the preset high speed to the preset low speed, that is, only some of the network switches 1 are decelerated in step 203, step 208 is performed; Then step 209 is performed.

Go to step 208: reduce the transmission speed of the transmission 未 whose transmission speed has not decreased to the preset low speed to the preset low speed.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, when the transmission speeds of the plurality of switches 10 are not all reduced from the preset high speed to the preset low speed, the control unit 60 transmits the control signal to the signal conversion module 20 at this time to The signal conversion module 20 reduces the number of the transfer ports 10 that have not been decelerated from a preset high speed to a preset low speed, in order to reduce the power consumption of the network switch 1 by reducing the power consumption of the network switch 1 again. The ambient temperature inside the circuit exchanger 1. After the step 208 is completed, the sensing module 50 continues to detect the ambient temperature inside the network switch 1, and the control unit 60 determines whether the ambient temperature inside the network switch 1 is still greater than the temperature standard value. 204 and step 205).

Go to step 209: Stop the power supply module to stop supplying power to the external device.

As described above, when the external device 90 is electrically connected to the transfer port 10, the network switch 1 can transmit the data to and from the external device 90 through the transfer port 10, and simultaneously supply power to the external device 90. In the first embodiment of the present invention, once the transfer port 10 has been lowered from the preset high speed to the preset low speed, and the ambient temperature inside the network switch 1 is still too high, the control unit 60 can control the power supply. The module 30 stops supplying power to all of the external devices 90, thereby reducing the power consumption of the power supply 40, thereby attempting to reduce the ambient temperature inside the network switch 1. It should be noted that, in the first embodiment of the present invention, step 209 stops power supply to the "all" external device 90, but the invention is not limited thereto; or, as described above, the priority is set. The external external device 90 stops supplying power depending on the ambient temperature state. In addition, it is also possible to reduce the amount of power supply to reduce the power consumption, and it is not necessary to completely stop the power supply.

After the power supply module 30 stops supplying power to the external device 90, the sensing module 50 continues to detect the ambient temperature inside the network switch 1. Once the measured temperature has decreased to less than the temperature standard value, the control unit 60 first causes the power supply module 30 to return to the external device 90 for power supply; if the measured ambient temperature continues to be less than the temperature standard value, then the switch is turned The transmission speed of the interface 10 is restored from the preset low speed to the preset high speed.

Finally, please refer to Figure 3. It is a prevention net of the second embodiment of the present invention. A flow chart of the steps of the method for overheating the switch. Different from the foregoing first embodiment, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the network switch 1 reduces power consumption only by stopping the power supply to the external device 90. The specific implementation method is described in detail below.

First, step 301 is performed: detecting an ambient temperature inside the network switch to obtain a first sensing temperature.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the sensing module 50 first detects the ambient temperature inside the network switch 1 to obtain the first sensing temperature, and transmits the information of the first sensing temperature value to the control. Unit 60.

Step 302 is performed: determining whether the first sensing temperature value is greater than a temperature standard value.

After the control unit 60 obtains the information of the first sensing temperature value, it is determined whether the first sensing temperature value is greater than a temperature standard value as a basis for whether to perform step 303.

Go to step 303: Stop the power supply module to stop supplying power to the external device.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, once the first sensing temperature value is greater than the temperature standard value, in order to reduce the power consumption generated by the network switch 1, the control unit 60 controls the power supply module 30 to stop all the external devices. 90 power supply. However, it should be noted that, in the same way, the external device 90 can also set the priority order according to its importance, so that the power supply module 30 first stops supplying power to the external device 90 without priority, and then fails to effectively cool down. Then, the power supply module 30 stops the power supply to all the external devices 90.

Go to step 304: Detect the ambient temperature inside the network switch to obtain the second sensing temperature.

Similarly, after the power consumption is reduced, the sensing module 50 still detects the ambient temperature inside the network switch 1 again to obtain the second sensing temperature, and transmits the information of the second sensing temperature value to Control unit 60.

Step 305 is performed: determining whether the second sensing temperature value is greater than a temperature standard value.

When the control unit 60 receives the information of the second sensing temperature value, it is again determined whether the current ambient temperature inside the network switch 1 is greater than the temperature standard value; once the second sensing temperature value continues to be greater than the temperature standard value, the power supply mode The group 30 will continue to maintain the power supply to the external device 90, and the sensing module 50 will continue to detect changes in the ambient temperature inside the network switch 1 (ie, step 304 is performed).

Go to step 306: The power supply module is returned to the external device for power supply.

On the contrary, once the second sensing temperature value is no longer greater than the temperature standard value, the control unit 60 controls the power supply module 30 to restore the power supply of the external device 90. After the power is restored, the sensing module 50 continuously detects the change of the ambient temperature inside the network switch 1 (ie, step 301 is performed).

It should be noted here that the method for preventing overheating of the network switch of the present invention is not limited to the above-described sequence of steps, and the order of the above steps may be changed as long as the object of the present invention can be achieved.

To sum up, the present invention, regardless of its purpose, means and efficacy, shows its distinctive features of the prior art. You are requested to review the examination and express the patent as soon as possible. It should be noted that the above various embodiments are merely examples for convenience of explanation, and the present invention is The scope of the claims is subject to the scope of the patent application and is not limited to the above embodiments.

1‧‧‧Network Switch

10‧‧‧Transfer

20‧‧‧Signal Conversion Module

30‧‧‧Power supply module

40‧‧‧Power supply

50‧‧‧Sensor module

60‧‧‧Control unit

90‧‧‧External devices

1 is a block diagram of a device of a network switch of the present invention.

2 is a flow chart showing the steps of a method for preventing overheating of a network switch in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flow chart showing the steps of a method for preventing overheating of a network switch in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (7)

A method for preventing overheating of a network switch is applicable to a network switch, where the network switch includes a plurality of switch ports, a power supply module, and a signal conversion module, wherein the power supply module is configured to use at least one power The signal is connected to the external device for power supply, and the signal conversion module is configured to adjust a transmission speed of each of the transfer ports. The method includes the following steps: detecting an environment inside or outside the network switch Temperature, to obtain a first sensing temperature value; determining whether the first sensing temperature value is greater than a temperature standard value; if yes, causing the signal conversion module to reduce at least one of the plurality of switching ports The transmission speed; detecting an ambient temperature inside or outside the network switch to obtain a second sensing temperature value; determining whether the second sensing temperature value is greater than the temperature standard value; if not, The transmission speed of the at least one switching speed of the speed reduction is increased; and if so, the power supply module is reduced or stopped to supply power to the at least one external device. The method for preventing overheating of a network switch according to claim 1, wherein the step of causing the signal conversion module to reduce the transmission speed of at least one of the plurality of transfer ports is such that The transmission speed of the transfer port is reduced from a preset high speed to a preset low speed. The method for preventing overheating of a network switch according to claim 1, wherein when the second sensing temperature value is greater than the temperature standard value, Before the power supply module reduces or stops power supply to the at least one external device, the method further includes the following steps: determining whether the transmission speed of the plurality of transmissions has been reduced; if not, transferring the transmission speed without decreasing The transmission speed of the crucible is reduced; and if so, the power supply module is reduced or stopped to supply power to the at least one external device. A network switch includes: a plurality of power transfer modules; a power supply module for supplying power to at least one external connection device electrically connected to the plurality of transmission ports; and a signal conversion module for adjusting the complex transfer a transmission speed; a sensing module for detecting an ambient temperature inside or outside the network switch to obtain a first sensing temperature value; and a control unit for determining the first sensing Whether the temperature value is greater than a temperature standard value, and when the first sensing temperature value is greater than the temperature standard value, controlling the signal conversion module to reduce the transmission speed of at least one of the plurality of switching ports, The sensing module continues to detect to obtain a second sensing temperature value, and the control unit is further configured to determine whether the second sensing temperature value is greater than the temperature standard value, and the second sensing temperature value is greater than When the temperature standard value is controlled, the power supply module is controlled to reduce or stop supplying power to the at least one external device. The network switch of claim 4, wherein the step of controlling the signal conversion module to reduce the transmission speed of at least one of the plurality of transfer ports is such that the transfer is performed. The transmission speed is reduced from a preset high speed to a preset low speed. The network switch of claim 4, wherein the control unit controls the signal conversion module to increase the at least one revolution of the decelerated speed when the second sensing temperature value is not greater than the temperature standard value. The transmission speed of the interface. The network switch according to claim 4, wherein when the second sensing temperature value is greater than the temperature standard value, before the power supply module reduces or stops power supply to the at least one external device, The control unit is further configured to determine whether the transmission speed of the plurality of transfer ports has been reduced, and control the power supply module to reduce or stop the at least one external device when the transmission speed of the plurality of transfer ports has all decreased powered by.