WIND SPEED DETECTING CIRCUIT CAPABLE OF DETECTING THE TIMING FOR REPLACING DUST-PROOF ELEMENT OF ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20100206065A1
• Filed: 02/12/2010
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Chang, Ren-Chun, Hsiao, Wu-Hua
• Granted Patent: US 8,061,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/170.120
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 5/10 by measuring thermal variables
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20181 Filters; Louvers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20572 within cabinets for removing heat from sub-racks, e.g. plenum

Abstract

A wind speed detecting circuit includes a heating unit, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, a control unit and a driving unit. The first temperature sensor detects a first temperature of an internal portion of an electronic device, thereby generating a first detecting signal. The second temperature sensor detects a second temperature of the heating unit, thereby generating a second detecting signal. The control unit generates a modulation signal according to the first detecting signal and the second detecting signal. In response to the modulation signal, the driving unit generates a driving signal to control operations of the heating unit, so that a temperature difference between the first temperature and the second temperature is maintained constant. A specified relation between the wind speed and the modulation signal facilitates discriminating whether a dust-proof element of the electronic device needs to be replaced.

Claims

1. A wind speed detecting circuit for detecting a wind speed of an airflow passing through a dust-proof element of an electronic device, said wind speed detecting circuit comprising:

a heating unit;

a first temperature sensor for detecting a first temperature of an internal portion of said electronic device, thereby generating a first detecting signal;

a second temperature sensor connected with said heating unit for detecting a second temperature of said heating unit, thereby generating a second detecting signal;

a control unit connected with said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor for generating a modulation signal according to said first detecting signal and said second detecting signal; and

a driving unit connected with said heating unit and said control unit for generating a driving signal to control operations of said heating unit in response to said modulation signal, so that a temperature difference between said first temperature and said second temperature is maintained constant,

wherein a specified relation between said wind speed and said modulation signal facilitates discriminating whether said dust-proof element needs to be replaced.

2. The wind speed detecting circuit according to claim 1 wherein said wind speed and a duty cycle of said modulation signal comply with a linear relation.

3. The wind speed detecting circuit according to claim 1 wherein said wind speed and a duty cycle of said modulation signal comply with a nonlinear relation, which is realized according to a look-up table.

4. The wind speed detecting circuit according to claim 1 wherein said heating unit includes at least a resistor.

5. The wind speed detecting circuit according to claim 4 wherein said resistor is a metal oxide film resistor.

6. The wind speed detecting circuit according to claim 1 wherein said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor are temperature-sensing integrated circuits.

7. The wind speed detecting circuit according to claim 1 wherein said control unit includes a difference amplifying circuit connected with said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor, wherein said difference amplifying circuit generates a difference amplifying signal according to a comparing result by comparing said first detecting signal with said second detecting signal.

8. The wind speed detecting circuit according to claim 7 wherein said control unit further includes a micro controller connected with said difference amplifying circuit and said driving circuit for adjusting a duty cycle of said modulation signal according to said difference amplifying signal.

9. The wind speed detecting circuit according to claim 1 further comprising a humidity detecting unit connected with said control unit for detecting a humidity in said internal portion of said electronic device, wherein said humidity detecting unit generates a first compensating signal indicative of said humidity to said control unit, and said control unit adjusts a duty cycle of said modulation signal according to said first compensating signal.

10. The wind speed detecting circuit according to claim 1 further comprising a rotating speed detecting unit connected with said control unit for detecting a rotating speed of said fan according to a current or a voltage generated during rotation of said fan, wherein said rotating speed detecting unit generates a second compensating signal indicative of said rotating speed to said control unit, and said control unit adjusts a duty cycle of said modulation signal according to said second compensating signal.

11. The wind speed detecting circuit according to claim 1 further comprising a warning unit connected with said control unit for issuing a warning signal.

12. The wind speed detecting circuit according to claim 11 wherein when a duty cycle of said modulation signal is below a first threshold value, said warning unit issues said warning signal.

13. The wind speed detecting circuit according to claim 12 wherein when said duty cycle of said modulation signal is below said first threshold value and said duty cycle of said modulation signal has been continuously below a second threshold value for a certain time interval, said warning unit issues said warning signal.

14. The wind speed detecting circuit according to claim 1 wherein said modulation signal is a pulse width modulation signal.

15. An electronic device comprising:

a fan for inducing an airflow;

a dust-proof element facing to said fan for obstructing dust contained in said airflow; and

an electronic wind speed detecting device having a wind speed detecting circuit for detecting said airflow passing through said dust-proof element at a lower wind speed ranged from 0 to 6 m/s and discriminating whether said dust-proof element needs to be replaced.

16. The electronic device according to claim 15 wherein said dust-proof element is a filter.

17. The electronic device according to claim 15 wherein said wind speed detecting circuit comprises:

a heating unit;

a first temperature sensor for detecting a first temperature of an internal portion of said electronic device, thereby generating a first detecting signal;

a second temperature sensor connected with said heating unit for detecting a second temperature of said heating unit, thereby generating a second detecting signal;

a control unit connected with said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor for generating a modulation signal according to said first detecting signal and said second detecting signal; and

a driving unit connected with said heating unit and said control unit for generating a driving signal to control operations of said heating unit in response to said modulation signal, so that a temperature difference between said first temperature and said second temperature is maintained constant,

wherein a specified relation between said wind speed and said modulation signal facilitates discriminating whether said dust-proof element needs to be replaced.

18. The electronic device according to claim 17 wherein said control unit includes a difference amplifying circuit connected with said first temperature sensor and said second temperature sensor, wherein said difference amplifying circuit generates a difference amplifying signal according to a comparing result by comparing said first detecting signal with said second detecting signal.

19. The electronic device according to claim 18 wherein said control unit further includes a micro controller connected with said difference amplifying circuit and said driving circuit for adjusting a duty cycle of said modulation signal according to said difference amplifying signal.

20. The electronic device according to claim 17 wherein said wind speed and a duty cycle of said modulation signal comply with a linear relation or a nonlinear relation, which is realized according to a look-up table.