COMPUTER AND CONTROL METHOD FOR SMART FAN THEREOF

• US 20140054024A1
• Filed: 12/11/2012
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MSI Computer Company Limited (Micro-Star International Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: MSI Electronics Company Limited (Micro-Star International Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: CHEN, Chung-Wei, WU, Wei-Cheng
• Granted Patent: US 8,761,956 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/247
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/185 with auxiliary non-electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20209 Thermal management, e.g. fan control
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20836 Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A computer and a control method for smart fan thereof are provided, wherein the computer includes a processor configured to control a smart fan under an UETFI bios mode. A sensed temperature value from a temperature sensor, and a current speed value of the smart fan are acquired. A real-time temperature curve and a real-time speed curve are traced in a dynamic updating zone of a graphical interface respectively according to the current temperature and the current speed value. A first control point and a second control point, which correspond to the smart fan, are obtained via a control zone of the graphical interface. A control curve is traced in the graphical interface according to the first and second control points. The speed of the smart fan is controlled according to the control curve.

Claims

1. A control method, adapted to control at least one smart fan in a computer in a UNIFIED EXTENSIBLE FIRMWARE INTERFACE BASIC INPUT OUTPUT SYSTEM mode, comprising:

acquiring a sensed temperature value from at least one temperature sensor, and acquiring a current speed value of the at least one smart fan;

tracing a real-time temperature curve and a real-time speed curve in a dynamic updating zone of a graphical interface respectively according to the sensed temperature value and the current speed value;

obtaining a first control point and a second control point, which correspond to the at least one smart fan, through a control zone of the graphical interface;

tracing a control curve in the graphical interface according to the second control point and the first control point; and

controlling the speed of the at least one smart fan according to the control curve,

wherein an amount of the at least one temperature sensor is a plural, and the control method further comprises;

receiving a first switch instruction triggered by one of a plurality of sensor switch icons of the graphical interface, the sensor switch icons corresponding to the temperature sensors respectively, and the first switch instruction dictating one of the temperature sensors;

acquiring the sensed temperature value from the dictated temperature sensor; and

tracing the real-time temperature curve, which corresponds to the dictated temperature sensor, in the dynamic updating zone of the graphical interface according to the sensed temperature value from the dictated temperature sensor.

2. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the real-time temperature curve shows states of the sensed temperature value during a preset period, and the real-time speed curve shows states of the current speed value during the preset period.

5. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the first control point corresponds to a first control temperature value and a first control speed value respectively, and the second control point corresponds to a second control temperature value and a second control speed value respectively.

6. The control method according to claim 5, wherein the first control temperature value, the first control speed value, the second control temperature value and the second control speed value are acquired, and the first control temperature value, the first control speed value, the second control temperature value and the second control speed value are set by a plurality of sliding bars or a plurality of pull down menus in the control zone.

7. The control method according to claim 5, wherein a control slop of the control curve is set as follows:

8. The control method according to claim 7, wherein the step of controlling the speed of the at least one smart fan according to the control curve comprises:

determining whether the first control speed value is smaller than a preset lower speed limit value, or determining whether the second control speed value is greater than a preset upper speed limit value;

issuing an alerting message and then controlling the speed of the at least one smart fan according to the control slop when the first control speed value is smaller than the preset lower speed limit value or when the second control speed value is greater than the preset upper speed limit value; and

controlling the speed of the at least one smart fan according to the control slop when the first control speed value is greater than or equal to the preset lower speed limit value and when the second control speed value is smaller than or equal to the preset upper speed limit value.

9. The control method according to claim 5, wherein a control slop of the control curve is set as follows:

10. The control method according to claim 9, wherein the step of controlling the speed of the at least one smart fan according to the control curve comprises:

determining whether the first control speed value is smaller than a preset lower speed limit value, or determining whether the second control speed value is grater than a preset upper speed limit value;

issuing an alerting message and then controlling the speed of the at least one smart fan according to the control slop when the first control, speed value is smaller than the preset lower speed limit value or when the second control speed value is greater than the preset upper speed limit value; and

controlling the speed of the at least one smart fan according to the control slop when the first control speed value is grater than or equal to the preset lower speed limit value and when the second control speed value is smaller than or equal to the preset upper speed limit value.

11. The control method according to claim 1, wherein a dictating mode corresponding to the first control point and the second control point, is selected via a plurality of sliding bars or a plurality of pull down menus in the control zone.

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

12. A computer, comprising:

at least one smart fan;

at least one temperature sensor; and

a processor, configured to perform a control method comprising;

acquiring a sensed temperature value from the at least one temperature sensor, and acquiring a current speed value of the at least one smart fan;

tracing a real-time temperature curve and a real-time speed curve in a dynamic updating zone of a graphical interface respectively according to the sensed temperature value and the current speed value;

obtaining a first control point and a second control point, which correspond to the at least one smart fan, via a control zone of the graphical interface;

tracing a control curve in the graphical interface according to the second control point and the first control point; and

controlling the speed of the at least one smart fan according to the control curve,

wherein an amount of the at least one temperature sensor is plural, and the control method further comprises;

receiving a first switch instruction which dictates one of the temperature sensors and is triggered by one of a plurality of sensor switch icons in the graphical interface, the sensor switch icons corresponding to the temperature sensors respectively;

acquiring the sensed temperature value from the dictated temperature sensor; and

tracing the real-time temperature curve, which corresponds to the dictated temperature sensor, in the dynamic updating, zone of the graphical interface according to the sensed temperature value from the dictated temperature sensor.

13. The computer according to claim 12, wherein the real-time temperature curve shows states of the sensed temperature value during a preset period, and the real-time speed curve shows states of the sensed temperature value and the current speed value during the preset period.

16. The computer according to claim 12, wherein the first control point corresponds to a first control temperature value and a first control speed value respectively, and the second control point corresponds to a second control temperature value and a second control speed value respectively.

17. The computer according to claim 16, wherein the first control temperature value, the first control speed value, the second control temperature value and the second control speed value are acquired, and the first control temperature value, the first control speed value, the second control temperature value and the second control speed value are set by a plurality of sliding bars or a plurality of pull down menus in the control zone.

18. The computer according to claim 16, wherein a control slop of the control curve is set as follows:

19. The computer according to claim 18, wherein the step of controlling the speed of the at least one smart fan according to the control curve comprises:

determining whether the first control speed value is smaller than a preset lower speed limit value, or determining whether the second control speed value is greater than a preset upper speed limit value;

issuing an alerting message and then controlling the speed of the at least one smart fan according to the control slop when the first control speed value is smaller than the preset lower speed limit value or when the second control speed value is greater than the preset upper speed limit value; and

controlling the speed of the at least one smart fan according to the control slop when the first control speed value is greater than or equal to the preset lower speed limit value and when the second control speed value is smaller than or equal to the preset upper speed limit value.

20. The computer according to claim 16, wherein a control slop of the control curve is set as follows:

21. The computer according to claim 20, wherein the step of controlling the speed of the at least one smart fan according to the control curve comprises:

determining whether the first control speed value is smaller than a preset lower speed limit value, or determining whether the second control speed value is greater than a preset upper speed limit value;

issuing an alerting message and then controlling the speed of the at least one smart fan according to the control slop when the first control speed value is smaller than the preset lower speed limit value or when the second control speed value is greater than the preset upper speed limit value; and

controlling the speed of the at least one smart fan according to the control slop when the first control speed value is greater than or equal to the preset lower speed limit value and when the second control speed value is smaller than or equal to the preset upper speed limit value.

22. The computer according to claim 12, wherein a dictating mode, which corresponds to the first control point and the second control point, is selected via a plurality of sliding bars or a plurality of pull down menus in the control zone.

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

23. A control method, adapted to control at least one smart fan in a computer in a UNIFIED EXTENSIBLE FIRMWARE INTERFACE BASIC INPUT OUTPUT SYSTEM mode, comprising:

acquiring a sensed temperature value from at least one temperature sensor, and acquiring a current speed value of the at least one smart fan;

tracing a real-time temperature curve and a real-time speed curve in a dynamic updating zone of a graphical interface respectively according to the sensed temperature value and the current speed value;

obtaining a first control point and a second control point, which correspond to the at least one smart fan, through a control zone of the graphical interface;

tracing a control curve in the graphical interface according to the second control point and the first control point; and

controlling the speed of the at least one smart fan according to the control curve

wherein an amount of the at least one temperature sensor is plural, and the control method further comprises;

receiving a second switch instruction which dictates one of the smart fans and is triggered by one of a plurality of fan switch icons in the graphical interface, and the fan switch icons corresponding to the smart fans respectively;

acquiring the current speed value of the dictated smart fan; and

tracing the real-time speed curve, which corresponds to the dictated smart fan, in the dynamic updating zone of the graphical interface according to the current speed value of the dictated smart fan.

24. A computer, comprising:

at least one smart fan;

at least one temperature sensor; and

a processor, configured to perform a control method comprising;

acquiring a sensed temperature value from the at least one temperature sensor, and acquiring a current speed value of the at least one smart fan;

tracing a real-time temperature curve and a real-time speed curve in a dynamic updating zone of a graphical interface respectively according to the sensed temperature value and the current speed value;

obtaining a first control point and a second control point, which correspond to the at least one smart fan, via a control zone of the graphical interface;

tracing a control curve in the graphical interface according to the second control point and the first control point; and

controlling the speed of the at least one smart fan according to the control curve

wherein an amount of the at least one smart fan is plural, and the control method further comprises;

receiving a second switch instruction which dictates one of the smart fans and is triggered by one of a plurality of fan switch icons in the graphical interface, and the fan switch icons corresponding to the smart fans respectively;

acquiring the current speed value of the dictated smart fan; and

tracing the real-time speed curve, which corresponds to the dictated smart fan;

in the dynamic updating zone of the graphical interface according to the current speed value of the dictated smart fan.