Temperature abnormality detector for electronic apparatus

• US 5,255,149 A
• Filed: 02/19/1992
• Issued: 10/19/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Matsuo, Yoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): DEBOER, TODD
• Application Number:
  US07/836,907
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 361/103, 361/106, 361/25, 361/27, 307/117, 374/110, 374/166
• US Class Current: 361/103
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/005 Circuits arrangements for indicating a predetermined temperature fire detection G08B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/03 with multiple-channel loop, i.e. redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0754 by exceeding limits

Abstract

According to this invention, in a temperature abnormality detector, an electronic apparatus can be continuously operated without halt, a failure of a sensor can be reliably detected, and power supply is interrupted to protect the electronic apparatus when the temperature of the electronic apparatus really reaches a high temperature. In addition, a highly reliable electronic apparatus which is not halted by erroneous detection can be provided, and repairing of the apparatus can be completed within a short time. Even when the apparatus fails, it can be easily restored.

The detector includes a plurality of temperature sensors arranged on an electronic part, a switching circuit for receiving output signals from the temperature sensors, a converting circuit for converting the output signals from the temperature sensors into temperature values, a microprocessor, output circuits of the microprocessor, and a ROM for storing a program for operating the microprocessor.

Claims

1. A temperature abnormality detector for an electronic apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of temperature sensors arranged near a heat-generating electronic part mounted on an electronic apparatus;

first discriminating means for determining a sensor failure when a temperature value measured by one selected temperature sensor from said plurality of temperature sensors is not set within a predetermined range;

second discriminating means for determining whether the measured temperature value reaches a first level set within the predetermined range and a second level set as a value larger than that of the first level;

third discriminating means for determining a sensor failure when the measured value reaches the second level without passing through the first level on the basis of an output from said second discriminating means;

switching means for switching said selected temperature sensor from said temperature sensors to another temperature sensor of said plurality of temperature sensors in response to sensor-failure outputs from said first and third discriminating means; and

halt means for interrupting power supply to said electronic part and halting said electronic apparatus when the measured temperature value reaches the first level and then the second level on the basis of an output from said second discriminating means.

2. A detector according to claim 1, further comprising means for outputting a first-level high-temperature informing signal when the measured temperature value reaches the first level but does not reach the second level.

3. A detector according to claim 1, further comprising means for outputting a second-level high-temperature informing signal when the measured temperature value reaches the first level and then the second level.

4. A detector according to claim 1, further comprising means for outputting a sensor abnormality informing signal in response to the sensor-failure outputs from said first and third discriminating means, so that said electronic apparatus is continuously operated.

5. A detector according to claim 1, wherein said electronic apparatus is continuously operated even after said temperature sensors are selectively switched by said switching means.

6. A detector according to claim 1, wherein said first to third discriminating means and said halt means are constituted by a microprocessor, and said switching means is constituted by a multiplexer, and further comprising an A/D converter for converting an analog output from said multiplexer into a digital signal and outputting the digital signal to said microprocessor.

7. A detector according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of temperature sensors are two semiconductor temperature sensors each having an output voltage changed in accordance with a temperature.

8. A detector according to claim 1, further comprising memory means for storing data representing that the measured temperature value reaches the first level by an output from said second discriminating means, so that said third discriminating means performs discrimination with reference to a content stored in said memory means.

9. A detector according to claim 1, further comprising cooling means for cooling said electronic part, so that said halt means detects a high temperature of said electronic part caused by abnormality of a cooling system to designate to interrupt power supply to said electronic apparatus.

10. A temperature abnormality detector for an electronic apparatus, comprising:

a temperature sensor arranged near a heat-generating electronic part mounted on an electronic apparatus;

first discriminating means for determining a sensor failure when a temperature value measured by said temperature sensor does not fall within a predetermined range;

second discriminating means for determining whether the measured temperature value reaches first level set within the predetermined range and second level set as a value larger than that of the first level;

third discriminating means for determining a sensor failure when the measured value reaches the second level without passing through the first level on the basis of an output from said second discriminating means; and

halt means for interrupting power supply to said electronic part and halting said electronic apparatus when the measured temperature value reaches the first level and then the second level on the basis of the output from said second discriminating means.