Fan motor speed control circuit, fan apparatus, and electronic apparatus

• US 8,035,333 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries LLC (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries LLC (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Inventors: Harashima, Takashi, Yoshitomi, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): COLON SANTANA, EDUARDO
• Application Number:
  US12/147,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20090009122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 318/400.01, 318/400.03, 318/400.06, 318/779, 318/798, 318/799, 318/805, 318/807, 318/810, 318/811, 318/471, 318/700, 388/809, 388/811, 388/816, 388/819, 388/822, 388/829, 388/934
• US Class Current: 318/799
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/2913 whereby the speed is regulated by measuring the motor speed and comparing it with a given physical value
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 388/934 Thermal condition

Abstract

A fan motor speed control circuit includes: a driving circuit configured to drive a fan motor so as to run at a rotation speed corresponding to a drive signal; a comparison circuit configured to output a comparison signal for matching a rotation speed of the fan motor with a target rotation speed, based on a reference signal corresponding to the target rotation speed of the fan motor and a speed signal corresponding to the rotation speed of the fan motor; and a selection circuit configured to output to the driving circuit the drive signal corresponding to one signal out of the reference signal and the comparison signal, the one signal being a signal by which the fan motor is driven at a higher rotation speed.

Claims

1. A fan motor speed control circuit comprising:

a driving circuit configured to drive a fan motor so as to run at a rotation speed corresponding to a drive signal;

a comparison circuit configured to output a comparison signal for matching a rotation speed of the fan motor with a target rotation speed, based on a reference signal corresponding to the target rotation speed of the fan motor and a speed signal corresponding to the rotation speed of the fan motor; and

a selection circuit to which the reference signal corresponding to the target rotation speed of the fan motor and the comparison signal output from the comparison circuit are input, the selection circuit configured to select one signal out of the reference signal and the comparison signal and output to the driving circuit the drive signal corresponding to the one signal, the one signal being a signal by which the fan motor is driven at a higher rotation speed.

2. The fan motor speed control circuit of claim 1,

wherein the reference signal and the comparison signal are a voltage signal,

wherein the selection circuit comprises:

a first transistor whose control electrode is to be input with the reference signal;

a second transistor whose control electrode is to be input with the comparison signal; and

a bias current source connected in series to the first transistor and the second transistor so that a voltage corresponding to one signal out of the reference signal and the comparison signal is output from one electrode out of two electrodes different from the control electrode of the first transistor and the second transistor, the one signal being a signal by which the fan motor is driven at a higher rotation speed, and the one electrode being an electrode for controlling a conduction state together with the control electrode, and

wherein the drive signal is a voltage signal corresponding to the voltage output to the one electrode of the first transistor and the second transistor.

3. The fan motor speed control circuit of claim 2,

wherein the driving circuit comprises:

an oscillating circuit configured to output a triangular wave oscillating at a predetermined frequency;

a comparator configured to generate a PWM signal based on the triangular wave and the drive signal; and

an output circuit configured to drive the fan motor based on the PWM signal.

4. A fan apparatus comprising:

a fan;

a fan motor configured to drive the fan;

a driving circuit configured to drive the fan motor so as to run at a rotation speed corresponding to a drive signal;

a comparison circuit configured to output a comparison signal for matching a rotation speed of the fan motor with a target rotation speed, based on a reference signal corresponding to the target rotation speed of the fan motor and a speed signal corresponding to the rotation speed of the fan motor; and

a selection circuit to which the reference signal corresponding to the target rotation speed of the fan motor and the comparison signal output from the comparison circuit are input, the selection circuit configured to select one signal out of the reference signal and the comparison signal and output to the driving circuit the drive signal corresponding to the one signal, the one signal being a signal by which the fan motor is driven at a higher rotation speed.

5. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a fan;

a part to be cooled by the fan;

a fan motor configured to drive the fan;

a driving circuit configured to drive the fan motor so as to run at a rotation speed corresponding to a drive signal;

a comparison circuit configured to output a comparison signal for matching a rotation speed of the fan motor with a target rotation speed, based on a reference signal corresponding to the target rotation speed of the fan motor and a speed signal corresponding to the rotation speed of the fan motor; and

a selection circuit to which the reference signal corresponding to the target rotation speed of the fan motor and the comparison signal output from the comparison circuit are input, the selection circuit configured to select one signal out of the reference signal and the comparison signal and output to the driving circuit the drive signal corresponding to the one signal, the one signal being a signal by which the fan motor is driven at a higher rotation speed.