Patent Application
20140340224
1. Technical Field
The disclosure generally relates to methods and systems for monitoring dust levels of fans.
2. Description of Related Art
A plurality of fans may be used to dissipate heat generated by servers. However, dust accumulates on the fans may affect operation of the fans. However, it may be inconvenient to check the fans regularly. Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.
Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the views.
The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references can mean “at least one.”
In general, the word “module,” as used herein, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language such as Java, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware, such as in an erasable-programmable read-only memory (EPROM). The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium or other storage device. Some non-limiting examples of non-transitory computer-readable media are compact discs (CDs), digital versatile discs (DVDs), Blu-Ray discs, Flash memory, and hard disk drives.
Each of the sensing units 200 is configured to sense the dust level of a corresponding fan 300. Each of the plurality of sensing units 200 includes a sensor 201, an amplifying circuit 202, and an analog to digital (A/D) converter 203. The sensor 201 is coupled to the amplifying circuit 202 and senses the dust level of the corresponding fan 300. The sensor 201 sends a measurement signal of the dust level to the amplifying circuit 202. The amplifying circuit 202 is coupled to the A/D converter 203 and amplifies the measurement signal and sends the amplified measurement signal to the A/D converter 203. The A/D converter 203 is coupled to the data processing control unit 100. The A/D converter 203 converts the amplified measurement signal, which is in the form of an analog signal, to a digital signal and sends the converted measurement signal to the data processing control unit 100.
The data processing control unit 100 includes a determining unit 101, a fan information obtaining unit 102, and a mode switching unit 103. The determining unit 101 determines whether the converted measurement signal is greater than a threshold value. If the converted measurement signal is greater than the threshold value, the fan information obtaining unit 102 obtains information of corresponding fan 300, each fan 300 has a code number, for example. The determining unit 101 further determines if the converted measurement signal is greater than a predetermined value larger than the threshold value. If the converted measurement signal is greater than the predetermined value, the determining unit 101 sends a mode switching command to the server 400.
The server 400 is connected to the data processing control unit 100 by an Inter-Integrated circuit (I2C) and includes a controller 401, a storage module 402, a light-emitting diode (LED) indicator 403, a display module 404, and an input module 405. The controller unit 100 receives the converted measurement signal and saves the converted measurement signal to the storage module 402. If the converted measurement signal is greater than the threshold value, the controller 401 sends an alarm signal to the LED indicator 403. The LED indicator 403 powers on to indicate that the corresponding fan 300 needs to be cleaned. The display module 404 displays the information and the converted measurement signal.
The input device 405 allows a user to set the threshold value and the predetermined value. The input device 405 can be a keyboard, a mouse, a touch pad, or other suitable device that can be used to input information.
In step S01, the sensor 201 of each of the sensing units 200 senses a dust level of each of the plurality of fans 300.
In step S02, the sensor 201 sends a measurement signal of the dust level to the data processing control unit 100.
In step S03, the amplifying circuit 202 of each of the plurality of sensing units 200 amplifies the measurement signal and sends an amplified measurement signal to the A/D converter 203.
In step S04, the A/D converter 203 of each of the plurality of sensing units 200 converts the amplified measurement signal to a digital signal and sends a converted measurement signal to the data processing control unit 100.
In step S05, the determining unit 101 determines whether the converted measurement signal is greater than the threshold value. If the converted measurement signal is greater than the threshold value, the method goes to step S06. If the converted measurement signal is not greater than the threshold value, the method goes to step S01.
In step S06, the determining unit 101 further determines whether the converted measurement signal is greater than the predetermined value. If the converted measurement signal is greater than the predetermined value, the method goes to step S07. If the converted measurement signal is not greater than the predetermined value, the method goes to step S08.
In step S07, the mode switching unit 103 switches the server 100 to the low-power consumption mode.
In step S08, the fan information obtaining unit 103 obtains information of corresponding fan 300 according to the converted measurement signal.
In step S09, the fan information obtaining unit 103 sends the information of corresponding fan and the alarm signal.
In step S10, the storage module 402 saves the converted measurement signal and the information, and the display module 404 displays the converted measurement signal and the information. The LED indicator 403 is powered on.
Although numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
In particular, depending on the embodiment, certain steps or methods described may be removed, others may be added, and the sequence of steps may be altered. The description and the claims drawn for or in relation to a method may give some indication in reference to certain steps. However, any indication given is only to be viewed for identification purposes, and is not necessarily a suggestion as to an order for the steps.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013101807263 | May 2013 | CN | national |
