JP2012212729A - Drive unit and drive system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drive unit and drive system capable of achieving space saving.SOLUTION: The present invention comprises: a first fan 2 and a second fan 3; a power supply section 4 which supplies electric power for starting the first fan 2 and the second fan 3; a power storage section which is disposed between the second fan 3 and the power supply section 4 and can store a predetermined amount of electric power from the power supply section 4; and a start control section 5 which supplies electric power to the second fan 3 after storage into the power storage section is completed.

Description

  The present invention relates to a drive device and a drive system provided with an activation control unit.

  In various apparatuses such as a server computer, since each component inside the apparatus generates heat during operation, an apparatus for radiating heat is necessary. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the degree of integration of components inside a device has increased due to the high functionality and miniaturization of various devices. For example, in a server computer or the like, the heat generation density is increased due to the increase in the degree of component integration. For this reason, it is necessary to provide a plurality of fans as a driving device and control and drive each of the plurality of fans to dissipate heat and avoid damage to parts. Further, when a plurality of fans are provided as described above, the plurality of fans must be installed inside a server computer having a high degree of component integration, and it is necessary to reduce the size of the entire unit including the fans. .

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for reducing the size while controlling a plurality of fans. Specifically, in Patent Document 1, the startup control of a plurality of fans in the refrigerator is performed to avoid the simultaneous startup of the plurality of fans, and the simultaneous supply of the startup current from the power supply unit to the plurality of fans is avoided. A technique for reducing the maximum allowable current of the power supply unit to reduce the size of the power supply unit and thereby save space is disclosed.

JP 2006-78055 A

  However, in the startup control of the plurality of fans, since simultaneous startup is avoided by using a microcomputer, the circuit scale of the microcomputer is increased, and further miniaturization is difficult.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a drive device and a drive system that can be miniaturized.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following means.
That is, the drive device according to the present invention includes a plurality of drive units, a power supply unit that supplies power for starting the plurality of drive units, and at least one drive unit of the plurality of drive units and the power supply unit. A power storage unit that is disposed in between and capable of storing a predetermined amount of power from the power supply unit, and that includes a start control unit that supplies power to the corresponding drive unit after power storage to the power storage unit is completed It is characterized by that.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drive system including the above-described drive device and an output control unit that performs control so that power is sequentially supplied from the power supply unit included in each of the drive devices to the drive unit. And

  According to the drive device and the drive system of the present invention, the start delay of the corresponding drive unit is performed by a simple method using only the power storage operation in the power storage unit, and an increase in supply power due to simultaneous start of a plurality of drive units is avoided. Is done. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size of the power supply unit and the startup control unit, and to save space.

It is a block diagram of the fan drive device concerning a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the starting control part in the fan drive device which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the time change of the electric current supplied from each in the case of starting simultaneously the 1st fan and 2nd fan which concern on 1st embodiment of this invention, and when starting sequentially with a fixed time difference. is there. It is a block diagram of the fan drive system concerning a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the output control part which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the transmission apparatus which concerns on 3rd embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, the fan drive device 1 which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. The fan driving device 1 is installed inside a server computer or the like, and cools a component that has generated heat to prevent the component from being damaged.
As shown in FIG. 1, the fan driving device 1 includes two driving units, that is, a first fan 2 and a second fan 3 that generate cooling air, and a power source unit 4 that supplies electric power for starting them. An activation control unit 5 is provided between the second fan 3 and the power supply unit 4 and controls power supplied from the power supply unit 4 to the second fan 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the activation control unit 5 includes a power storage unit 6 that stores power supplied from the power supply unit 4, and power supplied to the second fan 3 provided between the power storage unit 6 and the second fan 3. And a transistor 9 as a switch permitting supply. The power storage unit 6 includes a capacitor 7 that can store a predetermined amount of electric power, and a resistor 8 that is provided together with the capacitor 7 and determines a storage speed of the capacitor 7.

In the fan drive device 1 as described above, power is directly supplied from the power supply unit 4 to the first fan 2, and the first fan 2 is first activated.
At the same time as the power supply to the first fan 2, the power supply to the activation control unit 5 is performed, and the capacitor 7 in the power storage unit 6 starts storing the supplied power. At this time, since the voltage applied to the transistor 9 is less than a predetermined value for a predetermined time until the predetermined amount of power is stored in the capacitor 7, the power supply from the power supply unit 4 to the second fan 3 is cut off. Then, when the storage of the capacitor 7 is completed and the voltage applied to the transistor 9 reaches a predetermined value after the lapse of the predetermined time, the transistor 9 permits energization from the power supply unit 4 to the second fan 3, Power supply to the two fans 3 is started. That is, by supplying power to the second fan 3 via the activation control unit 5, the second fan 3 can be activated after a certain period of time after the first fan 2 is activated.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the starting current α for starting the first fan 2 and the second fan 3 requires a larger current than the steady current β required for steady driving.
That is, if the first fan 2 and the second fan 3 have the same specifications, the total supply current required to start the first fan 2 and the second fan 3 simultaneously is α × 2. On the other hand, when the second fan 3 is activated during steady driving of the first fan 2 after a certain time has elapsed since the activation of the first fan 2, the total supply current required is α + β. Therefore, the relationship of α × 2> α + β is established for all the supply currents from the power supply unit 4 to be supplied to the first fan 2 and the second fan 3 at the same time. When the two fans 3 are started, the required total supply current, that is, the total supply power can be reduced.

  Here, in the case where the second fan 3 is started after a lapse of a certain time from the start of the first fan 2, the current supplied to the capacitor 7 together with the start current of the first fan 2 when starting the first fan 2. Since γ is required, the total supply current from the power supply unit 4 is α + γ. However, since the relationship of α × 2> α + γ is established, it is possible to suppress the total supply current required as compared with the case where the first fan 2 and the second fan 3 are simultaneously started.

As a result, the maximum allowable current of the power supply unit 4 that supplies power can be suppressed, and the power supply unit 4 can be reduced in size.
Further, along with the downsizing of the power supply unit 4, the start-up control unit 5 employs a simple structure in which the start-up of the second fan 3 is delayed by the storage effect of the capacitor 7. The fan drive device 1 as a whole can be reduced in size.

  In addition, the fan drive device 1 in this embodiment is provided with two, the 1st fan 2 and the 2nd fan 3, and these 1st fan 2 and the 2nd fan 3 are sequentially started by delaying starting the 2nd fan 3. Although an example of starting is shown, for example, at least three fans may be provided. In this case, by providing a plurality of power storage units 6 having different storage times between the power supply unit 4 and each of the plurality of fans, each of the plurality of fans can be started sequentially. Therefore, even in a situation where more fans need to be installed, it is possible to reduce the size of the power supply unit 4 by avoiding simultaneous activation of the fans, thereby achieving space saving and cost reduction. In addition, as a means by which the power storage unit 6 can change the power storage time, the power storage unit 6 may have different power storage capacities, or may have different power storage speeds.

Next, the fan drive system 11 according to the second embodiment will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component similar to 1st embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the fan drive system 11 includes a plurality of fan drive devices 1A and 1B and an output control unit 15 that issues a power output command to the power supply units of the fan drive devices 1A and 1B. Prepare. In the present embodiment, the fan drive system 11 includes two fan drive devices 1A and 1B. Each of the fan drive devices 1A and 1B includes the first fan 2, the second fan 3, and the start control unit 5 similarly to the fan drive device 1 of the first embodiment, while the first power supply unit 13 that is the respective power supply unit. And the second power supply unit 14 is different in that the enable signal control unit 12 is provided. And the output control part 15 transmits the enable signal W with respect to the 1st power supply part 13 and the 2nd power supply part 14, and has performed the output command of electric power with respect to the 1st power supply part 13 and the 2nd power supply part 14. .

  That is, the output control unit 15 includes a first enable signal generation unit 16 and a second enable signal generation unit 19, and the first enable signal generation unit 16 includes a first capacitor 17 that stores electricity from an external power source (not shown), And a first resistor 18 that is provided together with the first capacitor 17 and determines the storage speed of the first capacitor 17.

The second enable signal generator 19 has substantially the same configuration as the first enable signal generator 16 and includes a second capacitor 20 and a second resistor.
Here, the first capacitor 17 and the second capacitor 20 have different storage capacities, and the first resistor 18 and the second resistor 21 have different resistance values.

  In the fan drive system 11 as described above, the output control unit 15 is turned on / off in a ground switch unit (not shown), and the first capacitor 17 in the first enable signal generation unit 16 is enabled by repeatedly storing and discharging. A signal W is generated. Thereafter, the enable signal W is transmitted to the enable signal control unit 12, where the enable signal control unit 12 determines whether the enable signal W is active or inactive, and the first power supply unit 13 is allowed to output power, or It is forbidden.

  Also, the enable signal W is generated in the second enable signal generation unit 19 similarly to the first enable signal generation unit 16, but there is a difference in the storage capacity between the first capacitor 17 and the second capacitor 20. Alternatively, by providing a difference in the power storage speed, a difference occurs in the time until the enable signal W becomes active. As a result, the enable signal control unit 12 can set a time difference in the power output from the first power supply unit 13 and the second power supply unit 14. The fan driving devices 1A and 1B can be activated independently.

  Here, when electric power is supplied to the fan drive device 1A, as described in the first embodiment, the first fan 2 in the fan drive device 1A is first started, and then a time difference is provided for the first fan in the fan drive device 1A. The second fan 3 is activated. Thereafter, electric power is supplied to the fan drive device 1B, the first fan 2 in the fan drive device 1B is first activated, and then the second fan 3 in the fan drive device 1B is activated with a time difference. That is, as a whole fan driving system 11, all of the two first fans 2 and the two second fans 3 can be started with a time difference.

  As a result, the two first fans 2 and the two second fans 3 included in the fan drive systems 1A and 1B can be sequentially started, so that the first power supply unit 13 and the second power supply that suppress the maximum allowable current are provided. The part 14 can be employed, and the fan drive system 11 as a whole can be reduced in size by reducing the size of the first power supply unit 13 and the second power supply unit 14.

  In addition, by providing the output control unit 15, two fan drive devices 1A and 1B can be provided in parallel. For example, when one of the fan drive devices 1A and 1B fails, the fan drive system 11 Only the one fan drive device 1 that has failed can be easily replaced while the is operated. That is, the fan drive system 11 has a hot swap function, and redundancy of the fan drive system 11 is achieved. Therefore, easy maintenance and improved reliability can be achieved.

  In the present embodiment, the fan driving system 11 includes two fan driving devices 1A and 1B. However, for example, the fan driving system 11 may include at least three fan driving devices 1A (or 1B). In this case, a plurality of first enable signal generation units 16 (or second enable signal generation units 19) having different storage capacities and storage speeds are provided in the output control unit 15 for the plurality of fan drive devices 1A (or 1B). By providing the power, each of the plurality of fan drive devices 1A (or 1B) sequentially supplies power, and the plurality of first fan 2 and second fan 3 in each of the plurality of fan drive devices 1A (or 1B) are sequentially supplied. Can be activated. Therefore, for example, when the fan drive system 11 is installed in a server computer, a higher heat dissipation effect can be obtained while saving space. In addition, redundancy of the fan drive system 11 can be achieved, leading to improved reliability.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, some design changes can be made without departing from the technical idea of the present invention.
For example, the power storage unit 6 of the start control unit 5 employs an RC circuit that determines the power storage speed of the capacitor 7 by the resistor 8, and the start timing of the first fan 2 and the second fan 3 is determined. The activation timing may be set by adopting an LC circuit using a coil instead of the resistor.

  In the embodiment, the example of the fan drive device 1 that drives the fan as the drive unit has been described as the drive device. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. The invention may be applied.

Subsequently, a transmission device 31 will be described as an example of a device in which the fan driving device 1 of the first embodiment is mounted as a third embodiment. This transmission device is used, for example, when wireless base stations communicate with each other.
As shown in FIG. 6, the transmission device 31 includes a rectangular parallelepiped housing 32, two fan driving devices 1 mounted in the housing 32, two power supply units 4 included therein, and a plurality of communication units. 4, two control boards 33, an external device connection board 34, and a filter 35. The fan drive device 1, the communication unit 36, the control board 33, and the external device connection board 34 are connected via a mother board (not shown).

  The two fan drive devices 1 are configured to discharge the air inside the housing 32. In the normal state, the four first fans 2 and the two second fans 3 in the two fan driving devices 1 are set to operate. Furthermore, when one fan drive device 1 breaks down, it sets so that the wind force of the other one fan drive device 1 may be increased.

  Further, the two power supply units 4 are configured to supply power to the control board 33 and the external device connection board 34 via the motherboard together with power supply to the fan driving device 1. The power required by the transmission device 31 can be supplied by one power supply unit 4, but is normally operated in parallel and is set to share and supply the required power. Furthermore, when one of the power supply units 4 fails, the non-failed power supply unit 4 is set to supply all the power. That is, the transmission device 31 is configured to be operable even when one of the two power supply units 4 is stopped (failed). Therefore, the failed power supply unit 4 can be replaced without stopping the operation of the transmission apparatus 31.

The communication unit 36 includes, for example, a low-speed communication unit suitable for low-speed communication with a communication speed of about 1 Gbps such as wireless communication and STM (Synchronous / Transport / Module), and high-speed communication suitable for low-speed communication and high-speed optical communication of 10 Gbps or higher. The transmission apparatus 31 according to the present embodiment includes a communication unit and can connect ten low-speed communication units and four high-speed communication units.
The control board 33 can perform signal control of these wireless communication and optical communication. In addition, the control board 36 can exchange signals between wireless communication and optical communication, whereby a signal received by optical communication can be transmitted by wireless communication, and wireless communication can be used. The received signal can be transmitted by optical communication.

The low-speed communication unit includes a pair of modems that communicate with an outdoor device, an STM-1 interface that supports STM-1, and a GbE interface that supports the GbE (Gigabit Ethernet (registered trademark)) standard. The low-speed communication unit is provided with a connector capable of communicating at least an electrical signal.
The high-speed communication unit has a 10 GbE interface that supports the 10 GbE standard. The high-speed communication unit is provided with a connector capable of communicating at least an optical signal.

  The external device connection board 34 is a board for connecting an external device such as a personal computer and the control board 33. Although not shown, the front panel of the external device connection board 34 allows communication. The connector is provided. The external device connection board 34 is configured to be connectable to either of the two control boards 33.

  The filter 35 is configured to block dust, dust, and the like contained in the air flowing into the housing 32 as the fan drive system 11 discharges air.

Since the transmission apparatus 31 as described above has a function capable of performing optical communication as well as wireless communication, the component density inside the housing 32 is large. Therefore, by providing the fan drive device 1 inside the housing 32 as described above, as described in the first embodiment, it is possible to suppress the starting power at the time of fan startup, and to reduce the size of the power supply unit 4 and the startup control unit 5. Is possible.
As a result, the fan drive device 1 as a whole can be reduced in size and can be easily installed inside the casing 32 having a high component density.

  In such a transmission device 31, the fan drive system 11 according to the second embodiment may be mounted. In this case, many first fans 2 and the first fan 2 may be installed even inside the casing 32 having a high component density. Two fans 3 can be installed. Moreover, the air inside the housing | casing 32 can be discharged | emitted efficiently outside, and it leads to the reliability improvement of the transmission apparatus 31. FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Fan drive device, 2 ... 1st fan, 3 ... 2nd fan, 4 ... Power supply part, 5 ... Start-up control part, 6 ... Power storage part, 7 ... Capacitor, 8 ... Resistor, 9 ... Transistor, 11 ... Fan Drive system, 1A ... fan drive device, 1B ... fan drive device, 12 ... enable signal control unit, 13 ... first power supply unit, 14 ... second power supply unit, 15 ... output control unit, 16 ... first enable signal generation unit , 17 ... 1st capacitor, 18 ... 1st resistor, 19 ... 2nd enable signal production | generation part, 20 ... 2nd capacitor, 21 ... 2nd resistor, 31 ... Transmission apparatus, 32 ... Housing | casing, 33 ... Control board 34 ... External device connection board, 35 ... Filter, 36 ... Communication unit, W ... Enable signal

Claims (3)

A plurality of drive units;
A power supply for supplying power to activate the plurality of drive units;
The power storage unit is disposed between at least one of the plurality of drive units and the power supply unit, and can store a predetermined amount of power from the power supply unit, and the power storage to the power storage unit is completed. A drive apparatus comprising: an activation control unit that supplies power to the drive unit corresponding later. The power storage unit
The drive device according to claim 1, further comprising a capacitor. A plurality of drive devices according to claim 1 or claim 2;
A drive system comprising: an output control unit that performs control so that power is sequentially supplied from the power supply unit to each of the drive devices.

Images