USOO872546OB2 (12) United States Patent Huang et al. (10) Patent.: (45) Date of Patent: US 8,725,460 B2 May 13, 2014 (54) (75) (73) (*) (21) (22) (65) (30) (51) (52) ALERTINGAPPARATUS FOR FAN FAILURE AND METHOD FOR THE SAME Inventors: Yueh-Lung Huang, Taoyuan Shien (TW); Yen-Hung Chen, Taoyuan Shien (TW); Chia-Ching Tsai, Taoyuan Shien (TW) Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc., Taoyuan County (TW) tice: Apr. 29, 2011 Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 351 days. Appl..: 13/198,096 Filed: Aug. 4, 2011 Prior Publication Data US 2012/O274259 A1 v. 1, 2012 Foreign Application Priority Data (TW)... 1 OO115022 A Int. C. G06F II/30 (2006.01) U.S. C. USPC... 702/183 (58) Field of Classification Search USPC... 702/183 See application file for complete search history. (56) References Cited U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 2008/O140353 A1* 6/2008 Koehl... 7O2,185 * cited by examiner Primary Examiner Stephen Cherry (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Muncy, Geissler, Olds & Lowe, P.C. (57) ABSTRACT An alerting method for fan failure first reads a target value of rotating speed of a fan motor. Predetermining values of each parameters of the fan motor is calculated according to the target value of rotating speed of the fan motor. If a current value of rotating speed of the fan motoris lower than the target value of rotating speed of the fan motor, the failure recorded in a counter is added one time. If a current peak value of the fan motor is higher than a first predetermining current value, the failure recorded in the counter is added one time. If the duration of the current which is higher than a second prede termining current value of the fan motor is higher than a predetermining duration, the failure recorded in the counteris added one time. An alarm signal is sent if the failure recorded in the counter is larger than a predetermining time. 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets,. A target value of rotating speed of the fan motoris readby from the customer system Ea. eacharameters of the tanmotors calculated by this according to the target value of rotatingspeed of the fanfotor A current value of rotating speed of the fan motorisreadby 8:ORC3SCOas lower than the E.s Potating speed r the fact A current peak value of the far motoris readby the S08 S02 S04 S06 S18 S2O Crocessars whether the current E. efan rotoris higher than the first predeterriring urrent value S22 Acurations the current WIIC) signer thannessor predetermining current value of the fan motor is read by the COCSSO The S 24. croprocessor compares whetherths durationi higher than the predetermining curation A value of phase voltage width of the fan Inotor is read by whether the value of E. E. of the fan gloriswithin the Erg?age of ase A temperature value of the fan motorisreadby the (A) S28 S26 S30 S10 The failure recorded in the counteris addsd one time by S14 ----- e compares whether the failure récoided in the counteris larger than the predetermining time Analarm signalissent from The compares whether the tempstatus value oftefan Motorshiger anths predeteriangvale oftemperatus S32 S34 A vibrating value of the fan motoris readby S38 e ompares ther the vibrating value of the fanitors highertha he predetermining value of vibrating S38 Amoisture value of the fan motorisreadby a compares hether the moisture value of the fan?hotris highert predstermining Value of moisye S40 SA2 An air pressure value of the fan motorisreadby S44 he compares gether the the airpressurevalue predetermining value of thefarimotor of air pressye slower as An air volume value of the fan motoris readby S48 e compares gather the epredeeminingvalue air volume able of the famotoris of air volus lowerf A normal status signalis sent from the microprocessof
U.S. Patent May 13, 2014 Sheet 1 of 4 US 8,725.460 B2 A target value of rotating speed of the fan motor is readby from the Customer system Prede E. Values of each parameters of the tanmotors calculated by according to the targetvalue Of rotating Speed of the fan motor A Current value of rotating speed of the fan motor is read by e Compare whether the current value of rotating speed of the fan moto slower than the target value of rotating Speed of the fan moto A Current peak value of the fan motor is read by the e s w higher than the first predetermining Current value NO whether the Current Ea value of the fan motor is A duration of the Current which is higher than the second predetermining current value of the fan motor is read by the COOOCeSSO? - S02 SO4 - S06 S08 S18 S22, The ficroprocessor compares whether the duration is higher than the predetermining duration S24 NO -S26 A value of phase Voltage width of the fan motor is read by NO e compares whether the value of phase Voltage width of the fan (Otor is within the predetermining range of phase Voltage width A temperature value of the fan motorisread by the FIG.1A S28 S30
U.S. Patent May 13, 2014 Sheet 2 of 4 US 8,725.460 B2 S10 FIG.1B The failure recorded in the COUnter is added One time by S12 he compares whether the failure recorded in the counter is larger than the predetermining time S14 An alarm signal is sent from The E. whether the temperature value of the fan motor is higher an the predetermining velue of temperatye NO A vibrating value of the fan motor is read by The compares ether the E. value of the fan motor is higher the the predetermining value of vibrating Amoisture value of the fan motor is readby he compares ether the moisture value of the fan motor is highertha the predetermining value of moisture S32 S34 S36 S38 S40 S42 An air pressure value of the fan motor is read by The compares gether the air pressure value of the fan motor is lowerte the predetermining value of air pressys An air Volume value of the fan motorisreadby S44 S46 S48 The compares gether the air Volume value of the fan motor is lower the he predetermining Value of air Volume S16 A normal status signal is sent from the
U.S. Patent May 13, 2014 Sheet 3 of 4 US 8,725,460 B2 20 1 O 3 O Customer system fan motor COUnter FIG.2
U.S. Patent May 13, 2014 Sheet 4 of 4 US 8,725,460 B2 Current first predetermining Current Value FIG.3 time Current predetermining duration SeCOnd predetermining Current Value FIG.4 time
1. ALERTINGAPPARATUS FOR FAN FAILURE AND METHOD FOR THE SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an alerting apparatus and method for the same, and in particular to analerting apparatus for fan failure and method for the same. 2. Description of Prior Art Modern people use fans very often, for example, for ven tilating, or cooling for computers or instruments. Our living and the technology developments are quite inconvenient without fans. Currently the ordinary method for detecting fan failure is mainly to detect the rotating speed of the fan. When the rotating speed of the fan is in the range of the predetermining rotating speed, the fan is judged as normal. When the rotating speed of the fan is less than the predetermining rotating speed, the fan is judged as abnormal. However, the disadvantage of the method mentioned above is that the fan failure cannot be predicted. When the rotating speed of the fan is less than the predetermining rotating speed then alarms, computers or instruments often get damaged due to the raise of the temperature. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an alerting method for fan failure. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, another object of the present invention is to provide an alerting appa ratus for fan failure. In order to achieve the object of the present invention mentioned above, the alerting method for fan failure of the present invention includes following steps. A target value of rotating speed of a fan motor is read by a from a customer system. Predetermining values of each parameters of the fan motor is calculated according to the target value of rotating speed of the fan motor by. A current value of rotating speed of the fan motor is read by the. When the current value of rotating speed of the fan motor is lower than the target value of rotating speed of the fan motor compared by, the failure recorded in a counter is added one time by the microproces sor. A current peak value of the fan motor is read by the. When the current peak value of the fan motor is higher than a first predetermining current value compared by, the failure recorded in the counter is added one time by. A duration of the current which is higher than a second predetermining current value of the fan motor is read by. When the duration is longer than a predetermining duration com pared by, the failure recorded in the counter is added one time by. An alarm signal is sent from when the failure recorded in the counter is larger than a predetermining time compared by. In order to achieve another object of the present invention mentioned above, the alerting apparatus for fan failure of the present invention is applied to a customer System. The alert ing apparatus for fan failure includes a elec trically connected to the customer System, a fan motor elec trically connected to, and a counter electrically connected to. A target value of rotating speed of the fan motor is read by US 8,725,460 B2 5 10 15 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 2 from the customer system. Predetermining values of each parameters of the fan motor is calculated according to the target value of rotating speed of the fan motor by the micro processor. A current value of rotating speed of the fan motor is read by. When the current value of rotating speed of the fan motor is lower than the target value of rotating speed of the fan motor compared by the micropro cessor, the failure recorded in the counter is added one time by. A current peak value of the fan motor is read by. When the current peak value of the fan motor is higher than a first predetermining current value compared by, the failure recorded in the counter is added one time by. A dura tion of the current which is higher than a second predetermin ing current value of the fan motor is read by the microproces sor. When the duration is longer than a predetermining duration compared by, the failure recorded in the counter is added one time by the micropro CSSO. The efficiency of the present invention is to predict the fan motor will fail. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIG. 1A shows a part of the flow chart of the alerting method for fan failure of the present invention. FIG. 1B shows the other part of the flow chart of the alerting method for fan failure of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the alerting apparatus for fan failure of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows an exemplary diagram to demonstrate the judgment whether the current peak value is higher than the first predetermining current value. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary diagram to demonstrate the judgment whether the duration of the current which is higher than the second predetermining current value is longer than the predetermining duration. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the alerting apparatus for fanfailure of the present invention. The alerting apparatus for fan failure of the present invention is applied to a customer system 20. The alerting apparatus for fan failure includes a 10, a fan motor 30, and a counter 40. The 10 is electrically connected to the fan motor 30, the customer system 20, and the counter 40. FIG. 1A shows a part of the flow chart of the alerting method for fanfailure of the present invention. FIG.1B shows the other part of the flow chart of the alerting method for fan failure of the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 2 as well. The alerting method for fan failure of the present invention includes following steps. S02: A target value of rotating speed of the fan motor 30 is read by 10 from the customer system 20. For example, the target value of rotating speed of the fan motor 30 should be 1000 RPM set by the user or the host system. Accordingly, 10 knows that the target value of rotating speed of the fan motor 30 should be 1OOO RPM. S04: Predetermining values of each parameters of the fan motor 30 is calculated by 10 according to the target value of rotating speed of the fan motor 30. For example, after 10 knows that the target value of rotating speed of the fan motor 30 should be 1000 RPM, the predetermining values of each parameters of the fan motor 30 is calculated by 10.
3 Each parameters mentioned above include, for example, a first predetermining current value, a second predetermining current value, a predetermining duration, a predetermining time, a predetermining range of phase Voltage width, a pre determining value of temperature, a predetermining value of vibrating, a predetermining value of moisture, a predetermin ing value of air pressure, and a predetermining value of air Volume. S06: A current value of rotating speed of the fan motor 30 is read by 10. S08: The 10 compares whether the current value of rotating speed of the fan motor 30 is lower than the target value of rotating speed of the fan motor 30. If yes, the method of the present invention goes to step S10. If no, the method of the present invention goes to step S18. S10: The failure recorded in the counter 40 is added one time by 10. S12: The 10 compares whether the failure recorded in the counter 40 is larger than the predetermining time. If yes, the method of the present invention goes to step S14. If no, the method of the present invention goes to step S16. S14: An alarm signal is sent from 10. For example, the alarm signal is sent from 10 to the customer system 20 to inform the customer system 20 that the fan motor 30 is abnormal or will fail. Or, a light emitting diode or a buzzer is driven by 10 to inform the user that the fan motor 30 is abnormal or will fail. S16: A normal status signal is sent from 10. S18: A current peak value of the fan motor 30 is read by the S20: The 10 compares whether the current peak value of the fan motor 30 is higher than the first prede termining current value. If yes, the method of the present invention goes to step S10. If no, the method of the present invention goes to step S22. FIG. 3 shows an exemplary dia gram to demonstrate the judgment whether the current peak value is higher than the first predetermining current value. The current waveform at the left side is normal. The current waveforms at the middle and at the right side are abnormal (the current peak value is higher than the first predetermining current value). S22: A duration of the current which is higher than the second predetermining current value of the fan motor 30 is read by 10. S24: The 10 compares whether the dura tion is longer than the predetermining duration. If yes, the method of the present invention goes to step S10. If no, the method of the present invention goes to step S26. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary diagram to demonstrate the judgment whether the duration of the current which is higher than the second predetermining current value is longer than the pre determining duration. The current waveform at the left side is normal. The current waveforms at the middle and at the right side are abnormal (the duration is longer than the predeter mining duration). S26: A value of phase voltage width of the fan motor 30 is read by 10. S28: The 10 compares whether the value of phase voltage width of the fan motor 30 is within the prede termining range of phase Voltage width. If no (the value of phase Voltage width is higher than the maximum of the pre determining range of phase Voltage width, or lower than the minimum of the predetermining range of phase Voltage US 8,725,460 B2 5 10 15 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 4 width), the method of the present invention goes to step S10. If yes, the method of the present invention goes to step S30. S30: A temperature value of the fan motor 30 is read by the S32: The 10 compares whether the tem perature value of the fan motor 30 is higher than the prede termining value of temperature. If yes, the method of the present invention goes to step S10. If no, the method of the present invention goes to step S34. S34: A vibrating value of the fan motor 30 is read by the S36: The 10 compares whether the vibrat ing value of the fan motor 30 is higher than the predetermin ing value of vibrating. If yes, the method of the present invention goes to step S10. If no, the method of the present invention goes to step S38. S38: A moisture value of the fan motor 30 is read by the S40: The 10 compares whether the mois ture value of the fan motor 30 is higher than the predetermin ing value of moisture. If yes, the method of the present inven tion goes to step S10. If no, the method of the present invention goes to step S42. S42: An air pressure value of the fan motor 30 is read by the S44: The 10 compares whether the air pressure value of the fan motor 30 is lower than the predeter mining value of air pressure. If yes, the method of the present invention goes to step S10. If no, the method of the present invention goes to step S46. S46: An air volume value of the fan motor 30 is read by the S48: The 10 compares whether the air volume value of the fan motor 30 is lower than the predeter mining value of air volume. If yes, the method of the present invention goes to step S10. If no, the method of the present invention goes to step S16. The alerting apparatus for fan failure and method for the same of the present invention judges whether the current, the Voltage, and other parameters of the fan motor are in the normal scopes against the target value of rotating speed, to inform that the fan motor is abnormal or the fan motor will fail. Compare to the prior art that only judges the rotating speed of the fan motor, the present invention can decrease the damage of the raise of the temperature for the computers or instruments. Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various substitutions and modifications have been Suggested in the foregoing description, and others will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, all such sub stitutions and modifications are intended to be embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. What is claimed is: 1. An alerting method for fan failure, the alerting method comprising following steps: a.a reading a target value of rotating speed of a fan motor from a customer system; b. calculating a first predetermining current value, a second predetermining current value, a predetermining duration, a predetermining time, a pre determining range of phase Voltage width, a predeter mining value of temperature, a predetermining value of vibrating, a predetermining value of moisture, a prede termining value of air pressure and a predetermining
5 value of air Volume according to the target value of rotating speed of the fan motor, c. reading a current value of rotating speed of the fan motor; d. adding one time in the failure recorded in a count when the current value of rotating speed of the fan motor is lower than the target value of rotating speed of the fan motor compared by the micro processor, US 8,725,460 B2 e. reading a current peak value of the 10 fan motor, f, adding one time in the failure recorded in the count when the current peak value of the fan motor is higher than the first predetermining current value compared by, 15 g. reading a duration of the current which is higher than the second predetermining current value of the fan motor; h. adding one time in the failure recorded in the count when the duration is longer than the predetermining duration compared by the micropro cessor, and i. sending an alarm signal when the failure recorded in the count is larger than the predeter mining time compared by. 25 2. The alerting method for fan failure in claim 1, the alert ing method further comprising following step: j. sending a normal status signal when the failure recorded in the count is less than or equal to the predetermining time compared by the microproces 30 SO. 3. The alerting method for fan failure in claim 2, the alert ing method further comprising following steps before step i: u1. reading a value of phase Voltage width of the fan motor; 35 u2. adding one time in the failure recorded in the count when the value of phase voltage width is higher than the maximum of the predetermining range of phase Voltage width, or lower than the mini mum of the predetermining range of phase Voltage width 40 compared by, V1. reading a temperature value of the fan motor, and V2. adding one time in the failure recorded in the count when the temperature value of the 45 fan motor is higher than the predetermining value of temperature compared by. 4. The alerting method for fan failure in claim 3, the alert ing method further comprising following steps before step i: w1. reading a vibrating value of the fan 50 motor, w2. adding one time in the failure recorded in the count when the vibrating value of the fan motor is higher than the predetermining value of vibrat ing compared by ; 55 X1. reading a moisture value of the fan motor, and X2. adding one time in the failure recorded in the count when the moisture value of the fan motor is higher than the predetermining value of mois 60 ture compared by. 5. The alerting method for fan failure in claim 4, the alert ing method further comprising following steps before step i: y1. reading an air pressure value of the fan motor, 65 y2. adding one time in the failure recorded in the count when the air pressure value of the 5 6 fan motor is lower than the predetermining value of air pressure compared by, Z1. reading an air Volume value of the fan motor; and Z2. adding one time in the failure recorded in the when the air volume value of the fan motor is lower than the predetermining value of air vol ume compared by. 6. An alerting apparatus for fan failure applied to a cus tomer system, the alerting apparatus for fan failure compris ing: a electrically connected to the customer system; a fan motor electrically connected to ; and a count electrically connected to, wherein reads a target value of rotating speed of the fan motor from the customer System, and is configured to calculate a first pre determining current value, a second predetermining cur rent value, a predetermining duration, a predetermining time, a predetermining range of phase Voltage width, a predetermining value of temperature, a predetermining value of vibrating, a predetermining value of moisture, a predetermining value of air pressure and a predetermin ing value of air Volume according to the target value of rotating speed of the fan motor; wherein reads a current value of rotat ing speed of the fan motor, and adds one time in the failure recorded in the count when the current value of rotating speed of the fan motor is lower than the target value of rotating speed of the fan motor compared by, wherein reads a current peak value of the fan motor, and adds one time in the failure recorded in the count when the current peak value of the fan motor is higher than the first predeter mining current value compared by, wherein reads a duration of the current which is higher than the second predetermining current value of the fan motor, and adds one time in the failure recorded in the count when the dura tion is longer than the predetermining duration com pared by. 7. The alerting apparatus for fan failure in claim 6, wherein reads a value of phase Voltage width of the fan motor, and adds one time in the failure recorded in the count when the value of phase voltage width is higher than the maximum of the predetermining range of phase Voltage width, or lower than the minimum of the pre determining range of phase Voltage width compared by the, wherein reads a temperature value of the fan motor, and adds one time in the failure recorded in the count when the temperature value of the fan motor is higher than the predetermining value of temperature compared by, wherein reads a vibrating value of the fan motor, and adds one time in the failure recorded in the count when the vibrating value of the fan motor is higher than the predetermining value of vibrating compared by. 8. The alerting apparatus for fan failure in claim 7, wherein reads a moisture value of the fan motor, and adds one time in the failure recorded
US 8,725,460 B2 7 in the count when the moisture value of the fan motor is higher than the predetermining value of moisture compared by the, wherein reads an air pressure value of the fan motor, and adds one time in 5 the failure recorded in the count when the air pressure value of the fan motor is lower than the predetermining value of air pressure compared by, wherein reads an air Volume value of the fan motor, and adds one time in 10 the failure recorded in the count when the air volume value of the fan motor is lower than the predetermining value of air Volume compared by. 9. The alerting apparatus for fan failure in claim8, wherein sends a normal status signal in response to 15 the failure recorded in the count is less than or equal to the predetermining time compared by, wherein sends an alarm signal in response to the failure recorded in the count is larger than the predetermining time compared by the micro- 20 processor.