Drive device for a fan and drive program updating method

Abstract

The present application provides a driving device and a driving program updating method. The driving device includes a signal converter, a storage circuit, a controller, a driver and a detection circuit. The signal converter receives a first signal and converts the first signal into a second signal. The storage circuit stores a driving program. The controller provides a control signal in response to the second signal and the driving program. The driver drives a fan unit in response to the control signal. The detection circuit detects whether the first signal includes a program updating command. When the first signal includes the program updating command, the detection circuit updates the driving program stored in the storage circuit based on the program updating command.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a drive device and a driver update method, and more particularly to a drive device and a driver update method for a fan unit. Background Technology

[0002] Current fan systems operate based on drivers and input signals. The fan system can determine the fan speed or operating mode based on the frequency or voltage value of the input signals. However, when a driver is determined to be faulty or incompatible with the corresponding fan system, the current practice is to replace the storage component that stores the driver. For example, the storage component storing the driver is desoldered and replaced with a new one. This approach is time-consuming and costly. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides a driving device for a fan unit and a method for updating the driver program, which enables the driver program to be updated.

[0004] The driving device of the present invention is used to drive a fan unit. The driving device includes a signal converter, a storage circuit, a controller, a driver, and a detection circuit. The signal converter receives a first signal and converts the first signal into a second signal. The storage circuit stores a driver program. The controller is coupled to the signal converter and the storage circuit. The controller responds to the second signal and the driver program to provide a control signal. The driver is coupled to the controller. The driver responds to the control signal to drive the fan unit. The detection circuit is coupled to the storage circuit. The detection circuit detects whether the first signal includes a program update command. When the first signal includes a program update command, the detection circuit updates the driver program stored in the storage circuit based on the program update command.

[0005] The driver update method for a fan unit according to the present invention includes: receiving a first signal and converting the first signal into a second signal; responding to the second signal and the driver to provide a control signal to drive the fan unit; detecting whether the first signal includes a program update command; and updating the driver based on the program update command when the first signal includes the program update command.

[0006] Based on the above, when the first signal includes a program update command, the driving device and driver update method of the present invention update the driver based on the program update command. Therefore, the present invention provides a driver update mechanism. In this way, the time and cost of modifying the driver can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, both the second signal and the program update command originate from the first signal. Therefore, the present invention does not require adding pins to update the driver.

[0007] To make the above features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a fan device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0009] Figure 2 It is based on Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the drive device is shown;

[0010] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating a driver update method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a driving device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] Figure 5 This is a signal timing diagram of pins P2 and P4 shown according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0014] 100: Fan assembly

[0015] 110: Fan Unit

[0016] 120, 220: Drive unit

[0017] 121, 221: Signal converters

[0018] 122, 222: Storage circuits

[0019] 123, 223: Controller

[0020] 124, 224: Drivers

[0021] 125, 225: Detection circuit

[0022] 226: Voltage Level Detector

[0023] CMD: Program update command

[0024] FG: Signal

[0025] GND: Ground

[0026] P1~P4: Pins

[0027] PTC: Drivers

[0028] S1: First signal

[0029] S2: Second signal

[0030] S110~S140: Steps

[0031] SC: Control signal

[0032] SDR: Drive Electricity

[0033] SFG, SPWM: Timing

[0034] SH1: First Communication Signal

[0035] SH2: Second Communication Signal

[0036] T1, T2, T3: Time intervals

[0037] VCC: Power supply Detailed Implementation

[0038] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same component reference numerals are used in the drawings and description to denote the same or similar parts.

[0039] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a fan device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the fan device 100 includes a fan unit 110 and a drive device 120. The drive device 120 is used to drive the fan unit 110. The fan device 100 has pins P1 to P4. Pin P1 is used to receive power supply VCC. Pin P2 is used to receive a first signal S1. Pin P3 is used to connect to ground GND. Pin P4 is used to output signal FG. Pin P4 is generally referred to as the FG pin. It should be noted that the number of pins in the fan device 100 has not been increased compared to conventional fan devices.

[0040] In this embodiment, the drive unit 120 operates based on the power supply VCC and drives the fan unit 110 based on the first signal S1 and the driver program PTC. Furthermore, when the first signal S1 includes a program update command, the drive unit 120 updates the driver program PTC based on the program update command.

[0041] For further explanation, please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 , Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of a drive device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the drive device 120 includes a signal converter 121, a storage circuit 122, a controller 123, a driver 124, and a detection circuit 125. The signal converter 121 receives a first signal S1 and converts the first signal S1 into a second signal S2. The storage circuit 122 stores a driver program PTC. The controller 123 is coupled to the signal converter 121 and the storage circuit 122. The controller 123 receives the second signal S2 and the driver program PTC. The controller 123 responds to the second signal S2 and the driver program PTC to provide a control signal SC. The driver program PTC provides the control signal SC based on the waveform of the second signal S2. The driver program PTC may vary depending on the fan device 100. For example, the driver program PTC may vary depending on the human-machine interface. As another example, the driver program PTC may vary depending on the fan unit 110.

[0042] In this embodiment, the first signal S1 is a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal with a frequency range. The second signal S2 is a voltage signal. The voltage value of the second signal S2 is related to a frequency within the aforementioned frequency range. For example, the voltage value of the second signal S2 is directly related to the frequency of the first signal S1. The voltage value of the second signal S2 is directly related to the rotational speed of the fan unit 110. It should be noted that the first signal S1 is a highly accurate digital signal. The second signal S2 is an analog signal with high noise immunity. Therefore, the drive device 120 combines high accuracy with high noise immunity.

[0043] In this embodiment, the driver 124 is coupled to the controller 123. For example, the driver PTC can be software or firmware. The driver 124 responds to the control signal SC provided by the controller 123 to drive the fan unit 110. Further, the driver 124 responds to the control signal SC to output drive power SDR and uses the drive power SDR to drive the fan unit 110.

[0044] In this embodiment, the detection circuit 125 is coupled to the storage circuit 122. The detection circuit 125 detects the components of the first signal S1. The detection circuit 125 detects whether the first signal S1 includes a program update command (CMD). When the first signal S1 includes the program update command (CMD), the detection circuit 125 updates the driver PTC stored in the storage circuit 122 based on the program update command (CMD). On the other hand, when the first signal S1 does not include the program update command (CMD), the detection circuit 125 does not update the driver PTC stored in the storage circuit 122.

[0045] It is worth mentioning that when the first signal S1 includes the program update command CMD, the driver device 120 updates the driver PTC based on the program update command CMD. Therefore, when the driver PTC is not suitable for the fan device 100, when the driver PTC needs to be optimized, or when the driver PTC is damaged, the driver device 120 can update the driver PTC based on the program update command CMD. In this way, the time and cost of updating the driver PTC can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, both the second signal S2 and the program update command PTC originate from the first signal S1. Therefore, the driver device 120 can update the driver PTC only through pin P2. In this way, the driver device 120 does not need to add an additional pin to update the driver PTC.

[0046] In this embodiment, the frequency of the program update command CMD is greater than the maximum frequency in the frequency range of the first signal S1. For example, the frequency of the program update command CMD is approximately several megahertz (MHz). The maximum frequency of the first signal S1 is approximately several kilohertz (kHz). Therefore, the first signal S1 including the program update command CMD can be considered as the first signal S1 carrying the program update command CMD with a higher frequency. The detection circuit 125 can identify whether the first signal S1 carries the program update command CMD based on the frequency. When the first signal S1 carries the frequency (several megahertz (MHz)) of the program update command CMD, the detection circuit 125 detects that the first signal S1 includes the program update command CMD and updates the driver PTC stored in the storage circuit 122.

[0047] In this embodiment, the program update command CMD includes a storage address and an update code. The update code is data corresponding to the new driver PTC. Therefore, the detection circuit 125 can store the new driver PTC at a specified address in the storage circuit 122 based on the storage address and the update code.

[0048] In this embodiment, the storage circuit 122 is, for example, any type of storage medium. The controller 123 and the detection circuit 125 are, for example, programmable general-purpose or special-purpose microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), programmable controllers, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), or other similar devices or combinations thereof, capable of loading and executing computer programs. The driver 124 is, for example, a gate driver composed of multiple power transistors. The upper arm power transistors of the multiple power transistors can be any type of N-type or P-type power transistor, such as a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) or an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT). The lower arm power transistors of the multiple power transistors can be any type of N-type power transistor.

[0049] Please also refer to Figure 1 as well as Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating a driver update method according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the driver update method is applicable to a driver device 120. In step S110, the driver device 120 receives a first signal S1 and converts the first signal S1 into a second signal S2. In step S120, the driver device 120 responds to the second signal S2 and the driver program PTC to provide a control signal SC, and drives the fan unit 110 based on the control signal SC. In step S130, the driver device 120 detects whether the first signal S1 includes a program update command CMD. When the first signal S1 includes the program update command CMD, the driver device 120 updates the driver program PTC based on the program update command CMD in step S140, and then the driver update method returns to step S110. On the other hand, in step S130, when the first signal S1 is detected to not include the program update command CMD, the driver update method returns to step S110. The implementation details of steps S110 to S140 of this embodiment can be found by [further details to be provided]. Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 Sufficient teaching has been obtained from the embodiments, and therefore will not be repeated here.

[0050] Please refer to Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a driving device according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the driving device 220 includes a signal converter 221, a storage circuit 222, a controller 223, a driver 224, a detection circuit 225, and a voltage level detector 226. The cooperative operation between the signal converter 221, the storage circuit 222, the controller 223, the driver 224, and the detection circuit 225 is similar to... Figure 2 The signal converter 121, storage circuit 122, controller 123, driver 124, and detection circuit 125 are shown to operate in coordination. In this embodiment, a voltage level detector 226 is coupled to the signal converter 221 and the controller 223. The voltage level detector 226 receives a second signal S2 from the signal converter 221 and detects whether the voltage value of the second signal S2 is outside the default voltage value range. When the voltage value of the second signal S2 is detected to be outside the default voltage value range, this indicates that the voltage value of the second signal S2 is not suitable for driving the fan unit (e.g., ...). Figure 1 (See fan unit 110 shown). Therefore, voltage level detector 226 instructs controller 223 to stop providing control signal SC. On the other hand, when the voltage value of the second signal S2 is detected to be within the default voltage value range, this indicates that the voltage value of the second signal S2 is suitable for driving the fan unit. Therefore, voltage level detector 226 instructs controller 223 to provide control signal SC.

[0051] Please also refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 as well as Figure 5 , Figure 5 This is a timing diagram of pins P2 and P4 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the drive device 120 performs a handshake with an external device (not shown). In this embodiment, the timing SPWM is the timing at pin P2. The timing SFG is the timing at pin P4. During time interval T1, the signal converter 121 receives a first signal S1 provided by the external device via pin P2 and converts the first signal S1 into a second signal S2. The detection circuit 125 detects that the first signal S1 does not include the program update command CMD. Therefore, the driver PTC stored in the storage circuit 122 is not updated. The controller 123 responds to the second signal S2 and the driver PTC to provide a control signal SC. The driver 124 responds to the control signal SC provided by the controller 123 to drive the fan unit 110.

[0052] During time interval T2, signal converter 121 begins receiving a first communication signal SH1 from an external device via pin P2. After recognizing at least a portion of the first communication signal SH1 (e.g., the header signal of the first communication signal SH1), controller 123 generates a second communication signal SH2. Controller 123 then outputs the second communication signal SH2 to the external device via pin P4. Therefore, drive device 120 and the external device can communicate via a handshake mechanism. For example, the first communication signal SH1 includes a notification signal that the external device will provide a program update command (CMD). The second communication signal SH2 includes a status signal indicating that drive device 120 is ready.

[0053] During time interval T3, after communication is completed, the external device provides a first signal S1 including a program update command CMD. Detection circuit 125 detects that the first signal S1 includes the program update command CMD. Therefore, the driver PTC stored in storage circuit 122 is updated.

[0054] In summary, when the first signal includes a program update command, the driving device and driver update method of the present invention update the stored driver based on the program update command. Therefore, the driver update mechanism provided by the present invention does not require replacing the storage component used to store the driver. This significantly reduces the time and cost of modifying the driver. Both the second signal and the program update command originate from the first signal. Thus, the present invention does not require adding additional pins to update the driver. Furthermore, since the first signal is a high-speed digital signal with high precision, high-precision speed control can be achieved, while the second signal is a voltage analog signal with high noise immunity. Therefore, the driving device of the present invention can simultaneously achieve driver update, high-precision control, and high noise immunity to environmental noise.

[0055] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A drive device for a fan unit, characterized in that, The driving device includes: A signal converter configured to receive a first signal and convert the first signal into a second signal; Storage circuitry, configured to store driver programs; A controller, coupled to the signal converter and the storage circuit, is configured to provide control signals in response to the second signal and the driver. A driver, coupled to the controller, configured to drive the fan unit in response to the control signal; and A detection circuit, coupled to the storage circuit, is configured to detect whether the first signal includes a program update command, and when the first signal includes the program update command, to update the driver stored in the storage circuit based on the program update command. The first signal is a pulse width modulation signal with a frequency range, and the second signal is a voltage signal, the voltage value of which is associated with a first frequency of the frequency range.

2. The driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second frequency of the program update command is greater than the maximum frequency in the frequency range, and When the first signal is multiplied by the second frequency, the detection circuit detects that the first signal includes the program update command and updates the driver stored in the storage circuit.

3. The driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive device further includes: A voltage level detector, coupled to the signal converter and the controller, is configured to receive the second signal and detect whether the voltage value of the second signal is outside a default voltage range. When the voltage value of the second signal is outside the default voltage range, the voltage level detector instructs the controller to stop providing control signals.

4. The driving device according to claim 3, characterized in that, When the voltage value of the second signal is within the default voltage range, the voltage level detector instructs the controller to provide a control signal.

5. The driving device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The controller receives a first communication signal from an external device and provides a second communication signal to the external device based on at least a portion of the first communication signal, thereby notifying the external device to provide the first signal including the program update command.

6. A method for updating a driver for a fan unit, characterized in that, The driver update method includes: Receive the first signal and convert the first signal into the second signal; The second signal and the driver program are used to provide control signals to drive the fan unit. Detect whether the first signal includes a program update command; and When the first signal includes the program update command, the driver is updated based on the program update command. The first signal is a pulse width modulation signal with a frequency range, and the second signal is a voltage signal, the voltage value of which is associated with a first frequency of the frequency range.

7. The driver update method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second frequency of the program update command is greater than the maximum frequency in the frequency range, wherein when the first signal includes the program update command, the step of updating the driver based on the program update command includes: When the first signal is multiplied by the second frequency, the first signal is detected to include the program update command, and the stored driver is updated.

8. The driver update method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The driver update method further includes: Detect whether the voltage value of the second signal is outside the default voltage value range; and When the voltage value of the second signal is outside the default voltage range, the control signal is stopped.

9. The driver update method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The driver update method further includes: A control signal is provided when the voltage value of the second signal is within the default voltage range.

10. The driver update method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The driver update method further includes: Receive the first communication signal from an external device; and A second communication signal will be provided to the external device based on at least a portion of the first communication signal, thereby notifying the external device to provide the first signal, which includes the program update command.

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