Electric Fan Control System Malfunction Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for controlling electric fans lack an efficient method to monitor and adjust the operational speeds of multiple fans to prevent overheating of cooling targets, especially when one fan malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing microcontrollers with analog-to-digital converters and multiplexers to monitor the operational speeds of electric fans, generating control signals to adjust rotational speeds and diagnose potential malfunctions in fan driver circuits and converters, ensuring continuous cooling by adjusting the operational speed of functioning fans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If multiple electric fans are operated to cool cooling targets, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fan control functions into a single integrated control system that monitors temperature and manages multiple fans collectively. The control system integrates temperature sensing, fan speed regulation, and malfunction detection into one unified architecture, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective cooling of multiple targets.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed with multi-functionality to handle various cooling scenarios simultaneously. It can operate multiple fans at different speeds based on temperature requirements, perform self-diagnosis of fan malfunctions, and adjust cooling strategies dynamically. This universal approach allows one system to manage complex multi-fan operations without requiring separate dedicated controls for each fan.
2Reliability
If fan operational speeds are monitored and adjusted dynamically, then cooling reliability is improved, but measurement and control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where temperature sensors continuously monitor cooling target temperatures and feed this information back to the control system. The control system then adjusts fan speeds based on this feedback, creating a closed-loop control system that automatically maintains optimal cooling without requiring complex manual intervention or monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system includes self-diagnosis functionality that automatically detects fan malfunctions by monitoring operational parameters. When a fan malfunction is detected, the system automatically adjusts the operation of remaining fans to compensate, without requiring external diagnostic equipment or complex intervention procedures.
3Measurement precision
If analog-to-digital converters and multiplexers are used to monitor fan speeds, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple signal monitoring functions into a single analog-to-digital converter with multiplexer capabilities. Instead of using separate converters for each fan speed sensor, the system uses one ADC that sequentially samples multiple sensor inputs through the multiplexer, reducing the number of conversion devices while maintaining precise speed measurement for all fans.
Solution Approach 2:
The analog-to-digital converter is designed with multi-functionality to handle various measurement tasks. It can convert signals from multiple different sensors (fan speed sensors, temperature sensors, etc.) through the multiplexer, providing precise digital measurements for all inputs using a single conversion device, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for controlling operation of electric fans is provided. The system includes a microcontroller that determines whether first analog multiplexer is malfunctioning or a first channel of the first analog-to-digital converter is malfunctioning based on first values obtained from the first analog-to-digital converter. The first values are associated with at least one of a first speed signal associated with the first electric fan and a first driving voltage for the first electric fan that are received by the first analog multiplexer. The microcontroller modifies a control signal to induce the second electric fan to operate at a higher rotational speed when the first analog multiplexer is malfunctioning or the first channel of the first analog-to-digital converter is malfunctioning.