Abstract:
The invention relates to an intelligent control method and an intelligent control device adapted to be used in a heat-dissipating system. The intelligent control device includes at least a set of sensors and a micro-controller. The intelligent control method includes steps of obtaining a set of first state parameters and a set of second state parameters by sensing the heat-dissipating system at a first time point and a second time point, respectively; analyzing the set of first state parameters and the set of second state parameters to acquire an optimized heat-dissipating strategy, so as to generate at least a set of first control parameters; and adjusting a heat-dissipating action of the heat-dissipating system according to the set of first control parameters.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/278,964, which was filed on Jan. 14, 2016, and is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to an intelligent control method and an intelligent control device and, more particularly, to an intelligent control method and an intelligent control device adapted to be used in a heat-dissipating system. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    As technology of semiconductor circuit chip advanced, the processing speed of a controller gets faster and faster. At the same time, the chip generates more and more heat during operation. To enhance operation efficiency of the chip, a conventional electronic system utilizes a fan to dissipate heat from the chip. Since the temperature of the chip increases as time goes by, the conventional system adjusts the fan speed according to an operating temperature of the chip, so as to dissipate heat from the chip during operation in real time. 
         [0006]    However, an air-cooling system using the fan to dissipate heat has some limitations. Since an operating frequency of the circuit chip gets higher and higher, the air-cooling system cannot satisfy heat-dissipating demand gradually. Accordingly, some users may install a water-cooling system in the electronic system to dissipate heat. In general, the water-cooling system comprises a water-cooling block, a pump, a radiator and a fan, wherein the water-cooling block contacts a heat source and the fan is disposed on the radiator. A cooling liquid flowing into the water-cooling block is heated by the heat source and the pump can guide the heated cooling liquid from the water-cooling block to the radiator. At this time, the fan can dissipate heat from the radiator, so as to cool the cooling liquid. Then, the cooling liquid flows back to the water-cooling block through a tube. 
         [0007]    However, as mentioned in the above, the heat source will generates more and more heat as time goes by. In the conventional system, the fan speed may be adjusted according to the temperature of the heat source only. Once the fan speed achieves a specific range, the heat-dissipating efficiency may decrease, such that the predetermined heat-dissipating effect cannot be achieved. Therefore, how to enhance the heat-dissipating effect of the water-cooling system becomes a significant issue so far. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Therefore, an objective of the invention is to provide an intelligent control method and an intelligent control device with an optimized heat-dissipating capability and a self-diagnostic function, so as to improve the shortcomings of the conventional water-cooling module. 
         [0009]    According to an embodiment of the invention, an intelligent control method is adapted to be used in a heat-dissipating system. The intelligent control method comprises steps of obtaining a set of first state parameters and a set of second state parameters by sensing the heat-dissipating system at a first time point and a second time point, respectively; analyzing the set of first state parameters and the set of second state parameters to acquire an optimized heat-dissipating strategy, so as to generate at least a set of first control parameters; and adjusting a heat-dissipating action of the heat-dissipating system according to the set of first control parameters. 
         [0010]    In this embodiment, the optimized heat-dissipating strategy further generates at least a set of second control parameters, the heat-dissipating system comprises a heat-dissipating fan and a pump, the set of first state parameters and the set of second state parameters comprise a first temperature data and a second temperature data, respectively, the set of first control parameters and the set of second control parameters are generated according to the first temperature data, the second temperature data and a data look-up table, the set of first control parameters comprise a first fan speed and a first pump speed, the set of second control parameters comprise a second fan speed and a second pump speed, and the data look-up table is downloaded from a cloud server. 
         [0011]    In this embodiment, the heat-dissipating system further comprises a tank, and the set of first state parameters and the set of second state parameters further comprise a first liquid level height data and a second liquid level height data, respectively. The intelligent control method comprises steps of generating a request message to the cloud server when the second liquid level height data or the first liquid level height data is smaller than a predetermined value; and the cloud server sending out a replacement notice and an advertisement information and an order information of related products to a user according to the request message. 
         [0012]    In this embodiment, the intelligent control method further comprises steps of determining that a liquid leaking event occurs when a variation between the first liquid level height data and the second liquid level height data is larger than a threshold; sending out an alarm signal to the cloud server; and the cloud server transmitting a message to a user registered account. 
         [0013]    In this embodiment, the set of first state parameters further comprise a third temperature data, and the first temperature data and the third temperature data are sensed at different positions of the heat-dissipating system. 
         [0014]    According to another embodiment of the invention, an intelligent control device is adapted to be used in a heat-dissipating system. The intelligent control device comprises a set of sensors electrically connected to the heat-dissipating system, the set of sensors sensing the heat-dissipating system at a first time point and a second time point to obtain a set of first state parameters and a set of second state parameters; and a micro-controller electrically connected to the set of sensors and the heat-dissipating system, the micro-controller generating a set of first control parameters according to the set of first state parameters, the set of second control parameters and an optimized heat-dissipating strategy, so as to adjust a heat-dissipating action of the heat-dissipating system according to the set of first control parameters. 
         [0015]    In this embodiment, the heat-dissipating system comprises a heat-dissipating fan and a pump, the micro-controller further generates a set of second control parameters according to the set of first state parameters, the set of second control parameters and the optimized heat-dissipating strategy, the set of first state parameters and the set of second state parameters comprise a first temperature data and a second temperature data, respectively, the micro-controller generates the set of first control parameters and the set of second control parameters according to the first temperature data, the second temperature data and a data look-up table, the set of first control parameters comprise a first fan speed and a first pump speed, the set of second control parameters comprise a second fan speed and a second pump speed, and the data look-up table is stored in a memory unit of the micro-controller. 
         [0016]    In this embodiment, the heat-dissipating system further comprises a tank, the set of first state parameters and the set of second state parameters further comprise a first liquid level height data and a second liquid level height data, respectively, the intelligent control device generates and transmits a request message to a cloud server when the second liquid level height data or the first liquid level height data is smaller than a predetermined value, and the cloud server sends out a replacement notice and an advertisement information and an order information of related products to a user according to the request message. 
         [0017]    In this embodiment, the micro-controller determines that a liquid leaking event occurs when a variation between the first liquid level height data and the second liquid level height data is larger than a threshold and sends out an alarm signal to the cloud server, and the cloud server transmits a message to a user registered account . 
         [0018]    In this embodiment, the data look-up table stored in the memory unit of the micro-controller is downloaded from a cloud server. 
         [0019]    These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram illustrating an intelligent control device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating an intelligent control method according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram illustrating the intelligent control device for executing the intelligent control method operated with peripheral devices according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a liquid cooling logic according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a liquid level sensing logic according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Some embodiments capable of achieving characteristics and features will be depicted in detail in the following. It should be noted that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention, so the following disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims. Furthermore, the description and figures are used for illustration purpose but not limit the invention. 
         [0026]    The invention discloses an intelligent control method and an intelligent control device for controlling a heat-dissipating system. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the intelligent control device  1  of the invention is adapted to be used in the heat-dissipating system  11 . The intelligent control device  1  comprises at least a set of sensors  101  and a micro-controller  10 . The intelligent control device  1  can execute an intelligent control method shown in  FIG. 2 . The set of sensors  101  are electrically connected to the heat-dissipating system  11 . The set of sensors  101  senses the heat-dissipating system  11  at a first time point and a second time point to obtain a set of first state parameters and a set of second state parameters, wherein the set of first state parameters and the set of second state parameters represent operating states of the heat-dissipating system  11  (step  21 ). The micro-controller  10 , which is electrically connected to the set of sensors  101  and the heat-dissipating system  11 , generates a set of first control parameters and a set of second control parameters according to the set of first state parameters and the set of second state parameters (step  22 ), so as to adjust a heat-dissipating action of the heat-dissipating system  11  according to the set of first control parameters and the set of second control parameters (step  23 ). Needless to say, the invention may sense and obtain more sets of first state parameters at more time points continuously, such that the micro-controller  10  may adjust the heat-dissipating action of the heat-dissipating system  11  in real time. The state parameters of the heat-dissipating system  11  may comprise a temperature data, a temperature variation data, a liquid level height data of a cooling liquid, a liquid level height variation data of the cooling liquid, and so on. The heat-dissipating action of the heat-dissipating system  11  may be a fan speed, a pump speed, and so on. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram illustrating the intelligent control device for executing the intelligent control method operated with peripheral devices according to an embodiment of the invention. The core of the intelligent control device  1  is the micro-controller  10  including a memory unit  100 , wherein the micro-controller  10  is electrically connected to the heat-dissipating system  11 , a power supply  12 , a computer system user interface  13 , a touch panel  14 , a light emitting diode display controller  15  and a wireless communication module  16 . The heat-dissipating system  11  comprises a heat-dissipating fan  111 , a pump  112 , a tank  113  and a light emitting diode  114 . The tank  113  may be adjacent to a heat source  19 , which needs heat dissipation. The pump  112  is used for driving a liquid within the tank  113  to flow circularly. The heat-dissipating fan  111  is used for dissipating heat from the liquid, which flows in the tubes circularly. Furthermore, the set of sensors  101  of the intelligent control device  1  may comprise one or more temperature sensors. Therefore, the invention may dispose a plurality of temperature sensors at different positions of liquid tubes for heat dissipation, the heat dissipating fan  111 , the pump  112 , the tank  113 , and so on, so as to sense and obtain a plurality of temperatures from different positions at a plurality of time points. Then, the invention may estimate a spatial distribution of temperature and a variation of temperature as time goes by, so as to monitor the temperature of the heat-dissipating system  11 . The invention can analyze those temperature data and temperature variation data within a unit time to acquire an optimized heat-dissipating strategy, so as to generate at least a set of control parameters. Consequently, the invention can utilize the set of control parameters to control speeds of the heat-dissipating fan  111  and the pump  112 , so as to adjust the heat-dissipating action of the heat-dissipating system  11  and then optimize heat-dissipating efficiency and system performance. 
         [0028]    For example, the intelligent control method and the intelligent control device of the invention can sense a plurality of sets of state parameters, which represent operating states of the heat-dissipating system, at a plurality of time points, wherein the sets of state parameters comprise temperature data of a plurality of different positions or different time. Needless to say, each set of state parameters may comprise one temperature data according to an embodiment. The invention can generate an optimized heat-dissipating strategy according to the temperature data and a data look-up table or an operating function stored in the memory unit  100 , wherein the optimized heat-dissipating strategy may be one or more sets of control parameters. In the sets of control parameters, the set of first control parameters may comprise a first fan speed and a first pump speed and the set of second control parameters may comprise a second fan speed and a second pump speed. Needless to say, each set of control parameters may comprise one fan speed or one pump speed according to other embodiments. Consequently, the invention can utilize the control parameters including the fan speed and the pump speed to adjust the heat-dissipating action of the heat-dissipating system. The invention may perform a plurality of sets of data on the heat-dissipating system to acquire an optimized data, so as to establish the data look-up table or the operating function. Accordingly, different heat-dissipating systems may correspond to different data look-up tables or operating functions. The manufacturer may update the data look-up table or the operating function in a cloud server  18  according to different heat-dissipating systems with different settings and the user can download the data look-up table or the operating function from the cloud server  18 . The wireless communication module  16  is used for connecting the cloud server  18  and the micro-controller  10  with the memory unit  100  therein. 
         [0029]    It should be noted that the aforesaid optimized heat-dissipating strategy may be implemented through a combination of proportional gain, integral gain and differential gain. 
         [0030]    In this embodiment, the heat source  19  may be an integrated circuit such as a central processing unit (CPU) , a graphics processing unit (GPU), or a memory unit, which generates heat due to high speed operation. In another embodiment, the heat source  19  may be a computer system, a projector, or other electronic information system, which needs to adjust temperature or dissipate heat. In another embodiment, the heat source  19  may be other devices such as a greenhouse, an aquarium, or an electric car. Furthermore, the light emitting diode  114  may be a display unit for showing various states of the heat-dissipating system  11 . For example, the color of the light emitting diode  114  may be used to represent the temperature of the cooling liquid. When the temperature is high, the color may be adjusted to be yellow or red, so as to warn the user. The micro-controller  10  may control the color, brightness, and so on of the light emitting diode  114  through the light emitting diode display controller  15 . 
         [0031]    In the embodiment of the invention, the temperature of the heat source may be estimated by sensing the temperature of the cooling liquid in the heat-dissipating system  11 . Accordingly, the set of sensors  101  including one or more temperature sensors may send back different sets of temperature data and temperature variation data associated with time sensed at different time points, so as to represent the temperature of the heat source  19  to a certain extent. To control whole condition, the invention may dispose a plurality of temperature sensors at different positions of liquid tubes, heat-dissipating fan  111 , pump  112 , tank  113 , and so on, so as to send back temperature distribution and variation associated with time from different positions. Therefore, the micro-controller  10  of the invention can control the pump speed and the fan speed of the heat-dissipating system  11  according to the temperature data, so as to optimize heat-dissipating efficiency. Moreover, the invention may further adjust the output of the power supply  12 , so as to optimize power efficiency. The power supply  12  may be a power source for the heat source of the heat-dissipating system  11 . 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a liquid cooling logic according to an embodiment of the invention. In the beginning, step  31  is performed to initialize the micro-controller  10 . Then, the micro-controller  10  sets a first pulse width modulation (PWM) for the heat-dissipating fan  111  and set a second PWM for the pump  112  (step  32 ), wherein the first PWM and the second PWM may be default. Then, the micro-controller  10  reads a fan speed of the heat-dissipating fan  111  and reads a pump speed of the pump  112  (step  33 ). Then, the micro-controller  10  reads a first temperature from the set of sensors  101  and stores the first temperature in the memory unit  100  (step  34 ). Then, the micro-controller  10  reads a second temperature from the set of sensors  101  after a predetermined time period (e.g. 5 seconds) and stores the second temperature in the memory unit  100  (step  35 ). Then, the micro-controller  10  executes the aforesaid optimized heat-dissipating strategy (step  36 ) to reset the first PWM for the heat-dissipating fan  111  and reset the second PWM for the pump  112  according to the temperature data stored in the memory unit  100 , so as to adjust the heat-dissipating action of the heat-dissipating system  11 . As mentioned in the above, the micro-controller  10  may download the optimized heat-dissipating strategy from the cloud server  18  through the wireless communication module  16  (step  37 ). 
         [0033]    Still further, the set of sensors  101  of the invention may comprise a liquid level sensor disposed on the tank  113  or other possible positions, wherein the liquid level sensor is used for sensing the level of the cooling liquid in the tank  113  of the heat-dissipating system  11  for control purpose. Accordingly, the state parameters may comprise a liquid level height data. The tank  113  is used for containing the cooling liquid and providing the cooling liquid to the heat-dissipating system  11 . Once the liquid level height is smaller than a predetermined value, the micro-controller  10  may send out a request message to the cloud server  18 . Accordingly, the manufacturer may send out a replacement notice and an advertisement information and an order information of related products to the user according to the request message, so as to market a new tank for the user. Furthermore, the micro-controller  10  of the invention may determine whether a liquid leaking event occurs according to liquid level height variation, e.g. the reduced liquid level height within a unit time is larger than a threshold. When determining that the liquid leaking event occurs, the micro-controller  10  may send out an alarm signal to the cloud server  18  through the wireless communication module  16  and then the cloud server  18  may transmit a phone message or an e-mail to a user registered account. When the second liquid level height data or the first liquid level height data is smaller than a predetermined value, the invention generates and transmits a request message to a cloud server. Then, the cloud server sends out a replacement notice and an advertisement information and an order information of related products to a user according to the request message. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a liquid level sensing logic according to an embodiment of the invention. In the beginning, step  41  is performed to initialize the liquid level sensor of the set of sensors  101 . Then, the liquid level sensor senses a first liquid level height and the micro-controller  10  stores the first liquid level height in the memory unit  100  (step  42 ). Then, the micro-controller  10  determines whether the first liquid level height is smaller than a predetermined value (step  43 ). If the first liquid level height is smaller than the predetermined value, the micro-controller  10  sends out the aforesaid request message to the cloud server  18  (step  44 ). If the first liquid level height is not smaller than the predetermined value, the liquid level sensor senses a second liquid level height after a predetermined time period (e.g. 1 second) and the micro-controller  10  stores the second liquid level height in the memory unit  100  (step  45 ). Then, the micro-controller  10  determines whether the second liquid level height is smaller than the predetermined value (step  46 ). If the second liquid level height is smaller than the predetermined value, the micro-controller  10  sends out the aforesaid request message to the cloud server  18  (step  44 ). If the second liquid level height is not smaller than the predetermined value, the micro-controller  10  determines whether the variation between the second liquid level height and the first liquid level height within a unit time is larger than a threshold (step  47 ). If the variation between the second liquid level height and the first liquid level height within a unit time is larger than the threshold, the micro-controller  10  sends out the aforesaid alarm signal to the cloud server  18  (step  48 ). If the variation between the second liquid level height and the first liquid level height within a unit time is not larger than the threshold, go back to step  42 . 
         [0035]    Moreover, the user may login the cloud server by the user registered account and the cloud server may provide a menu interface for the user when the user logins. Through the menu interface, the user may use the computer system user interface  13  or the touch panel  14  to decide how to warn the user, e.g. the aforesaid phone message or e-mail. Needless to say, the content of the menu interface may comprise an option of the aforesaid request message, such that the user may select to trigger the cloud server  18  to send out a message of adding the cooling liquid, a notice of replacing the tank, and/or an advertisement information and an order information of related products of the tank to the user. Therefore, the user may use a smart phone, a tablet computer, a personal computer, and so onto communicate with the cloud server  18 , so as to set the aforesaid menu interface and an operating mode or needed parameters of the micro-controller  10 . In addition, the intelligent control method of the invention may be implemented by a software executed in the system or a firmware stored in a control chip installed in the system casing or the micro-controller. The system may be a computer system, a projector, or other electronic information system, which needs to dissipate heat. 
         [0036]    In this embodiment, the heat source  19  may be an integrated circuit such as a central processing unit (CPU) , a graphics processing unit (GPU), or a random access memory (RAM), which generates heat due to high speed operation. In another embodiment, the heat source  19  may be a computer system, a projector, or other electronic information system, which needs to adjust temperature or dissipate heat. In another embodiment, the heat source  19  may be other devices such as a greenhouse, an aquarium, or an electric car. In various embodiments, the micro-controller  10  and the set of sensors  101  for executing the intelligent control method of the invention may be disposed in a casing of the heat-dissipating system  11 . Furthermore, the intelligent control method may be executed by a heat-dissipating control box equipped with the micro-controller  10  and the heat-dissipating control box is disposed outside the computer system. The memory unit  100  of the micro-controller  10  may record an operating action of the user. For example, the temperature variation data of the heat source may be recorded in the memory unit  100 . Accordingly, the heat-dissipating control box may execute a predetermined optimized heat-dissipating strategy according to the temperature variation data recorded in the memory unit, so as to control the pump speed and the fan speed. The predetermined optimized heat-dissipating strategy may be modified and adjusted by the user. Needless to say, the user may login the cloud server to select and download a suitable optimized heat-dissipating strategy to the heat-dissipating control box. 
         [0037]    The aforesaid heat-dissipating control box may be sold to a consumer individually and then the consumer may assemble the heat-dissipating control box with a computer himself/herself. Furthermore, the heat-dissipating control box may be assembled and sold with a water-cooling system. Still further, the heat-dissipating control box may be assembled with a computer casing to form an assembled frame device and then sold to the consumer. Through the assembled frame device with the heat-dissipating control box of the invention, it can send out a control signal to control the action of the heat-dissipating system according to the data sensed by the computer system. As mentioned in the above, the invention can solve the problems of the prior art, which cannot optimize heat-dissipating and power efficiency. Furthermore, the invention may be applied to a computer system, a projector, or other electronic information system, which needs to adjust temperature or dissipate heat. Still further, the invention may be applied to other devices such as a greenhouse, an aquarium, or an electric car. 
         [0038]    Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.