Airflow direction controlling apparatus

An airflow direction controlling apparatus includes a frame arranged near an outlet of a fan, at least one blade pivotably mounted to the frame and driven by a motor, at least two thermal sensors for detecting temperatures of at least two electronic components in a computer, and a control module electronically connected to the at least two sensors and the motor. The control module receives the detected temperatures from the sensors, determines if an electronic component is in danger of overheating, and controls the motor to rotate the at least one blade to a desired position where airflow of the fan blows toward the electronic component in danger of overheating, to quickly dissipate the heat generated by the electronic component.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to airflow direction controlling apparatuses, and particularly to an airflow direction controlling apparatus for a fan in a computer.

2. Description of Related Art

With the continued development of computer technology, electronic components in computers such as central processing units (CPUs) are generating more and more heat that needs to be dissipated immediately to avoid damage to the circuitry. Therefore, thermal modules are widely used to remove heat from the CPUs. A conventional thermal module includes a heat sink secured on a CPU and a CPU fan secured on the heat sink. Heat generated by the CPU is conducted by the heat sink and then dissipated away from the CPU by the CPU fan. However, thermal module designs typically fail to take into account the cooling of other electronic components within computers such as memories, hard disks, and graphic cards to keep manufacturing costs down. When temperatures of such electronic components get too high, the performance of the computers may be impaired.

What is needed, therefore, is an airflow direction controlling apparatus which can selectively direct airflow of a fan toward an overheated electronic component in a computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An airflow direction controlling apparatus for selectively directing airflow of a fan toward one of at least two electronic components in danger of overheating in a computer is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the controlling apparatus includes a frame configured for being arranged near an outlet of the fan, at least one blade pivotably mounted to the frame and driven by a motor, at least two thermal sensors configured for detecting temperatures of the at least two electronic components in the computer, and a control module electronically connected to the at least two sensors and the motor. The control module receives the detected temperatures from the sensors, determines if an electronic component is in danger of overheating, and controls the motor to rotate the at least one blade to a desired position where airflow of the fan blows toward the electronic component in danger of overheating, to quickly dissipate the heat generated by the electronic component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1,2,3,4and5, an airflow direction controlling apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a frame10, five blades20pivotably mounted to the frame10, a motor30, a control module40, three thermal sensors50,51, and52, and a pinion rack60.

The frame10includes two opposite side walls11,12, and two opposite connecting walls13,14connecting the side walls11,12. Five support portions15aeach defining a pivot hole16atherein extend evenly from the side wall11. Another five support portions15beach defining a pivot hole16btherein corresponding to the five support portions15aextend from the side wall12. A plurality of retaining portions17extend down from the connecting walls13,14and the side wall11of the frame10, for mounting the controlling apparatus to an enclosure (not shown) of a computer via engaging in through holes of the enclosure. A fan100may be accommodated at a space between the frame10and the enclosure.

Each blade20includes a pivot21at the bottom thereof. Two opposite ends of the pivot21engage in pivot holes16aand16bof corresponding support portions15aand15b. One end of the pivot21adjacent the side wall12includes a pinion22.

A bracket80is formed beside the connecting wall13of the frame10to accommodate the motor30and the control module40therein. The motor30includes a shaft31therein. The shaft31includes a pinion32at an end thereof. The motor30is mounted to the bracket80where the pinion32of the motor30is arranged in alignment with the pinions22of the blades20. The control module40and the sensors50,51,52are mounted to a control circuit board70. The control circuit board70is mounted to the bracket80adjacent the motor30.

The bracket80includes a partition board81adjacent to and parallel to the connecting wall13. A protrusion90defining a first limiting slot91extends up from an end of the connecting wall14adjacent to the side wall12. The partition board81defines a second limiting slot82in alignment with the first limiting slot91. The limiting slots91,92are aligned with the pivot holes16b. The pinion rack60defining a plurality of teeth is inserted through the first limiting slot91and the second limiting slot82to engage with the pinion32of the motor30and the pinions22of the blades20. The pinion rack60is moved back and forth via the pinion32of the motor30and guided by the first limiting slot91and the second limiting slot82.

Referring toFIG. 6, the control module40includes a microprocessor41, a reset circuit42, trigger switches S1, S2, S3, and a transistor Q1connected to the microprocessor41. The sensors50,51,52include input terminals respectively connected to three electronic components110,111,112to monitor their temperatures, power supply terminals connected to a power supply terminal Vcc1, and output terminals respectively connected to input/output ports P3.4, P3.5, P3.6of the microprocessor41. A power port Vcc of the microprocessor41is connected to the power supply terminal Vcc1. The trigger switches S1, S2, S3are respectively connected to input/output ports P3.1, P3.2, P3.3of the microprocessor41. The transistor Q1includes a base connected to an input/output port P3.0of the microprocessor41, a collector connected to a power supply terminal Vcc2, and an emitter connected to the motor30.

In application, the sensors50,51,52respectively detect temperatures of the three electronic components110,111,112. Temperatures are then provided to the microprocessor41by the sensors50,51, and52. The microprocessor41determines if an electronic component is in danger of overheating by comparing the detected temperatures with a predetermined temperature or temperatures. If one of the temperatures exceeds the corresponding predetermined temperature, the microprocessor41controls the trigger switch corresponding to the electronic component, which is in danger of overheating, to switch off, causing the transistor Q1to turn on for a predetermined period of time, making the motor30rotate the blades20via the rack60to a desired position where airflow of the fan100blows toward the corresponding electronic component, to quickly dissipate the heat generated by the electronic component. For examples,FIG. 4shows a profile view of airflow of the fan100blowing toward the electronic component110when the electronic component110is in danger of overheating, andFIG. 5shows a profile view of airflow of the fan100blowing toward the electronic component112when the electronic component112is in danger of overheating.

The number of the sensors and switch as disclosed above can be adjusted according to the number of the electronic components it is desired to monitor and cool when needed. The number of the blades as disclosed above can also be adjusted according to the size of the fan100.