Optimization of heat regulation in a device comprising a fan

Abstract

The invention concerns a device ( 1 ) comprising: at least one component ( 7 ), at least one fan ( 4 ) for regulating the temperature of the component ( 7 ), a processor ( 5 ), and at least one temperature sensor ( 3 ), characterised in that the processor ( 5 ) is configured to control the direction of rotation of the fan ( 4 ) on the basis of the temperature of the component ( 7 ) measured by the temperature sensor ( 3 ), so as to regulate the temperature of the component ( 7 ) and the noise generated by the fan ( 4 ). The invention also concerns a method for regulating the temperature in this device.

1 . A device ( 1 ) comprising:
 at least one component ( 7 ),   at least one fan ( 4 ) for controlling the temperature of the component ( 7 ),   a processor ( 5 ), and   at least one temperature sensor ( 3 ),   
       characterized in that the processor ( 5 ) is configured to control the direction of rotation of the fan ( 4 ) depending on the temperature of the component ( 7 ) measured by the temperature sensor ( 3 ), so as to control the temperature of the component ( 7 ) and the noise generated by the fan ( 4 ). 
     
     
         2 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , further including at least one outer opening ( 10 ) of which the size is adjustable, for passage of a stream of air, the processor ( 5 ) being configured to control the direction of rotation of the fan ( 4 ) and the size of the outer opening ( 10 ) according to the temperature of the component ( 7 ). 
     
     
         3 . The device ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the processor ( 5 ) is configured to increase the size of the outer opening ( 10 ) with an increase in the temperature of the component ( 7 ). 
     
     
         4 . The device according to one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the processor ( 5 ) is configured to control the speed of rotation of the fan ( 4 ) according to the temperature of the component ( 7 ). 
     
     
         5 . The device ( 1 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the fan ( 4 ) has, for a given rotation speed:
 a direction of rotation generating a noise with a first amplitude, 
 another direction of rotation generating a noise with a second amplitude, greater than the first, 
 
       the processor ( 5 ) being configured to select the direction of rotation of the fan ( 4 ) generating the noise with the second amplitude when the temperature of the component ( 7 ) is greater than a threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the processor ( 5 ) is configured to select the direction of rotation of the fan ( 4 ) generating the noise with a second amplitude when the size of an outer opening ( 10 ) of the device ( 1 ) is a maximum. 
     
     
         7 . The device ( 1 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  6 , including a light emitting system ( 2 ) which includes light emitting elements ( 11 ) and optical elements ( 12 ) for projecting an image, the component ( 7 ) of which the temperature is controlled corresponding to the optical elements ( 12 ). 
     
     
         8 . The device according to one of  claims 1  to  7 , said device ( 1 ) being a portable image projector. 
     
     
         9 . A method for controlling the temperature in a device ( 1 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  8 , including the step consisting of controlling the direction of rotation of the fan ( 4 ) according to the temperature of at least one component ( 7 ) of the device ( 1 ) measured by the temperature sensor ( 3 ), so as to control the temperature of the component ( 7 ) while minimizing the noise generated by the fan ( 4 ). 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein, during an increase in temperature of the component ( 7 ), the processor ( 5 ) controls the size of an outer opening ( 10 ) of the device ( 1 ) up to its maximum size, then selects the direction of rotation of the fan ( 4 ) according to the temperature of the component ( 7 ).