Advantech's FAE Marco Zampolli presents quiet system. In the past, industrial computers were placed in manufacturing sites or outdoors--environments fairly tolerant of noise. However, as industrial computer applications have become more and more diverse, these computers are also being used in indoor placements, in environments more sensitive to noise, such as in network communications, POS, medical systems, or systems that are placed in offices, including measuring instruments, flight safety consoles, etc. Accordingly, Advantech is introducing its Intelligent IPCs, Quiet Industrial Computers. ISO 7779 is the test specification Advantech is currently using, and the system idle noise level is controlled down to as low as 35 dBA. http://www.advantech.eu/ePlatform/box-ipc/news.aspx?doc_id=%7B85B9380F-C403-4C9D-B89A-3AD9D286AD9

1. Marco Zampolli
Advantech Europe
November 2012

2. PC EVOLUTION
At the beginning PC evolution has been led only by performance improvements.
Nowadays thanks to the incredible computational power available
technology is becoming more and more refining in order to fulfill al the requests of the application.

3. Why quiet PC in industrial environment ?
Several applications requiring industrial PCs
1) Industrial PCs are designed to assure high reliability
2) Industrial PC are designed to assure operation in harsh environments
3) Industrial PCs are designed to assure long life cycle support
Several applications requiring attended systems, so the operators are close to the
system
System’s acoustic performance becomes an important detail

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5. Acoustic Level Measurement
Sound pressure level must be an objective data
•Unit of measure: decibel (dB)
•Test standard: ISO-7779
Example of sound pressure level
Sleeping Room Library Conversations Concert

6. Acoustic strategies to improve
A) Thermal/Acoustic integration
Fan speed control
Low system impedance
B) Selection of components with improved acoustic behavior

7. Key component to reduce the noise:
FANS in the system

8. Fans are the main noise sources
in an industrial system
Systems fans
CPU fans
Power supply fans

9. Fan Speed Control
• Fan speed control:
• Vary fan speed, based on cooling requirements
• Fan speed reduces with ambient temperature
• Board level (Tj junction temperature) control:
• Motherboard hardware design ready
• BIOS Smart Fan Control ready
• Inputs to control fan speed:
 Processor temperature (Tj)
 Ambient temperature

10. Fan Speed Control (cont.)
• Temp vs. fan speed mechanism – fast/sensitive fan speed reaction

11. Fan Speed Control (cont.)
• Example of fan speed vs. sound pressure level
Fan 1

12. Fan Selection
• Fan bearing types: Ball
Bearing Sleeve
• Ball bearings: higher MTBF bearing
• Sleeve bearings: lower MTBF
• The new chassis series is using ball bearings
• With smart fan control function enabled, the fan MTBF can
extend.
 Better mechanical specification
MTBF improved
 Better strategy of use

13. Key component to reduce the noise:
System impedance

14. System Impedance
• Low system impedance benefits both acoustic and thermals
0.2
0.18
0.16 High impedance
Lower impedance
0.14
Static Pressure (in. H2O)
0.12
0.1 Lower RPM at
Lower RPM at
0.08 same airflow
same airflow
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Airflow (CFM)

15. IPC world leader
Improved the chassis design
ACP-4320 IPC-7220
AIMB-781
Implemented smart fan technology management
AIMB-767
AIMB-581

16. And this is the (Quiet) result…
Example of sound pressure level
Sleeping Room Library Conversations Concert

17. Quiet products family evolution
IPC-7220 ACP-4320
All new SBCs/ATXs will
support quiet system
AIMB-781
AIMB-767
AIMB-581
2012

19. Do you want to discover more?
Let’s visit us @ SPS