Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110232889 | COMPUTER RACK COOLING USING INDEPENDENTLY-CONTROLLED FLOW OF COOLANTS THROUGH A DUAL-SECTION HEAT EXCHANGER - Embodiments of the present invention include a cooling system and method for cooling a computer rack by circulating liquid coolant through different sections of a rack heat exchanger under separately controlled flow and temperature conditions. In a method according to one embodiment, a first liquid coolant is supplied to a first section of an air-to-liquid heat exchanger. A second liquid coolant is supplied to a second section of the air-to-liquid heat exchanger at a different temperature than the first liquid coolant. Airflow is generated through rack-mounted computer components to the first and second sections of the air-to-liquid heat exchanger. The flow rates of the first and second liquid coolants are independently controlled to enforce a target cooling parameter. The independent operation of the first and second fin tube sections allows for the increased use of un-chilled water without sacrificing heat removal objectives. | 09-29-2011 |
20130153187 | Dual Heat Sinks For Distributing A Thermal Load - Dual heat sinks, apparatuses, and methods for installing a dual heat sink for distributing a thermal load are provided. Embodiments include a top base to couple with a first integrated circuit of a first board and to receive a first thermal load from the first integrated circuit; a bottom base to couple with a second integrated circuit of a second board and to receive a second thermal load from the second integrated circuit; and a thermal dissipating structure coupled between the top base and the bottom base, the thermal dissipating structure to receive and distribute the first thermal load and the second thermal load from the top base and the bottom base; wherein a height of the thermal dissipating structure is adjustable so as to change a distance separating the top base and the bottom base. | 06-20-2013 |
20130166094 | OPERATING EFFICIENCY OF A REAR DOOR HEAT EXCHANGER - Improving the operating efficiency of a rear door heat exchanger, including: determining, by a ventilation management module, a temperature differential between two temperature sensors in the rear door heat exchanger, the temperature differential indicative of cooling efficiency in the rear door heat exchanger; determining, by the ventilation management module, whether the temperature differential is greater than a predetermined threshold; and responsive to determining that the temperature differential is greater than the predetermined threshold, taking corrective action by the ventilation management module. | 06-27-2013 |
20130263450 | HEAT EXCHANGER DOOR FOR AN ELECTRONICS RACK - An air-cooling method is provided which includes providing a heat exchanger door and a catch bracket. The door is hingedly mounted to the air inlet or outlet side of an electronics rack, and includes: a door frame spanning at least a portion of the air inlet or outlet side of the rack, wherein the frame includes an airflow opening which facilitates airflow through the rack; an air-to-coolant heat exchanger supported by the door frame and disposed so that airflow through the airflow opening passes thereacross; and a door latch mechanism to selectively latch the heat exchanger door to the rack. The catch bracket is attached to the rack and sized to extend from the rack into the heat exchanger door through a catch opening, and the door latch mechanism is configured and mounted within the heat exchanger door to physically engage the catch bracket within the heat exchanger door. | 10-10-2013 |
20130264024 | PROCESS FOR OPTIMIZING A HEAT EXCHANGER CONFIGURATION - A heat exchanger core optimization method is provided for a heat exchanger door which resides at an air inlet or outlet side of an electronics rack, and includes an air-to-coolant heat exchanger with a heat exchanger core. The core includes a first coolant channel coupled to a coolant inlet manifold downstream from a second coolant channel, and the first channel has a shorter channel length than the second channel. Further, coolant channels of the core are coupled to provide counter-flow cooling of an airflow passing across the core. The core optimization method determines at least one combination of parameters that optimize for a particular application at least two performance metrics of the heat exchanger. This method includes obtaining performance metrics for boundary condition(s) of possible heat exchanger configurations with different variable parameters to determine a combination of parameters that optimize the performance metrics for the heat exchanger. | 10-10-2013 |
20130264026 | HEAT EXCHANGER DOOR FOR AN ELECTRONICS RACK - An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes a heat exchanger door and a catch bracket. The door is hingedly mounted to the air inlet or outlet side of an electronics rack, and includes: a door frame spanning at least a portion of the air inlet or outlet side of the rack, wherein the frame includes an airflow opening which facilitates airflow through the rack; an air-to-coolant heat exchanger supported by the door frame and disposed so that airflow through the airflow opening passes thereacross; and a door latch mechanism to selectively latch the heat exchanger door to the rack. The catch bracket is attached to the rack and sized to extend from the rack into the heat exchanger door through a catch opening, and the door latch mechanism is configured and mounted within the heat exchanger door to physically engage the catch bracket within the heat exchanger door. | 10-10-2013 |
20130264027 | PROCESS FOR OPTIMIZING A HEAT EXCHANGER CONFIGURATION - A heat exchanger door and heat exchanger core optimization method are provided. The door resides at an air inlet or outlet side of an electronics rack, and includes an air-to-coolant heat exchanger with a heat exchanger core. The core includes a first coolant channel coupled to a coolant inlet manifold downstream from a second coolant channel, and the first channel has a shorter channel length than the second channel. Further, coolant channels of the core are coupled to provide counter-flow cooling of an airflow passing across the core. The core optimization method determines at least one combination of parameters that optimize for a particular application at least two performance metrics of the heat exchanger. This method includes obtaining performance metrics for boundary condition(s) of possible heat exchanger configurations with different variable parameters to determine a combination of parameters that optimize the performance metrics for the heat exchanger. | 10-10-2013 |
20130264030 | STRUCTURAL CONFIGURATION OF A HEAT EXCHANGER DOOR FOR AN ELECTRONICS RACK - A heat exchanger door is provided which includes a door assembly spanning at least a portion of the air inlet or outlet side of an electronics rack. The door assembly includes an airflow opening which facilitates air ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics rack. The door assembly further includes an air-to-coolant heat exchanger and a structural support. The heat exchanger is disposed so that airflow through the airflow opening passes across the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger core and a heat exchanger casing coupled to the core. The core includes at least one coolant-carrying channel which loops through the casing. The structural support is attached to the heat exchanger casing to define with the casing a tubular door support structure. The looping of the coolant-carrying channel(s) through the heat exchanger casing resides within the tubular door support structure. | 10-10-2013 |
20130265719 | STRUCTURAL CONFIGURATION OF A HEAT EXCHANGER DOOR FOR AN ELECTRONICS RACK - A method is provided which includes providing a heat exchanger door that includes a door assembly spanning at least a portion of the air inlet or outlet side of an electronics rack. The door assembly includes an airflow opening which facilitates air ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics rack. The door assembly further includes an air-to-coolant heat exchanger and a structural support. The heat exchanger is disposed so that airflow through the airflow opening passes across the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger core and a heat exchanger casing coupled to the core. The core includes at least one coolant-carrying channel which loops through the casing. The structural support is attached to the heat exchanger casing to define with the casing a tubular door support structure. The looping of the coolant-carrying channel(s) through the heat exchanger casing resides within the tubular door support structure. | 10-10-2013 |
20130272515 | Selectively Filtering Incoming Communications Events In A Communications Device - Selectively filtering incoming communications events in a communications device, including: receiving, by a communications event filtering module, an incoming communications event; determining, by the communications event filtering module, whether the communications device is currently servicing a call; responsive to determining that the communications device is currently servicing a call, determining, by the communications event filtering module, whether the call is interruptible; and responsive to determining that the call is not interruptible, blocking, by the communications event filtering module, the incoming communications event from presentation by the communications device until the call has ended. | 10-17-2013 |
20130288502 | MEMORY MODULE CONNECTOR WITH AIR DEFLECTION SYSTEM - In one embodiment, a memory module connector includes sidewalls extending along a length of the connector body. A longitudinally oriented socket is provided between the sidewalls for receiving a card edge of a memory module. A top of the connector defines a socket opening. A bottom of the connector is for mounting to a system board. A plurality of air deflectors is provided adjacent to the connector body to manipulate airflow to improve cooling. The size, positioning, and spacing of the air deflectors may be selected to optimize cooling. | 10-31-2013 |
20130301670 | Detecting Thermal Interface Material ('TIM') Between A Heat Sink And An Integrated Circuit - Detecting TIM between a heat sink and an integrated circuit, the heat sink including TIM detection points, each TIM detection point adapted to receive TIM upon installation of the heat sink, each TIM detection point including a TIM detection device configured to be activated upon contact with TIM, including: receiving, upon installation of the heat sink on the integrated circuit and the TIM, TIM in one or more of the TIM detection points; activating, by the TIM in each of the one or more TIM detection points receiving the TIM, a TIM detection device; and determining, by a TIM detection module in dependence upon the activations of the TIM detection devices, sufficiency of the TIM between the heat sink and the integrated circuit. | 11-14-2013 |
20130301671 | Detecting Thermal Interface Material ('TIM') Between A Heat Sink And An Integrated Circuit - Detecting TIM between a heat sink and an integrated circuit, the integrated circuit including TIM detection points adapted to receive TIM upon installation of the heat sink and including a TIM detection device configured to be activated upon contact with TIM, including: receiving, upon installation of the heat sink on the integrated circuit and the TIM, TIM in one or more of the TIM detection points; activating, by the TIM in each of the one or more TIM detection points receiving the TIM, a TIM detection device; determining, by a TIM detection module of the integrated circuit in dependence upon the activations of the TIM detection devices, sufficiency of the TIM; and responsive to determining that the TIM between the heat sink and the integrated circuit is insufficient, controlling, in real-time by the TIM detection module, operation of the integrated circuit to reduce heat generated by the integrated circuit. | 11-14-2013 |
20130340989 | MULTICOMPONENT HEAT SINK WITH MOVABLE FIN SUPPORT PORTION - A heat sink comprises a base and a fin support larger in area than the base and supporting fins that may be positioned in a plurality of orientations relative to the base. The base is adapted for being connected to a heat-generating electronic component on a circuit board, and the heat sink dissipates heat generated by the heat-generating electronic device and conducted through the base and the fin support to the fins supported thereon. The heat sink dissipates heat from the heat-generating electronic device in a first operable position and in a second operable position. The heat sink may be moved from the first to the second operable position to facilitate access to electrical contacts proximal the heat-generating electronic component. | 12-26-2013 |
20140086732 | AIR BAFFLE SYSTEM IN A COOLING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONICS - A cooling apparatus of an array of fan cradles holding fans where a movable baffle assembly directs airflow and blocks removal of more than one fan at a time. A plurality of fans held in a fan cradle assembly in which the fan cradle for a fan to be replaced mechanically moves and is engaged with the movable baffle assembly to prevent removal of the other fans. A method is provided by which an operator may remove and replace an existing fan in an array of fans. | 03-27-2014 |
20140087704 | BLOCKING INCOMING COMMUNICATION INTERRUPTIONS - Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and program product for blocking an alert of an incoming communication external to an in-progress conference call which includes telecommunication devices connected to a communications network. A telecommunication device determines that the device is party to a conference call. The telecommunication device receives an incoming communication external to the conference call while it is party to the conference call. The telecommunication device blocks an alert of the incoming communication, so as to avoid interruption of the conference call. The telecommunication device determines that the conference call has concluded and the telecommunication device presents the blocked alert. | 03-27-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140164814 | IDENTIFICATION OF POWER SOURCE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIVITY - A computer determines a characteristic corresponding to each of a first power source and a second power source. The first and second power sources are connected to one or more power distribution units and are configured to provide power in a datacenter. The characteristic includes at least one of a current, a resistance, a voltage, a frequency, a phase, and a magnetic field. The computer generates a comparison of the characteristic corresponding to the first power source and the second power source, to a threshold value of the characteristic. The computer determines if the comparison violates the threshold value of the characteristic. In response to determining the comparison does not violate the threshold value of the characteristic, the computer determines that the first power source and the second power source are connected to a given power distribution unit included in the one or more power distribution units. | 06-12-2014 |
20140359313 | IMPLEMENTATION OF AN AIR TUBE BUTTON - An approach is described for implementing an air tube button in a computing system. An associated apparatus may include an air tube having an aperture located on a panel of the computing system. The apparatus further may include an airflow sensor located in the air tube and a fan configured for facilitating airflow though the air tube. The airflow sensor may be an anemometer, an air pressure gauge, or a mass flow meter. The apparatus further may include a service processor subsystem connected to the airflow sensor. The service processor subsystem may be configured for implementing a virtual signal having a default logical high value. The service processor subsystem further may be configured for establishing a baseline value by determining average airflow detected by the airflow sensor over a unit of time and commencing sampling of the airflow sensor to obtain airflow values at uniform time intervals. | 12-04-2014 |
20140360916 | SECURING MODULES IN AN ELECTRONICS SYSTEM - A method and apparatus for securing electronic components in an electronics system enclosure are disclosed. An apparatus can include an electronics system enclosure having a compartment adapted to receive a removable electronic component. The apparatus also includes a cam having a portion extending into the compartment sufficient to hinder insertion of the removable electronic component in a default orientation. The portion of the cam includes first and second surfaces. The portion of the cam is configured to deflect sufficient to permit insertion of the removable electronic component into the compartment in response to a normal force. The deflection causes the cam to deflect to a modified orientation. The cam portion returns to the default orientation in the absence of the normal force. The second surface of the portion is configured and arranged to engage a cam lever that is rotatably mounted to the removable electronic component. | 12-11-2014 |
20150055455 | CONTROLLING WI-FI ACCESS IN A PUBLIC LOCATION - A method, computer system, and/or computer program product controls access to a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point in a retail establishment. A predetermined retail activity threshold is established for a retail establishment, where the retail establishment has a patron service area with a WLAN access point, and where a determination has been made that exceeding the predetermined retail activity threshold without increasing patron traffic out of the retail establishment will cause an excessive wait time for occupying the patron service area. In response to determining that the predetermined retail activity threshold is being exceeded, a secondary criterion is examined in order to determine if the mobile device should be disconnected from the WLAN access point, in order to motivate a user of the mobile device to leave the patron service area. If so, then the mobile device is disconnected from the WLAN access point. | 02-26-2015 |
20150070257 | LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY USING BACKLIGHT INTENSITY TO COMPENSATE FOR PIXEL DAMAGE - A computer program product (CPP) for controlling a liquid crystal display (LCD) includes code for applying a test voltage to each liquid crystal element (LCE) disposed in an addressable array forming the LCD, and code for detecting an amount of light received by photosensors while applying the test voltage applied to the LCEs, wherein each photosensor is aligned behind and logically associated with one of the LCEs. The CPP further includes code for applying selected voltage levels to each LCE to display an image, and code for controlling an amount of backlight produced by backlighting elements in an addressable array while the image is displayed. Each backlighting element is aligned behind and logically associated with one LCE, and at least one backlighting element is controlled to compensate for a difference between the amount of light detected by the photosensor logically associated with at least one LCE and the other photosensors. | 03-12-2015 |
20150070401 | LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY USING BACKLIGHT INTENSITY TO COMPENSATE FOR PIXEL DAMAGE - A method of controlling a liquid crystal display (LCD) includes applying a test voltage to the LCD, and detecting an amount of light received by a plurality of photosensors while the test voltage is being applied, wherein the photosensors are each aligned behind one of the liquid crystal elements of the LCD. An image is then displayed on the LCD by applying selected voltage levels to the LCD elements. An amount of backlight produced by backlighting elements is controlled to compensate for differences in the light transmittance of the individual LCD elements. | 03-12-2015 |