Patent Application
20230229207
Computing devices may perform services. In order to provide the services, the computing devices may include hardware components and software components. The software components may utilize the hardware components to provide the services.
In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a computing device. The computing device includes an air circulation component, a plurality of environmental control components, and a heating and cooling control component. The air circulation component, when powered, circulates air in an internal volume of the computing device. The plurality of environmental control components, when powered, draws air through the computing device. The heating and cooling control component is configured to manage the air circulation component and the plurality of environmental control components by powering the air circulation component and not powering the plurality of environmental control components when a temperature of the internal volume of the computing device is below a threshold temperature.
In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to an information handling system including a cabinet housing a plurality of computing devices. Each computing device includes an air circulation component, a plurality of environmental control components, and a heating and cooling control component. The air circulation component, when powered, circulates air in an internal volume of the computing device. The plurality of environmental control components, when powered, draws air through the computing device. The heating and cooling control component is configured to manage the air circulation component and the plurality of environmental control components by powering the air circulation component and not powering the plurality of environmental control components when a temperature of the internal volume of the computing device is below a threshold temperature.
Certain embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the accompanying drawings illustrate only certain aspects or implementations of the invention by way of example, and are not meant to limit the scope of the claims.
Specific embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the following description, numerous details are set forth as examples of the invention. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that one or more embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without these specific details, and that numerous variations or modifications may be possible without departing from the scope of the invention. Certain details known to those of ordinary skill in the art are omitted to avoid obscuring the description.
In the following description of the figures, any component described with regard to a figure, in various embodiments of the invention, may be equivalent to one or more like-named components described with regard to any other figure. For brevity, descriptions of these components will not be repeated with regard to each figure. Thus, each and every embodiment of the components of each figure is incorporated by reference and assumed to be optionally present within every other figure having one or more like-named components. Additionally, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention, any description of the components of a figure is to be interpreted as an optional embodiment, which may be implemented in addition to, in conjunction with, or in place of the embodiments described with regard to a corresponding like-named component in any other figure.
Throughout the application, ordinal numbers (e.g., first, second, third, etc.) may be used as an adjective for an element (i.e., any noun in the application). The use of ordinal numbers is not to imply or create any particular ordering of the elements nor to limit any element to being only a single element unless expressly disclosed, such as by the use of the terms “before”, “after”, “single”, and other such terminology. Rather, the use of ordinal numbers is to distinguish between the elements. By way of an example, a first element is distinct from a second element, and the first element may encompass more than one element and succeed (or precede) the second element in an ordering of elements.
As used herein, the phrase operatively connected, or operative connection, means that there exists between elements/components/devices a direct or indirect connection that allows the elements to interact with one another in some way. For example, the phrase ‘operatively connected’ may refer to any direct (e.g., wired directly between two devices or components) or indirect (e.g., wired and/or wireless connections between any number of devices or components connecting the operatively connected devices) connection. Thus, any path through which information and/or power may travel may be considered an operative connection.
Computing devices may include any number of hardware components that facilitate providing the services of the computing devices. The hardware components may include, for example, processors, non-persistent storage drives, persistent storage drives, circuit cards that interconnect these components, etc. In some cases, computing devices might be deployed in environments that result in the temperature of the computing devices being outside of their designed operating range. For example, the computing devices may be designed to operate at temperatures above 0° C. When the computing devices are deployed to harsh environmental conditions (e.g., −40° C.-60° C.), the computing devices may not operate properly and, in certain scenarios, may be damaged.
To address one or more of the aforementioned issues, embodiments of the invention provide a mechanism to manage a temperature of an internal volume of a computing device. More specifically, embodiments of the invention include an air circulation component, when powered, circulates air within the internal volume of the computing device. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the positioning of the air circulation component enables an airflow direction orthogonal to the airflow direction of at least one of a plurality of environmental control components.
Various embodiments of the computing device are described below.
The cabinet (110) may be a mechanical structure that enables computing devices (e.g., 120) to be positioned with respect to one another. For example, the cabinet (110) may be a rack mountable enclosure that enables the computing devices (e.g., 120) to be disposed within it. The cabinet (110) may be implemented as other types of structures adapted to house, position, orient, and/or otherwise physically, mechanically, electrically, and/or thermally manage the computing devices (e.g., 120). By managing the computing devices (e.g., 120), the cabinet (110) may enable multiple computing devices to be densely packed in a space without negatively impacting the operation of the information handling system (100).
A computing device (e.g., 120) may be a mechanical structure for housing components of the information handling system (100). For example, the computing device (e.g., 120) may be implemented as a rack mountable enclosure for housing components of the information handling system. The computing device (e.g., 120) may be adapted to be disposed within the cabinet (110) and/or utilize services provided by the cabinet (110) and/or other devices.
To provide services, the computing device (e.g., 120) may utilize computing device resources provided by hardware components. The hardware components may include, for example, processors, non-persistent storage drives, a printed circuited board(s), persistent storage drives, special purpose hardware, and/or other types of physical components that contribute to the operation of the computing device.
Turning now to
An air circulation component located in the internal volume of the computing device may improve stability and functionality of the computing device as it provides computer-implemented services in harsh environmental conditions. To provide services, the computing device (200) may utilize computing device resources provided by a number of hardware components housed within the computing device. The number of hardware components may include, for example, persistent storage drives (not shown), non-persistent storage drives (not shown), processors (not shown), peripheral component interconnects (not shown), a printed circuit board (not shown), and/or other types of physical components that contribute to the operation of the computing device (200). Some examples of the hardware components are shown in
Turning now to
In one embodiment of the invention, the air circulation component (300) may include physical devices that provide functionality to change a temperature of the internal environment of the computing device (e.g., 200,
In one embodiment of the invention, the power supply (350) provides DC power to one or more other components in the computing device. Further, the power supply may include functionality to convert AC power (obtained from an external source) to DC power. In one embodiment of the invention, the power distribution unit (360) includes functionality to determine which hardware components receive power (i.e., power supplied by the power supply). For example, when the air circulation component (300) is to be activated, the power distribution unit may be instructed (e.g., by the heating and cooling control component) to distribute power (i.e., provide power) to the air circulation component.
In one or more embodiments of the invention, the number of environmental control components (e.g., 310A) may include physical devices that provide functionality to alter characteristics (e.g., airflow directions, humidity and temperature levels, etc.) of the internal environment of the computing device (e.g., 200,
In one or more embodiments of the invention, the heating and cooling control component (370) may provide heating or cooling control services. The heating or cooling control services may include (i) obtaining information regarding the temperature of one or more hardware components within the computing device (e.g., 200,
While described as a physical structure, the heating and cooling control component (370) may be implemented as a logical entity (e.g., a program executing using the number of printed circuit board components (e.g., 330A)). For example, the computing device (e.g., 200,
With respect to the temperature sensors, the temperature sensors may be operatively connected to the heating and cooling control component (370) and to at least one of the hardware components (e.g., printed circuit board (320), air inlet (380), etc.) within the computing device (e.g., 200,
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that while the printed circuit board (320), the number of printed circuit board components (e.g., 330A), the number of peripheral component interconnects (e.g., 340A), and the power supply (350) are shown that they are located at the frontside of the computing device, those components may be placed at any location within the computing device without departing from the invention. Similarly, while the number of environmental control components (e.g., 310A) is shown that they are located at the backside of the computing device, those components may be placed at any location within the computing device without departing from the invention.
Turning now to
While
In Step 400, a current temperature of an internal volume of a computing device is detected. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the current temperature of the internal volume of the computing device may be detected through a number of temperature sensors, which are operatively connected to at least one of the hardware components within the computing device.
In Step 402, a determination is made about whether the current temperature of the internal volume of the computing device is below a threshold (which may be a manufacture specified default value, a user defined value, etc.). The threshold may correspond to a temperature that is outside the operating temperature range of one or more components of the computing device. Further, with respect to
In Step 404, an air circulation component is turned on. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the air circulation component is turned on by the heating and cooling control component. Turning on the air circulation component may result in the distribution of thermal energy (i.e., hot air in the internal volume of the computing device) to a colder region(s) in the computing device (shown with a black arrow in
In Step 406, a number of environmental control components is turned off. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the number of environmental control components is turned off by the heating and cooling control component. Turning off the number of environmental control components may result in blocking, or at least significantly reducing, the expulsion of air in the internal volume of the computing device via the number of environmental control components. By this way, hot air kept in the internal volume of the computing device for heating the colder regions of the computing device more efficiently.
Continuing with the discussion of
In Step 410, when a threshold temperature is reached, the heating and cooling control component turns off the air circulation component and turns on the number of environmental control components. In one or more embodiments of the invention, by turning off the air circulation component and turning on the at least one of the number of environmental control components, the air in the internal volume of the computing device may be expelled from the computing device. By this way, the computing device will be back to operate in its equilibrium condition.
The method ends following Step 410.
In one or more embodiments of the invention, with the help of Steps 404-410, circulation of air in the internal volume of the computing device is performed. The temperature of the internal volume of the computing device is averaged to prevent freezing of certain regions in the internal volume of the computing device. Further, the stability and functionality of the computing device may be improved.
Turning now to
While
In Step 420, a current temperature of an internal volume of a computing device is detected. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the current temperature of the internal volume of the computing device may be detected through a number of temperature sensors, which are operatively connected to at least one of the hardware components within the computing device.
In Step 422, a determination is made about whether the current temperature of the internal volume of the computing device is above a threshold (which may be a manufacture specified default value, a user defined value, etc.). The threshold may correspond to a temperature that is outside the operating temperature range of one or more components of the computing device. Further, with respect to
In Step 424, an air circulation component is turned on. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the air circulation component is turned on by the heating and cooling control component. Turning on the air circulation component may result in distributing thermal energy (i.e., cold air in the internal volume of the computing device) to a hotter region(s) in the computing device (shown with a white arrow in
In Step 426, a number of environmental control components is turned on. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the number of environmental control components is turned on by the heating and cooling control component. Turning on the number of environmental control components may result in allowing the expulsion of air in the internal volume of the computing device via the number of environmental control components.
Continuing with the discussion of
In Step 430, when a threshold temperature is reached, the heating and cooling control component turns off the air circulation component. In one or more embodiments of the invention, by this way, the computing device will be back to operate in its equilibrium condition.
The method ends following Step 430.
In one or more embodiments of the invention, with the help of Steps 424-430, circulation of air in the internal volume of the computing device is performed. The temperature of the internal volume of the computing device is averaged to prevent overheating of certain regions in the internal volume of the computing device. Further, the stability and functionality of the computing device are improved.
In one or more embodiments of the invention, the heating and cooling control component may maintain multiple thresholds in order to implement both
The problems discussed above should be understood as being examples of problems solved by embodiments of the invention disclosed herein and the invention should not be limited to solving the same/similar problems. The disclosed invention is broadly applicable to address a range of problems beyond those discussed herein.
While the invention has been described above with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having the benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.
