Cooling module

• US 20050259391A1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Garnett, Paul Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,227,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.310
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20172 Fan mounting or fan specifications

Abstract

A cooling module is provided for an electrically powered apparatus. The cooling module comprises a non-volatile memory arranged to store a module identifier code for the module.

Claims

1. A cooling module for an electrically powered apparatus wherein the cooling module comprises a non-volatile memory arranged to store a module identifier code.

2. The cooling module of claim 1, configured to provide a cooling service to a computer apparatus.

3. The cooling module of claim 1, configured to provide a cooling service to a modular computer system.

4. The cooling module of claim 3, wherein the modular computer system comprises a plurality of field replaceable units.

5. The cooling module of claim 1, wherein the module identifier code is a field replaceable unit identifier.

6. The cooling module of claim 1, further comprising a control circuit operable to communicate the module identifier code to an electrically powered apparatus in which the module is mounted.

7. The cooling module of claim 1, comprising at least one cooling element configured to provide a cooling service to an electrically powered apparatus in which the module is mounted.

8. The cooling module of claim 7, wherein the cooling element is a fan operable to cause a flow of air from a first face of the cooling module to a second face of the cooling module.

9. The cooling module of claim 1, wherein the module is configured to be releasably mountable to an electrically powered apparatus.

10. The cooling module of claim 1, further comprising an electrical connector for connecting the cooling module to an electrical power supply.

11. The cooling module of claim 10, wherein the power supply connector is integral to a housing of the cooling module.

12. The cooling module of claim 1, comprising a data communication interface socket for connecting to an apparatus within which the module is mounted.

13. The cooling module of claim 12, wherein the data communication interface socket is integral to a housing of the cooling module.

14. The cooling module of claim 1, further comprising an optical status indicator.

15. The cooling module of claim 11, configured as a field replaceable unit for an electrically powered apparatus.

16. A cooling unit for a computer system, the cooling unit comprising:

means for physically attaching the cooling unit to the computer system;

means for connecting to a powers supply terminal of the computer system;

means for connecting to a data interface of the computer system;

means for storing a module identifier; and

means for transmitting the module identifier to the computer system via the data interface.

17. A cooling unit for a computer system, the cooling unit comprising:

mounting parts for physically attaching the cooling unit to the computer system;

a power connection for connecting to a powers supply terminal of the computer system;

a data connection for connecting to a data interface of the computer system;

a memory for storing a module identifier; and

a data circuit for transmitting the module identifier to the computer system via the data interface.