SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A FAILURE IN A FIELD REPLACEABLE UNIT

• US 20100231406A1
• Filed: 03/11/2009
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hayden, Perry L. SR.
• Granted Patent: US 9,116,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/691.100
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre

Abstract

An apparatus is provided in one example embodiment and includes a light guide configured to couple to an electronic unit. The electronic unit is a replaceable unit of an electronic component, the light guide extending along a body structure of the electronic unit and signaling an operational state of the electronic unit. In more specific embodiments, the light guide communicates optical energy from a light source coupled to the electronic unit and configured to indicate the operational state of the electronic unit. In still other embodiments, the light source is a light emitting diode (LED) that indicates the operational state of the electronic unit. The light guide can include a light input that enhances an optical coupling between the light source the light guide. In still other embodiments, the light guide includes a curved portion that changes a direction of optical energy propagating within the light guide.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a light guide configured to couple to an electronic unit, wherein the electronic unit is a replaceable unit of an electronic component, the light guide extending along a body structure of the electronic unit and signaling an operational state of the electronic unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light guide communicates optical energy from a light source coupled to the electronic unit and configured to indicate the operational state of the electronic unit.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode (LED) that indicates the operational state of the electronic unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the light guide includes a light input that enhances an optical coupling between the light source the light guide.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light guide includes a curved portion that changes a direction of optical energy propagating within the light guide.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic unit includes a status indicator light that is mounted on a circuit board and that indicates the operational state of the electronic unit.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the status indicator light emits flashes, color changes, or intensity changes to signal the operational state of the electronic unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the status indicator light is optically aligned with a light source in order to indicate the operational state of the electronic unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light guide passes through one or more apertures of the body structure.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic unit is a fan used for cooling the electronic component.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic unit is a hard drive associated with the electronic component.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic unit is coupled to a circuit board via a connector.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic unit is hosted by the electronic component.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic component is a server.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operational state is an internal error or a failure of the electronic unit.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light guide includes mechanical stops limiting insertion of the light guide through apertures coupled to the body structure.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light guide is a pipe, which is constructed of molded plastic, or a cable that can carry optical energy.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a light guide configured to couple to an electronic unit, wherein the electronic unit is a replaceable unit of an electronic component, the light guide extending along a body structure of the electronic unit and signaling an operational state of the electronic unit, the light guide communicating optical energy from a light source coupled to the electronic unit and configured to indicate the operational state of the electronic unit, and wherein the light source is a light emitting diode (LED) that indicates the operational state of the electronic unit and the light guide includes a light input that enhances an optical coupling between the light source the light guide.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the electronic unit includes a status indicator light that is mounted on a circuit board and that indicates the operational state of the electronic unit, and wherein the status indicator light emits flashes, color changes, or intensity changes to signal the operational state of the electronic unit.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the light guide passes through one or more apertures of the body structure and the electronic unit is a fan used for cooling the electronic component.