Enclosure for circuit modules

• US 5,168,171 A
• Filed: 03/04/1991
• Issued: 12/01/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tracewell Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tracewell Enclosures, Inc.
• Inventors: Tracewell, Larry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US07/663,561
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 340/606, 340/660, 340/661, 340/662, 340/663, 361/383, 361/384, 361/415, 165/13, 395/750, 307/64, 307/66, 307/149, 307/150
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20572 within cabinets for removing heat from sub-racks, e.g. plenum
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/207 Thermal management, e.g. cabinet temperature control

Abstract

An enclosure is provided for circuit modules which are mounted as an array in a vertical orientation within a card cage and which are electrically coupled to a back plane positioned rearwardly within the housing. A plurality of specified voltages asserted from a primary power source within the housing are monitored by a microcomputer based control system performing in conjunction with programmable memory. The status of the voltage sources is displayed at a supervisory panel mounted at the front face of the enclosure. This supervisory panel includes an array of light emitting diode based indicators which display both acceptable performance and out of tolerance performance to the operator. The outputs for each channel additionally are associated with a reset switch permitting a form of operator interrogation of any channel in question. The heat transfer air path of the enclosure is initiated along the sides of the enclosure where conveniently accessible elongate and vertically oriented filters are positioned. Air path passes through the card cage in heat transfer relationship with the modules and is monitored at a location downstream from the card cage. An output at the supervisory panel will indicate the presence or absence of proper air flow. The monitoring features of the enclosure are powered from a separate power supply which, in turn, is buttressed by a rechargeable battery back-up performing in conjunction with a d.c.-to-d.c. converter. The batteries of this power supply are conveniently located behind the supervisory panel. An audible alarm also is incorporated at the supervisory panel.

Claims

1. An enclosure of a variety operationally retaining generally planar electronic modules, comprising:

a housing having front, side and rear portions;

a back plane mounted rearwardly within said housing, having a plurality of spaced electrical connectors, each configured for receiving a said electronic module in a generally vertical orientation;

an air intake formed within said housing;

at least one fan mounted within said housing and energizable to draw air along a path extending from said air intake and in thermal exchange across the surfaces of said electronic modules;

an air flow sensor mounted in said housing within said path at a location intercepting said air subsequent to its passing across said electronic modules and having a first output condition in the absence of an acceptable air flow thereacross;

an air flow status indicator mounted at said housing front portion, responsive to input signals to provide a perceptible output representing the output condition of said air flow sensor; and

control means responsive to said air flow sensor first output condition for deriving a said input signal to provide said perceptible output representing the absence of an acceptable air flow.

2. The enclosure of claim 1 in which:

said air flow sensor provides a second output condition in the presence of an acceptable air flow thereacross; and

said control means is responsive to said second output condition for deriving a said input signal to provide said perceptible output representing the presence of an acceptable air flow.

4. The enclosure of claim 1 including:

an alarm transducer mounted within said housing and responsive to an alarm drive input for generating an acoustically perceptible output; and

said control means is responsive to said first output condition for deriving said alarm drive input.

3. The enclosure of clam 2 in which:

said air flow status indicator comprises a source of illumination energizable in a first region of the visible spectrum representing said absence of acceptable air flow, and is energizable in a second region of the visible spectrum representing said presence of an acceptable air flow;

including air flow reset switch means mounted upon said housing and actuable to derive an air flow reset condition; and

said control means is responsive to said air flow reset condition to respond to a next occurring said first and second output condition for deriving a next said input signal.

5. An enclosure of a variety operationally retaining electronic modules requiring power sources of specified voltage levels comprising:

a housing having a front portion, a side portion, and a rear portion;

a back plane mounted rearwardly within said housing having a sequence of spaced electrical connectors, each configured for receiving a said electronic module and having power source input components for selective electrical communication with said electronic modules through said electrical connectors;

a first power source mounted within said housing having outputs for providing discrete power source outputs corresponding with said specified voltage levels electrically coupled with said power source input components;

a supervisory panel mounted at said housing front portion and having a voltage status indicator responsive to input signals to provide a perceptible output representing the status of voltage levels of said discrete power source outputs; and

control means including programmable memory means for retaining values for said specified voltage levels and tolerances associated therewith, responsive to said discrete power source outputs and to corresponding said memory retained values for deriving a said input signal representing an acceptable voltage stage when said discrete power source output exhibits a voltage of value corresponding with a said specified voltage level and deriving a said input signal representing an unacceptable voltage state when said discrete power source output exhibits a voltage of value not corresponding with said specified voltage level.

6. An enclosure of a variety operationally retaining electronic modules requiring power sources of specified voltage levels comprising:

a housing having a front portion, a side portion, and a rear portion;

a back plane mounted rearwardly within said housing having a sequence of spaced electrical connectors each configured for receiving a said electronic module and having power source input components for selective electrical communication with said electronic modules through said electrical connectors;

a first power source mounted within said housing having discrete power source outputs corresponding with said specified voltage levels electrically coupled with said power source input components;

channel reset switch means mounted at said supervisory panel and selectively actuable to derive a reset condition corresponding with a select said discrete power source;

a supervisory panel mounted at said housing front portion and having a voltage status indicator responsive to input signals to provide a perceptible output representing the status of voltage levels of said discrete power source outputs; and

control means responsive to said discrete power source outputs for deriving a said input signal representing an acceptable voltage state when a said discrete power source output exhibits a voltage of value corresponding with a said specified voltage level and deriving a said input signal representing an unacceptable voltage state when a said discrete power source output exhibits a voltage of value not corresponding with said specified voltage level, and said control means being responsive to said reset condition to respond to said select discrete power source and derive a next said input signal corresponding therewith.

7. An enclosure of a variety operationally retaining electronic modules requiring power sources of specified voltage levels comprising:

a housing having a front portion, a side portion, and a rear portion;

a back plane mounted rearwardly within said housing, having a sequence of spaced electrical connectors each configured for receiving a said electronic module and having power source input components for selective electrical communication with said electronic modules through said electrical connectors;

a first power source mounted within said housing having discrete power source outputs corresponding with said specified voltage levels electrically coupled with said power source input components;

a supervisory second power source mounted within said housing and having a standby output corresponding with a predetermined voltage level;

a supervisory panel mounted at said housing front portion and having a voltage status indicator responsive to input signals to provide a perceptible output representing the status of voltage levels of said discrete power source outputs;

control means responsive to said discrete power source outputs for deriving a said input signal representing an acceptable voltage state when a said discrete power source output exhibits a voltage of value corresponding with a said specified voltage level and deriving a said input signal representing an unacceptable voltage state when said discrete power source output exhibits a voltage of value not corresponding with said specified voltage level; and

coupline means electrically coupling said standby output in powering relationship with said control means.

8. The enclosure of claim 7 including:

a standby rechargeable battery source mounted within said housing; and

said coupling means is connected in charging relationship with said battery source.

9. The enclosure of claim 8 in which:

said battery is mounted at said supervisory panel; and

said supervisory second power source includes a d.c. to d.c. converter coupled in power supply relationship with said battery for deriving said predetermined voltage level.

10. The enclosure of claim 7 including:

a standby voltage status indicator mounted at said supervisory panel, responsive to input signals to provide a perceptible output representing the status of said standby output predetermined voltage level; and

said control means is responsive to said standby output for deriving said input signals representing an acceptable voltage level when said standby output exhibits a voltage of value corresponding with said voltage level, and deriving a said input signal representing an unacceptable voltage level when said standby output exhibits a voltage of value not corresponding with said predetermined voltage level.

11. An enclosure of a variety operationally retaining electronic modules requiring power sources of specified voltage levels comprising:

a housing having a front portion, a side portion, and a rear portion;

a back plane mounted rearwardly within said housing, having a sequence of spaced electrical connectors each configured for receiving a said electronic module and having power source input components for selective electrical communication with said electronic modules through said electrical connectors;

a first power source mounted within said housing having discrete power source outputs corresponding with said specified voltage levels electrically coupled with said power source input components;

a supervisory panel mounted at said housing front portion and having a voltage status indicator responsive to input signals to provide a perceptible output representing the status of voltage levels of said discrete power sources voltages;

an air intake formed within said housing;

at least one fan mounted rearwardly within said housing and energizable to draw air along a path extending from said air intake and in thermal exchange across the surface of said electronic modules;

air flow sensor means mounted in said housing within said path, having a first output condition in the absence of an acceptable air flow thereacross and having a second output condition in the presence of an acceptable air flow thereacross;

an air flow status indicator mounted at said supervisory panel, responsive to said output signals to provide perceptible outputs representing said first and second output conditions;

control means responsive to said discrete power source outputs for deriving a said input signal representing an acceptable voltage state when a said discrete power source output exhibits a voltage of value corresponding with a said specified voltage level and deriving a said input signal representing an unacceptable voltage state when said discrete power source output exhibits a voltage of value not corresponding with said specified voltage level, said control means being responsive to said air flow sensor first and second output conditions to derive said input signals to provide said perceptible outputs selectively representing said first and second output conditions.

12. An enclosure of a variety operationally retaining electronic modules requiring power sources of specified voltage levels, comprising:

a generally rectangular housing having a hand accessible front portion, spaced apart side portions and a rear portion defining the periphery of an enclosure;

a back plane mounted rearwardly within said enclosure having a sequence of spaced electrical connectors, each configured for receiving a said electronic module;

a power supply mounted within said housing having discrete power source outputs corresponding with said specified voltage levels and connectable with said modules through said back plane;

a card cage within said housing having first and second spaced, parallel arrays of support members for vertically supporting said modules in adjacency with said back plane;

an air flow plenum region within said enclosure located adjacent said first array of support members;

an air flow receptor region within said enclosure located adjacent said second array of support members;

intake port means comprising two regions of openings, one said region of openings being disposed within each of said spaced apart housing side portions and substantially coextensive with said air flow plenum region, for receiving air as the commencement of an air path directed to said air flow plenum, thence, in turn, through said card cage and said air flow receiving region;

air filter means comprising two elongate air filters, each vertically oriented and slideably mounted adjacent one of said two regions of openings and hand accessible for replacement from said front portion, for effecting removal of contaminants from air entering said air path; and

fan means mounted upon said housing for drawing air through said input port means, thence along said air path and outwardly from said housing enclosure.

13. An enclosure of a variety operationally retaining electronic modules requiring power sources of specified voltage levels, comprising:

a generally rectangular housing having a hand accessible front portion, spaced apart side portions and a rear portion defining the periphery of an enclosure, said spaced apart side portions comprising two, spaced apart side plates, each having a plurality of access openings for providing access to internal components within said housing;

a back plane mounted rearwardly within said enclosure having a sequence of spaced electrical connectors, each configured for receiving a said electronic module;

a power supply mounted within said housing having discrete power source outputs corresponding with said specified voltage levels connectable with said modules through said back plane;

a card cage within said housing having first and second spaced, parallel arrays of support members for vertically supporting said modules in adjacency with said back plane;

an air flow plenum region within said enclosure located adjacent said first array of support members;

an air flow receptor region within said enclosure located adjacent said second array of support members;

intake port means including an elongate region of intake port openings within each said spaced apart side plate and located substantially coextensively with said air flow plenum region for receiving air as the commencement of an air path directed to said air flow plenum, thence, in turn, through said card cage and a said air flow receiving region;

said housing spaced apart side portions further including two enclosing cover panel members each being removably attached to one of said side plates and configured for covering said access openings therein to enclose said air path and having port openings therein adjacent said elongate region of intake port openings;

air filter means positioned over said intake port means within said housing and hand accessible for replacement from said front portion, for effecting removal of contaminants from air entering said air path; and

fan means mounted upon said housing for drawing air through said input port means, thence along said air path and outwardly from said housing enclosure.

14. The enclosure of claim 13 including baffle means mounted upon said housing at said air flow plenum region for diverting a portion of air within said air path through said card cage at locations adjacent said spaced apart side portions.

15. The enclosure of claim 14 in which said baffle means is configured as an elongate hollow duct extending from said housing rear portion to said front portion and having openings at its front and rear ends for receiving and protectively retaining cable extending from said rear portion to said front portion.

16. An enclosure of a variety operationally retaining electronic modules requiring power sources of specified voltage levels, comprising:

a generally rectangular housing having a hand accessible front portion, spaced apart side portions and a rear portion defining the periphery of an enclosure;

a back plane mounted rearwardly within said enclosure having a sequence of spaced electrical connectors, each configured for receiving a said electronic module;

a power supply mounted within said housing having discrete power source outputs corresponding with said specified voltage levels connectable with said modules through said back plane;

a card cage within said housing having first and second spaced, parallel arrays of support members for vertically supporting said modules in adjacency with said back plane;

an air flow plenum region within said enclosure located adjacent said first array of support members;

an air flow receptor region within said enclosure located adjacent said second array of support members;

intake port means mounted at a said housing side portion for receiving air as the commencement of an air path directed to said air flow plenum, thence, in turn, through said card cage and said air flow receiving region;

air filter means positioned over said intake port means within said housing and hand accessible for replacement from said front portion, for effecting removal of contaminants from air entering said air path;

fan means mounted upon said housing for drawing air through said input port means, thence along said air path and outwardly from said housing enclosure;

a supervisory panel mounted at said housing front portion and having a voltage status indicator responsive to output representing the status of voltage levels of said discrete power source outputs; and

control means responsive to discrete power source outputs for deriving an input signal representing an acceptable voltage state when a said discrete power source output exhibits a voltage of value corresponding with a said specified voltage level and having a said input signal representing an unacceptable voltage state when said discrete power source output exhibits a voltage of value not corresponding with said specified voltage level.

17. The enclosure of claim 16 including:

channel reset switch means mounted at said supervisory panel and selectively actuable to derive a reset condition corresponding with a select said discrete power source output;

and said control means is responsive to said reset condition to respond to said select discrete power source output and derive a next said input signal corresponding therewith.

18. A enclosure of a variety operationally retaining electronic modules requiring power sources of specified voltage levels, comprising:

a generally rectangular housing having a hand accessible front portion, spaced apart side portions and a rear portion defining the periphery of an enclosure;

a back plane mounted rearwardly within said enclosure having a sequence of spaced electrical connectors, each configured for receiving a said electronic module;

a power supply mounted within said housing having discrete power source outputs corresponding with said specified voltage levels connectable with said modules through said back plane;

a card cage within said housing having first and second spaced, parallel arrays of support members for vertically supporting said modules in adjacency with said back plane;

an air flow plenum region within said enclosure located adjacent said first array of support members;

intake port means mounted at a said housing side portion for receiving air as the commencement of an air path directed to said air flow plenum, thence, in turn, through said card cage and said air flow receiving region;

air filter means positioned over said intake port means within said housing and hand accessible for replacement from said front portion, for effecting removal of contaminants from air entering said air path;

fan means mounted upon said housing for drawing air through said input port means, thence along said air path and outwardly from said housing enclosure;

an air flow sensor mounted in said housing within said air path at a location intercepting said air within said air path subsequent to its passing through said card cage and having a first output condition in the absence of an acceptable air flow;

an air flow status indicator mounted at said housing front portion, responsive to an input signal to provide a perceptible output representing the first output condition of said air flow sensor; and

control means responsive to said air flow sensor first output condition for deriving said input signal to provide said perceptible output representing the absence of an acceptable air flow.

19. The enclosure of claim 18 in which said air flow sensor provides a second output condition in the presence of an acceptable air flow thereacross;

and

said control means is responsive to said second output condition for deriving a said input signal to provide said perceptible output representing the presence of an acceptable air flow.