Apparatus facilitating use of cots electronics in harsh environments
First Claim
1. Apparatus for permitting commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) electronics to be utilized in harsh environments for which said COTS electronics are not designed including:
- an environmentally sealed enclosure;
mounts in said enclosure for holding said COTS electronics;
a temperature sensor within said enclosure;
an environmental control unit (ECU) in said enclosure, said ECU including a cooler which, when operated, cools fluid passing thereover, a heater which, when operated, heats fluid passing thereover, and controls, at least in part responsive to said temperature sensor, for selectively operating said cooler and said heater; and
a mechanism for circulating fluid in said enclosure through said mounts and said ECU, the temperature of the fluid being appropriately controlled as it circulates through the ECU.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for permitting commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) electronics to be utilized in harsh environments for which the COTS electronics are not designed, including environments having ambient temperature variations, ambient pressure variations, shock and vibration exposure, environmental contaminants and/or electromagnetic radiation which may be beyond the design specification of the COTS components. The device includes a sealed enclosure having racks or other suitable mounts for the COTS components and having an environmental controlled unit (ECU) which circulates a fluid such as air through the enclosure and through the mounts. The temperature in the enclosure is monitored and the ECU operated to heat or cool fluid passing therethrough to maintain temperature in the enclosure within the design limits of the COTS electronics. A flow channel for ambient fluid, which channel is sealed from the internally circulating fluid, may be provided for removing heat from a cooling unit of the ECU. The enclosure may also have shock mounts, thermal insulation and appropriate shielding to deal with other environmental concerns.
95 Citations
30 Claims
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1. Apparatus for permitting commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) electronics to be utilized in harsh environments for which said COTS electronics are not designed including:
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an environmentally sealed enclosure;
mounts in said enclosure for holding said COTS electronics;
a temperature sensor within said enclosure;
an environmental control unit (ECU) in said enclosure, said ECU including a cooler which, when operated, cools fluid passing thereover, a heater which, when operated, heats fluid passing thereover, and controls, at least in part responsive to said temperature sensor, for selectively operating said cooler and said heater; and
a mechanism for circulating fluid in said enclosure through said mounts and said ECU, the temperature of the fluid being appropriately controlled as it circulates through the ECU. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification