Air baffle for managing cooling air re-circulation in an electronic system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An airflow management apparatus for usage in an electronic system comprising:
- a flexible air baffle that mounts on a chassis of an electronic device in an arrangement that obstructs air flow between an air inlet vent and an air exhaust vent of the electronic device, the flexible air baffle having a thickness that extends across a gap to contact an adjacent vertically-stacked electronic device.
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Abstract
An airflow management apparatus is used in an electronic system and includes a flexible air baffle that mounts on a chassis of an electronic device in an arrangement and obstructs air flow between an air inlet vent and an air exhaust vent of the electronic device. The flexible air baffle has a thickness that extends across a gap to contact an adjacent vertically-stacked electronic device.
49 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An airflow management apparatus for usage in an electronic system comprising:
a flexible air baffle that mounts on a chassis of an electronic device in an arrangement that obstructs air flow between an air inlet vent and an air exhaust vent of the electronic device, the flexible air baffle having a thickness that extends across a gap to contact an adjacent vertically-stacked electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An electronic device comprising:
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an electronic system; a chassis enclosing the electronic system, the chassis having substantially planar upper and lower surfaces and extending from a first end to a second end; an air inlet vent formed in the upper surface proximal to the first end; an exhaust vent formed in the upper surface proximal to the second end; and a flexible air baffle mounted on the chassis in an arrangement that obstructs air flow between the air inlet vent and the exhaust vent, the flexible air baffle having a thickness that extends across a gap to contact an adjacent surface above the chassis. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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a rack cabinet capable of holding a plurality of stacked electronic devices; an air inlet and exit coupled to mutually opposing sides of the cabinet; a plurality of slots contained within the cabinet and capable of securing the stacked electronic devices; and at least one electronic device inserted into the slots, the individual electronic devices having substantially planar upper and lower surfaces, and having an air inlet vent formed in the upper surface proximal to the air inlet cabinet side and an exhaust vent formed in the upper surface proximal to the exit cabinet end; and at least one flexible air baffle, the individual baffles mounted on the upper surface of an associated electronic device in an arrangement that obstructs air flow between the air inlet vent and the exhaust vent, the flexible air baffle having a thickness that extends across a gap to contact an adjacent surface above the upper surface. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of controlling airflow in an electronic system comprising:
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providing an electronic device having substantially planar upper and lower surfaces and extending from a first end to a second end, an air inlet vent formed in the upper surface proximal to the first end, and an exhaust vent formed in the upper surface proximal to the second end; inserting the electronic device a controlled clearance beneath an overlying substantially planar surface; and obstructing air flow between the air inlet vent and the exhaust vent using a flexible structural member that extends the controlled clearance from the electronic device upper surface to the overlying substantially planar surface. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for controlling airflow in an electronic system comprising:
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means for encasing a plurality of electronic devices, the electronic devices having substantially planar upper and lower surfaces and having an air inlet vent formed in the upper surface proximal to the air inlet cabinet side and an exhaust vent formed in the upper surface proximal to the exit cabinet end; means within the encasing means for receiving the plurality of electronic devices arranged in a stack; means for directing a cooling air stream flow over the plurality of stacked electronic devices from an air inlet to an exit; and means for obstructing air flow between the electronic devices'"'"' air inlet vent and the exhaust vent so that substantially all airflow from the housing air inlet to the exit passes through the electronic devices.
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Specification