Computer cooling system and method

• US 7,079,387 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Larson, Thane M., Brooks, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, HUNG V
• Application Number:
  US10/459,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20040252453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 361679-687, 361724-727, 361/695, 361/690, 454/184, 621/71, 622/592, 165/104.34, 165/185, 415/213.1
• US Class Current: 361/679.51
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20718 Forced ventilation of a gaseous coolant in closed loop H05K7/20754
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20836 Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control

Abstract

A computer system includes an enclosure, a backplane within the enclosure, a replaceable unit releasably connected to the backplane, an air cooling system configured to create an air flow along the replaceable unit and an air flow blocking system. The air flow blocking system includes a first member coupled to the enclosure and a second member coupled to the replaceable unit. The first member and the second member interact to at least partially block air flow along the replaceable unit based upon at least one characteristic of the replaceable unit.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

an enclosure;

a first printed circuit board;

a first connector coupled to the first printed circuit board;

a second connector coupled to the first printed circuit board;

a forced air cooling system configured to direct air flow towards the first connector and the second connector;

a first replaceable unit having a second printed circuit board releasably connected to the first printed circuit board by the first connector and a first component coupled to the second printed circuit board and located within a first space;

a second replaceable unit having a third printed circuit board releasably connected to the first printed circuit board by the second connector and a second component different than the first component, coupled to the third printed circuit board and located within a second space;

a first air flow blocking system including;

a first member coupled to the enclosure; and

a second member coupled to the first replaceable unit, wherein the first member and the second member interact to partially block air flow to the first space by a first degree; and

a second air flow blocking system including a third member coupled to the enclosure and a fourth member coupled to the second replaceable unit, wherein the third member and the fourth member interact to partially block air flow to the second space by a second degree different than the first degree.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first member has an air flow blocking portion that pivots when the first member interacts with the second member.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first member translates when interacting with the second member.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first member includes at least one louver configured to pivot between a plurality of different air blocking positions and wherein the at least one louver is biased to a predetermined position.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first member includes a first perforated plate and wherein the second member includes a second perforated plate and wherein the first perforated plate and the second perforated plate interact with one another to block air flow to a first space by a first degree.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second member applies a force to the first member to move at least a portion of the first member during connection of the second printed circuit board to the first printed circuit board.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the air flow blocking portion includes at least one first louver and wherein the first member further includes a first piston coupled to the at least one first louver, and wherein the first piston pivots the at least one first louver while interacting with the second member.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the first member includes:

a first perforated plate; and

a second perforated plate movable relative to the first perforated plate, wherein the second perforated plate translates relative to the first perforated plate during interaction of the first member and the second member.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the third member includes a third perforated plate and wherein the fourth member includes a fourth perforated plate and wherein the third perforated plate and the fourth perforated plate interact with one another to block air flow to the second space by a second degree different than the first degree.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the second perforated plate includes a plurality of perforations and wherein at least one of a size, density and location of the plurality of perforations is based upon a characteristic of components coupled to the second printed circuit board.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the second member includes a first pin configured to engage the first piston during interaction of the first member and the second member.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the first member includes an engagement surface coupled to the second perforated plate and configured to engage the second member during interaction of the first member and the second member.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the second perforated plate is resiliently biased to a predetermined position relative to the first perforated plate.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the first member is substantially identical to the third member.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the third member includes at least one second louver and a second piston coupled to the at least one second louver, wherein the second piston pivots the at least one second louver of the third member while interacting with the fourth member.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the fourth member includes a second pin configured to engage the second piston during interaction of the third member and the fourth member, wherein the second pin has a length different than a length of the first pin.

17. A computer subsystem for use with a plurality of replaceable units, each unit having a first member of an air flow blocking system, the computer subsystem including:

an enclosure;

a first printed circuit board having a plurality of connectors separated by a plurality of spaces, each of the plurality of connectors being adapted to connect one of the plurality of replaceable units to the first printed circuit board;

a forced air cooling system configured to direct air flow towards the plurality of connectors; and

a second member of the air flow blocking system adjacent at least one of the plurality of spaces, wherein the second member is configured to interact with the first member to block air flow from the forced air cooling system.

18. The subsystem of claim 17, wherein the first member includes a first perforated plate and wherein the second member includes a second perforated plate.

19. The subsystem of claim 17, wherein the second member includes:

a first perforated plate; and

a second perforated plate movable relative to the first perforated plate.

20. The subsystem of claim 17, wherein the second member has an air flow blocking portion that pivots when interacting with the first member.

21. The subsystem of claim 20, wherein the air flow blocking portion includes at least one louver and wherein the second member further includes a piston coupled to the at least one louver and wherein the piston pivots the at least one louver while interacting with the first member.

22. The subsystem of claim 20, wherein the air flow blocking portion pivots between a fully closed position, a first open position and a second open position.

23. A replaceable unit for use with a computer system having a forced air cooling system, a first printed circuit board having a plurality of connectors, and a first member of an air flow blocking system, the unit comprising:

a second printed circuit board configured to be connected by one of the plurality of connectors to the first printed circuit board; and

a second member of the air flow blocking system, wherein the second member is configured to interact with the first member to at least partially block air flow adjacent the unit when the unit is connected to the first printed circuit board.

24. The unit of claim 23, wherein the first member includes a first perforated plate and wherein the second member includes a second perforated plate.

25. The unit of claim 23, wherein the first member includes a first perforated plate and a second perforated plate movable relative to the first perforated plate and wherein the second member includes an engagement portion configured to apply force to the second perforated plate to move the second perforated plate during connection of the second printed circuit board to the first printed circuit board.

26. The unit of claim 23, wherein the first member includes at least one pivoting louver and wherein the second member pivots the louver during connection of the second printed circuit board to the first printed circuit board.

27. The unit of claim 23 including at least one active component coupled to the second printed circuit board.

28. The unit of claim 26, wherein the first member includes a piston coupled to the at least one louver and wherein the second member engages the piston to pivot the at least one louver.

29. The unit of claim 28 including at least one component coupled to the second printed circuit board, wherein the second member has a length based upon a characteristic of the at least one component coupled to the second printed circuit board.

30. A method comprising:

connecting a first printed circuit board carrying a first component and associated with a first member of an air flow blocking system to a second printed circuit board associated with a second member of the air flow blocking system configured to interact with the first member such that the first member interacts with the second member;

directing an air flow at the first component; and

blocking the air flow based upon interaction between the first member and the second member.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the first member is configured based upon characteristics of the components on the printed circuit board.

32. The method of claim 30 including pivoting an air flow blockage member based upon the characteristics of the components on the printed circuit board.

33. The method of claim 30 including translating an air flow blockage member based upon characteristics of components on the printed circuit board.

34. The method of claim 32 including pivoting the air flow blockage member between a fully closed position, a first open position and a second open position.

35. The method of claim 34 including translating the air flow blockage member between a fully closed position, a first open position and a second open position.

36. A computer system comprising:

an enclosure;

a backplane within the enclosure;

a replaceable unit releasably connected to the backplane;

an air cooling system configured to create an air flow along the replaceable unit; and

an air flow blocking system including;

a first member coupled to the enclosure; and

a second member coupled to the replaceable unit, wherein the first member and the second member interact to at least partially block air flow adjacent the replaceable unit based upon at least one characteristic of the replaceable unit.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein one of the first member and the second member moves the other of the first member and the second member during connection of the replaceable unit to the backplane.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the first member includes an air flow blocking portion, wherein the air flow blocking portion moves between a plurality of blocking positions.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the blocking portion pivots between the plurality of blocking positions.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the blocking portion translates between the plurality of blocking positions.