Storage rack management system and method

• US 7,542,285 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2007
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Johnson, James Rollie, Falcinelli, Michael, Colucci, David A., Ware, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US11/704,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20070187343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 361687-690, 361/694, 361/696, 165 803- 805, 165/104.33, 622/592, 700/300, 454/184
• US Class Current: 361/688
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1425 of standardised dimensions, e.g. 19"-subrack
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/2079 within rooms for removing heat from cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20836 Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control

Abstract

An equipment storage rack includes a housing defining an interior region. The housing has an exterior. At least one piece of electronic equipment is supported by the housing within the interior region. A management system is adapted to monitor and display conditions of the equipment storage rack. In a certain configuration, the management system includes a controller unit mounted within the interior region of the housing, a display unit coupled to the controller unit and mounted on the exterior of the housing, and at least one monitoring device, coupled with the controller unit, to monitor at least one parameter of the equipment storage rack. Methods of controlling an equipment storage rack are further disclosed.

Claims

1. An equipment storage rack comprising:

a housing defining an interior region, the housing having a perforated panel;

at least one piece of electronic equipment supported by the housing within the interior region; and

a management system adapted to monitor and display conditions of the equipment storage rack, the management system comprising

a controller unit mounted within the interior region of the housing, and

a display unit coupled to the controller unit and mounted on the perforated panel of the housing, the display unit being of two-part construction, with a first part of the display unit being configured to be positioned on an outside of the perforated panel and a second part of the display unit being positioned on an inside of the perforated panel, the first and second parts being secured to one another without forming a dedicated opening in the perforated panel and with the perforated panel being disposed between the first and second parts.

2. The equipment storage rack of claim 1 further comprising at least monitoring device coupled with the controller to monitor at least one parameter of the equipment storage rack, wherein the at least one monitoring device includes an environmental sensor mounted on the housing of the equipment storage rack.

3. The equipment storage rack of claim 2, wherein the environmental sensor includes a temperature sensor, and wherein the equipment storage rack management system further comprises an air conditioning system coupled to the controller unit, the controller unit being configured to control the operation of the air conditioning system based on information obtained by the temperature sensor.

4. The equipment storage rack of claim 3, further comprising a sensor mount configured to be secured to the housing of the equipment storage rack and one of a snap-in clip and a zip-tie to attach the environmental sensor to the sensor mount.

5. The equipment storage rack of claim 4, wherein the environmental sensor includes a cable to connect the environmental sensor to the controller unit, and wherein the management system further comprises a cable mount configured to be secured to the housing of the equipment storage rack and one of a snap-in clip and a zip-tie to attach the cable to the cable mount.

6. The equipment storage rack of claim 2, further comprising a power device connected to the at least one piece of electronic equipment, and wherein the at least one monitoring device is connected to the power device.

7. The equipment storage rack of claim 1 wherein the perforated panel is part of a door to provide access to the interior region of the housing, and wherein the display unit is configured to mount on the door of the equipment storage rack.

8. The equipment storage rack of claim 1, further comprising a cable configured to connect the controller unit to a second controller unit of a second equipment storage rack.

9. The equipment storage rack of claim 1, further comprising a beacon, coupled to the controller unit and mounted on the housing of the equipment storage rack, to provide an alarm when the at least one monitoring device detects a predetermined event.

10. The equipment storage rack of claim 1, further configured to communicate with a network management system.

11. The equipment storage rack of claim 1, wherein the casing has mounting tabs configured to secure the controller unit to the housing of the equipment storage rack within the interior region of the housing of the equipment storage rack.

12. The equipment storage rack of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured as a standard nineteen inch rack.

28. The equipment storage rack of claim 1, wherein the casing has a widthwise dimension of seventeen inches.

13. A kit comprising:

a controller unit configured to be mounted within an equipment storage rack;

a display unit configured to be mounted on a perforated panel of the equipment storage rack, the display unit being of two-part construction, with a first part of the display unit being configured to be positioned on an outside of the perforated panel and a second part of the display unit being positioned on an inside of the perforated panel, the first and second parts being secured to one another without forming a dedicated opening in the perforated panel and with the perforated panel being disposed between the first and second parts; and

a cable to provide communication between the controller unit and the display unit.

14. The kit of claim 13, further comprising at least one monitoring device configured to monitor at least one parameter of the equipment storage rack and a cable to provide communication between the at least one monitoring device and the controller unit.

15. The kit of claim 14, wherein the at least one monitoring device includes at least one environmental sensor.

16. The kit of claim 14, wherein the at least one monitoring device is connected to a power device.

17. The kit of claim 14, wherein another cable further provides communication between the controller unit and a second controller unit of a second equipment storage rack.

18. The kit of claim 14, further comprising a beacon, configured to be coupled to the controller unit and mounted on a housing of the equipment storage rack by another cable, to provide an alarm when the at least one monitoring device detects a predetermined event.

19. The kit of claim 14, wherein the controller unit is configured to communicate with a network management system.

20. The kit of claim 14, wherein the controller unit comprises a casing having mounting tabs configured to secure the controller unit to the housing of the equipment storage rack within an interior region of the housing of the equipment storage rack.

21. The kit of claim 14, further comprising a cooling system configured to be coupled to the controller unit by another cable.

22. A method of controlling an equipment storage rack of the type comprising at least one piece of electronic equipment, the method comprising:

mounting a controller unit on the equipment storage rack;

mounting a display unit on a perforated panel of the equipment storage rack, wherein the display unit is of two-part construction, with a first part of the display unit being configured to be positioned on an outside of the perforated panel and a second part of the display unit being positioned on an inside of the perforated panel, the first and second parts being secured to one another without forming a dedicated opening in the perforated panel and with the perforated panel being disposed between the first and second parts;

mounting at least one monitoring device configured to monitor at least one parameter of the equipment storage rack; and

connecting the controller unit to the display unit and the at least one monitoring device.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising connecting the controller unit with an uninterrupted power supply of the equipment storage rack.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one monitoring device includes an environmental sensor.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the environmental sensor includes one of a temperature sensor and a combination temperature and humidity sensor, and wherein the method further comprises connecting a cooling system to the controller unit, the controller unit being configured to control the operation of the cooling system based on information obtained by the temperature sensor.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein mounting the at least one monitoring device includes securing a sensor mount to the housing of the equipment storage rack and attaching the at least one monitoring device to the sensor mount with one of a snap-in clip and a zip-tie.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein connecting the controller unit to the at least one monitoring device includes employing a cable, and further comprising securing a cable mount to the housing of the equipment storage rack and attaching the cable to the cable mount with a zip-tie.

29. An equipment storage rack comprising:

a housing defining an interior region, the housing having a perforated panel;

at least one piece of electronic equipment supported by the housing within the interior region; and

a management system adapted to monitor and display conditions of the equipment storage rack, the management system comprising a controller unit and a display unit coupled to the controller unit and mounted on the perforated panel of the housing, the display unit being of two-part construction, with a first part of the display unit being configured to be positioned on an outside of the perforated panel and a second part of the display unit being positioned on an inside of the perforated panel, the first and second parts being secured to one another without forming a dedicated opening in the perforated panel and with the perforated panel being disposed between the first and second parts.