Data center equipment cabinet information center

• US 8,854,822 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2014
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Methode Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Hazzard, Tim, Lozon, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoa C
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, BINH BACH THANH
• Application Number:
  US14/168,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20140146459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 250 Days
• Field of Search: 361/601, 361/602, 361/724, 361/725, 361/726, 361/727, 361/826, 361/827, 361/828, 174/17.05, 174/72.C, 211/153, 312/223.1, 312/223.2
• US Class Current: 361/724
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1498 Resource management, Optimisation arrangements, e.g. configuration, identification, tracking, physical location thermal management H05K7/20836

Abstract

A cabinet frame enclosure is provided having a first side wall, a second side wall, a first opening and a second opening each in combination defining an interior space for accommodating a plurality of equipment, the equipment being removable through the first opening. A plurality of functional modules are provided such as: an asset tracking module for detecting the presence or absence of the equipment from the interior space of the cabinet frame enclosure, the asset tracking module disposed in the first side wall adjacent the first opening; an access control module for providing electronic locking and access control to the interior space of the cabinet frame enclosure; an environmental management module for monitoring and controlling environmental conditions within the interior space of the cabinet frame enclosure; a power management module for monitoring and controlling power distribution to equipment located in the interior space of the cabinet frame enclosure, the power management module disposed in one of the first side wall or second side wall and adjacent the second opening; and a cabinet control module (CCM) for providing consolidated connectivity to the plurality of functional modules, wherein the CCM presents a single network connection for managing the equipment located in the cabinet frame enclosure.

Claims

1. A data center infrastructure management equipment cabinet appliance, the appliance comprising:

a cabinet frame enclosure having a first side wall, a second side wall, a first opening and the cabinet frame enclosure defining an interior space having a first and second rail disposed therein to provide a pair of rails to support a piece of equipment, wherein the rack is configured to accommodate a plurality of equipment stacked within the interior space, the equipment being removable through the first opening;

a plurality of functional modules selected from a group consisting of;

an asset tracking module configured to detect the presence or absence of the equipment from the interior space of the cabinet frame enclosure when a piece of equipment is slid into or out of the interior space via the pair of rails, the asset tracking module disposed in the first side wall adjacent the first opening;

an access control module for providing electronic locking and access control to the interior space of the cabinet frame enclosure;

an environmental management module for monitoring and controlling environmental conditions within the interior space of the cabinet frame enclosure;

a power management module for monitoring and controlling power distribution to equipment located in the interior space of the cabinet frame enclosure, the power management module disposed in one of the first side wall or second side wall and adjacent the second opening; and

a cabinet control module (CCM) for providing consolidated connectivity to the plurality of functional modules, wherein the CCM presents a single network connection for managing the equipment located in the cabinet frame enclosure.

2. The cabinet appliance of claim 1, wherein the asset tracking module is configured to detect the equipment wirelessly.

3. The cabinet appliance of claim 2, wherein the asset tracking module is configured to detect one or more RFID tags attached to the equipment.

4. The cabinet appliance of claim 3, wherein the asset tracking module comprises one or more RFID readers located within the interior space of the cabinet frame enclosure.

5. The cabinet appliance of claim 4, wherein the asset tracking module further comprises a plurality of individual asset tracking modules connected in series.

6. The cabinet appliance of claim 1, wherein the access control module comprises one of:

a touch-sensor-based key keypad, a proximity card reader, an on-screen touch-screen control, a remote network control, and biometric access.

7. The cabinet appliance of claim 1, wherein the access control module is configured to use visual data including at least one of still images and video.

8. The cabinet appliance of claim 1, wherein the environmental management module includes one of a fan and a dehumidifier for controlling one of airflow and humidity within the interior space of the cabinet frame enclosure.

9. The cabinet appliance of claim 1, wherein the power management module comprises one or more of:

a power distribution unit (PDU), a power strip, and an intelligent power battery backup device.

10. The cabinet appliance of claim 1, wherein the power management module is configured to selectively control at least one of power delivery and power storage to the equipment.

11. The cabinet appliance of claim 1, wherein the cabinet control module is wirelessly connect to the plurality of functional modules.

12. The cabinet appliance of claim 1, wherein the cabinet control module is wired to the plurality of functional modules.

13. The cabinet appliance of claim 1, wherein the cabinet control module comprises a touch-screen display for providing external user interaction between a user and the integrated appliance.

14. The cabinet appliance of claim 1, wherein the cabinet control module is configured to manage a correlated automation scenario where information received from at least a first functional module is used to manage at least a second functional module.

15. The cabinet appliance of claim 1, wherein the single network connection has a single IP address.

16. The cabinet appliance of claim 1 wherein the pair of rails are disposed on the first and second side walls so that the equipment may be attached in horizontal position within the rack.

17. The cabinet appliance of claim 1 wherein the pair of rails are disposed on a bar positioned perpendicular to the first and second side walls so that the equipment may be attached in vertical position within the rack.

18. A self-contained and self-monitoring equipment rack comprising:

a cabinet frame enclosure having a first side wall, a second side wall, a first opening and the cabinet frame enclosure defining an interior space having mounting members configured to accommodate a plurality of equipment organized generally in a stack, the equipment being insertable and removable through the first opening;

a first component disposed in the first sidewall for wirelessly detecting the presence of at least one of the equipment when removed or inserted to or from the interior space;

a second component for locking a door of the cabinet, the second component controlled remotely and electronically,

a third component having a temperature sensor, a fan and a remote control for controlling temperature within the cabinet;

a fourth component disposed in the first or second side wall for providing power to the entire cabinet and each of its first, second and third components via a single power cable, each of the first, second and third components connected to the fourth component;

a cabinet control module (CCM) connected to each of the first, second, third and fourth components and the CCM for consolidating the monitoring and control of the first, second, third and fourth components; and

a display screen linked to the CCM for viewing component operation data and controlling the CCM, the display screen accessible from outside the cabinet without opening the door.

19. The equipment rack of claim 18 wherein the first component includes an asset tracking module that is configured to detect one or more RFID tags attached to the equipment.

20. The equipment rack of claim 18 wherein the second component includes an access control module comprising one of a touch-sensor-based key keypad, a proximity card reader, an on-screen touch-screen control, a remote network control and biometric access element.

21. The equipment rack of claim 18 wherein the third component includes an environmental management module that includes one of a fan and a dehumidifier for controlling one of airflow and humidity within the interior space of the cabinet frame enclosure.

22. The equipment rack of claim 18 wherein the fourth component includes a power management module comprising one of a power distribution unit (PDU), a power strip and an intelligent power battery backup device.

23. The equipment rack of claim 18 wherein the rack is configured so that at least a two pieces of the equipment are each mounted in a horizontal position within the interior space so that a plurality of the equipment are mounted in a generally stacked orientation.

24. The equipment rack of claim 18 wherein the rack is configured so that at least two pieces of equipment are mounted in a vertical position within the interior space and a first group of vertically positioned equipment is mounted in a generally stacked orientation above a second group of vertically positioned equipment within the interior space.

25. The equipment rack of claim 18 wherein the mounting member is oriented in a generally horizontal position within the rack so that the equipment may be attached in a perpendicular position to the mounting member and the equipment may be oriented in a vertical position within the rack.

26. The equipment rack of claim 25 wherein the mounting member comprises a bar having a plurality of rails disposed thereon.

27. The equipment rack of claim 18 wherein the mounting member is oriented in a generally vertical position within the rack so that the equipment may be attached in a perpendicular position within the rack and the equipment may be oriented in a horizontal position within the rack.

28. The equipment rack of claim 27 wherein the mounting member comprises a first rail disposed on a first side wall and a corresponding second rail disposed on the second side wall.