Automated dust filter cleaning

1. A method of cleaning a dust filter, comprising:

(a) applying a negative electrical potential to a first electrode disposed in a first area of a dust filter and applying a positive electrical potential to a second electrode disposed in a second area of the dust filter, wherein a voltage differential between the first electrode and the second electrode is sufficient to cause electrostatic movement of dust from the first area of the dust filter to the second area of the dust filter; and then

(b) applying a negative electrical potential to the second electrode and applying a positive electrical potential to a third electrode disposed in a third area of the dust filter, wherein a voltage differential between the second electrode and the third electrode is sufficient to cause electrostatic movement of dust from the second area of the dust filter to the third area of the dust filter, and wherein the first, second and third areas are generally linearly arranged with the second area between the first and third areas.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first, second or third electrodes is operated at the same electrical potential and at the same time as at least one other electrode.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

causing electrostatic movement of dust from the dust filter into a duct.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

automatically opening a damper to the inlet of the duct, wherein the inlet of the duct is directly adjacent the third area of the dust filter.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

applying a negative electrical potential to the third electrode and applying a positive electrical potential to a fourth electrode disposed in an inlet of a duct, wherein the inlet of the duct is directly adjacent the third area of the dust filter, wherein a voltage differential between the third electrode and the fourth electrode is sufficient to cause electrostatic movement of dust from the third area of the dust filter into the duct; and

automatically causing a damper to the inlet of the duct to be open while the fourth electrode has a positive electrical potential.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

flowing air through the duct while the damper is open, wherein the air flowing through the duct moves dust from the inlet of the duct to an outlet of the duct.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

periodically repeating steps (a) and (b).

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

repeating steps (a) and (b) in response to detecting an elevated temperature inside a computer chassis, wherein the dust filter is disposed across a cooling air inlet to the computer chassis.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

reducing the fan speed of a fan disposed to cause airflow through the filter during the performance of steps (a) and (b).

10. A computer program product including computer usable program code embodied on a computer usable medium for cleaning a dust filter, the computer program product including:

computer usable program code for applying a negative electrical potential to a first electrode disposed in a first area of a dust filter and applying a positive electrical potential to a second electrode disposed in a second area of the dust filter, wherein a voltage differential between the first electrode and the second electrode is sufficient to cause electrostatic movement of dust from the first area of the dust filter to the second area of the dust filter; and

computer usable program code for applying a negative electrical potential to the second electrode and applying a positive electrical potential to a third electrode disposed in a third area of the dust filter, wherein a voltage differential between the second electrode and the third electrode is sufficient to cause electrostatic movement of dust from the second area of the dust filter to the third area of the dust filter, and wherein the first, second and third areas are generally linearly arranged with the second area between the first and third areas.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 , further comprising:

computer usable program code for applying a negative electrical potential to the third electrode and applying a positive electrical potential to a fourth electrode disposed in an inlet of a duct, wherein the inlet of the duct is directly adjacent the third area of the dust filter, wherein a voltage differential between the third electrode and the fourth electrode is sufficient to cause electrostatic movement of dust from the third area of the dust filter into the duct; and

computer usable program code for automatically causing a damper to the inlet of the duct to be open while the fourth electrode has a positive electrical potential.

12. The computer program product of claim 10 , further comprising:

computer usable program code for detecting an elevated temperature inside a computer chassis, wherein the dust filter is disposed across a cooling air inlet to the computer chassis; and

computer usable program code for causing electrostatic movement of dust from the first area to the second area and from the second area to the third area in response to detecting the elevated temperature inside the computer chassis.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 , further comprising:

computer usable program code for reducing the fan speed of a fan disposed to cause airflow through the filter during the application of electrical potential to one or more of the electrodes.