IP Library Granted Patent US 10,545,545
Granted Patent B2
US 10,545,545 · App. 14/448,389 · Granted Jan 28, 2020

Triangular system for modifiable thermal control

Inventors: Christopher M. Helberg (Austin, TX); Shawn P. Hoss (Round Rock, TX); Edward D. Knapton (Pflugerville, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products, LP
G06F1/206H05K7/20H05K7/20009H05K7/20136H05K7/20145H05K7/20209
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,545,545
App. No.
14/448,389
Granted
Jan 28, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An information handling system includes a triangular chassis, a plurality of graphics cards, and a plurality of air movers. An air stream of a first air mover may be axially aligned with the graphics cards and the first air mover may to direct the air stream into a first zone of the information handling systems including the graphics cards, the air stream being parallel to a longitudinal axis of the graphics cards. The first air mover may be a fan and the air flow may be laminar. A second zone of the information handling systems may include a CPU. The first zone may include a power supply unit. The air movers may be controlled independently, enabling independent control of a temperature in the first zone and a temperature in the second zone.

Claims (45)

1. An information handling system comprising:

a triangular chassis supporting a first set of components and a second set of components, wherein the first set of components is in a first zone in an internal cavity of the triangular chassis and the second set of components is in a second zone in the internal cavity with at least a portion of the second zone is between a first vertex and a side opposite of the first vertex of the triangular chassis;

the first set of components coupled in the first zone of the triangular chassis, the first set including a CPU;

the second set of components coupled in the second zone of the triangular chassis, the second set including a power supply unit (PSU);

a plurality of air movers including a first air mover and a second air mover; and

an air mover controller, wherein the first air mover is to direct an air stream into the first zone within the triangular chassis, the second air mover is mounted at a first vertex of the triangular chassis to direct an air stream into the second zone of the internal cavity between the first vertex and the side opposite of the first vertex of the triangular chassis, the air movers to generate an airflow in the second zone to produce an air curtain that separates the first zone and the second zone, and the air mover controller is to control the first air mover independently of the second air mover, thereby enabling independent control of a first temperature in the first zone and a second temperature in the second zone.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the air movers comprise fans creating a laminar air flow in the first or second zone in the internal cavity.

3. The information handling system of claim 2 , wherein the second set of components comprises a plurality of graphics cards.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein:

the triangular chassis further includes chamfered vertices;

a processor, including the CPU or GPU, is proximate to one of the vertices of the chassis; and

the information handling system comprises a liquid cooling radiator to cool the processor.

5. The information handling system of claim 4 , wherein the second zone includes a third venting air mover opposite the second air mover creating a laminar air flow in the second zone.

6. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the air mover controller is coupled to a baseboard management controller.

7. A method comprising:

operating a first air mover to provide air flow in a first zone of an internal cavity of an information handling system having a triangular chassis, the first zone containing a first set of components comprising a CPU;

operating a second air mover, mounted at a first vertex of the triangular chassis, to provide air flow in a second zone of the internal cavity of the information handling system containing a second set of components comprising a power supply unit (PSU), with at least a portion of the second zone between a first vertex and a first side opposite of the first vertex of the triangular chassis, wherein operating the first air mover and the second air mover produces an airflow to generate an air curtain separating the first zone and the second zone;

monitoring the first set of components and the second set of components; and

independently controlling the first air mover and the second air mover with an air mover controller, thereby enabling independent control of a first temperature of the air flow in the first zone and a second temperature of the air flow in the second zone.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the monitoring is monitoring a load of a component of the first set of components and a load of a component of the second set of components.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the monitoring is monitoring a temperature of a component of the first set of components and a temperature of a component of the second set of components.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second set of components comprises a plurality of graphics cards.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second zone includes a third venting air mover mounted at the first vertex opposite the second air mover creating a laminar air flow in the second zone.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the air mover controller is to send pulse width modulation (PWM) signals to the first air mover and the second air mover.

13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the air mover controller comprises a super TO (SIO) chip or a platform controller hub (PCH) chip.

14. An information handling system comprising:

a triangular chassis with chamfered vertices;

a plurality of graphics cards, a CPU and a power supply unit (PSU) in an internal cavity of the triangular chassis;

a first zone of the internal cavity containing the plurality of graphics cards and the power supply unit with at least a portion of the first zone between a first chamfered vertex and a first side opposite of the first chamfered vertex of the triangular chassis;

a second zone of the internal cavity containing the CPU;

a plurality of air movers, wherein an air stream of a first air mover is axially aligned with the graphics cards and the first air mover is mounted to draw air into the first zone of the internal cavity and vent air from the first zone of the internal cavity, wherein the first air mover is mounted at the first chamfered vertex of the triangular chassis to direct the air stream into the first zone of the internal cavity, the air stream being parallel to a longitudinal axis of the graphics cards between the first side and the first chamfered vertex of the triangular chassis; and

the first zone of the internal cavity creating a thermal barrier from the second zone of the internal cavity by an air curtain generated by the air stream directed into the first cavity;

and an air mover controller is to control the first air mover independently of a second air mover, thereby enabling independent control of a first temperature in the first zone and a second temperature in the second zone.

15. The information handling system of claim 14 , wherein:

the first chamfered vertex comprises the outlet vent; and

the first side of the triangular chassis opposite the first chamfered vertex has inlets to the first air mover.

16. The information handling system of claim 14 , further comprising an offset between the graphics cards to create a space between the graphics cards for laminar airflow of the airstream in the first zone.

17. The information handling system of claim 14 , wherein a second air mover is mounted at the vent at the first side or the first chamfered vertex of the triangular chassis opposite to the first air mover to vent the air stream from the first zone.

18. The information handling system of claim 14 , wherein:

a second air mover to generate an airflow for information handling system components mounted in the second zone of the internal cavity of the triangular chassis.

19. The information handling system of claim 18 , wherein the air mover controller comprises a super IO (SIO) chip or a platform controller hub (PCH) chip.

20. The information handling system of claim 14 , wherein:

the first air mover is mounted proximate to the first side of the triangular chassis opposite to the first chamfered vertex;

the first side of the triangular chassis comprises inlets to the first air mover; and

the first chamfered vertex opposite the first side of the triangular chassis has the outlet vent.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL USA L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF REEL 033625 FRAME 0688 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040027/0757 →
RELEASE OF REEL 033625 FRAME 0748 (NOTE) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040027/0050 →
RELEASE OF REEL 033625 FRAME 0711 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040016/0903 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2014
From: HELBERG, CHRISTOPHER M.; HOSS, SHAWN P.; KNAPTON, EDWARD D.
To: DELL PRODUCTS, LP
Reel/Frame 033964/0011 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Aug 27, 2014
From: COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033625/0748 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Aug 27, 2014
From: COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 033625/0711 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Aug 27, 2014
From: COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; SECUREWORKS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033625/0688 →