IP Library Granted Patent US 6,867,701
Granted Patent B2
US 6,867,701 · App. 10/124,987 · Granted Mar 15, 2005

Computer-server rack enclosure fault light diagnostic system

Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,867,701
App. No.
10/124,987
Granted
Mar 15, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer-server rack enclosure fault light diagnostic system and a method for providing an overall rack level fault indicator of a fault incurred by a unit of electronic equipment housed in the rack. The rack may be an EIA standard rack holding constituent components complying with EIA standards.

Claims (20)

1. An alert system comprising:

a housing;

at least one unit, of electronic equipment comprising a rack mount server disposed in said housing, wherein said housing is capable of comprising a perforated door that substantially obscures direct viewing of the at least one unit of electronic equipment when the door is in a closed position.

an alert indicator disposed on said unit of electronic equipment for indicating said unit of electronic equipment has incurred a fault;

a housing alert indicator disposed on an exterior surface of said housing for indicating an overall housing level alert in response to said alert indicator indicating a fault; and

a transceiver on a surface of said housing in opposing spaced apart relation to said alert indicator, wherein said transceiver is adjustably mounted to said housing.

2. The alert system of claim 1 , wherein said housing alert indicator indicates said overall housing level alert in response to said transceiver detecting a signal indicative of a fault generated by said alert indicator.

3. The alert system of claim 1 , wherein said transceiver is on a surface of a door in opposing spaced apart relation to said alert indicator when said door is in a closed position.

4. The alert system of claim 1 , wherein said transceiver is a photodiode.

5. The alert system of claim 1 , wherein said transceiver has a filter for filtering out a signal having a predetermined characteristic.

6. The alert system of claim 5 , wherein predetermined characteristic is a non-amber light.

7. The alert system of claim 1 , further comprising a switch connected between said transceiver and said housing alert indicator.

8. The alert system of claim 7 , wherein said switch is closed in response to said transceiver detecting a fault indication by said alert indicator.

9. The alert system of claim 1 , wherein said housing has a door attached thereto.

10. The alert system of claim 9 , wherein said housing alert indicator is position on said exterior of said housing in a location visible when said door is in the closed position.

11. The alert system of claim 1 , wherein said fault is selected from a group consisting of a fault, an error, and a predetermined status occurrence.

12. The alert system of claim 1 , comprising at least one of switch, a hub, a disk controller, an expansion unit, a server, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and a power distribution unit (PDU).

13. The alert system of claim 1 , wherein said alert indicator is a light emitting diode (LED).

14. The alert system of claim 1 , wherein said alert system is an amber LED.

15. The alert system of claim 1 , wherein said housing alert indicator is positioned substantially near the top of said housing.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2002
From: CHAMPION, DAVID F.; KELAHER, DANIEL P.; LAWRENCE, BRADLEY M.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 012826/0498 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20030197619A1 · Oct 23, 2003