Abstract: A USB hosted sensor module, comprising: a substrate; a sensor mounted on the substrate; and a USB connector extending from the substrate, the USB connector capable of electrically coupling to a USB port of a host device, the USB connector capable of drawing power from the USB port of the host device to provide electrical power to the USB hosted sensor module; and a processing device mounted on the substrate, the processor capable of supporting a first communication channel and a second communication channel, wherein the first communication channel is between the USB hosted sensor module and an external communication device, wherein the second communication channel is between the USB hosted sensor module and the host device.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device characterization system includes a sensor to sense an attribute of a device, a processor, and an algorithm executable on the processor to collect time series data of the attribute from the sensor, detect edges in the data, identify clusters from the edges, label the clusters based on input from a supervisor, and estimate device characterization parameters from the clusters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is used for adaptive inductive charging of a device. Charging includes detecting the presence of a device capable of receiving an inductive charge, determining a set of parameters for inductively charging the device, and transmitting an inductive charge corresponding to the set of parameters for charging the device. Another aspect of charging includes combining at least two inductive fields transmitted at different angles to each other, delivering the combined inductive field at an orientation to the device, measuring the load on the device to determine the effectiveness of the orientation of the inductive field when charging the device, and charging the device at the orientation of the inductive field when the measured load on the device exceeds a threshold load level.

Abstract: In a method for managing energy demand in an infrastructure, a coefficient of performance (COP) of the infrastructure as a function of time is determined. The COP is a measure of efficiency of the infrastructure. In addition, an energy demand on the infrastructure as a function of time is determined and an energy demand schedule for the infrastructure that temporally reallocates the energy demand based upon the determined COP of the infrastructure is determined.

Abstract: The present invention describes an optical reader system for reading a tag associated with an object in a datacenter. The optical reader system includes: a fixed first optical reader including a first image capturing device and a first light source, wherein the first light source is capable of directing light towards the tag of an object, wherein the first image capturing device is capable of taking an optical image of the tag when illuminated by light from the first light source; and a processing device capable of processing optical image data from the first image capturing device to determine tag information.

Abstract: A USB hosted sensor module, comprising: a substrate; a sensor mounted on the substrate; and a USB connector extending from the substrate, the USB connector capable of electrically coupling to a USB port of a host device, the USB connector capable of drawing power from the USB port of the host device to provide electrical power to the USB hosted sensor module; and a processing device mounted on the substrate, the processor capable of supporting a first communication channel and a second communication channel, wherein the first communication channel is between the USB hosted sensor module and an external communication device, wherein the second communication channel is between the USB hosted sensor module and the host device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a processor and a storage medium. The processor is operable to collect device data associated with the apparatus and transmit at least some of the device data to a tag.

Abstract: A vent tile includes at least one louver, an actuator configured to control the at least one louver, a thermal imaging sensor configured to monitor temperature of a remotely located apparatus through thermal imaging of a surface of the apparatus, and a controller configured to control the actuator based upon the monitored temperature.

Abstract: A system and method for managing electrically isolated fuel cell powered devices within an equipment rack is disclosed. The system discloses: an equipment rack; fuel cell devices; a fluid bus; a fluid manifold, coupling the fluid bus to each of the fuel cell devices; and an external fuel cell manager, for controlling a flow of fuel cell fluids to each of the fuel cell devices. The method discloses: generating electrical power on an electrical bus internal to each of a set of fuel cell devices, which are located in an equipment rack having an external electrical bus; transporting fuel cell fluids from a fluid bus to the fuel cell devices through a fluid manifold; adjusting the electrical power generated by each of the fuel cell devices; and electrically isolating the internal electrical bus of each of the fuel cell devices from the external electrical bus.

Abstract: A display monitor includes a plurality of monitor inputs, a monitor switch for switching between the plurality of monitor inputs, a plurality of universal serial bus (USB) ports, where a first one of the USB ports is positioned at a first location and is dedicated to a first processing device, a second one of the USB ports is positioned at a second location and is dedicated to a second processing device, and a third one of the USB ports is positioned at a third location and is dedicated to either the first processing device or the second processing device. In addition, the display monitor includes a USB switch for switching between the plurality of USB ports to selectively activate the plurality of USB ports, where the monitor switch is internally linked to the USB switch to cause the monitor switch and the USB switch to switch concurrently with each other.

Abstract: A system and method for providing electrical power to an equipment rack using a fuel cell is disclosed. The system discloses: an equipment rack; an electrical device located within the rack; a fuel cell, located within the rack, for generating electrical power; and an electrical bus coupling the electrical power generated by the fuel cell to the electrical device. The method discloses: generating electrical power with a fuel cell located in an equipment rack; transmitting the electrical power from the fuel cell to an electrical device located in the equipment rack over an electrical bus; and adjusting the electrical power generated by the fuel cell in response to electrical power consumed by the electrical device.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and system for dynamically controlling cooling resources in a data center based on the workload of the data center. Accordingly, based on the workload constraints (power consumed, latency, etc.) of the data center, each of a plurality of different types of cooling resources is activated in an optimal fashion. Consequently, a substantial savings in operational costs related to cooling resources is achieved. A first aspect of the present invention is a method for dynamically controlling cooling resources in a data center. The method comprises determining a workload within the data center, determining an amount of heat being generated as a function of the workload and activating each of a plurality of different types of cooling resources within the data center in an optimal fashion based on the amount of heat being generated.

Abstract: Tracking electronic devices that are equipped with tracking tags and that are stored in designated locations. The position of a reading device is monitored as it traverses the designated locations of the electronic devices and is activated to interrogate the tracking tags of the electronic devices. Identification data from the tracking tags is collected to enable determining the presence and location of the electronic devices, based on the monitored position of the reading devices.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for identification of RFID-tagged items includes one or more interrogator units communicating over a network, the interrogator unit comprising a hanger support upon which RFID-tagged items are stored. The apparatus for identification of RFID tagged items includes a solenoid RFID interrogator antenna aligned with the longitudinal axis of an item hanger and a concentric RFID tag antenna wound around an opening in an item package that is hung from the item hanger.

Abstract: A system and method for identification of RFID-tagged items includes one or more interrogator units communicating over a network, the interrogator unit comprising a hanger support upon which RFID-tagged items are stored, the hanger support further comprising one or more solenoid coils aligned with the hanger support's longitudinal axis. The system further includes a computer capable of communicating over the network and an inventory database indexable by item identification, including the ordering of the items on the hanger, and capable of communicating over the network. The method for identifying the stored items includes receiving RFID tag signals from the stored items, generating a null RFID interrogation field, and moving the null RFID interrogation field to identify an item by its RFID tag signal dropout in response to the null RFID interrogator field encompassing the item's RFID tag.

Abstract: A method for determining position of a device includes generating at least two, time-varying, magnetic fields using inductive elements, wherein the fields have differing phases. The method further includes detecting a signal modulated on top of the fields, wherein the signal is generated from the device, and determining a position of the device based on a phase difference of the signal from the device and a reference signal.

Abstract: A system and method for managing electrically isolated fuel cell powered devices within an equipment rack is disclosed. The system discloses: an equipment rack; fuel cell devices; a fluid bus; a fluid manifold, coupling the fluid bus to each of the fuel cell devices; and an external fuel cell manager, for controlling a flow of fuel cell fluids to each of the fuel cell devices. The method discloses: generating electrical power on an electrical bus internal to each of a set of fuel cell devices, which are located in an equipment rack having an external electrical bus; transporting fuel cell fluids from a fluid bus to the fuel cell devices through a fluid manifold; adjusting the electrical power generated by each of the fuel cell devices; and electrically isolating the internal electrical bus of each of the fuel cell devices from the external electrical bus.

Abstract: An electrically isolated fuel cell powered server is disclosed. The present invention discloses: a server; an electrical module located within the server; a fuel cell, located within the server, for generating electrical power; and an electrical bus, located within the server, coupling the electrical power generated by the fuel cell to the electrical module. The method of the present invention discloses: generating electrical power for a server with a fuel cell located in the server; transmitting the electrical power from the fuel cell over an electrical bus, located in the server, to an electrical module, also located in the server; and adjusting the electrical power generated by the fuel cell in response to electrical power consumed by the electrical module.

Abstract: A system and method for providing electrical power to an equipment rack using a fuel cell is disclosed. The system discloses: an equipment rack; an electrical device located within the rack; a fuel cell, located within the rack, for generating electrical power; and an electrical bus coupling the electrical power generated by the fuel cell to the electrical device. The method discloses: generating electrical power with a fuel cell located in an equipment rack; transmitting the electrical power from the fuel cell to an electrical device located in the equipment rack over an electrical bus; and adjusting the electrical power generated by the fuel cell in response to electrical power consumed by the electrical device.

Abstract: Tracking electronic devices that are equipped with tracking tags and that are stored in designated locations. Reading devices are distributed in locations that are recorded and that correspond to the designated locations of the electronic devices. The reading devices are activated to interrogate the tracking tags. Identification data from the tracking tags is collected to enable determining the presence and location of the electronic devices, based on the recorded location of the reading devices.