Abstract: A heat sink comprises a first thermally conductive base having a first face to thermally engage a heat-generating electronic component and a second thermally conductive base with a plurality of fins on a first face and a second face to engage the first base. The fins on the second base are positionable in either of two orientations relative to the heat-generating electronic component to which the heat sink is coupled. The fins are selectively placed in the orientation that best utilizes the direction of air flow available to the heat sink. The orientable fins of the heat sink afford flexibility in arranging the heat-generating electronic component on a circuit board or in arranging a circuit board within a computer chassis.

Abstract: An electronic system comprises: at least one electronic component; a cooling system condition receiver, wherein the cooling system condition receiver is capable of receiving a condition signal, and wherein the condition signal describes a current condition of a cooling system that provides conditioned air to an ambient environment of the electronic system; and a throttle, wherein the throttle, in response to the cooling system condition receiver receiving the condition signal that describes the current condition of the cooling system, adjusts an amount of heat generated by said at least one electronic component by throttling back operations of said at least one electronic component.

Abstract: A computer program product including computer usable program code embodied on a computer usable medium for controlling a temperature within a computer system using a fan. The computer program product includes computer usable program code for monitoring the temperature within the computer system; dynamically selecting a fan speed step in response to the temperature, wherein the fan speed step is selected from a fan speed table defining a finite number of fan speed steps each having an associated fan speed; operating a fan at the dynamically selected fan speed step; measuring a fan output variation is measured over a prescribed time interval; and automatically modifying the fan speed table to change the fan speeds associated with each fan speed step, wherein the fan speeds are changed as a function of the measured fan output variation while continuing to drive the fan.

Abstract: A heat sink includes a heat sink base having a central area for contacting a heat-generating component and a perimeter area extending beyond the central area, wherein the perimeter area of the heat sink base includes air pathways through the heat sink base and the central area does not. The heat sink further includes heat sink fins extending from the heat sink base across the central area and the perimeter area. Airflow across the heat sink removes heat from the heat-generating component, such as a processor. The central area may be secured in contact with a surface of a processor operably secured to a circuit board. The heat sink is particularly beneficial in circuit board configurations having a component immediately upstream or downstream of the processor.

Abstract: A computer-implemented fan control method includes measuring a temperature within a computer system and dynamically selecting a fan speed step in response to the temperature received, wherein the fan speed step is selected from a fan speed table defining a finite number of fan speed steps each having an associated fan speed. A fan is operated at the dynamically selected fan speed step, wherein the fan is positioned to drive air through the computer system where the temperature is being measured. The fan output variation is measured over a prescribed time interval and the fan speed table is automatically modified to change the fan speeds associated with each fan speed step, wherein the fan speeds are changed as a function of the measured fan output variation while continuing to drive the fan.

Abstract: A computer-implemented fan control method includes measuring a temperature within a computer system and dynamically selecting a fan speed step in response to the temperature received, wherein the fan speed step is selected from a fan speed table defining a finite number of fan speed steps each having an associated fan speed. A fan is operated at the dynamically selected fan speed step, wherein the fan is positioned to drive air through the computer system where the temperature is being measured. The fan output variation is measured over a prescribed time interval and the fan speed table is automatically modified to change the fan speeds associated with each fan speed step, wherein the fan speeds are changed as a function of the measured fan output variation while continuing to drive the fan.

Abstract: A computer program product including computer usable program code embodied on a computer usable medium for controlling a temperature within a computer system using a fan. The computer program product includes computer usable program code for monitoring the temperature within the computer system; dynamically selecting a fan speed step in response to the temperature, wherein the fan speed step is selected from a fan speed table defining a finite number of fan speed steps each having an associated fan speed; operating a fan at the dynamically selected fan speed step; measuring a fan output variation is measured over a prescribed time interval; and automatically modifying the fan speed table to change the fan speeds associated with each fan speed step, wherein the fan speeds are changed as a function of the measured fan output variation while continuing to drive the fan.

Abstract: A system to remove heat from a heat-generating electronic component within a computer chassis and to contain electromagnetic radiation from traversing high-throughput vents in a bezel that forms a portion of the chassis containment structure comprises a heat sink having a fin structure with an inlet face, an outlet face and interconnected air channels therethrough, a base to engage the component and to transfer heat from the component to the fin structure, wherein the inlet face of the fin structure is disposed proximate the vents to block electromagnetic radiation from traversing the vents. In one embodiment, a heat pipe or a spreader bar moves heat from a base engaging a component distal from the bezel to the fin structure having an air inlet face proximal to the vents.

Abstract: A heat sink to remove heat from a processor within a chassis to air moving through a fin structure on the heat sink. An embodiment of the heat sink comprises a heat bus engaging the processor to conduct heat from the processor to a fin structure having interconnected, repeating cellular air channels. A U-shaped heat bus comprises a base and first and second legs extending therefrom connected to opposite sides of the fin structure. An embodiment of the heat bus has a solid conductive core to conductively transfer heat from the processor through the base and the first and second legs to sides of the fin structure. Alternately, an embodiment of the heat bus has a hollow core containing a fluid to evaporatively transfer heat from the processor through the base and the first and second legs to sides of the fin structure.

Abstract: A heat sink comprises a first thermally conductive base having a first face to thermally engage a heat-generating electronic component and a second thermally conductive base with a plurality of fins on a first face and a second face to engage the first base. The fins on the second base are positionable in either of two orientations relative to the heat-generating electronic component to which the heat sink is coupled. The fins are selectively placed in the orientation that best utilizes the direction of air flow available to the heat sink. The orientable fins of the heat sink afford flexibility in arranging the heat-generating electronic component on a circuit board or in arranging a circuit board within a computer chassis.

Abstract: Computer chassis configured for controlled airflow including at least one component board; a segmented curtain suspended across a region of airflow in the computer chassis above the component board; and at least one component mounted on the component board displacing at least one segment of the segmented curtain creating an airflow channel under the displaced segment. Segmented curtains for controlling airflow in a computer chassis including one or more segments capable of being displaced by components mounted on a component board in the computer chassis; and one or more fasteners for suspending the segmented curtain across a region of airflow in the computer chassis. Controlling airflow in a computer chassis including inserting a component board into the computer chassis; displacing, a segment of a segmented curtain thereby creating an airflow channel; and providing airflow through the airflow channel created by the displacement of the segment of the segmented curtain.

Abstract: The present invention can include an automated method controlling the fan speed of computer system cooling fans with altitude and/or fluid density data from a centralized sensor. Such a method can utilize a centralized sensor to determine the altitude/fluid density within an enclosed area. The centralized sensor can be positioned so as to be unaffected by extraneous activities within the enclosed area. The determined altitude/fluid density can be conveyed to a computer system containing one or more cooling fans. The computer system can be located within the enclosed area. Then, the computer system can determine the need for adjusting the speed of the cooling fans based on the altitude/fluid density. When the need for adjustment exists, the speed of the cooling fans can be adjusted in accordance with the altitude/fluid density.

Abstract: Computer chassis configured for controlled airflow including at least one component board; a segmented curtain suspended across a region of airflow in the computer chassis above the component board; and at least one component mounted on the component board displacing at least one segment of the segmented curtain creating an airflow channel under the displaced segment. Segmented curtains for controlling airflow in a computer chassis including one or more segments capable of being displaced by components mounted on a component board in the computer chassis; and one or more fasteners for suspending the segmented curtain across a region of airflow in the computer chassis. Controlling airflow in a computer chassis including inserting a component board into the computer chassis; displacing, a segment of a segmented curtain thereby creating an airflow channel; and providing airflow through the airflow channel created by the displacement of the segment of the segmented curtain.

Abstract: A method for electromagnetically shielding the end of a rigid cable (10) containing a large number of conductors to provide increased bending flexibility is disclosed along with a ground strap assembly (24). Ground strap assembly (24) is designed to shield a cable (10) that consists of a plurality of insulated conductors (18) surrounded by one or more conducting shields (14) (16) and outer insulating sheath (12). A portion of the outer insulating sheath (12) is removed to expose a protruding portion of conducting shield (14). The protruding portion of conducting shield (14) is folded back along a remaining portion of outer insulating sheath (12) thereby exposing the ends of the conductors. Ground strap assembly (24) comprises a braided conducting ground strap (26) that has a cable end portion (32) extending to a central portion (34). Central portion (34) extends to grounding portion (36).

Abstract: An assembly for routing fiber optic cables transversely across an electronics housing interior. The electronics housing interior supports circuit boards, some of which are optically coupled to the fiber optic cables requiring routing. The assembly includes a support member for coupling with the housing interior, and this support member is pivotally coupled to a fiber optic cable retaining member. The fiber optic cable retaining member routes the fiber optic cables across the housing interior, and it can be pivoted away from the electronics housing, enabling one to remove a circuit board for service, testing, or replacement without handling of or with minimal handling of individual fiber optic cables. A cover is pivotally coupled to the fiber optic cable retaining member, and it can be opened to facilitate the routing of the fiber optic cables or closed to protect the routed fiber optic cables.