AIR COOLING SYSTEM FOR MODULAR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
A system for providing cooling to electronic modules received within a chassis. The chassis includes a cooling apparatus having ducting and a plurality of fans coupled to the ducting. The ducting includes air passageways that extend through the ducting and are configured to direct air blown into the passageways by the fans toward the modules installed in the chassis. The modules include heat sinks and the air passageways direct the air toward the fins to provide cooling to the heat sinks. The chassis includes switches coupled to the fans and configured to selectively activate the individual fans when the electronic modules are installed in the chassis.
The present technology is related to systems and methods for cooling modular electronic components.
BACKGROUNDThere are many environments without a surrounding communications/data infrastructure required to support communications and information services equipment, such as equipment used to access a network, transmit or encrypt network traffic, host (run) software applications, store digital data or connect and conduct phone calls or video teleconferencing. It is often desirable to build the electronic equipment using off-the-shelf electronic components for simplicity and to keep production and maintenance costs low. Development and operating costs can be reduced or eliminated by integrating existing computer components, power supply modules, and/or telecommunication components in an electronic system. A potential drawback with using off-the-shelf components is that they may not be well suited for use in harsh operating environments, including elevated ambient operating temperatures.
The maximum rated operating internal temperature of the module is often a function of the amount of heat produced by the various electronic components inside the module during operation, the maximum operating core temperature limits of those components, and the amount of heat expected to be removed from the module during operation at the maximum rated operating ambient air temperature (e.g., the amount of heat expected to be removed by a built-in cooling fan inside the module). For example, if the ambient air temperature rises above the maximum rated operating ambient temperature for the module, at least one of the electronic components inside the module is likely to reach a core temperature above the maximum operating temperature for the corresponding electronic component(s). In some cases, this elevated temperature can reduce the operating life of the module or cause the module to fail. Even if the individual maximum operating core temperature limits of the electronic components inside the module are high, the maximum ambient internal operating temperature of the module may be fairly low, because only a small amount of heat is expected to be removed from the module during operation. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved system for cooling electronic modules.
The present technology is directed to an air-cooling system for modular electronic equipment coupled to a chassis. The air-cooling system includes a duct assembly positioned within the chassis and used to direct cooling air flow toward the electronic modules using high-velocity fans. The fans are mounted and aligned with air passageways extending through the duct assembly. The air passageways can include vanes that selectively direct the air out of the air passageways and toward one or more docking stations in the chassis into which the electronic modules are removably installed. The modules include heatsinks configured to expel heat emitted by the electronic components within the individual modules. The vanes that help to define the air passageways are positioned to direct the air flow from the high velocity fans so that it flows over at least portions of the exterior surface of the docked electronic modules, including over the heat sinks, to efficiently and effectively remove heat from the modules. The chassis includes fan switches operatively coupled to the high-velocity fans and positioned to be activated when a module is inserted into a corresponding docking station. The fan switch is disengaged when the module is removed from the docking station. Specific details of the present technology are described herein with reference to
Although many of the embodiments are described with respect to communication systems, it should be noted that other applications and embodiments in addition to those disclosed herein are within the scope of the present technology. Further, embodiments of the present technology can have different configurations, components, and/or procedures than those shown or described herein. Moreover, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that embodiments of the present technology can have configurations, components, and/or procedures in addition to those shown or described herein and that these and other embodiments can be without several of the configurations, components, and/or procedures shown or described herein without deviating from the present technology.
The chassis 101 of the illustrated embodiment has a compact and generally rectangular shape defined by top and bottom surfaces 104a and 104b, front and rear surfaces 104c and 104d, and opposing side surfaces 104e and 104f. The docking stations 119 that receive the modules 102 can be formed within the chassis 101 such that, when the modules 102 are installed within the chassis 101, the modules 102 at least partially define the front surface 104c. Further, at least some of the surfaces 104a-f can include airflow holes 107 configured to allow air to flow into and through the docking stations 119 within the chassis 101.
In the illustrated embodiment, the chassis 101 includes four docking stations 119, each of which is configured to receive a respective one of the modules 102. Accordingly, the chassis 101 is configured such that four of the modules 102 can be installed within the chassis 101. In other embodiments, the chassis 101 can include three or fewer docking stations 119, allowing the chassis 101 to receive three or fewer modules 102. In still other embodiments, the chassis 101 can include five or more docking stations 119 and, accordingly, the chassis 101 can receive five or more modules 102. In general, the chassis 101 can include any suitable number of docking stations 119 and can therefore be configured to receive any suitable number of modules 102.
As indicated above, each module 102 has its own on-board fan and heat sink to provide some cooling during operation. The electronic system 100 also includes a supplemental cooling assembly 110 configured to help cool the installed modules 102 using a plurality of fans 111 positioned to blow high-velocity air toward and over external surfaces of one or more docked modules 102. The supplemental cooling assembly 110 is operatively coupled to the power and control system 120, and can be activated or otherwise controlled based in part by temperature information provided by the thermal sensor. For example, the power and control system 120 can increase or decrease the operating speed of the fans 111 based upon the operating conditions detected by the thermal sensor. As the temperatures in the chassis increase, the speed of the activated fans is increased. Conversely, as the temperatures decrease, the power and control system 120 can selectively decrease the fan speed.
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment, the chassis 101 includes four docking stations 119a-d and is therefore configured to receive four different modules 102. Accordingly, the cooling assembly 101 includes four fans 111a-d, four air passageways 116a-d, and four switches 115a-d. When a module 102 is installed in one of the docking stations, the fan 111 aligned with the corresponding docking station 119 will be activated to blow high-velocity air through the corresponding air passageway 116. The vanes 117 that define the corresponding air passageway 116 are positioned and configured to direct the air directly into the docking station and at least over the heat sink on top of the installed module 102 and along the space in the interior area adjacent to the top of the docked module. This space adjacent to the top of one of the installed modules 102 may not be physically separated or isolated from an adjacent docking station 119, such that the high velocity air flow into one docking station 119 may pass over portions of another module 102 installed in an adjacent docking station 119.
Each of the fans 111a-d and associated passageway 116 provide the high velocity cooling airflow to a selected one of the docking stations 119 when the module 102 is installed. In the illustrated embodiment, adjacent docking stations are not physically separated from each other within the chassis' interior area. Airflow from one of the fans 111 and associated passageway 116 can enter the aligned docking station (i.e., a first docking station), but also flows along or partially into the adjacent second docking station. When a second module 102 is installed in the adjacent second docking station, the bottom surface of that second module 102 is immediately adjacent to and exposed to the first docking station and the airflow passing therethrough. Accordingly, when the high velocity air from the first fan 111 and its associated air passageway 116 is directed into the first docking station, the airflow is directed over the first module's top surface and its heatsink. When the second module is installed in the adjacent second docking station, the same cooling air from the first fan 111 flows along the space between the adjacent first and second modules and along the bottom portion of the adjacent second module, thereby providing additional supplemental cooling to the second module 102. The fan 111 and air passageway 116 through the ducting 112 can simultaneously provide supplemental cooling to two or more modules docked in the chassis 101. Because of this, in some embodiments, the individual switches 115a-d can each be configured to activate more than one of the fans 111a so as to provide cooling to multiple of the modules 102a-d. For example, if only a single module 102b is installed within the chassis 101, only the switch 115b may be activated. However, both fans 116b and 116a may be turned on, where fan 111b is configured to provide cooling to the fins 106b while fan 116a is configured to provide cooling to the back surface of the module 102b.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.
Claims
1.-20. (canceled)
21. An electronic communication system, comprising:
- a plurality of electronic modules; and
- a chassis configured to removably receive the plurality of electronic modules, wherein the chassis comprises: a control system configured to couple the plurality of electronic modules together; a plurality of docking stations, each configured to removably receive a respective one of the plurality of electronic modules, wherein airflow space is provided between adjacent docking stations when electronic modules are docked therein; and a cooling assembly, wherein the cooling assembly includes a plurality of fans and airflow ducting, wherein the airflow ducting is between the fans and the docking stations, the airflow ducting having an intake side facing the fans and a rear surface of the chassis and having an outflow side facing the docking stations, wherein the airflow ducting includes a plurality of air passageways extending between the intake side and the outflow side, wherein each of the plurality of fans is positioned to blow air into a respective one of the plurality of air passageways and wherein each of the plurality of air passageways is configured to direct the air from a respective one of the fans to the respective one of the docking stations to provide cooling to one or more of the electronic modules docked in the docking station.
22. The electronic communication system of claim 21 wherein each of the plurality of air passageways are fluidly isolated from each other.
23. The electronic communication system of claim 21 wherein each of the electronic modules includes a heat sink and wherein each of the air passageways is configured to direct the air along the heat sink of at least one of the electronic modules positioned within the docking station.
24. The electronic communication system of claim 21 wherein each of the air passageways is at least partially defined by at least one vane positioned to redirect air from the fan to the respective docking station.
25. The electronic communication system of claim 24 wherein the at least one vane is configured such that the air is substantially laminar as it flows toward the electronic module.
26. The electronic communication system of claim 24 wherein the air passageways are configured to direct air into the docking stations over the electronic modules installed in the docking stations and between adjacent electronic modules installed in the docking stations.
27. The electronic communication of claim 21 wherein at least one of the air passageways is at least partially defined by at least two vanes spaced apart from each other.
28. The electronic communication system of claim 21 wherein the plurality of fans are high-velocity fans.
29. A portable electronic system for use with first and second electronic modules, comprising:
- a portable chassis having a first docking station configured to removably receive the first electronic module and a second docking station configured to removably receive the second electronic module, the chassis further comprising: a cooling assembly, comprising: ducting having an intake side, an outflow side, and first and second air passageways extending between the intake side and the outflow side, the first and second air passageways are fluidly isolated from each other; a first fan coupled to the intake side of the ducting, wherein the ducting is between the first fan and the first docking station, the first fan is configured to blow air through the first air passageway from the intake side facing the first fan and through the outflow side facing the first docking station, wherein the first air passageway is configured to direct the air toward the first electronic module when installed in the first docking station; a second fan coupled to the intake side of the ducting, wherein the second fan is configured to blow air through the second air passageway from the intake side and through the outflow side, wherein the second air passageway is configured to direct the air toward the second electronic module when installed in the second docking station.
30. The electronic system of claim 29 wherein each of the first and second air passageways are at least partially defined by at least one vane, wherein when the first and second electronic modules are received within the respective first and second docking stations, the first and second electronic modules are positioned closely adjacent to each other and wherein the at least one vane of the first air passageway is configured to direct at least some of the air from the first fan between the first and second electronic modules and toward at least a portion of the second electronic module to provide cooling to the second electronic module.
31. The electronic system of claim 29, wherein—
- the chassis includes a third docking station configured to receive a third electronic module and a fourth docking station configured to receive a fourth electronic module,
- the cooling assembly includes third and fourth fans coupled to the ducting,
- the ducting includes a third air passageway and a fourth air passageway fluidly isolated from each other and from the first and second air passageways, and
- the third fan is configured to blow air through the third air passageway, which is configured to direct the air toward the third electronic module, and
- the fourth fan is configured to blow air through the fourth air passageway, which is configured to direct the air toward the fourth electronic module.
32. The portable electronic system of claim 31 wherein each of the first and second air passageways are at least partially defined by at least one vane.
33. The portable electronic system of claim 32 wherein at least one of the first and second air passageways is at least partially defined by at least two vanes that are physically separate with respect to each other.
34. The chassis of claim 31, wherein the air passageways extend through the ducting and are fluidly isolated from each other.
35. A chassis configured to removably receive a plurality of electronic modules, the chassis comprising:
- a plurality of docking stations, wherein each of the plurality of docking stations is configured to removably receive a respective one of the plurality of electronic modules; and
- a cooling apparatus configured to provide cooling to each of the received electronic modules, wherein the cooling apparatus comprises: airflow ducting having a plurality of air passageways, the airflow ducting having an intake side facing away from the docking stations and an outflow side facing toward the docking station; and a plurality of cooling fans coupled to the intake side of the airflow ducting, wherein each of the cooling fans is at least partially positioned within and configured to blow air into a respective one of the air passageways from the intake side and through the outflow side, wherein each of the plurality of air passageways corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of docking stations and is configured to direct the air blown into the air passageway over and past the electronic module received by the corresponding docking station.
36. The portable electronic system of claim 35 wherein each of the air passageways is shaped to direct the air at least over a top of the associated installed electronic module and along a space in an interior area of the chassis adjacent to the top of the associated installed electronic module.
37. The portable electronic system of claim 35 wherein each of the air passageways is at least partially defined by at least one vane positioned to redirect air from the fan to the respective docking station, and wherein the at least one vane is configured such that the air is substantially laminar as it flows toward or over the electronic modules.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 6, 2020
Publication Date: Oct 22, 2020
Inventor: Dalton Dawkins (Portland, OR)
Application Number: 16/784,205