Electrical transmission or interconnection systems – Conductor arrangements or structure
Reexamination Certificate
2003-05-29
2004-12-28
DeBeradinis, Robert (Department: 2836)
Electrical transmission or interconnection systems
Conductor arrangements or structure
C361S728000, C361S785000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06836030
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a new and improved method and computer components adapted for rack mounting. It more particularly relates to such a method and apparatus for computer components adapted to be mounted in a compact configuration.
2. Related Art
There have been a variety of different types and kinds of methods and systems for mounting computer components. For example, reference may be made to the following United States patents:
U.S. PAT. NO.
INVENTOR
ISSUE DATE
4,258,967
Boudreau
Mar. 31, 1081
4,879,634
Storrow et al
Nov. 7, 1989
4,977,532
Borkowicz et al.
Dec. 11, 1990
5,010,444
Storrow et al.
Apr. 23, 1991
5,216,579
Basara et al.
Jun. 1, 1993
5,460,441
Hastings et al.
Oct. 24, 1995
5,571,256
Good et al.
Nov. 5, 1996
5,684,671
Hobbs et al.
Nov. 4, 1997
5,877,938
Hobbs et al.
Mar. 2, 1999
5,896,273
Varghese et al.
Apr. 30, 1994
6,025,989
Ayd et al.
Feb. 15, 2000
6,058,025
Ecker et al.
May 2, 2000
6,075,698
Hogan et al.
Jun. 13, 2000
6,220,456 B1
Jensen et al.
Apr. 24, 2001
6,305,556 B1
Mayer
Oct. 23, 2001
6,315,249 B1
Jensen et al.
Nov. 13, 2001
6,325,636 B1
Hipp et al.
Dec. 4, 2001
Re. 35,915
Hastings et al.
Oct. 6, 1998
Des. 407,358
Belanger et al.
Mar 30, 1999
As a result of having available a large number of different types and kinds of mounting techniques, a standard has been adopted for mounting computer components in racks according to a certain modular configuration. In this regard, computer components such as computer processor units, and the like, are mounted one above the other in a column in standard size rack configurations. The standard is referred to as the EIA-310-D Standard, as clarified by the Server Rack Specification (SSI).
The housing for each computer device must have a certain height dimensions according to the Standard. The height dimension must be a multiple of a standard unit “U”. Thus, there can be computer components which are 1 “U” (standard unit) high or multiples thereof. Thus, there can also be standard rack mountable computer components which are 1 U, 2 U, 3 U, 4 U and so on.
Thus, according to the conventional currently-used standard, racks are provided for storage of computer components in tightly spaced, densely packed horizontal dispositions, and each computer component mounted in the rack is suitably dimensioned in multiples of standard unit U. The racks are movably mounted on casters or the like so that they can be readily positioned in, for example, a computer room having a tightly controlled air conditioning system to ensure proper cooling of the computer equipment.
It is highly desirable to configure the computer components in the rack in a compact and highly dense manner for some applications. Thus, it has been important for many applications to position in the computer room or other assigned space as many computer components as possible.
In order to compactly mount the computer components on the rack in a high density manner, they are closely positioned one above the other in a column. The data and power cables are positioned in a back plane area or space within the rack.
For cooling purposes, various techniques are employed. For example, individual fans have been mounted within the housing of each computer component. The interiors of the housing have been exhausted to a fan exhaust plenum chamber often times constructed within the rack at one side thereof.
Such conventional rack mounted systems have several drawbacks. The individual fans mounted in each component are expensive, and time-consuming to replace in case of malfunctions. Also, the back plane space and fan exhaust plenum chamber are wasted space in that they occupy spaces which could otherwise be filled with computer components.
Additionally, in order to assemble the rack mounted system for installation at the site, each component must be installed in place within the rack, and then the cabling for each unit is routed within the rack at its back plane space. Such an operation is time consuming, and therefore expensive since highly trained personnel are required to do such an installation. Furthermore, once installed, in order to replace a malfunctioning computer component, the entire system, or at least a substantial portion thereof, must be shut down so that the malfunctioning unit can be disassembled, and a replacement unit installed and reconnected electrically. This, too, is time consuming and expensive.
Therefore, it is highly desirable to compactly mount in a highly dense configuration computer components in a rack mounted system. However, due to the cabling requirements for such a large number of computer components mounted in a single rack, it is difficult to install the components within the rack due to the cabling requirements and still have a very densely packed configuration.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3868158 (1975-02-01), Laboue
patent: 4258967 (1981-03-01), Boudreau
patent: 4672509 (1987-06-01), Speraw
patent: 4699270 (1987-10-01), Bohm
patent: 4774631 (1988-09-01), Okuyama
patent: 4879634 (1989-11-01), Storrow
patent: 4977532 (1990-12-01), Borkowicz
patent: 5010444 (1991-04-01), Storrow
patent: 5086372 (1992-02-01), Bennett et al.
patent: 5216579 (1993-06-01), Basara
patent: 5335146 (1994-08-01), Stucke
patent: 5460441 (1995-10-01), Hastings
patent: 5570740 (1996-11-01), Flores
patent: 5571256 (1996-11-01), Good
patent: 5684671 (1997-11-01), Hobbs
patent: RE35915 (1998-10-01), Hastings
patent: D407385 (1999-03-01), Belanger
patent: 5877938 (1999-03-01), Hobbs et al.
patent: 5896273 (1999-04-01), Varghese
patent: 5991163 (1999-11-01), Marconi et al.
patent: 6025989 (2000-02-01), Ayd
patent: 6058025 (2000-05-01), Ecker
patent: 6069797 (2000-05-01), Widmayer
patent: 6075698 (2000-06-01), Hogan
patent: 6185098 (2001-02-01), Benavides
patent: 6220456 (2001-04-01), Jensen
patent: 6305556 (2001-10-01), Mayer
patent: 6315249 (2001-11-01), Jensen
patent: 6325636 (2001-12-01), Hipp
patent: 6496366 (2002-12-01), Coglitore
patent: 6499609 (2002-12-01), Patriche
patent: 6552915 (2003-04-01), Takahashi et al.
patent: 2002/0006026 (2002-01-01), Takahashi
patent: 57-6296 (1982-01-01), None
patent: 57-128194 (1982-08-01), None
patent: 03-164999 (1991-07-01), None
patent: U4-28496 (1992-03-01), None
patent: 05-183282 (1993-07-01), None
patent: 62-73592 (1994-09-01), None
patent: 63-50196 (1994-12-01), None
patent: 07-312494 (1995-11-01), None
patent: 08-88489 (1996-04-01), None
patent: 08-172287 (1996-07-01), None
patent: 8-278834 (1996-10-01), None
patent: 56-15097 (1997-03-01), None
patent: 11-135694 (1999-05-01), None
patent: PCT/JP85/00640 (1985-11-01), None
Kojima, Yamazaki, Cooling System Using Heat Pipes, Advances in Electronic Packaging 1992, ASME ***.
Hester Victor P.
Smith John V.
Wylie William A.
DeBeradinis Robert
Duckor Spradling Metzger & Wynne
Kleinke Bernard L.
Verari Systems, Inc.
LandOfFree
Rack mountable computer component power distribution unit... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Rack mountable computer component power distribution unit..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Rack mountable computer component power distribution unit... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3303676