Acclimation sensing and control of electronic equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10664032-B2
Application number	US-201816008188-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2018
Priority date	Aug 4, 2016
Publication date	May 26, 2020
Grant date	May 26, 2020

Abstract

Embodiments provide a method to control a power-on phase of an electronic device is provided. The method includes transmitting, by a processing device, a request to a plurality of sensors, the request to read a measurement related to an environmental condition; receiving, by the processing device, the measurement from each of the plurality of sensors; and when the measurement is equal to or above a threshold value, commencing, by the processing device, the power-on phase of the electronic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method to control a power-on phase of an electronic device, comprising:
transmitting, by a processing device, a request to a plurality of sensors, the request to read a measurement related to at least one environmental condition;
receiving, by the processing device, the measurement from each of the plurality of sensors;
responsive to generating a temperature value and a dew point value, the temperature and dew point values based on the received measurement, comparing the temperature and dew point values;
based on the comparison of values, indicating that the difference between the temperature value and dew point value is greater than two degrees Celsius, calculating, by the processing device, a thermal time constant;
responsive to determining an acclimation point is reached within an interior based on the measurement, commencing, by the processing device, the power-on phase of the electronic device; and
displaying, by the processing device, a message to a user, the message comprising a minimum wait time until a manual override is permitted, said displaying occurring when the measurement is not received from at least one of the plurality of sensors, said manual override in the form of a user accessible fail-safe switch.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein during receiving the measurement, if a measurement is not received from at least one of the plurality of sensors, preventing, by the processing device, the power-on phase from commencing; and
permitting the power-on phase to commence via a manual override, comprising:
transmitting, by the processing device, an override signal to a control circuit, the control circuit operatively coupled to a power supply within the electronic device;
displaying, by the processing device, a message to a user of the electronic device, wherein the message indicates that the electronic device can commence the power-on phase through use of a user-engaged manual lever.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measurement is selected from the group consisting of: temperature, humidity, barometric air pressure, and atmospheric moisture.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the minimum threshold is a predetermined freezing point.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors are selected from the group consisting of: a condensation sensor, a temperature sensor, a dew point sensor, an barometric air pressure sensor and a humidity sensor.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising communicating, by the processing device, to a control circuit to prevent power from flowing from a power supply to the electronic device when the measurement is below the threshold value.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein communicating comprises transmitting a signal to the control circuit to create an open circuit to prevent power flow to the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein communicating comprises sending an electrical impulse to a mechanism, the mechanism comprising an interlock device that is physically opened so as to prevent power flow to the electronic device.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the interlock device is a temperature-based interlock device.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the interlock device is a moisture-based interlock device.

11. An information processing system for controlling a power-on phase of an electronic device, the information processing system comprising:
a memory;
a processing device communicatively coupled to the memory; and
a service processing module communicatively coupled to the memory and the processing device, the service processing module configured to perform the steps of a method comprising:
transmitting a request to a plurality of sensors, the request to read a measurement related to at least one environmental condition;
receiving, by the processing device, the measurement from each of the plurality of sensors;
responsive to generating a temperature value and a dew point value, the temperature and dew point values based on the received measurement, comparing the temperature and dew point values;
based on the comparison of values, indicating that the difference between the temperature value and dew point value is greater than two degrees Celsius, calculating, by the processing device, a thermal time constant;
responsive to determining an acclimation point is reached within an interior based on the measurement, commencing, by the processing device, the power-on phase of the electronic device; and
displaying a message to a user, the message comprising a minimum wait time until a manual override is permitted, said displaying occurring when the measurement is not received from at least one of the plurality of sensors, said manual override in the form of a user accessible fail-safe switch.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein during receiving the measurement, if a measurement is not received from at least one of the plurality of sensors, preventing the power-on phase from commencing; and
permitting the power-on phase to commence via a manual override, comprising:
transmitting an override signal to a control circuit, the control circuit operatively coupled to a power supply within the electronic device;
displaying a message to a user of the electronic device, wherein the message indicates that the electronic device can commence the power-on phase through use of a user-engaged manual lever.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the measurement is selected from the group consisting of: temperature, humidity, barometric air pressure, and atmospheric moisture.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the minimum threshold is a predetermined freezing point.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of sensors are selected from the group consisting of: a condensation sensor, a temperature sensor, a dew point sensor, an barometric air pressure sensor and a humidity sensor.

16. The system of claim 11 , further comprising communicating to a control circuit to prevent power from flowing from a power supply to the electronic device when the measurement is below the threshold value.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein communicating comprises transmitting a signal to the control circuit to create an open circuit to prevent power flow to the electronic device.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein communicating comprises sending an electrical impulse to a mechanism, the mechanism comprising an interlock device that is physically opened so as to prevent power flow to the electronic device.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the interlock device is a temperature-based interlock device.

20. A computer readable non-transitory article of manufacture tangibly embodying computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause a computer to carry out the steps of a method comprising:
transmitting a request to a plurality of sensors, the request to read a measurement related to at least one environmental condition;
receiving, by the processing device, the measurement from each of the plurality of sensors;
responsive to generating a temperature value and a dew point value, the temperature and dew point values based on the received measurement, comparing the temperature and dew point values;
based on the comparison of values, indicating that the difference between the temperature value and dew point value is greater than two degrees Celsius, calculating, by the processing device, a thermal time constant;
responsive to determining an acclimation point is reached within an interior based on the measurement, com

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• David Milnes P
• Green William J
• Prisco Joseph F
• Rawson Brian P
• Sanders Robert T
• Spaulding Sharon T

Classifications

• H02H5/083

  responsive to the entry or leakage of a liquid into an electrical appliance (moisture alarm G08B21/20) · CPC title

• G06F1/26 Primary

  Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) · CPC title

• G06F1/28 Primary

  Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision · CPC title

• H02H5/04

  responsive to abnormal temperature {(specially adapted for electric machines H02H7/0852)} · CPC title

• H02H5/047

  using a temperature responsive switch · CPC title