Heater apparatus and air circulation component-integrated bezel for a computing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11968807-B2
Application number	US-202217576680-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 14, 2022
Priority date	Jan 14, 2022
Publication date	Apr 23, 2024
Grant date	Apr 23, 2024

Abstract

A computing device includes a bezel and an enclosure. The bezel includes an air circulation component and a heater apparatus. The enclosure includes a plurality of hardware components, and the bezel is affixed to a frontside of the enclosure and configured to heat an internal volume of the enclosure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computing device, comprising:
a bezel, wherein the bezel comprises an air circulation component and a heater apparatus;
an environmental control component; and
an enclosure, wherein the enclosure comprises a plurality of hardware components, wherein the bezel is affixed to a frontside of the enclosure and configured to heat an internal volume of the enclosure,
wherein, in order to form a uniform air circulation within the internal volume of the enclosure, a first airflow direction generated by the air circulation component is orthogonal to a second airflow direction generated by the environmental control component.

2. The computing device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a heater control component configured to initiate operation of the air circulation component and the heater apparatus when a temperature of the internal volume of the enclosure is below a threshold.

3. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the heater apparatus comprises a heater.

4. The computing device of claim 3 , wherein the heater apparatus further comprises a heat sink.

5. The computing device of claim 4 , wherein the heat sink, when heated by the heater, transfers thermal energy to a volume of air circulating within the internal volume of the enclosure.

6. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the air circulation component, when initiated by the heater control component, circulates air in the internal volume of the enclosure.

7. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein a first portion of a connector is affixed to the bezel and a second portion of the connector is located in the enclosure, wherein the bezel receives power via the connector.

8. The computing device of claim 7 , wherein the connector is a blind-mate power connector or a magnetic power connector.

9. The computing device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a temperature sensor operatively connected to the heater control component and configured to detect a temperature within the internal volume of the enclosure,
wherein the heater control component is configured to control the bezel based on the temperature within the internal volume of the enclosure.

10. A method for managing a temperature of an internal volume of an enclosure, comprising:
making a determination, based on a current temperature of the internal volume of the enclosure, that the current temperature of the internal volume of the enclosure is below a threshold,
wherein a computing device comprises a bezel, an environmental control component, and the enclosure, wherein the bezel comprises at least an air circulation component,
wherein, in order to form a uniform air circulation within the internal volume of the enclosure, a first airflow direction generated by the air circulation component is orthogonal to a second airflow direction generated by the environmental control component;
in response to the determination:
turning on the air circulation component and a heater located in the bezel of the enclosure.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
making a second determination, based on the current temperature of the internal volume of the enclosure, that the current temperature of the internal volume of the enclosure is above or equal to the threshold;
in response to the second determination:
turning off the air circulation component and the heater located in the bezel of the enclosure.

12. An information handling system, comprising:
a cabinet housing a plurality of computing devices;
the plurality of computing devices, wherein each of the computing devices comprises:
a bezel, wherein the bezel comprises an air circulation component and a heater apparatus;
an environmental control component;
an enclosure, wherein the enclosure comprises a plurality of hardware components, wherein the bezel is affixed to a frontside of the enclosure and configured to heat an internal volume of the enclosure,
wherein, in order to form a uniform air circulation within the internal volume of the enclosure, a first airflow direction generated by the air circulation component is orthogonal to a second airflow direction generated by the environmental control component.

13. The information handling system of claim 12 , wherein each of the computing devices further comprises:
a heater control component configured to initiate operation of the air circulation component and the heater apparatus when a temperature of the internal volume of the enclosure is below a threshold.

14. The information handling system of claim 12 , wherein the heater apparatus comprises a heater.

15. The information handling system of claim 14 , wherein the heater apparatus further comprises a heat sink.

16. The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein the heat sink, when heated by the heater, transfers thermal energy to a volume of air circulating within the internal volume of the enclosure.

17. The information handling system of claim 12 , wherein the air circulation component, when initiated by the heater control component, circulates air in the internal volume of the enclosure.

18. The information handling system of claim 12 , wherein a first portion of a connector is affixed to the bezel and a second portion of the connector is located in the enclosure, wherein the bezel receives power via the connector.

19. The information handling system of claim 18 , wherein the connector is a blind-mate power connector or a magnetic power connector.

20. The information handling system of claim 12 , wherein each of the computing devices further comprises:
a temperature sensor operatively connected to the heater control component and configured to detect a temperature within the internal volume of the enclosure,
wherein the heater control component is configured to control the bezel based on the temperature within the internal volume of the enclosure.

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• Tunks Eric Michael
• Nikazm Ayedin
• Eiland Richard Mark
• Duncan Tyler Baxter

Classifications

• H05K7/20836 Primary

  Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control · CPC title

• F24H3/022 Primary

  using electric energy supply · CPC title

• F24H15/204

  Temperature of the air before heating · CPC title

• H05K7/20736

  within cabinets for removing heat from server blades · CPC title