Storage system airflow impedance regulator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017205835-A1
Application number	US-201614997387-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 15, 2016
Priority date	Jan 15, 2016
Publication date	Jul 20, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system according to one embodiment includes a storage bay having a peripheral sidewall defining an interior dimensioned to receive a data storage device therein, at least one flap coupled to the peripheral sidewall, a retention mechanism configured to retain the at least one flap in the retracted position, and an electronic connector coupled to the retention mechanism and configured to pass control signals to the retention mechanism. The at least one flap is positionable between a retracted and deployed position. The at least one flap substantially blocks airflow through the interior of the peripheral sidewall when the at least one flap is in the deployed position, and does not significantly block airflow through the interior of the peripheral sidewall when the at least one flap is in the retracted position. The retention mechanism is electronically controllable to cause the at least one flap to move toward the deployed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system, comprising:
a storage bay having a peripheral sidewall defining an interior dimensioned to receive a data storage device therein, at least one flap coupled to the peripheral sidewall, the at least one flap being positionable between a retracted position and a deployed position, the at least one flap substantially blocking airflow through the interior of the peripheral sidewall when the at least one flap is in the deployed position, wherein the at least one flap does not significantly block airflow through the interior of the peripheral sidewall when the at least one flap is in the retracted position; a retention mechanism configured to retain the at least one flap in the retracted position, the retention mechanism being electronically controllable to cause the at least one flap to move toward the deployed position; and an electronic connector coupled to the retention mechanism and configured to pass control signals to the retention mechanism.

2 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one flap is biased towards the deployed position.

3 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least two flaps are present.

4 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least three flaps are present.

5 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the storage bay has at least one connector configured to mate with a connector of a data storage device.

6 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the retention mechanism includes a latch for holding each of the at least one flap in the retracted position.

7 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the retention mechanism includes a motor for causing movement of each of the at least one flap between the retracted position and the deployed position.

8 . The system as recited in claim 1 , comprising a management module configured to detect presence, of a data storage device in the interior of the storage bay and control the retention mechanism in response to the detecting.

9 . The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein at least two flaps are present, wherein the management module is configured to detect a type of data storage drive in the interior of the storage bay and determine which of the flaps to move to the deployed position in response to detecting the type of data storage drive in the interior of the storage bay.

10 . The system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the management module is configured to cause all of the at least one flap to move towards the deployed position in response to detecting absence of a data storage device in the storage bay.

11 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one flap is oriented substantially perpendicular to the deployed position when the at least one flap is in the retracted position.

12 . A method for controlling airflow impedance in a storage bay, the method comprising:
determining whether a data storage device is in a storage bay; and controlling a retention mechanism in response to the determining, wherein the retention mechanism is configured to selectively retain at least one flap in a retracted position, the at least one flap being positionable between the retracted position and a deployed position, the at least one flap substantially blocking airflow through an interior of a peripheral sidewall when the at least one flap is in the deployed position, wherein the at least one flap does not significantly block airflow through the interior of the peripheral sidewall when the at least one flap is in the retracted position.

13 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein multiple flaps are present, and comprising detecting a type of data storage drive in the storage bay and determining which of the at least one flap to move to the deployed position in response to detecting the type of data storage drive.

14 . The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein determining which of the at least one flap to move to the deployed position is based on a geometry of the detected type of data storage drive, wherein the at least one flap blocks passage of substantial airflow through the storage bay upon moving into the deployed position.

15 . The method as recited in claim 12 , comprising instructing the retention mechanism to cause one or more of the at least one flap to move toward a deployed position in response to determining that a data storage device is not present in the storage bay.

16 . The method as recited in claim 12 , comprising instructing the retention mechanism to cause all of the at least one flap to move towards the deployed position in response to determining that no data storage device is in the storage bay.

17 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein at least two flaps are present.

18 . The method as recited in claim 12 , wherein at least three flaps are present.

19 . A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program code stored thereon, the program code executable by a computer to cause the computer to perform a process comprising:
determining whether a data storage device is in a storage bay; and controlling a retention mechanism in response to the determining, wherein the retention mechanism is configured to selectively retain at least one flap in a retracted position, the at least one flap being positionable between the retracted position and a deployed position, the at least one flap substantially blocking airflow through the interior of the peripheral sidewall when the at least one flap is in the deployed position, wherein the at least one flap does not significantly block airflow through the interior of the peripheral sidewall when the at least one flap is in the retracted position.

20 . The computer program product as recited in claim 19 , wherein multiple flaps are present, and comprising detecting a type of data storage drive in the bay and determining which of the at least one flap to move to the deployed position in response to detecting the type of data storage drive.

21 . The computer program product as recited in claim 19 , wherein determining which of the at least one flap to move to the deployed position is based on a geometry of the detected type of data storage drive, wherein the at least one flap blocks passage of substantial airflow through the storage bay upon moving into the deployed position.

Assignees

• Lenovo Entpr Solutions Singapore Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Holland Jeffrey Scott
• Alshinnawi Shareef Fathi
• Kochuparambil Bejoy Jose
• Vallury Aparna

Classifications

• G11B33/142 Primary

  by air cooling · CPC title

• G11B33/128

  of the plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. disk drives, onto a chassis · CPC title

• G05D7/0635 Primary

  by action on throttling means (G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence) · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title