International Business Machines Corporation

Matthew A Nobile

Gerard Frances Muenkel

Richard Charles Bartell

Madhusudan K Iyengar

Roger R Schmidt

Francis R Krug, Jr

Steven C McIntosh

Donald W Porter

Gerard Francis Muenkel

Howard P Welz

Sal M Rosato

Seth E Bard

Allan R Hoeft

Robert N Boyes, Jr

Gary Franklin Goth

Robert R Genest

Ethan E Cruz

Edward F Furey

Jeffrey J Hare

Bryan Janisch

Glendowlyn F Howard

An omnidirectional sound source is formed by mounting a loudspeaker in an enclosed baffle, preferably formed as a low profile hemi-spherical, convex cap with a small circular orifice at its apex and a planar base. The loudspeaker is mounted within the baffle, affixed to the underside of the baffle cap directly beneath the orifice. Substantially plane audio-frequency wavefronts emanating from the immediate vicinity of the loudspeaker diaphragm pass through the orifice and, by the process of diffraction emerge as spherical waves. The spherical wavefronts follow the smooth, axisymmetric, gently curved contour of the low-profile, hemispherical baffle and are not distorted by edge effects where the baffle joins its planar base. As a result, an omnidirectional sound source is obtained.

Omnidirectional sound source

A system is provided and includes a plurality of acoustic devices disposed in locations arrayed throughout a defined space, each one of the plurality of acoustic devices being receptive of acoustical attributes such as sound or noise levels generated in the defined space and configured to issue signals reflective of the generated acoustical attributes and an acoustic data unit disposed in signal communication with each of the plurality of acoustic devices. The acoustic data unit is receptive of the signals issued from the plurality of acoustic devices and configured to convert the signals into digital acoustic data and to output the digital acoustic data in a serialized format compatible with a network protocol.

Management system with acoustical measurement for monitoring noise levels

A system for assembling a wall including first and second panels is provided. The system includes a plurality of caps that are slip-fittable onto respective corners of the first and second panels. First and second pairs of the plurality of caps include hinge-caps configured to be pivotably coupled with one another via first and second hinges. The first and second pairs of the plurality of caps are configured for respective association with first and second pairs of opposite corners of the first and second panels such that the first and second panels are disposable in a shoulder-to-shoulder configuration with the first and second panels being pivotable about a rotational axis defined through the first and second hinges or movable relative to one another.

Wall assembly system

An airflow arrester is provided and configured to reside between electronics racks disposed in a row within a data center. The airflow arrester includes a panel, which when operatively disposed, has a first vertical end, a second vertical end, and a central vertical hinge located intermediate the first and second vertical ends. The airflow arrester further includes an attachment mechanism at the first vertical end and at the second vertical end, and when operatively disposed between a first and second structures, the airflow arrester has a single V-shaped configuration, and is sized and constructed to block airflow from passing therebetween. The single V-shaped configuration provides operational stability to the airflow arrester by translating net twisting forces applied to the airflow arrester to normal forces applied to the first and second structures at the attachment points of the airflow arrester to the first and second structures.

Inter-rack airflow arresting apparatus and method for facilitating cooling of an electronics rack of a data center

An acoustically absorptive apparatus is provided which includes an acoustically absorptive panel and an attachment mechanism. The acoustically absorptive panel is configured to reside along a side of an electronics rack, and includes a multilayer structure to attenuate noise. The attachment mechanism slidably mounts the acoustically absorptive panel to the electronics rack and facilitates sliding of the panel relative to the rack between retracted and extended positions. In the refracted position, the panel is disposed along the side of the rack, and in the extended position, the panel extends beyond a front or back edge of the electronics rack to facilitate attenuating noise emanating from the rack or an aisle alongside a row of multiple racks. In addition, the acoustically absorptive panel hingedly couples along a vertical edge to the attachment mechanism such that the panel is also rotatable outward away from the side of the electronics rack.

Acoustically absorptive apparatus for an electronics rack of a data center

A vented cover includes a pair of cross-flow ventilation ducts each including an acoustic noise reduction lining. The ducts are 'cross-flow' in that they cross and bypass one another. The cover is affixed to an enclosure containing components of a computer system and abuts against a panel of the enclosure having an airflow aperture. An air moving device (AMD) passes air through the enclosure from the ducts if the cover is an intake cover, and/or into the ducts if the cover is an exhaust cover. The ducts increase the air path length, and the acoustic absorbing surface, thereby increasing acoustic attenuation. Airflow resistance is reduced by reducing surfaces perpendicular and close to the area where air enters and by reducing sharp turns in the ducts. The cover has a relatively thin depth because the ducts cross and bypass each other in a very space efficient manner.

Acoustic noise reduction in a computer system having a vented cover

An acoustically absorptive panel is provided configured to reside above multiple electronics racks disposed in a row within a data center. The acoustically absorptive panel is configured to extend a height above the multiple electronics racks sufficient to at least partially block hot air recirculation from one or more air outlet sides of the multiple electronics racks to one or more air inlet sides of the electronics racks. The acoustically absorptive panel includes an acoustically absorptive material selected to attenuate noise, and in one embodiment, includes printed material on at least one side thereof related to one or more of the multiple electronics racks.

Acoustically absorptive anti-recirculation panel for one or more electronics racks of a data center

An airflow arresting apparatus is provided configured to reside above an electronics rack within a data center. The apparatus includes an airflow arrester and a track mechanism. The airflow arrester includes a collapsible panel sized and configured to reside above the electronics rack, and when operatively positioned above the electronics rack, to extend vertically above the electronics rack and at least partially block airflow from passing over the electronics rack between the air outlet and air inlet sides of the rack. The track mechanism is sized and configured to reside above the electronics rack, and the airflow arrester is slidably engaged with the track mechanism. Positioning of the airflow arrester at a desired location above the electronics rack is facilitated by the airflow arrester slidably engaging the track mechanism.

Airflow arresting apparatus and method for facilitating cooling of an electronics rack of a data center

An electronics component cabinet cover test device includes a housing that defines a test apparatus provided with first and second openings. A cover member is mounted to one of the openings, and an air moving device is arranged in the test apparatus. The air moving device includes an air inlet and an air outlet and generates airflow within the test apparatus. A sensor capable of measuring a characteristic of the airflow is mounted within the test apparatus. An airflow impedance device mounted to the inlet or the outlet of the air moving device. The airflow impedance device is configured to simulate an airflow obstruction. A controller establishes a flow rate of air from the air moving device and receives airflow data corresponding to the characteristic of the airflow from the sensor to determine one of an acoustical performance characteristic and a thermal performance characteristic of the cover member.

Electronics cabinet acoustical and thermal test device

A noise-reducing attachment apparatus for a heat exchanger door is provided for facilitating attenuation of noise emanating from an electronics rack. The apparatus includes a frame structure configured to coupled to the heat exchanger door. The door includes in air opening and air-to-liquid heat exchanger, and air passing through the air opening also passes across the heat exchanger. The air opening facilitates passage of external air through the electronics rack. The frame structure defines in part an airflow channel through the apparatus, wherein air passing through the air opening also passes through the airflow channel when the apparatus is operatively coupled to the door. An acoustically absorptive material, which is coupled to the frame structure and at least partially defines the airflow opening through the apparatus, is selected and positioned to attenuate noise emanating from the electronics rack when the apparatus is coupled to the heat exchanger door.

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Poughkeepsie, NY, United States of America

Matthew A Nobile