International Business Machines Corporation

Lenovo Global Technology (united States) Inc.

Matthew Scott Henry

David John Jensen

Seth David Lewis

Martin Joseph Crippen

Peter A Smith

Pat Gallarelli

Eric Adams

Bruce Edwin Baker

Gary David Cudak

Brian Michael Kerrigan

Michael Raymond Miller

Timothy Andreas Meserth

Karl Klaus Dittus

David W Cosby

Roland Kamakau Alo

Zhipeng Gao

A method includes various operations and a computer program product causes a processor to perform various operations. The operations may include measuring a level of utilization of a field-replaceable unit in a computing system; determining, for each field-replaceable unit, a current configuration of the field-replaceable unit, wherein the current configuration of the field-replaceable unit has a first designated utilization level; and determining whether the measured level of utilization is greater than the first designated level of utilization. The operations further include identifying, in response to determining that the measured level of utilization is greater than the first designated level of utilization, a second configuration of the field-replaceable unit having a second designated utilization level that is greater than the measured level of utilization of the field-replaceable unit; and applying a feature on demand upgrade to the field-replaceable unit to implement the second configuration.

Applying a feature on demand upgrade responsive to measured utilization

An apparatus for positioning an electronics module in an equipment chassis with adequate pathways for the flow of cooling air across the module or across one or more adjacent modules, such as one or more blade server. The system includes an electronics module movably secured within a sub-assembly prior to installing the sub-assembly in a bay of a chassis. Ramps disposed within one or more bays of the chassis engage and position the electronics modules within the range of movement permitted by the sub-assembly when the sub-assembly has been installed in the chassis. Two bays having ramps positioned differently can receive the same sub-assembly or an identical sub-assembly and position the module differently. Therefore, the sub-assemblies are interchangeable while maintaining appropriate air flow pathways.

Apparatus for positioning electronic component modules within an equipment chassis

A system, method, and apparatus for distributing air in a blade server are disclosed. Embodiments may include a rotating damper having a damper door, sliding door, and connecting rod. The damper door may be rotatably attached to a blade server having a plurality of blade slots for receiving blades and may rotate between a blocking position and a flat position, where the damper door impedes air through a blade slot when in the blocking position. The sliding door may move between an open position and a closed position, where the sliding door allows airflow through an air opening while in the open position and blocks airflow through the air opening while in the closed position. A further embodiment may include an extension spring to apply a pulling force to the sliding door and a kick up spring to apply a pushing force to the damper door in the flat position.

Methods for distributing air in a blade server

A system, method, and apparatus for preventing exhaust backflow into a blower are disclosed. Embodiments may include a blower system with an invertible blower chassis having a blower exhaust to direct airflow from the blower chassis at an airflow angle. The system may also include a backflow damper frame attached to the blower chassis and positioned to receive airflow from the blower chassis and one or more vertical damper vanes rotatably attached to the backflow damper frame. Each damper vane may freely rotate between a first, closed position and a second, open position. The damper vanes may block airflow into the blower exhaust when in the closed position and may freely rotate to a position where the damper vanes are substantially parallel to the airflow from the blower exhaust. The damper vanes may each include a vane pin to rotatably attach to frame holes of the backflow damper frame.

Blower exhaust backflow damper

A system and method for installing and retaining an input/output connector without tools is presented. A user removes a module from a computer system in order to add or remove a transceiver. The module includes a housing and a front bezel, whereby a bezel latch attaches the front bezel to the housing. The user depresses the bezel latch to remove the front bezel from the housing. As a result, a retention beam is exposed on the housing that secures transceivers to a circuit board. The user unlatches the retention beam, inserts a transceiver onto a mounting area, and latches the retention beam. The retention beam applies pressure to the transceiver, which results in a coupling of the transceiver to a circuit board included in the housing. In turn, the user attaches the front bezel to the housing via the bezel latch and reinserts the module into the computer system.

System and method for installing and retaining I/O connector without tools

Blade enclosure

System, method, and apparatus for distributing air in a blade server

A dual motion docking apparatus for docking an electronics console to a component board in a chassis is disclosed. The electronics console and the component board lie in the same plane of the chassis, but the electronics console must be mated with the component board at an angle orthogonal to a direction of installation of the electronics console. Aspects of the present invention include a first docking mechanism for slidably inserting the electronics console into a chassis, such that connectors on the electronics console align with connectors on the component board. The first docking mechanism preferably comprises a docking base coupled to the electronics console that has a longitudinal female portion, and a longitudinal male portion located on an underside of the electronics console, wherein when the electronics console is inserted into an opening in a chassis, the male portion engages the female portion of the docking base to guide the electronics console along the docking base as the electronics console is slid into the chassis. The dual motion docking apparatus further includes a second docking mechanism for laterally moving the electronics console towards the component board, such that the electronics console connectors engage the component board connectors, thereby enabling the blind docking between the electronics console and the component board. The second docking mechanism preferably comprises a handle extending from a front of the electronics console, and a cam mechanism having a portion that is held immobile by a docking base, wherein after the electronics console is slid into the chassis, the handle is pushed rearward by hand to actuate the cam mechanism, which then pulls the electronics console towards the component board.

Server packaging architecture utilizing a blind docking processor-to-midplane mechanism

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Matthew Scott Henry