The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 17, 2001
Filed:
Jan. 04, 1999
Timothy M. Mulvihill, Lakeville, MA (US);
George S. Maloof, Jr., Framingham, MA (US);
Arod Shatil, Brookline, MA (US);
EMC Corporation, Hopkinton, MA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus is provided for detecting airborne particles in an electronic enclosure. The electronic enclosure may be used to house one or more electronic devices or components of an electronic system, such as a computer or data storage system. A particle detection system is provided to monitor the air within the enclosure and to generate an alarm signal in response to detection of a threshold level of airborne particles within the enclosure that is indicative of an operational anomaly associated with at least one of the electronic devices or components. In response to the alarm signal, the electronic devices housed within the enclosure may be automatically shut down to reduce potential damage to at least the devices housed within the enclosure. The detection system is particularly suited for detecting the presence of smoke within an electronic enclosure, such as may be generated during a combustion event by overheated or electrically shorted electronic components.