Detection of airflow anomalies in electronic equipment
US7421368B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 2006 |
| Grant date | Sep 2, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 19, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F11/3058
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Thermal diagnostic systems and methods are provided for improved detection of airflow anomalies in a computer system. In particular, processor load is selectively increased to amplify the effects caused by any airflow anomaly that may be present in the computer system. Workload migration may be used to shift processor load from another node to a target node. Artificial load may also be generated on the target node. The processor load increased to a level sufficient that an airflow anomaly would cause a detectable temperature difference at the selected node. The processor load may be increased by an amount computed to generate this detectable temperature difference. Alternatively, the processor load may be increased by a predetermined amount of between 40% and 100% of full processor utilization. While at the increased processor load, actual temperature sensed by temperature sensors may be compared to temperatures predicted from the model to detect the presence or absence of an airflow anomaly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.