Capacitive detection of dust accumulation using microcontroller component leads
US7696890B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 13, 2007 |
| Grant date | Apr 13, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N15/0656
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system and method are used for electronically detecting the accumulation of dust within a computer system using a capacitive dust sensor. The dust detection system may be implemented on a smaller computer, such as an individual PC, or in a more expansive system, such as a rack-based server system (“rack system”) having multiple servers and other hardware devices. In one embodiment, each server in a rack system includes a capacitive sensor responsive to the accumulation of dust. The capacitive sensor may include one or more capacitive plates integral with a heatsink. As dust collects on the capacitive plates, the capacitance increases. When a capacitance setpoint is reached, indicating the dust has reached a critical level, an alert is generated. The alerts may be received by a management console for the attention of a system administrator. Each alert may contain the identity of the server generating the alert, so that the system administrator knows which server(s) are to be removed for cleaning.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.