Apparatus and system for monitoring environmental factors in a computer system
US7764184B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jul 27, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 27, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F11/3058
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention present an apparatus coupled to an internal bus for monitoring environmental factors in a computer system including: an embedded controller having a processor; an environmental sensor that provides data related to environmental conditions; a reset generator; and a power source. A LAN interface may be configured to remotely access and control the embedded controller. Further, the internal bus may be selected from any of the following: a PCI bus, an ISA bus, a DIMM slot, a SIMM slot, a PCMCIA slot, or a server blade slot. Still further, the environmental sensor may be selected from any of the following: a DC electrical sensor; an AC electrical sensor; a temperature sensor; a humidity sensor; a force monitor sensor; a signal monitor sensor; an electrostatic discharge sensor; an activity sensor; an optical particulate sensor; a Hall Effect sensor; a global positioning sensor; or a whisker detection sensor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.