Connector Wear Monitoring via Relative Motion Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computer systems face premature wear-out of connections due to increased vibrations from powerful cooling fans, leading to potential failures, data loss, and unplanned downtime, as existing designs do not effectively monitor or address connection wear-out until the end of the planned life cycle.
Innovation Solution
A system that monitors the connection between a connector and a component by measuring and comparing motion parameters, including acceleration, to calculate the mean time to failure and generate an alarm when the threshold is crossed, using accelerometers and relative-motion monitoring to track the accumulated root-mean square of relative displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If powerful cooling fans are used to provide more cooling, then cooling performance is improved, but vibrations increase causing premature wear-out of connections
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of connection wear-out by continuously measuring motion parameters and calculating mean time to failure before actual failure occurs. This allows proactive maintenance scheduling that prevents premature connection failure while enabling the use of powerful cooling fans for improved cooling performance.
2Ease of manufacture
If connections are designed to last the planned life cycle, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but wear-out effects are not noticeable until after the planned life cycle ends
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback monitoring by measuring motion parameters of connectors and components, comparing them to detect relative motion, and calculating mean time to failure. This feedback mechanism allows the system to monitor connection health throughout its service life, enabling proactive maintenance while maintaining cost-effective design practices.
3Reliability
If vibration monitoring is implemented to detect connection wear-out, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system leverages existing motion parameters and accelerometers that are already present in the computer system to detect connection wear-out. By using self-service approaches with available sensors and standard processing techniques, the system improves reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively predicts and alerts for potential connection failures, allowing for proactive maintenance and reducing the risk of data loss and downtime by monitoring connection wear-out and scheduling servicing before critical failure occurs.
Implementation Method 1
a first motion parameter of the connector and a second motion parameter of the component are measured. Then, the connection is monitored by comparing information related to the first motion parameter and information related to the second motion parameter. In some embodiments, at least one of the first motion parameter and the second motion parameter includes an acceleration.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that monitors a connection in a computer system between a connector and a component coupled to the connector. During operation, a first motion parameter of the connector, and a second motion parameter of the component are measured. Then, the connection is monitored by comparing information related to the first motion parameter and information related to the second motion parameter.