Shutter Unit for Storage System Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In semiconductor storage systems, the cooling efficiency of ASICs is compromised when units are removed with a cooling fan operating, as airflow is hindered, leading to decreased cooling effectiveness for FM chips.
Innovation Solution
A storage system design with a housing featuring a two-tier structure on the rear side, including upper-tier and lower-tier portions with shutter units that block airflow passages when units are removed, maintaining airflow efficiency by preventing air from entering through alternate openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a cooling fan is kept operating to cool the ASIC, then the ASIC cooling effectiveness is improved, but when a unit is removed, air is drawn in from the formed opening which hinders the original airflow and decreases cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter unit is positioned in advance at the air inlet opening to block airflow from entering through the opening formed when a unit is removed. This preliminary blocking action prevents the harmful airflow pattern before it can occur, maintaining the original cooling efficiency without requiring the cooling fan to stop operating.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter unit acts as an intermediary element between the external environment and the internal airflow path. When a unit is removed and creates an opening, the shutter unit mediates by blocking this opening, thereby preventing external air from entering and disrupting the original airflow pattern that is crucial for ASIC cooling.
2Quantity of substance
If FM packages are densely mounted in the housing to increase storage capacity, then the storage capacity is improved, but the heat from the ASIC adversely affects the FM chips
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter unit blocks the air inlet opening in advance, preventing hot air from recirculating back to the FM chips. By maintaining the integrity of the airflow path through this preliminary blocking action, the system preserves adequate cooling for the densely mounted FM chips, thereby reducing heat-related degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter unit serves as an intermediary that protects the FM chips from excessive heat by controlling airflow. When a unit is removed, the shutter blocks the opening and prevents hot air from entering the housing, thereby protecting the densely mounted FM chips from thermal damage while maintaining the high-density configuration.
3Ease of operation
If units are made removable from the housing for ease of maintenance, then the ease of operation is improved, but removing a unit creates an opening that allows air to be drawn in and hinders the original airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter unit is pre-positioned at the air inlet opening to automatically block airflow when a unit is removed. This preliminary blocking mechanism works passively with the removable unit design, maintaining airflow efficiency without requiring active control or complex mechanisms, thus preserving ease of operation while preventing the harmful airflow effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter unit acts as an intermediary that enables the removable unit design to function without compromising airflow efficiency. When a unit is removed for maintenance, the shutter mediates by blocking the resulting opening, thereby allowing easy removability while preventing the disruption of the original airflow pattern that would otherwise occur.
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
This design ensures continuous airflow efficiency, preventing heat from adversely affecting FM chips and maintaining system performance even when units are removed, thereby enhancing cooling effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
A cooling fan is provided on the rear side of a housing, and a plurality of FM packages are provided on the front side of the housing. When the cooling fan starts operating, air flows from the front side to the rear side of the housing. The airflow causes heat generated by the ASIC to be discharged from the rear side of the housing.
Data Source
AI summary
First and second units are mounted on a rear side of a housing of a storage system. Either of the first and second units includes a fan. The rear side of the housing includes an upper-tier portion defining an upper-tier opening, and a lower-tier portion defining a lower-tier opening, and the housing further includes a boundary portion that is a boundary between the upper-tier portion and the lower-tier portion, and a shutter unit. The boundary portion includes a first through hole that is a through hole connecting an upper-tier passage and a lower-tier passage. When the fan is operating, if the first unit is removed from the upper-tier portion, the shutter unit blocks the upper-tier passage, and if the second unit is removed from the lower-tier portion, the shutter unit blocks the lower-tier passage.