Localized Test Air Recirculation for Atmospheric Device Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Testing network devices in varying atmospheric conditions is expensive due to the need for temperature-controlled environments, which can disrupt production computing devices when simulating different conditions.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising an exhaust conduit, a primary atmospheric conditioner, and an intake conduit that channels and modifies the exhaust from a test computing device to generate test air with specific conditions, isolating it from production devices, allowing for controlled atmospheric testing without affecting them.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If temperature controlled rooms are used to test network devices in varying atmospheric conditions, then the atmospheric condition simulation capability is improved, but the cost and complexity of the testing environment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveatmospheric condition simulation capabilityVSAvoidtesting environment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the testing environment by creating a localized atmospheric control zone around the test computing device using conduits and atmospheric conditioners, rather than controlling the entire room environment. This allows atmospheric condition simulation for testing while keeping the rest of the facility simple and unaffected.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the atmospheric conditioning function from the general facility environment and concentrates it in a dedicated testing zone. The exhaust conduit and atmospheric conditioners create an isolated atmospheric control system that can simulate varying conditions without requiring the entire facility to be temperature controlled.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If temperature controlled rooms are used to simulate varying atmospheric conditions, then the atmospheric condition simulation capability is improved, but the cost of testing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveatmospheric condition simulation capabilityVSAvoidtesting cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by creating atmospheric conditions only in the immediate vicinity of the test computing device rather than controlling the entire room. The exhaust conduit delivers modified atmospheric conditions locally, and the atmospheric conditioners adjust only the air in the testing zone, significantly reducing energy consumption compared to whole-room environmental control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If atmospheric conditions are modified for test computing devices in a shared facility, then the atmospheric testing capability is improved, but the impact on production computing devices increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveatmospheric testing capabilityVSAvoidimpact on production devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the test computing device from the shared facility environment by using exhaust conduits to create an isolated atmospheric zone. The test device is effectively separated from the production environment through dedicated intake and exhaust pathways, allowing atmospheric modifications without affecting production devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The exhaust conduit system acts as an intermediary between the test computing device and the shared facility environment. It mediates the atmospheric conditions by capturing exhaust, modifying it through atmospheric conditioners, and delivering controlled test air back to the device, while preventing direct interaction between the test atmosphere and production devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables efficient and cost-effective simulation of various atmospheric conditions for test computing devices while keeping production devices unaffected, allowing them to operate normally within the same facility.

Implementation Method 1

a primary atmospheric conditioner, external to the first test computing device and the plurality of production computing devices, configured to generate test air comprising the atmospheric condition for the first test computing device by modifying the exhaust

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conditioning: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS9632068B2Setting atmospheric conditions for a test computing device

Publication Date: 2017.04.25 ORACLE INT CORP

AI summary

A system for controlling an atmospheric condition. The system includes: an exhaust conduit, external to a first test computing device, configured to channel exhaust from the first test computing device. Further, the system includes a primary atmospheric conditioner, external to the first test computing device, configured to generate test air comprising the atmospheric condition for the first test computing device by modifying the exhaust. Further still, the system also includes an intake conduit, external to the first test computing device, configured to channel the test air to the first test computing device.