Universal Sensor Data Acquisition Device for Scalable Server Rack Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing server rack sensor systems are limited by the need for customized and inflexible wiring for various sensors, leading to high costs, long lead times, and inability to scale or change sensor types without redesigning the system, especially with the introduction of new equipment like liquid cooling systems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of universal sensor data acquisition devices (USDADs) that can connect to different types of sensors and equipment, using a common bus for communication and power, allowing for interchangeable and scalable solutions without the need for customization, and enabling the detection of connected sensors and equipment through various techniques such as presence pins or position detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If customized wiring is used for various sensors, then sensor data acquisition accuracy is improved, but manufacturing cost and lead time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal sensor data acquisition device with a standardized interface that can connect to multiple types of sensors (temperature, humidity, pressure, etc.) without requiring customized wiring. The device uses a common bus structure and standardized connectors that support various sensor types, eliminating the need for custom cables and interfaces for each sensor type while maintaining accurate data acquisition capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If customized wiring is used for various sensors, then sensor-specific data acquisition is improved, but system scalability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The universal data acquisition device provides standardized interfaces and communication protocols that work with multiple sensor types, allowing the system to scale by simply adding more sensors or devices without redesigning wiring harnesses. The modular architecture enables easy expansion while maintaining consistent data acquisition quality across different sensor types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into independent, modular data acquisition devices that can be individually added or removed from the common bus. Each device is a self-contained unit with standardized interfaces, allowing the system to be scaled by simply plugging in additional modular units rather than redesigning the entire wiring system.
3Measurement precision
If customized wiring is used for various sensors, then sensor connectivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensor connections are merged into a single common bus structure where all sensors and data acquisition devices share a standardized communication medium. This eliminates the need for separate customized wiring for each sensor pair, reducing overall wiring complexity while maintaining reliable connectivity through the shared bus architecture.
4Adaptability or versatility
If interchangeable USDADs are used, then system flexibility is improved, but timing predictability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic polling of sensors and USDADs at fixed time intervals through the common bus. This periodic communication scheme ensures that despite the interchangeable nature of USDADs, the timing of data acquisition remains predictable and systematic, with each device being queried at regular intervals in a determined sequence.
Data Source
AI summary
A device that is communicating with other devices via a common bus discovers addresses of the other devices. The device transmits data to the other devices at a transmit time determined based on the addresses of the other devices. The device predicts receive times at which data will be received from the other devices and determines the transmit time based on predicted receive times, avoiding data collisions. The devices may include universal sensor data acquisition devices (“USDADs”) that are each connectable to different types of sensors arranged within a server rack. Each USDAD determines a type of a connected sensor that is within a server rack and collects sensor data from the connected sensor.