Variable Airflow Blocking Assembly for PCI Card Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current information processing apparatuses face inefficiencies in cooling high-power PCI cards, leading to increased noise, power consumption, and reduced cooling efficiency, as well as limitations in accommodating new PCI card specifications and increased costs due to dedicated cooling mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus with a blocking assembly that selectively blocks or passes air between heat generation components, using a control unit to manage airflow based on temperature thresholds, optimizing cooling for high-power components like PCI cards without requiring extreme fan rotational speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If fan rotational speed is increased to cool high-power PCI cards, then cooling efficiency is improved, but noise and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple air outlets, with at least one being a variable air outlet that can independently adjust airflow. This segmentation allows targeted cooling of high-power PCI cards through specific outlets without requiring the fan to operate at high speed for the entire system, thereby reducing overall noise and power consumption while effectively cooling the specific hot components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a variable air outlet that can dynamically adjust its opening degree based on the operational state of PCI cards. When high-power PCI cards are detected, the variable outlet opens to direct cooled air toward them; when low-power cards are present, the outlet remains closed. This dynamic adjustment enables precise cooling control, avoiding unnecessary high fan speeds and reducing noise and power consumption accordingly.
2Temperature
If dedicated cooling mechanisms are added for new PCI card specifications, then cooling performance is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The variable air outlet serves multiple functions: it acts as a regular air outlet during normal operation, functions as a controllable airflow path for high-power PCI cards, and can be adjusted based on different PCI card configurations. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated cooling mechanisms for different PCI card specifications, reducing device complexity and manufacturing costs while maintaining cooling performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the air outlet (opening degree, airflow direction) based on the detected PCI card power consumption characteristics. Rather than adding physical cooling mechanisms for different card types, the system adapts the existing cooling system's parameters dynamically, simplifying the overall device structure and reducing manufacturing 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
This approach effectively cools high-power components, reduces noise and power consumption, enhances configuration flexibility, and lowers development and manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for dedicated cooling mechanisms, while preventing performance deterioration and shutdowns.
Implementation Method 1
a blocking assembly that performs a first operation of blocking air flowing from the first heat generation circuit toward the second heat generation circuit or a second operation of passing the air
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus comprises a first heat generation circuit, a second heat generation circuit, a blocking assembly, and a processor. The blocking assembly performs a first operation of blocking air flowing from the first heat generation circuit toward the second heat generation circuit or a second operation of passing the air, and the processor is configure to instruct the blocking assembly to perform the first operation in a case where a temperature of the air is higher than a predetermined value, and instruct the blocking assembly to perform the second operation in a case where the temperature of the air is lower than the predetermined value.