Abstract:
An electromagnetic interference (EMI) inhibiting device which prevents EMI from being transferred through a server cable from the outside to the inside or vice versa. Metal oxide powders packed between the cylinder and the cable act as an absorbant and dissipator of any EMI.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to container data centers, and particularly to a container data center having an electromagnetic interference (EMI) inhibiting device. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Electronic devices, such as container data centers, shielding rooms, or anechoic chambers, have cables extending through the housings of the electronic devices to the external environment. Electromagnetic radiation from the electronic devices may leak through the cables. At the same time, electromagnetic radiation from the outside environment may enter the electronic devices through the cables to interfere with the electronic devices. Thus, there is room to improve the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the various views. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a sectional view of a cable leading into a container data center with an EMI-inhibiting device in accordance with a first embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIGS. 2-3  are schematic views of the EMI-inhibiting device of  FIG. 1  in use. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of a container data center with an EMI-inhibiting device in accordance with a second embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 5-8  are sectional views of the EMI-inhibiting device of  FIG. 4  in use. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    The disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
         [0011]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a container data center  100  in accordance with a first embodiment of the disclosure includes a container  10  for accommodating a plurality of servers (not shown) and an electromagnetic interference (EMI) inhibiting device  20  mounted to the container  10 . 
         [0012]    The container  10  includes a sidewall  11  defining a wire hole  12 , and a cable  13  extending through the wire hole  12 . The EMI-inhibiting device  20  is applied towards inhibiting any EMI between the container  10  and the outside environment by means of the cable  13 . The EMI-inhibiting device  20  includes a metal cylinder  21  fitting about the cable  13  and an amount(s) of metal oxide powders  22  packed in a gap between the metal cylinder  21  and the cable  13  which is sufficient to inhibit EMI. The metal cylinder  21  has an end inserted into the wire hole  12  and the circumferential edge bounds the wire hole  12 . The metal cylinder  21  has an elongated configuration. 
         [0013]    The metal cylinder  21  includes two blocking tabs  23  spaced in a lengthways direction of the metal cylinder  21 , to keep the metal oxide powders  22  between the blocking tabs  23 . Each of the blocking tabs  23  has a circumferential edge firmly abutting an inner surface of the metal cylinder  21 . Each blocking tab  23  defines a central through hole (not labeled). The cable  13  extends through the through holes of the blocking tabs  23 . Each blocking tab  23  is a sheet made of elastic material, such as rubber or plastic. 
         [0014]    The metal cylinder  21  defines an inlet  24  communicating with the space between the blocking tabs  23  and the metal cylinder  21  in a top side and an outlet  27  communicating with the space between the blocking tabs  23  and the metal cylinder  21  in a bottom side. The inlet  24  of the metal cylinder  21  is used for loading the metal oxide powders  22  into the space between the blocking tabs  23  and the metal cylinder  21 , and the outlet  27  is used for unloading the metal oxide powders  22  from the space. The metal cylinder  21  includes two metal covers  25  for the inlet  24  and the outlet  27 . The inlet  24  and the outlet  27  are defined between the blocking tabs  23 . The metal covers  25  each have an end rotatably connected to the metal cylinder  21 . 
         [0015]    The metal oxide powders  22  are magnetic and conductive, such as Mn—Zn ferrite powder or Ni—Zn ferrite powder. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , in use, the metal cover  25  at the inlet  24  of the metal cylinder  21  is opened, and the metal oxide powders  22  are loaded in the space between the blocking tabs  23  and the metal cylinder  21 , until the quantity of metal oxide powers  22  in the space is sufficient to inhibit EMI. The metal cover  25  covers the inlet  24 . 
         [0017]    The EMI-inhibiting device  20  absorbs and dissipates any electromagnetic radiation transferred along the cable  13  between the internal and the external parts of the container  10 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , when the cable  13  needs to be replaced or removed, the metal cover  25  at the outlet  27  of the metal cylinder  21  is opened. The metal oxide powders  22  are unloaded from the space through the outlet  27  and drop into a powder container  26 . Therefore, the metal oxide powders  22  are reusable. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a container data center  200  in accordance with a second embodiment of the disclosure is illustrated. The container data center  200  includes a container  30  and a EMI-inhibiting device  40  mounted to the container  30 . 
         [0020]    The container  30  includes a sidewall  31  defining a wire hole  32 , and a cable  33  extending through the wire hole  32 . The EMI-inhibiting device  40  inhibits EMI between the container  30  and the external environment through the cable  33 . The EMI-inhibiting device  40  includes a metal cylinder  41  fitting around the cable  33 , a first box  50  and a second box  52  mounted on an external portion of the metal cylinder  41 , a first switching assembly  60  and a second switching assembly  70  mounted in the metal cylinder  41 , and metal oxide powders  42  packed into a gap between the metal cylinder  41  and the cable  33 , sufficient to inhibit EMI. 
         [0021]    The metal cylinder  41  includes an inner tube  410  and an outer tube  412  wrapping the inner tube  410 . The inner tube  410  is spaced from the outer tube  412 . The outer tube  412  has an end inserted into the wire hole  32  of the container  30  and engaged with a circumferential edge bounding the wire hole  32 . The inner tube  410  and the outer tube  412  each have an elongated configuration. The metal oxide powders  42  are packed in a gap between the inner tube  410  and the cable  33 . 
         [0022]    The metal cylinder  41  includes two blocking tabs  43  spaced in a lengthways direction of the metal cylinder  41 , to keep the metal oxide powders  42  between the blocking tabs  43 . Each of the blocking tabs  43  has a circumferential edge firmly abutting an inner surface of the inner tube  410  of the metal cylinder  41 . Each blocking tab  43  defines a central through hole (not labeled). The cable  33  extends through the through holes of the blocking tabs  43 . The metal oxide powders  42  are located between the blocking tabs  43 . Each blocking tab  43  is a sheet made of elastic material, such as rubber or plastic. 
         [0023]    The metal cylinder  41  defines an inlet  44  communicating with a space between the blocking tabs  43  and the metal cylinder  41  in a top side and an outlet  47  communicating with the space between the blocking tabs  43  and the metal cylinder  41  in a bottom side. The inlet  44  and the outlet  47  are located between the blocking tabs  43 . 
         [0024]    The first box  50  is mounted on the top of the metal cylinder  41  and covers the inlet  44 . The inlet  44  communicates with an inner space of the first box  50 . The first box  50  defines a first hinged door  501  at a top of the first box  50 . The second box  52  is mounted on the bottom of the metal cylinder  41  and covers the outlet  47 . The outlet  47  communicates with an inner space of the second box  52 . The second box  52  defines a second hinged door  520  at a bottom side. The first and second boxes  50  and  52  each are made of metal. 
         [0025]    The first switching assembly  60  and the second switching assembly  70  are located between the inner tube  410  and the outer tube  412  of the metal cylinder  41 . The first switching assembly  60  is on the top of the metal cylinder  41 . The second switching assembly  70  is at the bottom of the metal cylinder  41 . 
         [0026]    The first switching assembly  60  includes a handle  61 , an elastic member  62 , and a metal plate  63 . The handle  61  includes a first end extending out of an outer end of the metal cylinder  41  opposite to the sidewall  31 , and an opposite second end inserted into the metal cylinder  41  between the inner and outer tubes  410  and  412  and connected to an end of the metal plate  63 . The metal plate  63  covers the inlet  44 . An opposite end of the metal plate  62  is inserted into the metal cylinder  41  adjacent to the sidewall  31 . The elastic member  62  includes a first end secured to the outer end of the metal cylinder  41  and an opposite second end connected with a connection portion between the handle  61  and the metal plate  63 . The elastic member  62  is compressed between the outer end of the metal cylinder  41  and the connection portion of the handle  61  and the metal plate  63 . In this embodiment, the elastic member  62  is a spring. The second switching assembly  70  is similar to the first switching assembly  60 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , in use, the inlet  44  and the outlet  47  are closed by the first and second switching assemblies  60  and  70 , and the metal oxide powders  42  are stored in the first box  50 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , the handle  61  of the first switching assembly  60  is pulled out, and the metal plate  63  is pulled away from the inlet  44  against the elastic member  62 , to uncover the inlet  44 . The metal oxide powders  42  in the first box  50  are loaded in the inner tube  410  through the inlet  44 . When the metal oxide powders  42  fill the gap among the inner tube  410 , the blocking tabs  43 , and the cable  33 , the metal plate  63  recovers the inlet  44  under the elastic force of the elastic member  62 . The EMI-inhibiting device  40  absorbs and dissipates any electromagnetic radiation originating internally and externally in relation to the container  30 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 7-8 , when the cable  33  needs to be replaced or removed, the handle  71  of the second switching assembly  70  is pulled out, and the metal plate  73  is pulled away from the outlet  47  against the elastic member  72 . The metal oxide powders  42  in the inner tube  410  are unloaded from the inner tube  410  through the outlet  47  and enter the second box  52 . The metal plate  73  recovers the outlet  47  under the elastic force of the elastic member  72 . By opening the second hinged door  520  of the second box  52 , the metal oxide powders  42  drop into a powder container  80 . 
         [0029]    In the present disclosure, in a process of loading the metal oxide powders  42  and removing the metal oxide powders  42 , the cooperation between the first switching assembly  60  and the first box  50  or the cooperation between the second switching assembly  70  and the second box  52  is able to prevent the escape of cold or cooling air from the container  30 . 
         [0030]    In addition, the EMI-inhibiting devices  20  and  40  prevents the ingress of insects into the containers  10  and  30  through the wire holes  12  and  32 . 
         [0031]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.