SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THERMOELECTRIC COOLING OF OPTICAL PORT

A system may include a heat-generating component and a thermoelectric cooler thermally coupled to the heat-generating component and arranged such that when an electrical parameter is applied to the thermoelectric cooler, a temperature gradient is created across the thermoelectric cooler in which a first side of the thermoelectric cooler proximate to the heat-generating component is at a lower temperature than a second side of the thermoelectric cooler opposite the first side and less proximate to the heat-generating component than the first side.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates in general to information handling systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for thermoelectric cooling of an information handling resource of an information handling system, including thermoelectric cooling of an optical port.

BACKGROUND

An information handling system may have a network interface or other input/output (I/O) interface configured to receive an optical transceiver module (e.g., a small form-factor pluggable (SFP) transceiver, a quad small form-factor pluggable (QSFP) transceiver, and/or other module in accordance with the Open Compute Project (OCP) specification). Such transceiver modules often plug into “cages” disposed on an I/O interface card, which often reside in the rear of the information handling system in which hot air (e.g., at 55° C. to 65° C.) is exhausting from the system. Such temperatures are often near the upper limit of temperature requirements of optical transceiver modules.

In an attempt to reduce temperatures within optical transceiver modules, heatsinks have been implemented in fixed locations on cages disposed on I/O interface cards and configured to receive the optical transceiver modules. However, such transceivers are often limited and associated ports are often limited in their use of heatsinks, given space restrictions often allotted to optical transceivers and optical ports. As power consumption of optical transceivers increases from generation to generation, it may become increasingly difficult to adequately cool optical transceivers and optical ports using existing approaches.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the disadvantages and problems associated with existing approaches to cooling optical networking components and other information handling resources may be reduced or eliminated.

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a system may include a heat-generating component and a thermoelectric cooler thermally coupled to the heat-generating component and arranged such that when an electrical parameter is applied to the thermoelectric cooler, a temperature gradient is created across the thermoelectric cooler in which a first side of the thermoelectric cooler proximate to the heat-generating component is at a lower temperature than a second side of the thermoelectric cooler opposite the first side and less proximate to the heat-generating component than the first side.

In accordance with these and other embodiments of the present disclosure, a method may include causing an electrical parameter to be applied to a thermoelectric cooler thermally coupled to a heat-generating component and arranged such that when the electrical parameter is applied to the thermoelectric cooler, a temperature gradient is created across the thermoelectric cooler in which a first side of the thermoelectric cooler proximate to the heat-generating component is at a lower temperature than a second side of the thermoelectric cooler opposite the first side and less proximate to the heat-generating component than the first side.

In accordance with these and other embodiments of the present disclosure, a method may include thermally coupling a thermoelectric cooler to a heat-generating component and arranged such that when an electrical parameter is applied to the thermoelectric cooler, a temperature gradient is created across the thermoelectric cooler in which a first side of the thermoelectric cooler proximate to the heat-generating component is at a lower temperature than a second side of the thermoelectric cooler opposite the first side and less proximate to the heat-generating component than the first side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Preferred embodiments and their advantages are best understood by reference toFIGS.1through4, wherein like numbers are used to indicate like and corresponding parts.

For the purposes of this disclosure, circuit boards may broadly refer to printed circuit boards (PCBs), printed wiring boards (PWBs), printed wiring assemblies (PWAs) etched wiring boards, and/or any other board or similar physical structure operable to mechanically support and electrically couple electronic components (e.g., packaged integrated circuits, slot connectors, etc.). A circuit board may comprise a substrate of a plurality of conductive layers separated and supported by layers of insulating material laminated together, with conductive traces disposed on and/or in any of such conductive layers, with vias for coupling conductive traces of different layers together, and with pads for coupling electronic components (e.g., packaged integrated circuits, slot connectors, etc.) to conductive traces of the circuit board.

FIG.1illustrates a functional block diagram of selected components of an example information handling system102, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, information handling system102may be a personal computer (e.g., a desktop computer or a portable computer). In other embodiments, information handling system102may comprise a storage server for archiving data.

As depicted inFIG.1, information handling system102may include a processor103, a memory104communicatively coupled to processor103, an input/output interface106communicatively coupled to processor103, an air mover108communicatively coupled to processor103, a user interface110communicatively coupled to processor103, an optical port112communicatively coupled to I/O interface106, and a thermoelectric cooler116thermally coupled to optical port112.

Memory104may be communicatively coupled to processor103and may include any system, device, or apparatus configured to retain program instructions and/or data for a period of time (e.g., computer-readable media). Memory104may include random access memory (RAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a PCMCIA card, flash memory, magnetic storage, opto-magnetic storage, or any suitable selection and/or array of volatile or non-volatile memory that retains data after power to its associated information handling system102is turned off.

I/O interface106may comprise any suitable system, apparatus, or device operable to serve as an interface between information handling system102and one or more other external devices. For example, in some embodiments, I/O interface106may comprise a network interface configured to serve as an interface between information handling system102and information handling systems via a network, in which case I/O interface106may comprise a network interface card, or “NIC.”

Air mover108may include any mechanical or electro-mechanical system, apparatus, or device operable to move air and/or other gases in order to cool information handling resources of information handling system102. In some embodiments, air mover108may comprise a fan (e.g., a rotating arrangement of vanes or blades which act on the air). In other embodiments, air mover108may comprise a blower (e.g., a centrifugal fan that employs rotating impellers to accelerate air received at its intake and change the direction of the airflow). In these and other embodiments, rotating and other moving components of system air mover108may be driven by a motor. In operation, air mover108may cool information handling resources of information handling system102by drawing cool air from the outside of and into an enclosure (e.g., chassis) housing the information handling resources, expel warm air from inside the enclosure to the outside of such enclosure, and/or move air across one or more heat sinks (not explicitly shown) internal to or external to the enclosure to cool one or more information handling resources.

User interface110may comprise any instrumentality or aggregation of instrumentalities by which a user may interact with information handling system102. For example, user interface110may permit a user to input data and/or instructions into information handling system102, and/or otherwise manipulate information handling system102and its associated components. User interface110may also permit information handling system102to communicate data to a user, e.g., by way of a display device.

Optical port112may comprise an electrical connector in the form of any suitable combination of a jack, a socket, and/or “cage” for receiving a corresponding connector of an optical transceiver module114.

Optical transceiver module114may include any system, device, or apparatus that houses and includes an optical transceiver configured to convert an incoming optical signal into an equivalent electrical signal, and communicate such equivalent electrical signal to I/O interface106, and also configured to receive an electrical signal from I/O interface106, convert such electrical signal into an equivalent optical signal, and communicate such optical signal as an outgoing optical signal (e.g., via an optical cable, which may be integral to the same assembly as optical transceiver module114). Optical transceiver module114may include an SFP transceiver, a QSFP transceiver, or any other suitable form factor.

Thermoelectric cooler116may comprise any suitable system, device, or apparatus configured to, in response to an electrical voltage applied to it, transfer heat from one side of thermoelectric cooler116to another side of thermoelectric cooler116in accordance with the thermoelectric effect (which may also be known as the Peltier effect, among other names). As described and shown in more detail below, thermoelectric cooler116may be arranged relative to optical port112such that the side of thermoelectric cooler116that cools when an electrical voltage is applied to it may be thermally coupled to a surface of optical port112and such that the side of thermoelectric cooler116that heats when an electrical voltage is applied to it may be within an airflow path of air flowing from air mover108. Accordingly, heat may be transferred from optical port112to thermoelectric cooler116, and from thermoelectric cooler116to air flowing proximate to thermoelectric cooler116, thus cooling optical port112and also potentially cooling optical transceiver module114inserted into optical port112.

In addition to processor103, memory104, I/O interface106, air mover108, user interface110, optical port112, optical transceiver module114, and thermoelectric cooler116, information handling system102may include one or more other information handling resources. Such an information handling resource may include any component system, device or apparatus of an information handling system, including without limitation, a processor, bus, memory, I/O device and/or interface, storage resource (e.g., hard disk drives), network interface, electro-mechanical device (e.g., fan), display, power supply, and/or any portion thereof. An information handling resource may comprise any suitable package or form factor, including without limitation an integrated circuit package or a printed circuit board having mounted thereon one or more integrated circuits.

FIG.2illustrates a perspective view of an example optical transceiver module114and cable208inserted into optical transceiver module114, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, example optical transceiver module114depicted inFIG.2may be used to implement optical transceiver module114ofFIG.1. As shown inFIG.2, optical transceiver module114may include a housing202for housing an optical transceiver204and one or more other components, a cable208, and a strain relief feature209. Housing202may comprise a metal enclosure configured to house and/or provide mechanical structure for optical transceiver204, including mechanical features (e.g., guiding features) for aligning and/or mechanically securing optical transceiver204to I/O interface106via optical port112.

Optical transceiver204may include any system, device, or apparatus configured to receive an incoming optical signal (e.g., via cable208), convert the incoming optical signal into an equivalent electrical signal, and communicate such equivalent electrical signal to I/O interface106(e.g., via optical port112), and also configured to receive an electrical signal from I/O interface106(e.g., via optical port112), convert such electrical signal into an equivalent optical signal, and communicate such optical signal as an outgoing optical signal (e.g., via cable208).

Cable208may include any suitable system, device, or apparatus capable of passing optical signals therethrough. For example, cable208may include one or more optical fibers surrounded by optically opaque material and/or material for protecting such one or more optical fibers. Such one or more optical fibers integral to cable208may be optically coupled to optical transceiver204, thus enabling communication with optical transceiver204via such optical fibers.

Strain relief feature209may mechanically enclose cable208and may be formed from any suitable material that may be configured to provide strain relief to cable208while also providing support to the extension of housing202.

FIG.3illustrates a perspective view of two instances of example optical transceiver module114shown inFIG.2inserted into respective optical ports112of I/O interface106, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.3, each of one or more thermoelectric coolers116may be thermally coupled to a surface of a respective optical port112.

FIG.4illustrates a cross-sectional elevation view of an optical port112and a thermoelectric cooler116thermally coupled thereto, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.4, thermoelectric cooler116may be thermally coupled to optical port112via a thermal interface material402(e.g., silicon grease) disposed on a surface of optical port112and a neck404interfaced between thermal interface material402and thermoelectric cooler116. Neck404may comprise a thermally conductive material (e.g., copper) and may be present such that direct contact between thermal interface material402and thermoelectric cooler116is not needed. Without the presence of neck404, thermoelectric cooler116may not be resilient to repeated insertion and removal of optical transceiver module114.

Although not depicted inFIG.3for purposes of clarity and exposition, in some embodiments a heatsink or other heat-rejecting media may be mechanically and thermally coupled to thermoelectric cooler116in order to dissipate heat (e.g., via air driven by a fan, blower, or other air mover) from the side of thermoelectric cooler116that is at a higher temperature.

AlthoughFIGS.3and4do not depict electrical connections of thermoelectric cooler116, a voltage may be applied across a bottom surface (e.g., the surface of thermoelectric cooler116most proximate to optical port112) and a top surface (e.g., the surface of thermoelectric cooler116opposite of the bottom surface) in any suitable manner in order to induce the thermoelectric effect such that a temperature gradient forms between the bottom surface and the top surface, with the bottom surface being cooler than the top surface. For example, suitable electrically-conductive wires for applying such voltage may be coupled between a printed circuit board comprising I/O interface106and respective voltage terminals of thermoelectric cooler116.

The various components depicted inFIG.4may be mechanically coupled to one another via one or more mechanical clips, one or more mechanical brackets, one or more mechanical fasteners (e.g., screws), adhesive material, and/or any other suitable mechanism.

Although the foregoing contemplates the use of the methods and systems disclosed herein with respect to an optical port, the heat transfer techniques disclosed herein may be applied generally to cooling of any suitable information handling resource.