Electronic apparatus

Air in the first section is allowed to run into a second section through first and second air vents in an electronic apparatus. This causes an increase in the amount of airflow in the first section. In particular, if the pressure loss is larger in the first section, airflow blocked in the first section is forced to run into the second section. A smooth airflow can be established in the first section. Moreover, if the pressure in the first section is set larger than the pressure in the second section, a smoother airflow is established from the first section to the second section. A further superior airflow can be established in the first section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus such as a server computer.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A back panel stands upright in the enclosure of a server computer, for example. System board units and input/output units are respectively coupled to the front and back surfaces of the back panel through connectors, for example. A fan unit or units are incorporated in the enclosure for the purpose of cooling these units. The fan unit serves to generate airflow running in the vertical direction through first and second spaces defined along the front and back surfaces of the back panel, respectively.

Assume that a power source unit is mounted on the upper rack of the enclosure in the first space. The airflow generated by the fan unit collides against the bottom of the power source unit in the first space. On the contrary, the airflow is discharged out of the second space through an air outlet formed in the top of the enclosure, for example. The airflow in the first space thus suffers from a larger pressure loss. Since the pressure increases in the first space, the airflow is prevented from smoothly running in the first space. The system board units and the input/output units in the first space cannot sufficiently be cooled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an electronic apparatus enabling a smooth airflow therein.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus comprising: an enclosure including a panel, the enclosure defining first and second sections therein; an outer panel attached to the outer surface of the panel, the outer panel and the panel in combination defining a third section therebetween; a first air vent formed in the panel at a position corresponding to the position of the first section, the first air vent connecting the first section to the third section; and a second air vent formed in the panel at a position corresponding to the position of the second section, the second air vent connecting the second section to the third section.

The electronic apparatus allows airflow in the first section to move into the second section through the first and second air vents. This results in an increase in the amount of airflow in the first section. In particular, a large pressure loss in the first section causes the blocked airflow in the first section to easily move into the second section. The airflow is allowed to smoothly run in the first section. In addition, if the pressure of the first section is set larger than the pressure of the second section, for example, the airflow in the first section smoothly runs toward the second section. The airflow runs more smoothly in the first section.

The electronic apparatus may further comprise a fan placed with in the enclosure, the fan generating airflow running at least in the first section. The generated airflow may run from the first air vent to the second air vent through the third section. Even though the pressure loss in the first section increases, the airflow is allowed to move into the second section. The airflow is in this manner promoted in the first section. The first section may be located in front of the second section. Alternatively, the first and second sections maybe located side by side in the horizontal direction.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus comprising: an enclosure including at least partly a panel defining first and second spaces, the first space having a first pressure, the second space extending in parallel with the first space and having a second pressure smaller than the first pressure; an outer panel or exterior panel attached to the enclosure, the outer panel and the panel of the enclosure in combination defining a third space therebetween; a first air vent formed in the panel of the enclosure, the first air vent connecting the third space to the first space; and a second air vent formed in the panel of the enclosure, the second air vent connecting the third space to the second space.

The first pressure of the first space is set larger than the second pressure of the second space in the electronic apparatus, so shat airflow smoothly moves from the first space into the second space. This results in an increase in the amount of airflow in the first space. The blocked airflow in the first space can easily move into the second space. The airflow is allowed to smoothly run in the first space in this manner.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus comprising: an enclosure; and an exterior panel opposed to the outer surface of the enclosure, the exterior panel utilized to define an air passage outside the enclosure, the air passage connecting the inner spaces of the enclosure.

The air passage is defined outside the enclosure with the assistance of the exterior panel in the electronic apparatus. The air passage connects the inner spaces of the enclosure to each other. If airflow is blocked in one of the inner spaces while airflow smoothly runs in the other inner space, the air passage serves to realize the movement of the blocked airflow toward the other inner space. This results in realization of a smooth airflow in both of the inner spaces of the enclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1schematically illustrates a server computer11as a specific example of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention. The server computer11includes an enclosure12. Input/output units13are mounted on the lower rack of the enclosure12. A PCI board is incorporated in the individual input/output unit13. A LAN cable is coupled to the PCI board, for example. The PCI board stands upright in the vertical direction perpendicular to the floor.

System board units14are mounted on the middle rack of the enclosure12. A system board is incorporated in the individual system board unit14. Electronic circuit elements such as a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, and the like, are mounted on a printed wiring board of the system board, for example. The CPU executes various kinds of processing based on software programs and/or data temporarily stored in the memory, for example. The system board stands upright in the vertical direction.

Fan units15are mounted on the upper rack of the enclosure12. The individual fan unit15includes axial flow fans, for example. A rotor is incorporated in the individual axial flow fan. The rotation of the rotor in the fan unit15generates airflow running in the enclosure12. The rotation axis of the rotor is set to extend in the vertical direction. The airflow thus runs in the vertical direction from the bottom of the enclosure12toward the top of the enclosure12, for example.

Power source unit sets16are mounted on the uppermost rack of the enclosure12. The power source unit sets16are arranged in four lines in the horizontal direction parallel to the floor, for example. The individual power source unit set16includes power source units17stacked in three tiers in the vertical direction, for example. The power source units17individually extend in the horizontal direction from the front of the enclosure12toward the rear of the enclosure12as described later. The power source units17serve to transform the alternating current supplied from an outlet into the direct current.

The enclosure12includes a panel at the top of the enclosure12, namely a top panel12a, extending in the horizontal direction. A first air discharge opening18is formed in the top panel12a. The first discharge opening18may extend widely along the front edge of the top panel12a, for example. A second air discharge opening19is formed in the top panel12aat the back of the first air discharge opening18. The airflow generated by the fan units15is discharged outside through the first and second air discharge openings18,19as described later in detail.

The individual power source unit17includes an enclosure, namely a duct21, defining an inner space extending in the horizontal direction from the front of the enclosure12toward the rear of the enclosure12. A fan is incorporated in the inner space of the duct21. The fan serves to generate airflow running from the front end of the duct21toward the rear end of the duct21. Here, the adjacent ones of the power source unit sets16are spaced from each other at a predetermined interval. Likewise, the outermost power source unit sets16are spaced from the sides of the enclosure12at predetermined intervals, respectively.

An outer panel, namely an exterior or dressing panel22, is attached to each side of the enclosure12.FIG. 2is a sectional view taken along the line2-2inFIG. 1. The downside ofFIG. 2corresponds to the front of the server computer11. Referring also toFIG. 2, the enclosure12includes panels12bat the sides of the enclosure12, namely side panels12b, extending in the vertical direction inside the exterior panel22. The exterior panel22is fitted into the corresponding side panel12b. The side panel12bis opposed to the exterior panel22at a predetermined interval. A space23in the form of a flat parallelepiped is in this manner defined between the exterior panel22and the side panel12boutside the enclosure12, for example.

A first section or first space24and a second section or second space25are defined inside the enclosure12. The first space24is defined at the foreside of the enclosure12. The second space25is defined at the backside of the enclosure12. The first and second spaces24,25are located adjacent to each other. The first space24is defined between the top panel12aand the fan units15at a position downstream of the axial flow fans15aof the fan units15. The power source unit sets16are placed in the first space24. Likewise, the second space25is defined between the top panel12aand fan units26at a position downstream of axial flow fans26aof the fan units26. The fan units26are placed within the enclosure12at the backside of the enclosure12. The fan units15,26may be placed at the same level above the floor.

First and second air vents27,28are formed in the individual side panel12b. The first air vent27serves to connect the space23to the first space24. The second air vent28serves to connect the space23to the second space25.FIG. 3schematically illustrates the server computer11without the exterior panel22. Referring also toFIG. 3, the first air vent27is formed at a position corresponding to the position of the power source units17in the enclosure12. The first air vent27is opposed to the side of the duct21of the power source unit17closest to the side panel12b, for example. The second air vent28is formed at a position corresponding to the position of the second space25. Here, the first and second air vents27,28may be placed at the same level above the floor. The first and second air vents27,28may be equal in size.

FIG. 4is a vertical sectional view of the server computer11. The arrows stand for airflow inFIG. 4. As shown inFIG. 4, an air intake opening29is formed in the bottom of the enclosure12. The air intake opening29is opposed to the floor. A fresh air is introduced into the inner space of the enclosure12through the air intake opening29. A back panel31is placed in the inner space of the enclosure12. The back panel31stands upright in the vertical direction. The system board units14and the input/output units13are coupled to the front surface of the back panel31. The electronic component units32and the input/output units13is coupled to the back surface of the back panel31.

The individual electronic component unit32includes an interface unit controlling the interface of the server computer11and a controller unit controlling the processing of the server computer11, for example. The electronic component unit32includes a printed wiring board extending in the horizontal direction. Here, a predetermined interval may be defined between the electronic component units32and the inward surface of the side panel12b.

The fan units15serve to generate airflow running in the vertical direction from the air intake opening29. The PCI boards of the input/output units13and the system boards of the system board units14stand upright in the vertical direction. The airflow thus runs in the vertical direction through the input/output units13and the system board units14. The airflow absorbs heat from the PCI boards and the electronic circuit elements in the system board units14. The PCI boards and the electronic circuit elements are thus prevented from a rise in temperature. The airflow then enters gaps between the power source unit sets16.

FIG. 5is a front view of the server computer11. The arrows stand for airflow inFIG. 5. Referring also toFIG. 5, the airflow runs in the vertical direction between the power source unit sets16. The airflow is then discharged outside through the first air discharge opening18.

As shown inFIG. 4, the airflow collides against the bottoms of the power source units17in the first space24. This causes a change in the direction of part of the airflow. Such airflow runs in the horizontal direction between the ducts21and the fan units15from the first space24toward the second space25. The airflow is then discharged outside through the second air discharge opening19.

The fans placed within the ducts21allow airflow running in the horizontal direction through the power source units17from the front ends of the power source units17toward the rear ends of the power source units17. The airflow absorbs heat from the power source units17. The power source units17are thus prevented from a rise in temperature. The airflow runs from the rear ends of the ducts21toward the second space25. The airflow is then discharged outside through the second air discharge opening19.

The axial flow fans26aof the fan units26generate airflow running in the vertical direction from the air intake opening29in the same manner as the axial flow fans15aof the fan units15. The printed wiring boards of the input/output units13stand upright in the vertical direction. The airflow thus runs in the vertical direction through the input/output units13. The airflow absorbs heat from the electronic circuit elements on the input/output units13. The electronic circuit elements are prevented from a rise in temperature.

The airflow then runs in the vertical direction between the electronic component units32and the side panels12b. Part of the airflow runs in the horizontal direction along the printed wiring boards of the electronic component units32. The airflow thus absorbs heat from the electronic circuit elements on the electronic component units32. The electronic circuit elements are prevented from a rise in temperature. The airflow is then discharged outside through the second air discharge opening19.

The ducts21inevitably serve to block airflow in the first space24. This causes a change in the direction of the airflow. The pressure loss thus increases in the first space24. The airflow from the fan units15causes an increase in the pressure of the first space24. On the contrary, the airflow is smoothly discharged outside through the second air discharge opening19in the second space25. There is no increase in the pressure of the second space25. The pressure of the first space24thus gets larger than that of the second space25.

The larger pressure of the first space24causes the airflow in the first space24to move out of the enclosure12into the spaces23through the first air vents27, as shown inFIG. 6. The airflow then moves into the second space25through the second air vents28. The spaces23serve as air passages connecting the first space24and the second space25in this manner. The airflow is then discharged outside through the second air discharge opening19.

Since the pressure of the first space24is set larger than that of the second space25in the server computer11, the airflow smoothly moves out of the first space24into the second space25through the spaces23. The amount of the airflow increases in the first space24. The airflow blocked within the first space24can easily move into the second space25. The airflow is allowed to smoothly run in the first space24. The PCI boards24and the electronic circuit elements in the first space24can thus sufficiently be cooled. The narrow gaps between the side panels12bof the enclosure12and the exterior panels22are utilized as the spaces23. The enclosure12is not required to make room for establishment of air passages. The enclosure12can surely be prevented from getting larger. In addition, it is not necessary to enhance the performance of the fan units15,26. The fan units15,26may not be replaced with ones having a higher performance. The server computer11is thus prevented from suffering from an increase in the production cost.