Abstract:
One aspect of this disclosure is directed to a sub-rack module for supporting a personal computer chassis therein. The sub-rack module is configured to be received within a multi-position support rack. Due to the unique combination of the sub-rack and the multi-position support rack, the sub-rack modules can be positioned such that the back ends of the personal computer chassis form an air passageway in the center of the multi-position support rack, which allows for the air flow to be directed through the passageway and out through the front end of the personal computer chassis. This configuration allows for the high density storage of an array of personal computer chassis while providing adequate cooling for multiple units. A method for manufacturing this system is also provided.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This application is directed, in general, to a network of personal computers and, more specifically, to a modular, centralized, high density, personal computer system with remote operation. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Presently, most office environments are served by a computer system comprising a central server coupled to a local area network (LAN) and often also to a wide area network (WAN) and the Internet. Coupled to the LAN is a plurality of personal computers distributed throughout individual offices of the company. This provides a central location where the server and the networks can easily be maintained by an information technology (IT) technician. With the personal computers distributed in individual offices, data that may be required by more than one user must be copied or transferred to the central server or software network provisions made for, usually secure, access to a computer in another part of the company. For example, a large headquarters building of a company, e.g. a bank, may have workers over several floors that need to access individual account data at varying times, e.g., teller, home loan department, vehicle loan department, etc., Additionally, with personal computers distributed throughout spaced-apart offices, the cooling requirements are more distributed, perhaps frequently requiring re-balancing the office air conditioning systems as seasons change. Moreover, individual computer units are relatively large and take up space within the individual&#39;s office. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    One aspect, as set forth herein, provides a sub-rack module for supporting a personal computer chassis therein. In this aspect, the sub-rack module comprises an open-ended support module having a top, a bottom, and first and second sides, and a through aperture extending from a front of the open-ended support module to a rear of said open-ended support module. The through aperture has a side-to-side width sufficient to receive a computer chassis therein. The top side of the open-ended support module has a front to rear length such that ventilation apertures of the computer chassis are exposed at the rear when the computer chassis is positioned within the open-ended support module. 
         [0004]    In another aspect a system for stacking modular personal computers is provided. This embodiment comprises open-ended support modules each having a top, a bottom, and first and second sides, and a through aperture extending from a front to a rear of the open-ended support modules. The through apertures have a side-to-side width sufficient to receive at least one computer chassis therein. The top side of each open-ended support module has a front to rear length such that ventilation apertures of a computer chassis are exposed at the rear when the at least one computer chassis is positioned within the open-ended support module. This embodiment further includes a multi-position support rack having frame support members coupled together to form a plurality of support locations for the open-ended support modules. The open-ended support modules are located within and supported by the multi-position support rack at least a portion of the support locations. 
         [0005]    In a further aspect, a method of manufacturing a system for stacking modular personal computers is provided. This embodiment comprises forming a plurality of open-ended support modules, each having a top, a bottom, and first and second sides, and a through aperture extending from a front of the open-ended support module to a rear of the open-ended support module. The through aperture has a side-to-side width sufficient to receive at least one computer chassis therein. The top side of the open-ended support module has a front to rear length such that ventilation apertures of the computer chassis are exposed at the rear of the open-ended support module when the computer chassis is positioned within the open-ended support module. The method further includes forming a multi-position support rack having frame support members coupled together to form a plurality of support locations for the open-ended support modules, and removably securing at least a portion of the open-ended support modules within the multi-position support rack at one of the support locations. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
         [0006]    Reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1A  is an isometric view of one embodiment of an open-ended support module constructed according to the principles of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 1B  is an isometric view of one embodiment of a computer chassis constructed according to the principles of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the open-ended support module with two personal computer chassis inserted therein; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of 12 open-ended support modules with two personal computer chassis inserted in each open-ended support module of a multi-position support rack. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1A , illustrated is an isometric view of one embodiment of a sub-rack module  100  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. The sub-rack module  100  comprises an open-ended support module  100  having a top  101 , a bottom  102 , first and second sides  103 ,  104 , respectively, an optional central divider or partition  107 , first and second mounting flanges  108 ,  109 , respectively, and a through aperture  114 . The through aperture  114  extends from a front  111  of the open-ended support module  100  to a rear  112  of the open-ended support module  100 . In one embodiment, the through aperture  114  has a side-to-side width sufficient to receive at least one computer chassis therein. However, in other embodiments, the through aperture&#39;s  114  width is sufficient to provide for two or more computer chassis  120 . In one aspect, the through aperture  114  is partitioned into first and second computer chassis sub-bays  105 ,  106 , respectively. The partition  107  may be a panel or a bracket, as shown, and may serve as additional support structure for the open-ended support module  100 . The mounting flanges  108 ,  109  may be configured as shown with which bolts and nuts can be used to removably secure the open-ended support module  100  to a support frame. However, in other embodiments, the mounting flanges  108 ,  109  may include other means such as friction clamps that can be used to removably secure the open-ended support module  100  to a support frame. 
         [0012]    In an alternative embodiment, the open-ended support module  100  may further include notches  113  in the first and second sides  103 ,  104 , respectively, adjacent the rear of the open-end support module  100 . As mentioned below, the notches  113  can serve as an opening to facilitate air flow into the back end of the computer chassis  120 . When present in certain embodiments, the first and second mounting flanges  108 ,  109 , respectively, extend laterally from the front end  111  on opposing sides of the open-ended support module  100 . The open-ended support module  100  may be constructed of any suitable rigid sheet-like material such as sheet metal or hard plastic that is sufficiently strong to support the weight of the open-ended support module  100  or modules. 
         [0013]    Referring now to  FIG. 1B , illustrated is an isometric view of one embodiment of a computer chassis  120  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. Though the computer chassis  120  is not limited to any particular size, it is particularly advantageous that the computer chassis  120  is compact in size and significantly smaller that typical desk top models; that is the length may typically vary between about 12, 16, and 18 inches, while the overall width may vary between about 6 to 8 inches, and the thickness may be about 3 to 4 inches. The compact size of the computer chassis  120  is particularly advantageous in that the units can be centralized in one location, as opposed to computer chassis being located at multiple stations. The centralization provides greater control over the individual computer chassis, and given that they can be centralized in one location, security can be much improved. However, such centralization and the racking of multiple heat generating computer chassis gives rise to serious cooling considerations, which is what the present disclosure addresses. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, the computer chassis  120  comprises main and secondary cooling fans  121 ,  122 , respectively; and top, side and front ventilation apertures,  123 ,  124 ,  125 , respectively, and an optional swingable handle  126 . The cooling fans  121 ,  122  and the ventilation apertures  123 ,  124 , and  125  allow for an air flow in a direction that is from the back to the front of the computer chassis  120 , and indicated by the large arrows shown in  FIG. 1B . In this particular embodiment and when used in conjunction with the open-ended support module  100 , this air flow allows for efficient cooling when multiple computer chassis  100  are racked together in one central location. 
         [0015]    The main and secondary cooling fans  121 ,  122 , respectively, are internal to the computer chassis  120 . For clarity, the other components of the personal computer within the computer chassis  120 , e.g., hard drive, motherboard, microprocessor, etc., are not shown and may be of conventional design. Ambient cooling air is drawn in through the top and side ventilation apertures  123 ,  124  by the main cooling fan  121 . The air, having been heated by the electronics of the personal computer, is expelled through the front ventilation apertures  125  with the assistance of the secondary cooling fan  122 . The optional swingable handle  126  is rotatably coupled to the upper front corners of the computer chassis  120  and may be used to carry, remove, and insert the computer chassis  120  into the first or second through apertures  105 ,  106 , respectively. The mouse and keyboard connect to the computer chassis  120  over Ethernet. The end user can plug in any USB device at the client side and the signal is carried to the computer chassis  120  over Ethernet. The computer within the computer chassis  120  decodes the signal from Ethernet to USB and sees the mouse and keyboard. Power, Ethernet and PCoIP signal as made through the front panel of the computer chassis  120 . 
         [0016]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , illustrated is an isometric view of the open-ended support module  100  with two personal computer chassis  120  inserted therein. In this illustrated embodiment, the first and second computer chassis sub-bays  105 ,  106  are configured to each receive the personal computer chassis  120  therein, and the open-ended support module  100  has a front  111  to rear  112  length  127  such that the top ventilation apertures  123  adjacent the back end of the computer chassis  120  extend beyond the rear  112  of the open-ended support module  100 . This cooperative configuration is particularly advantageous in that the air flow from the back to the front of the computer chassis  120  is not blocked or inhibited by any portion of the open-ended support module  100 . Optional notches  113  in the first and second sides  102 ,  103 , respectively, permit additional cooling air to enter through the side ventilation apertures  124  when the personal computer chassis  120  is fully inserted into the first and second computer chassis sub-bays  105 ,  106 . 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , illustrated is one embodiment of an isometric view of 12 open-ended support modules  100  with two personal computer chassis  120  inserted in each open-ended support module  100  of a multi-position support rack  300 . The multi-position support rack  300  comprises a plurality of frame support members  305  coupled together to form a plurality of support locations for the open-ended support modules  100 . The mounting flanges  108 ,  109  are configured to cooperate with the frame support members  305  to removably fasten the open-ended support modules  100  at the desired support locations. The top and sides have been removed from the multi-position support rack  300  for better viewing of the contents. 
         [0018]    The two stacks of six open-ended support modules  100  with 12 personal computer chassis  120  each are located on opposing sides of the multi-position support rack  300  and are advantageously arranged such that the back ends of the computer chassis  120  oppose each other. This unique configuration forms an air passageway  310  between the rears of the two stacks of personal computer chassis  120  and forms an open air conduit for air to flow from the air passageway  310 , through the computer chassis  120  and out the opposing sides of the multi-position support rack  300 . More specifically, air flows into the top and optional side ventilation apertures  123 ,  124 , respectively, of each of the personal computer chassis  120  and out the front ventilation apertures  125 . This unique configuration allows for efficient cooling of multi-heat generating personal computers, while allowing them to be racked in a single centralized location. 
         [0019]    While a multi-position support rack  300  with 24 personal computers is illustrated, one who is of skill in the art will recognize that the multi-position support rack  300  may comprise any number of open-ended support modules  100  arranged so as to position the computer chassis  120  mounted therein with the rear ends of the chassis opposing. 
         [0020]    Thus, a stackable modular personal computer array has been described that concentrates the computer hardware in one large, multi-position support rack. Therefore, air conditioning can be provided to accommodate the heat output of the stackable modular personal computer array. With all of the computers commonly located, information can be accessed by any authorized used remotely from the computer array anywhere in the company as well as the information technology technician does not need to walk back and forth from the server room to the office with a computer problem. Furthermore, connecting a keyboard, mouse, etc., can be readily accomplished to a problem computer and diagnosis made. If necessary, the problem computer can be removed from the open-ended support module and replaced with a known good computer. 
         [0021]    Those skilled in the art to which this application relates will appreciate that other and further additions, deletions, substitutions and modifications may be made to the described embodiments.