Abstract:
A chassis venting apparatus includes a chassis defining a chassis enclosure, the chassis enclosure including a first wall, and a chassis vent structure extending from the first wall and into the chassis enclosure, the chassis vent structure defining a chassis venting passageway in the chassis enclosure. Heated air from heat producing components may be vented from the chassis enclosure through the chassis vent structure and the chassis venting passageway, and the first wall and chassis venting passageway may also be used as a handle to lift the chassis.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for venting an information handling system chassis.  
         [0002]     As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.  
         [0003]     Increasing power requirements for information handling systems continues to drive the need for greater venting area in the information handling system chassis in order to satisfy thermal dissipation needs. Challenges exist in balancing the need for thermal dissipation with the concerns arising with respect to aesthetic appeal, structural integrity, and electromagnetic interference. For example, some industry standards, such as the Intel BTX standard, utilize venting on the front of the information handling system chassis. Incorporating the necessary venting on the front of the information handling system chassis degrades the structural integrity of the chassis, can acoustically impact the chassis negatively, and provides undesirable, direct visual access to the internal components of the information handling system. In addition, such added venting must be accomplished without adding size to the system, in order to minimize the cost of shipping the system.  
         [0004]     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a method and apparatus for venting a chassis absent the disadvantages found in the prior methods discussed above.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     According to one embodiment, a chassis venting apparatus is provided that includes a chassis defining a chassis enclosure, the chassis enclosure including a first wall, and a chassis vent structure extending from the first wall and into the chassis enclosure, the chassis vent structure defining a chassis venting passageway in the chassis enclosure.  
         [0006]     A principal advantage of this embodiment is that a chassis venting solution is provided that allows chassis venting while concealing the chassis vent structure from sight in order to provide a clean chassis front design. In addition, the chassis venting solution may be used as a handle to lift the chassis.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of an information handling system.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a chassis.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2   b  is a side view illustrating an embodiment of the chassis of  FIG. 2   a.    
         [0010]      FIG. 2   c  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a chassis vent structure on the chassis of  FIG. 2   a.    
         [0011]      FIG. 2   d  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a fan mounted in the chassis of  FIG. 2   a  and adjacent the chassis vent structure of  FIG. 2   c.    
         [0012]      FIG. 3   a  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a chassis cover used with the chassis of  FIG. 2   a.    
         [0013]      FIG. 3   b  is a side view illustrating an embodiment of the chassis cover of  FIG. 3   a.    
         [0014]      FIG. 4   a  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the chassis cover of  FIG. 3   a  being coupled to the chassis of  FIG. 2   a.    
         [0015]      FIG. 4   b  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the chassis cover of  FIG. 3   a  coupled to the chassis of  FIG. 2   a.    
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a PDA, a consumer electronic device, a network server or storage device, a switch router or other network communication device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include memory, one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more storage devices, one or more communications ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components.  
         [0017]     In one embodiment, information handling system  10 ,  FIG. 1 , includes a microprocessor  12 , which is connected to a bus  14 . Bus  14  serves as a connection between microprocessor  12  and other components of computer system  10 . An input device  16  is coupled to microprocessor  12  to provide input to microprocessor  12 . Examples of input devices include keyboards, touchscreens, and pointing devices such as mouses, trackballs and trackpads. Programs and data are stored on a mass storage device  18 , which is coupled to microprocessor  12 . Mass storage devices include such devices as hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical drives, floppy drives and the like. Computer system  10  further includes a display  20 , which is coupled to microprocessor  12  by a video controller  22 . A system memory  24  is coupled to microprocessor  12  to provide the microprocessor with fast storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by microprocessor  12 . In an embodiment, a chassis  26  may house some or all of the components of information handling system  10 . It should be understood that other busses and intermediate circuits can be deployed between the components described above and microprocessor  12  to facilitate interconnection between the components and the microprocessor.  
         [0018]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2   a,    2   b,  and  2   c,  a chassis  100  which may be, for example, the chassis  26  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , is illustrated. The chassis  100  includes a front first wall  102   a,  a rear second wall  102   b  positioned parallel to and spaced apart from the front first wall  102   a,  a top third wall  102   c  extending between the front first wall  102   a  and the rear second wall  102   b,  and a bottom fourth wall  102   d  positioned parallel to and spaced apart fro the top third wall  102   c  and extending between the front first wall  102   a  and the rear second wall  102   b.  A fifth side wall  102   e  extends between the front first wall  102   a,  the rear second wall  102   b,  the top third wall  102   c,  and the bottom fourth wall  102   d.  A chassis vent structure  104  extends from the front first wall  102   a  from a plurality of vent structure walls  104   a  and  104   b  which are coupled together and spaced apart by a vent structure wall  104   c.  The front first wall  102   a,  the back second wall  102   b,  the top third wall  102   c,  and the bottom fourth wall  102   d  define a chassis enclosure  106  positioned between them. The front first wall  102   a  and the vent structure walls  104   a,    104   b,  and  104   c  of the chassis vent structure  104  define a chassis venting passageway  108  positioned between them and extending into the chassis enclosure  106  and through the chassis  100 . The vent structure walls  104   a,    104   b,  and  104   c  of the chassis vent structure  104  also define a plurality of apertures  110  extending through the vent structure walls  104   a;    104   b  and  104   c.  from the chassis enclosure  106  to the chassis venting passageway  108 . A plurality of electromagnetic interference gaskets  112   a,    112   b,  and  112   c  are coupled to vent structure walls  104   a,    104   b,  and  104   c,  respectively, and positioned along an edge of each of the vent structure walls  104   a,    104   b,  and  104   c,  respectively. A plurality of cover coupling tabs  114   a  and  114   b  extend from the chassis vent structure  104  along its edge. In an embodiment, the front first wall  102   a  includes a solid wall portion that obscures the chassis vent structure  104  from sight when the chassis  100  is viewed from directly in front of the front first wall  102   a,  as illustrated. In an embodiment, the chassis vent structure  104  may extend only partially into the chassis  100  rather than through the chassis  100 .  
         [0019]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2   c  and  2   d,  in an embodiment, a fan  200  may be coupled to the fifth side wall  102   e  and positioned in the chassis enclosure  106  of chassis  100  and adjacent the vent structure wall  104   c  of chassis vent structure  104 . In an embodiment, the fan  200  may be a conventional fan known in the art.  
         [0020]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b,  a chassis cover  300  is illustrated. Chassis cover  300  includes a base section  302  having a front first side  302   a,  a rear second side  302   b  located opposite the front first side  302   a,  a top third side  302   c,  and a bottom fourth side  302   d  located opposite the top third side  302   c.  A passageway channel  304  is defined by the base section  302  and located on the front first side  302   a.  A plurality of chassis coupling tabs  306  are located around the edge of the base section  302  and extend from the front first side  302   a,  the rear second side  302   b,  the top third side  302   c,  the bottom fourth side  302   d,  and passageway channel  304 .  
         [0021]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2   b,    4   a,  and  4   b,  in operation, an information handling system such as, for example, the information handling system  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , which may include heat producing components Such as, for example, the microprocessor  12  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , may be mounted in the chassis enclosure  106  of chassis  100 . A fan such as, for example, the fan  200  illustrated in  FIG. 2   d  may be mounted between the heat producing component and the chassis vent structure  104 . The chassis cover  300  may then be coupled to the chassis  100  by coupling the front first side  302   a  on chassis cover  300  to the front first side  102   a  on chassis  100 , the rear second side  302   b  on chassis cover  300  to the rear second side  102   b  on chassis  100 , the top third side  302   c  on chassis cover  300  to the top third side  102   c  on chassis  100 , and the bottom fourth side  302   d  on chassis cover  300  to the bottom fourth side  102   d  on chassis  100  using the chassis coupling tabs  306  on chassis cover  300 , the cover coupling tabs  114   a  and  114   b  on chassis  100 , and conventional methods known in the art. With the chassis cover  300  coupled to the chassis  100 , the electromagnetic interference gaskets  112   a,    112   b,  and  112   c  help to prevent electromagnetic interference from escaping from the chassis enclosure  106 . During operation of the heat producing components mounted within the chassis enclosure  106 , the fan may be operated in order to vent hot air from the chassis enclosure  106 , through the chassis vent structure  104  by way of the plurality of apertures  110  in the vent structure walls  104   a,    104   b,  and  104   c  in the chassis vent structure  104 , and out of the chassis  100  through the chassis venting passageway  108 . Furthermore, the chassis  100  may be lifted and transported by using the chassis venting passageway  108  and the front first wall  102   a  as a handle by grasping the portion of the front first side  102   a  of the chassis  100  which is adjacent the chassis vent structure  104 . Thus, a means is provided for venting the chassis  100  through the front of the system while obscuring the venting means from sight, while providing a handle for lifting and transporting the chassis  100 .  
         [0022]     Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.