Patent US7933737B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7933737B2
Active / In Force
US
⏱️ 1.7 years remaining
Estimating the ambient temperature of air outside of a computer system
Assignee: Oracle America Inc
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Filing: 2008-07-25
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Granted: 2011-04-26
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Expires: 2028-07-25
Abstract
Abstract Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that estimates an ambient temperature of air outside of a computer system. During operation, a temperature inside the computer system is measured for different flow rates of air into the computer system. Next, the temperature measurements are used to determine a relationship between the temperature inside the computer system and a parameter related to the flow rate of air into the computer system. Then, the ambient temperature of air outside the computer system is estimated based on the relationship.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenny C. Gross
- 👤 Aleksey M. Urmanov
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:24
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K7/00; G01K7/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for estimating an ambient temperature of air outside of a computer system, the method comprising: measuring a temperature inside the computer system for different flow rates of air into the computer system, wherein the different flow rates of air include a maximum flow rate of air into the computer system; using the temperature measurements to determine a relationship between the temperature inside the computer system and a parameter related to flow rate of air into the computer system; and using a computer to estimate the ambient temperature of air outside the computer system based on the relationship, wherein estimating the ambient temperature includes projecting the temperature inside the computer system for an airflow rate higher than the maximum flow rate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for estimating an ambient temperature of air outside of a computer system, the method comprising: measuring a temperature inside the computer system for different flow rates of air into the computer system, wherein the different flow rates of air include a maximum flow rate of air into the computer system; using the temperature measurements to determine a relationship between the temperature inside the computer system and a parameter related to flow rate of air into the computer system; and using a computer to estimate the ambient temperature of air outside the computer system based on the relationship, wherein estimating the ambient temperature includes projecting the temperature inside the computer system for an airflow rate higher than the maximum flow rate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: storing information based on the relationship between the temperature inside the computer system and the parameter related to the flow rate of air into the computer system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter related to the flow rate of air includes at least one of: a speed of a fan in the computer system; a current used by the fan; a power used by the fan; a measured flow rate of air into the computer system; and an inferred flow rate of air into the computer system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter related to the flow rate of air into the computer system is a parameter related to a reciprocal of the flow rate of air into the computer system; and wherein estimating the ambient temperature of air outside the computer system includes estimating the ambient temperature of air outside the computer system based on the relationship between the temperature inside the computer system and the parameter related to the reciprocal of the flow rate of air.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein: measuring the temperature inside the computer system for different flow rates of air into the computer system includes measuring the temperature inside the computer system for different flow rates of air into the computer system when the computer system is switched on.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein: measuring the temperature inside the computer system for different flow rates of air into the computer system includes measuring the temperature inside the computer system for different flow rates of air into the computer system when a configuration of the computer system is changed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
136 words
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for estimating an ambient temperature of air outside of a computer system, the method comprising: measuring a temperature inside the computer system for different flow rates of air into the computer system, wherein the different flow rates of air include a maximum flow rate of air into the computer system; using the temperature measurements to determine a relationship between the temperature inside the computer system and a parameter related to flow rate of air into the computer system; and estimating the ambient temperature of air outside the computer system based on the relationship, wherein estimating the ambient temperature includes projecting the temperature inside the computer system for an airflow rate higher than the maximum flow rate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
136 words
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for estimating an ambient temperature of air outside of a computer system, the method comprising: measuring a temperature inside the computer system for different flow rates of air into the computer system, wherein the different flow rates of air include a maximum flow rate of air into the computer system; using the temperature measurements to determine a relationship between the temperature inside the computer system and a parameter related to flow rate of air into the computer system; and estimating the ambient temperature of air outside the computer system based on the relationship, wherein estimating the ambient temperature includes projecting the temperature inside the computer system for an airflow rate higher than the maximum flow rate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , further comprising: storing information based on the relationship between the temperature inside the computer system and the parameter related to the flow rate of air into the computer system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the parameter related to the flow rate of air includes at least one of: a speed of a fan in the computer system; a current used by the fan; a power used by the fan; a measured flow rate of air into the computer system; and an inferred flow rate of air into the computer system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the parameter related to the flow rate of air into the computer system is a parameter related to a reciprocal of the flow rate of air into the computer system; and wherein estimating the ambient temperature of air outside the computer system includes estimating the ambient temperature of air outside the computer system based on the relationship between the temperature inside the computer system and the parameter related to the reciprocal of the flow rate of air.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein: measuring the temperature inside the computer system for different flow rates of air into the computer system includes measuring the temperature inside the computer system for different flow rates of air into the computer system when the computer system is switched on.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein: measuring the temperature inside the computer system for different flow rates of air into the computer system includes measuring the temperature inside the computer system for different flow rates of air into the computer system when a configuration of the computer system is changed.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus that estimates an ambient temperature of air outside of a computer system, the apparatus comprising: a measuring mechanism configured to measure a temperature inside the computer system for different flow rates of air into the computer system, and further configured to measure a maximum flow rate of air into the computer system; a determining mechanism configured to use the temperature measurements to determine a relationship between the temperature inside the computer system and a parameter related to flow rate of air into the computer system; and an estimating mechanism configured to estimate the ambient temperature of air outside the computer system based on the relationship, and further configured to project the temperature inside the computer system for an airflow rate higher than the maximum flow rate.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus that estimates an ambient temperature of air outside of a computer system, the apparatus comprising: a measuring mechanism configured to measure a temperature inside the computer system for different flow rates of air into the computer system, and further configured to measure a maximum flow rate of air into the computer system; a determining mechanism configured to use the temperature measurements to determine a relationship between the temperature inside the computer system and a parameter related to flow rate of air into the computer system; and an estimating mechanism configured to estimate the ambient temperature of air outside the computer system based on the relationship, and further configured to project the temperature inside the computer system for an airflow rate higher than the maximum flow rate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising: a storing mechanism configured to store information based on the relationship between the temperature inside the computer system and the parameter related to the flow rate of air into the computer system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the parameter related to the flow rate of air includes at least one of: a speed of a fan in the computer system; a current used by the fan; a power used by the fan; a measured flow rate of air into the computer system; and an inferred flow rate of air into the computer system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the parameter related to the flow rate of air into the computer system is a parameter related to a reciprocal of the flow rate of air into the computer system; and wherein the estimating mechanism is configured to estimate the ambient temperature of air outside the computer system based on the relationship between the temperature inside the computer system and the parameter related to the reciprocal of the flow rate of air.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein: the measuring mechanism measures the temperature inside the computer system for different flow rates of air into the computer system when the computer system is switched on.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US20050216221A1
Cited
US20090144014A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2014-04-25 | 2014-10-25 | 2015-04-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2018-04-25 | 2018-10-25 | 2019-04-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2022-04-25 | 2022-10-25 | 2023-04-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |