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Methods and systems for using a storage device to control and manage external cooling devicesMethods and systems for using a storage device to control and manage external cooling devices description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20090266511, Methods and systems for using a storage device to control and manage external cooling devices. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
The present invention relates generally to data storage systems, and more particularly, some embodiments relate to methods and systems for managing external cooling devices in a data storage system. Electronic equipment generally generates heat during normal operation. In many cases, it is advantageous to remove this heat to prevent premature equipment failure. The electronic equipment generally generates heat because various electronic components that are part of the electronic device may generate heat. As electricity flows through electronic components heat is generally given off due to resistance to the flow of electricity within the components. The heat given off by the electronic components will tend to raise the temperature of the electronic equipment if the heat is not removed. If the temperature inside the electronic equipment is raised high enough the reliability of the device might suffer. For example, during normal operation of many data storage devices the devices will generate heat due to the resistance of internal components within the data storage device. These data storage devices typically package a drive inside a drive sled enclosure or chassis enclosure. The sled enclosure or chassis enclosure may typically have separate and independent cooling devices to remove heat. If the heat is not removed the data storage device might fail prematurely. In addition to the loss of the actual device, data stored on the device might be lost or it might be difficult or expensive to access the data. The data storage device, for example, a tape drive does not control these independent cooling devices. The disconnect between the independent cooling device and the tape drive may have many disadvantages. Some of these disadvantages may include contamination of the data storage device if a cooling device is run more often than necessary. For example, if a fan is used to cool a data storage device, the fan might bring dirty or dusty air into the storage device. A fan that is run longer than necessary may bring in dirty or dusty air at a faster rate. This might contaminate the storage device faster than if the fan is run only when needed. Additionally, many cooling devices consume power when used. For example, a fan might use electrical power. In a device that contains many such fans, the power consumption may waste not only money, but also natural resources. Additionally, the data storage device might include its own cooling device that is internal to the data storage device. This internal cooling device, in many cases, may be redundant to the data storage device. This might tend to waste materials for the extra fan as well as additional electric power to drive the fan. Additionally, running more fans than needed to cool the data storage device may generate a great deal of noise. The present invention is directed toward methods and systems for cooling electronics. More particularly, in various embodiments, the present invention provides systems and methods for cooling a data storage device. In accordance with some embodiments of the systems and methods described herein, a multiple data storage device enclosure might include a first data storage device and a second data storage device. In some embodiments, the multiple data storage device enclosure might be a drive sled enclosure or a chassis enclosure configured to contain tape drives, disk drives, other data storage devices or combinations of data storage devices. Both data storage devices may be within the multiple data storage device enclosure. In some embodiments, the controller may be further configured to control the first cooling device based on the control signals from the tape drives. In various embodiments, a first cooling device, external to the first and second data storage device may be coupled to the multiple data storage device enclosure. Additionally, in some embodiments, a controller, may be coupled to the cooling device and configured to receive control signals from the first and second data storage devices. Various embodiments of the systems and methods described herein may include a first data storage device that transmits a signal to the controller requesting cooling. In some embodiments, the first data storage device may transmit a temperature. This temperature might be read by a temperature sensor and transmitted to the controller, the temperature sensor configured to determine the temperature of the first data storage device. In accordance with some embodiments of the systems and methods described herein, the first data storage device may transmit an on/off control signal to the controller. In some embodiments, the cooling device might comprise a fan and the control signal may control the speed of the fan. Additionally, the controller may be configured to control the fan based on the need for cooling and to lower noise, power consumption, or contamination. Some embodiments of the systems and methods described herein may comprise a second cooling device external to the first and second data storage devices and a first and a second temperature sensor. The first temperature sensor may be configured to measure the temperature of the first data storage device and the second temperature sensor may be configured to measure the temperature in the second data storage device. In some embodiments, both cooling devices may provide cooling to both data storage devices. In some embodiments, however, the first cooling device might provide more cooling to the first data storage device and the second cooling device might provide more cooling to the second data storage device. In accordance with some embodiments of the systems and methods described herein, the controller may activate the cooling device associated with the warmer of the two data storage devices. Additionally, the controller may activate the fan associated with the cooler of the two data storage devices if the fan associated with the warmer of the two data storage devices does not provide adequate cooling for the system. Additionally, in some embodiments, the cooling devices may comprise fans. In various embodiments, the controller may be configured to control the speed of each fan based on the temperature of each data storage device and power consumption or contamination or noise. In some embodiments, the controller may turn on one of the two cooling devices when one of the two data storage devices is active and both cooling devices when both drives are active. Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the features in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims attached hereto. The present invention, in accordance with one or more various embodiments, is described in detail with reference to the following figures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict typical or example embodiments of the invention. These drawings are provided to facilitate the reader\'s understanding of the invention and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability of the invention. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale. Continue reading about Methods and systems for using a storage device to control and manage external cooling devices... Full patent description for Methods and systems for using a storage device to control and manage external cooling devices Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Methods and systems for using a storage device to control and manage external cooling devices patent application. Patent Applications in related categories: 20090288803 - Heat sink for chips - A heat sink includes a first heat dispensing unit including multiple heat dispensing plates between which chips are clamped. A base board is connected on a top of the first heat dispensing unit and two engaging portions are connected to two ends of the base board. 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