| United States Patent Application |
20110278027
|
| Kind Code
|
A1
|
|
Archibald; Matthew R.
;   et al.
|
November 17, 2011
|
In-Computer Fire Suppression
Abstract
In-computer fire suppression, the computer comprising an in-computer
flame detector and an in-computer fire extinguisher including detecting,
by an in-computer flame detector, a flame, releasing, by the in-computer
fire extinguisher, an extinguishing agent in response to the flame
detector detecting the flame; and disabling the power supply to the
computer having within it the in-computer flame detector and the
in-computer fire extinguisher.
| Inventors: |
Archibald; Matthew R.; (Durham, NC)
; Buterbaugh; Jerrod K.; (Durham, NC)
|
| Assignee: |
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Armonk
NY
|
| Family ID:
|
44910743
|
| Appl. No.:
|
12/777592
|
| Filed:
|
May 11, 2010 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
169/46 ; 169/56 |
| Current CPC Class: |
A62C 3/16 20130101 |
| Class at Publication: |
169/46 ; 169/56 |
| International Class: |
A62C 3/16 20060101 A62C003/16; A62C 2/00 20060101 A62C002/00 |
Claims
1. A method of in-computer fire suppression, the computer comprising an
in-computer flame detector and an in-computer fire extinguisher, the
method comprising: detecting, by an in-computer flame detector, a flame,
releasing, by the in-computer fire extinguisher, an extinguishing agent
in response to the flame detector detecting the flame.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising disabling the power supply to
the computer having within it the in-computer flame detector and the
in-computer fire extinguisher.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the extinguishing agent further
comprises carbon dioxide.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the extinguishing agent further
comprises Halon.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein releasing, by the in-computer fire
extinguisher, an extinguishing agent in response to detecting the flame
further comprises releasing the extinguishing agent on a processor of the
computer.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein releasing, by the in-computer fire
extinguisher, an extinguishing agent in response to detecting the flame
further comprises releasing the extinguishing agent on a predetermined
portion of a circuit board of the computer.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting, by an in-computer flame
detector of an in-computer fire extinguisher, a flame further comprises
detecting light having wavelengths in a predetermined range of infrared
light.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting, by an in-computer flame
detector of an in-computer fire extinguisher, a flame further comprises
detecting (604) light having wavelengths in a predetermined range of
ultraviolet light.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein releasing, by the in-computer fire
extinguisher, an extinguishing agent in response to detecting the flame
further comprises releasing a stored pressure unit containing the
extinguishing agent.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein releasing, by the in-computer fire
extinguisher, an extinguishing agent in response to detecting the flame
further comprises puncturing a cartridge containing the extinguishing
agent.
11. Apparatus for in-computer fire suppression, the apparatus comprising:
a flame detector integrated within the case of a computer; and a fire
extinguisher integrated within the case of the computer configured to
propel an extinguishing agent on a predetermined area of the computer in
response to the flame detector detecting flame.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a fire suppression
module configured to receive, from the in-computer flame detector, a
flame event; send, an instruction to an in-computer fire extinguisher to
release an extinguishing agent in response to detecting the flame; and
disable the power supply to the computer.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the fire extinguisher (254) is a
stored pressure fire extinguisher.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the fire extinguisher (254) is a
cartridge-operated fire extinguisher.
15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the server comprises a blade
server.
16. A computer program product for in-computer fire suppression, the
computer program product disposed upon a computer readable storage
medium, the computer program product comprising computer program
instructions capable, when executed, of causing a computer to carry out
the steps of: receiving, from an in-computer flame detector, a flame
event; sending an instruction to an in-computer fire extinguisher to
release an extinguishing agent; and disabling the power supply to the
computer.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein the flame event further comprises a
notification that light having wavelengths in a predetermined range of
infrared light was detected.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein the flame event further comprises a
notification that light having wavelengths in a predetermined range of
ultraviolet light was detected.
19. The method of claim 1 wherein sending an instruction to an
in-computer fire extinguisher to release an extinguishing agent in
response to detecting the flame further comprises sending an instruction
to release a stored pressure unit containing the extinguishing agent.
20. The method of claim 1 wherein sending an instruction to an
in-computer fire extinguisher to release an extinguishing agent in
response to detecting the flame further comprises sending an instruction
to puncture a cartridge containing the extinguishing agent.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The field of the invention is fire suppression, or, more
specifically, methods, apparatus, and products for in-computer fire
suppression.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] The development of the EDVAC computer system of 1948 is often cited
as the beginning of the computer era. Since that time, computer systems
have evolved into extremely complicated devices. Today's computers are
much more sophisticated than early systems such as the EDVAC. Computer
systems typically include a combination of hardware and software
components, application programs, operating systems, processors, buses,
memory, input/output devices, and so on. As advances in semiconductor
processing and computer architecture push the performance of the computer
higher and higher, more sophisticated computer software has evolved to
take advantage of the higher performance of the hardware, resulting in
computer systems today that are much more powerful than just a few years
ago.
[0005] Computers often short circuit causing small fires in the computer.
In the event of a high impedance short circuit inside a server or other
computer, the power supply over-current detection may not function
properly. Since the power supply doesn't detect such an over-current
condition, the power supply continues to supply current. Depending on the
location of the short on the system board, a fire can result until either
the high impedance short opens completely or shorts completely, at which
time the power supply over-current detection circuit shut the power
supply down. Such small fires in a server or other computer often do not
produce enough smoke to set off a smoke detector until the fire has
spread to the point of endangering other servers and computers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In-computer fire suppression including detecting, by an in-computer
flame detector, a flame, releasing, by the in-computer fire extinguisher,
an extinguishing agent in response to the flame detector detecting the
flame; and disabling the power supply to the computer having within it
the in-computer flame detector and the in-computer fire extinguisher.
[0007] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the
invention will be apparent from the following more particular
descriptions of exemplary embodiments of the invention as illustrated in
the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers generally
represent like parts of exemplary embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 sets forth a diagram of an example data processing system
capable of in-computer fire suppression according to embodiments of the
present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 sets forth a diagram of a further example data processing
system capable of in-computer fire suppression according to embodiments
of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 sets forth a diagram of a further example data processing
system capable of in-computer fire suppression according to embodiments
of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 sets forth a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method of
in-computer fire suppression according to embodiments of the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 sets forth a flow chart illustrating additional methods of
in-computer fire suppression according to embodiments of the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 6 sets forth a flow chart illustrating additional methods of
in-computer fire suppression according to embodiments of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Exemplary methods, apparatus, and products for in-computer fire
suppression in accordance with the present invention are described with
reference to the accompanying drawings, beginning with FIG. 1. FIG. 1
sets forth a diagram of an example data processing system capable of
in-computer fire suppression according to embodiments of the present
invention. The data processing system of FIG. 1 includes a blade
environment (102). `Blade environment,` as the term is used in this
specification, refers generally to a blade server system installed in
this example in a two-bay chassis (104, 106) and including a number of
blade servers (124), one or more blade management modules (152), a media
tray (122), and a blade server system power supply (132). `In-computer`
means within the case of a computer. That is, within an enclosure
containing a computer. In a blade environment for example, each blade
server has a case enclosing each blade server.
[0015] The blade management module (152) is a small computer in its own
right, including software and hardware components, one or more computer
processors and computer memory, that provides system management functions
for all components in the example blade environment (102) including the
blade servers (124) and the media tray (122). The blade management module
of FIG. 1 also makes available connections for user input devices such as
mice or keyboards (181) that are not generally connected directly to the
blade servers or to the blade environment chassis. The blade servers
themselves (124), installed in a cabinet bay (104) of the exemplary blade
environment (102) in the example of FIG. 1, are several computing devices
implemented in blade form factor. The blade servers share access to the
media tray (122). The blade servers (124) are connected to one another
and to the blade management module (152) for data communications through
a local area network (LAN) (101). The LAN (101) is a small network
installed within the chassis of the blade environment.
[0016] The media tray (122) houses non-volatile memory media generally. A
media tray may typically include Compact Disc read-only media drives
(CD-ROM), Digital Video Disc ROM drives (DVD-ROM), CD-RW drives, DVD-RW
drives, floppy disk drives, and so on as will occur those of skill in the
art.
[0017] Each of the blade servers (124) of FIG. 1 has installed within it a
flame detector (252) and a fire extinguisher (254). A flame detector
(252) is a sensor that detects flame. Flame detectors are typically
optical sensors. There are a number of types of flame detectors useful
for in-computer fire suppression according to embodiments of the present
invention. Examples of flame detectors useful for in-computer fire
suppression according to embodiments of the present invention include
ultraviolet flame detectors, infrared flame detectors, combined
ultraviolet-infrared flame detectors, dual infrared flame detectors,
triple infrared flame detectors, visible radiation flame detectors and
others as will occur to those of skill in the art.
[0018] Ultraviolet flame detectors typically sense wavelengths shorter
than 300 nanometers. Ultraviolet detectors typically detect fires within
3-4 milliseconds due to the UV radiation emitted at the instant of their
ignition.
[0019] Infrared flame detectors sense light within the infrared spectral
band. Hot gases often emit a specific spectral pattern in the infrared
region, which can be sensed with a thermal imaging camera (TIC) a type of
thermographic camera. A typical frequency where single frequency infrared
flame detectors are sensitive is in the 4.4 micrometer range.
[0020] Combined ultraviolet-infrared flame compare the threshold signal in
both the ultraviolet range and the infrared range to minimize false
alarms. Dual infrared flame detectors compare the threshold signal in two
infrared ranges. Triple infrared flame detectors compare three specific
wavelength bands within the infrared spectral region and use their ratio
to each other to reliably detect flames and minimize false alarms.
Visible radiation flame detectors sense visible radiation and are often
used with other types of flame detectors in order to reduce false alarms
and improve the detection range.
[0021] The examples of types of flame detectors useful for in-computer
fire suppression according to embodiments of the present invention are
provided for explanation and not for limitation. Other types of flame
detectors may also be used for in-computer flame suppression as will
occur to those of skill in the art and all such flame detectors are
within the scope of the present invention.
[0022] A fire extinguisher (254) is a fire protection device used to
extinguish or control fires. There are two main types of fire
extinguishers: stored pressure unit fire extinguishers and
cartridge-operated. In stored pressure unit fire extinguishers, an
expellant is stored in the same chamber as the extinguishing agent itself
Depending on the extinguishing agent used, different propellants may be
used. With dry chemical extinguishers, for example, nitrogen is often
used; water and foam extinguishers typically use air as an expellant.
Cartridge-operated fire extinguishers contain an expellant gas in a
separate cartridge that is punctured prior to discharge, exposing the
propellant to the extinguishing agent. Cartridge-operated extinguishers
often use compressed carbon dioxide instead of nitrogen.
[0023] Fire extinguishers useful for in-computer fire suppression
according to embodiments of the present invention may use different kinds
of extinguishing agents. Such extinguishing agents are typically
non-conducting and include dry chemical, chemical foam, and others as
will occur to those of skill in the art. Examples of extinguishing agents
for in-computer fire suppression according to embodiments of the present
invention include dry chemical extinguishing agents such as ammonium
phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium chloride,
and others; foam extinguishing agents such as aqueous film forming foam,
alcohol resistant aqueous film forming forms, film forming fluoroprotein,
compressed air form, and others as will occur to those of skill in the
art; carbon dioxide extinguishing agents; Halon extinguishing agents such
as Halon 1211 and 1301 and others; and other extinguishing agents as will
occur to those of skill in the art.
[0024] The blade management module (152) of FIG. 1 has installed within it
a fire suppression module (250). The fire suppression module (252) of
FIG. 1 is a module of automated computing machinery that includes
computer program instructions capable, when executed, of causing a
computer to carry out the steps of receiving, from an in-computer flame
detector (252) on one of the blade servers (124), a flame event; sending
an instruction to an in-computer fire extinguisher (254) in that blade
server to release an extinguishing agent; and disabling the power supply
to the blade server in which the flame was detected.
[0025] A flame event is a notification from a flame detector that the
flame detector has detected a flame in the computer in which the flame
detector is installed. Such a flame event may be implemented as a message
sent across a data communications network, a message implemented through
the use of shared memory, or implemented as any other event notification
that will occur to those of skill in the art. In embodiments where the
flame detector is an infrared flame detector, the flame event may be a
notification that light having wavelengths in a predetermined range of
infrared light was detected. In embodiments where the flame detector is
an ultraviolet flame detector, the flame event may be a notification that
light having wavelengths in a predetermined range of ultraviolet light
was detected. And so on as will occur to those of skill in the art.
[0026] As mentioned above, in response to receiving the flame event, the
fire suppression module (250) sends an instruction to an in-computer fire
extinguisher to release an extinguishing agent. Sending an instruction to
an in-computer fire extinguisher to release an extinguishing agent in
response to detecting the flame further may include sending an
instruction to release a stored pressure unit containing the
extinguishing agent. Sending an instruction to an in-computer fire
extinguisher to release an extinguishing agent in response to detecting
the flame may also include sending an instruction to puncture a cartridge
containing the extinguishing agent.
[0027] The fire suppression module (252) of FIG. 1 also disables the power
supply to the blade server in which the flame was detected. Disabling the
power supply may be carried out by instructing a power management module
to disable power to the blade server, by engaging a power supply disable
pin, or in other ways as will occur to those of skill in the art.
[0028] In the example of FIG. 1, the fires suppression module (252) is
described as a module of software. In alternative embodiments, fire
suppression modules may be implemented in hardware or a combination of
hardware and software as will occur to those of skill in the art.
[0029] The arrangement of the blade environment (102), network (101), and
other devices making up the exemplary system illustrated in FIG. 1 are
for explanation, not for limitation. Data processing systems useful
according to various embodiments of the present invention for in-computer
fire suppression may include additional servers, routers, and other
devices, not shown in FIG. 1, as will occur to those of skill in the art.
Networks in such data processing systems may support many data
communications protocols, including for example TCP (Transmission Control
Protocol), IP (Internet Protocol), HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol),
WAP (Wireless Access Protocol), HDTP (Handheld Device Transport
Protocol), and others as will occur to those of skill in the art. Various
embodiments of the present invention may be implemented on a variety of
hardware platforms in addition to those illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0030] For further explanation, FIG. 2 sets forth a diagram of a further
example data processing system capable of in-computer fire suppression
according to embodiments of the present invention. The example data
processing system of FIG. 2 is similar to the example of FIG. 1,
including as it does a blade environment (102), blade servers (124)
connected through an internal LAN (101) to a blade management module
(152), a media tray (122) connected to the blade management module. In
addition, however, in contrast with FIG. 1, FIG. 2 also includes a
functional block diagram showing more detail of the blade management
module (152). The blade management module (152) of FIG. 1 includes at
least one computer processor (156) or `CPU` as well as random access
memory (168) (RAM') which is connected through a high speed memory bus
(166) and bus adapter (158) to processor (156) and to other components of
the blade management module (152).
[0031] Stored in RAM in this example is a fire suppression module (250).
The fire suppression module (252) of FIG. 1 is a module of automated
computing machinery that includes computer program instructions capable,
when executed, of causing a computer to carry out the steps of receiving,
from an in-computer flame detector (252), on one of the blade servers
(124) a flame event; sending an instruction to an in-computer fire
extinguisher (254) in that blade server to release an extinguishing
agent; and disabling the power supply to the blade server in which the
flame was detected.
[0032] Also stored in RAM (168) is an operating system (154). Operating
systems useful for in-computer fire suppression according to embodiments
of the present invention include UNIX.TM., Linux.TM., Microsoft Windows
XP.TM., Microsoft Vista.TM., AIX.TM., IBM's i5/OS.TM., and others as will
occur to those of skill in the art. The operating system (154) and the
fire suppression module (250) in the example of FIG. 2 are shown in RAM
(168), but many components of such software typically are stored in
non-volatile memory also, such as, for example, on a disk drive or in
firmware (136) on an EEPROM drive, here shown as flash memory (134).
[0033] The exemplary blade management module (152) of FIG. 2 includes one
or more input/output (`I/O`) adapters (167). I/O adapters implement
user-oriented input/output through, for example, software drivers and
computer hardware for controlling output to display devices such as
computer display screens, as well as user input from user input devices
(181) such as keyboards and mice.
[0034] The exemplary blade management module (152) of FIG. 2 also includes
a communications adapter (169) that couples the blade management module
(152) internally within the blade environment (102) for data
communications with blade servers (124) through a local area network
(101). The networks (101) may be implemented, for example, as an Internet
Protocol (`IP`) network or an Ethernet.TM. network, an I.sup.2C network,
a System Management Bus (`SMBus`), an Intelligent Platform Management Bus
(`IPMB`), for example, and in other ways as will occur to those of skill
in the art. Such a communications adapter (169) are electronic modules
that implement the hardware level of data communications through which
one computer sends data communications to another computer through a data
communications network. Examples of communications adapters useful
according to embodiments of the present invention include modems for
wired dial-up communications, Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) adapters for wired
data communications network communications, and 802.11 adapters for
wireless data communications network communications.
[0035] The arrangement of the blade management module (152), the blade
servers (124), and other devices making up the exemplary system
illustrated in FIG. 2 are for explanation, not for limitation. Data
processing systems useful according to various embodiments of the present
invention for in-computer fire suppression may include additional
servers, routers, and other devices, not shown in FIG. 2, as will occur
to those of skill in the art. Networks in such data processing systems
may support many data communications protocols, including for example TCP
(Transmission Control Protocol), IP (Internet Protocol), HTTP (HyperText
Transfer Protocol), WAP (Wireless Access Protocol), HDTP (Handheld Device
Transport Protocol), and others as will occur to those of skill in the
art. Various embodiments of the present invention may be implemented on a
variety of hardware platforms in addition to those illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0036] The examples of FIGS. 1 and 2 included a fires suppression module
stored in a blade management module. In alternative embodiments, such a
fire suppression module may be included in the computer in which the
flame detector and the fire extinguisher are located. For further
explanation, FIG. 3 sets forth a diagram of a further example data
processing system capable of in-computer fire suppression according to
embodiments of the present invention. The example data processing system
of FIG. 3 is implemented as a blade server for use in a blade
environment. The blade server (124) is connected through an internal LAN
(101) to a blade management module (152). The blade server (124) of FIG.
1 includes at least one computer processor (156) or `CPU` as well as
random access memory (168) (`RAM`).
[0037] Stored in RAM in this example is a fire suppression module (250B).
The fire suppression module (25B) of FIG. 3 is a module of automated
computing machinery that includes computer program instructions capable,
when executed, of causing a computer to carry out the steps of receiving,
from an in-computer flame detector (252), on one of the blade servers
(124) a flame event; sending an instruction to an in-computer fire
extinguisher (254) in that blade server to release an extinguishing
agent; and disabling the power supply to the blade server in which the
flame was detected.
[0038] Also stored in RAM (168) is an operating system (154) and an
application (429) running on the operation system. Operating systems
useful for in-computer fire suppression according to embodiments of the
present invention include UNIX.TM., Linux.TM. Microsoft Windows XP.TM.,
Microsoft Vista.TM. AIX.TM. IBM's i5/OS.TM. and others as will occur to
those of skill in the art. The operating system (154) and fire
suppression module (250B) in the example of FIG. 3 are shown in RAM
(168), but many components of such software typically are stored in
non-volatile memory also, such as, for example, on a disk drive or in
firmware (136) on an EEPROM drive, here shown as flash memory (134).
[0039] The exemplary blade server (124) of FIG. 3 also includes a
communications adapter (169) that couples the blade server internally
within the blade environment (102) for data communications with a blade
management module (152) through a local area network (101). The networks
(101) may be implemented, for example, as an Internet Protocol (`IP`)
network or an Ethernet.TM. network, an I.sup.2C network, a System
Management Bus (`SMBus`), an Intelligent Platform Management Bus
(`IPMB`), for example, and in other ways as will occur to those of skill
in the art. Such a communications adapter (169) are electronic modules
that implement the hardware level of data communications through which
one computer sends data communications to another computer through a data
communications network. Examples of communications adapters useful
according to embodiments of the present invention include modems for
wired dial-up communications, Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) adapters for wired
data communications network communications, and 802.11 adapters for
wireless data communications network communications.
[0040] The arrangement of the blade server and other devices making up the
exemplary system illustrated in FIG. 3 are for explanation, not for
limitation. Data processing systems useful according to various
embodiments of the present invention for in-computer fire suppression may
include additional servers, routers, and other devices, not shown in FIG.
3, as will occur to those of skill in the art. Networks in such data
processing systems may support many data communications protocols,
including for example TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), IP (Internet
Protocol), HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), WAP (Wireless Access
Protocol), HDTP (Handheld Device Transport Protocol), and others as will
occur to those of skill in the art. Various embodiments of the present
invention may be implemented on a variety of hardware platforms in
addition to those illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0041] For further explanation, FIG. 4 sets forth a flow chart
illustrating an exemplary method of in-computer fire suppression
according to embodiments of the present invention. The computer in the
example of FIG. 4 includes an in-computer flame detector and an
in-computer fire extinguisher. The method of FIG. 4 includes detecting
(302), by an in-computer flame detector, a flame. As mentioned above, a
flame detector is a sensor that detects flame. Flame detectors are
typically optical sensors. There are a number of types of flame detectors
useful for in-computer fire suppression according to embodiments of the
present invention such as ultraviolet flame detectors, infrared flame
detectors, combined ultraviolet-infrared flame detectors, dual infrared
flame detectors, triple infrared flame detectors, visible radiation flame
detectors and others as will occur to those of skill in the art.
[0042] The method of FIG. 4 also includes releasing (304), by the
in-computer fire extinguisher, an extinguishing agent in response to the
flame detector detecting the flame. As mentioned above, a fire
extinguisher is a fire protection device used to extinguish or control
fires. Fire extinguishers useful for in-computer fire suppression
according to embodiments of the present invention may use different kinds
of non-conductive extinguishing agents such as dry chemical, chemical
foam, and others as will occur to those of skill in the art. Examples of
extinguishing agents for in-computer fire suppression according to
embodiments of the present invention include dry chemical extinguishing
agents such as ammonium phosphate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium
bicarbonate, potassium chloride, and others; foam extinguishing agents
such as aqueous film forming foam, alcohol resistant aqueous film forming
forms, film forming fluoroprotein, compressed air form, and others as
will occur to those of skill in the art; carbon dioxide extinguishing
agents; Halon extinguishing agents such as Halon 1211 and 1301, and
others; FM-200-type agents; and other extinguishing agents as will occur
to those of skill in the art.
[0043] The method of FIG. 4 also includes disabling (306) the power supply
to the computer having within it the in-computer flame detector and the
in-computer fire extinguisher. Disabling (306) the power supply to the
computer having within it the in-computer flame detector and the
in-computer fire extinguisher is typically carried out by disabling only
that particular computer or one or more selected other computers that may
be in close proximity to that computer, that is, not a chassis of
computers. Disabling (306) the power supply to the computer having within
it the in-computer flame detector and the in-computer fire extinguisher
may be carried out by instructing a power management module to disable
power to the blade server, by engaging a power supply disable pin, or in
other ways as will occur to those of skill in the art.
[0044] For further explanation, FIG. 5 sets forth a flow chart
illustrating methods of in-computer fire suppression according to
embodiments of the present invention. The method of FIG. 5 is similar to
the method of FIG. 4 in that the method of FIG. 5 includes detecting
(302), by an in-computer flame detector, a flame, releasing (304), by the
in-computer fire extinguisher, an extinguishing agent in response to the
flame detector detecting the flame and disabling (306) the power supply
to the computer having within it the in-computer flame detector and the
in-computer fire extinguisher.
[0045] The method of FIG. 5 also includes two alternative methods of
releasing (304), by the in-computer fire extinguisher, an extinguishing
agent in response to detecting the flame. Releasing (304), by the
in-computer fire extinguisher, an extinguishing agent in response to
detecting the flame according to the example of FIG. 5 may be carried out
by releasing (502) the extinguishing agent on a processor of the
computer. In such embodiments, the fire extinguisher is oriented toward
one or more processors of the computer. Such an orientation may be useful
for servers that are running computationally intensive applications.
[0046] Releasing (304), by the in-computer fire extinguisher, an
extinguishing agent in response to detecting the flame according to the
example of FIG. 5 also may be carried out by releasing (504) the
extinguishing agent on the a predetermined portion of a circuit board of
the computer. In such embodiments, the fire extinguisher is oriented
toward portions of the circuit board previously determined to be
susceptible to fires.
[0047] For further explanation, FIG. 6 sets forth a flow chart
illustrating methods of in-computer fire suppression according to
embodiments of the present invention. The method of FIG. 6 is similar to
the method of FIG. 4 in that the method of FIG. 6 includes detecting
(302), by an in-computer flame detector, a flame, releasing (304), by the
in-computer fire extinguisher, an extinguishing agent in response to the
flame detector detecting the flame and disabling (306) the power supply
to the computer having within it the in-computer flame detector and the
in-computer fire extinguisher.
[0048] The method of FIG. 6 however illustrates two alternative methods of
detecting (302), by an in-computer flame detector of an in-computer fire
extinguisher, a flame and releasing (304), by the in-computer fire
extinguisher, an extinguishing agent in response to detecting the flame.
Detecting (302), by an in-computer flame detector of an in-computer fire
extinguisher, a flame according to the example of FIG. 6 includes
detecting (602) light having wavelengths in a predetermined range of
infrared light. Detecting (602) light having wavelengths in a
predetermined range of infrared light may be carried out with an optical
infrared flame detector.
[0049] Detecting (302), by an in-computer flame detector of an in-computer
fire extinguisher, a flame further according to the example of FIG. 6
also may be carried out by detecting (604) light having wavelengths in a
predetermined range of ultraviolet light. Detecting (604) light having
wavelengths in a predetermined range of ultraviolet light may be carried
out with an optical ultraviolet flame detector.
[0050] Releasing (304), by the in-computer fire extinguisher, an
extinguishing agent in response to detecting the flame according to the
example of FIG. 6 may be carried out by releasing (606) a stored pressure
unit containing the extinguishing agent. As mentioned above, in stored
pressure units, an expellant is stored in the same chamber as the
extinguishing agent itself. Depending on the agent used, different
propellants are used. With dry chemical extinguishers, nitrogen is often
used; water and foam extinguishers typically use air.
[0051] Releasing (304), by the in-computer fire extinguisher, an
extinguishing agent in response to detecting the flame according to the
example of FIG. 6 also includes puncturing (608) a cartridge containing
the extinguishing agent. As mentioned above, cartridge-operated fire
extinguishers contain an expellant gas in a separate cartridge that is
punctured prior to discharge, exposing the propellant to the
extinguishing agent. Cartridge-operated extinguishers often use
compressed carbon dioxide instead of nitrogen.
[0052] As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the
present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program
product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form
of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment
(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an
embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally
be referred to herein as a "circuit," "module" or "system." Furthermore,
aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program
product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having
computer readable program code embodied thereon.
[0053] Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be
utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal
medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage
medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic,
optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus,
or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific
examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium
would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more
wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory
(RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only
memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc
read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage
device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of
this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible
medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection
with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
[0054] A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data
signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example,
in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may
take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,
electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A
computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that
is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,
propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an
instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
[0055] Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be
transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to
wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable
combination of the foregoing.
[0056] Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of
the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more
programming languages, including an object oriented programming language
such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural
programming languages, such as the "C" programming language or similar
programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the
user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software
package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or
entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the
remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type
of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network
(WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for
example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).
[0057] Aspects of the present invention are described with reference to
flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus
(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the
invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart
illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the
flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by
computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be
provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose
computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a
machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of
the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create
means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart
and/or block diagram block or blocks.
[0058] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a
computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable
data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular
manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium
produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement
the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or
blocks.
[0059] The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a
computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices
to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,
other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer
implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the
computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for
implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block
diagram block or blocks.
[0060] The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the
architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of
systems, apparatuses, methods and computer program products according to
various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block
in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or
portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for
implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted
that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the
block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two
blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially
concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse
order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted
that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and
combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart
illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based
systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of
special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
[0061] It will be understood from the foregoing description that
modifications and changes may be made in various embodiments of the
present invention without departing from its true spirit. The
descriptions in this specification are for purposes of illustration only
and are not to be construed in a limiting sense. The scope of the present
invention is limited only by the language of the following claims.
* * * * *