# US 12,004,317 B2 · Computing system having a flexible filter assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,004,317 B2 - Document ID: US12004317B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/731,415 - Filed: 2022-04-28 - Published: 2023-11-02 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-04-28 - Assignees: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP - Applicants: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP - Inventors: Vincent W. Michna; Martha Gomez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004317B2 ## CPC - H05K 7/1487: {Blade assemblies, e.g. blade cases or inner arrangements within a blade} - G06F 1/185: Mounting of expansion boards - G06F 1/20: Cooling means - G06F 1/206: {comprising thermal management} - G08B 21/182: {Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold} - H05K 7/1489: {characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays (H05K7/1491 takes precedence)} - H05K 7/20145: {Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides} - H05K 7/20181: {Filters; Louvers} - H05K 7/20727: {within server blades for removing heat from heat source} - H05K 7/20836: {Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control} - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract Example implementations relate to a computing system having a flexible filter assembly. The computing system includes a chassis having an internal volume, a pair of guide rails, a flexible filter assembly, and a plurality of first electronic components. The pair of guide rails is disposed spaced apart from each other and coupled to the chassis. The flexible filter assembly is disposed within and connected to the chassis via the pair of guide rails. The flexible filter assembly splits the internal volume into first and second volume portions. The first volume portion is located downstream relative to flow of supply air. The flexible filter assembly slides into the chassis along the pair of guide rails to detachably connect to the chassis. The flexible filter assembly cleans the supply air and directs clean air towards the plurality of first electronic components disposed in the first volume portion and coupled to the chassis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computing system comprising: a chassis having an internal volume; a pair of guide rails disposed spaced apart from each other along a first direction of the chassis and coupled to the chassis; a flexible filter assembly disposed within the chassis and connected to the chassis via the pair of guide rails, wherein the flexible filter assembly splits the internal volume into a first volume portion and a second volume portion, wherein the first volume portion is located downstream relative to a flow of supply air into the chassis, and wherein the flexible filter assembly slides into the chassis along the pair of guide rails to detachably connect to the chassis; and a plurality of first electronic components disposed in the first volume portion and coupled to the chassis, wherein the flexible filter assembly cleans the flow of supply air and directs clean air towards the plurality of first electronic components. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computing system of claim 1, wherein each guide rail of the pair of guide rails comprises a first section extending along a second direction of the chassis, a second section extending along a third direction of the chassis that is perpendicular to the second direction, and a third curved section interconnecting the first and second sections. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The computing system of claim 2, wherein the second section of each guide rail has an open end, wherein the open ends of the pair of guide rails define a slot in the chassis, and wherein the flexible filter assembly slides into or out of the chassis via the slot. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The computing system of claim 2, wherein the flexible filter assembly comprises a flexible filter, a flexible driver connected to the flexible filter, a flexible frame surrounding the flexible filter, and a handle connected to the flexible driver, wherein the flexible filter is positioned between the first sections of the pair of guide rails and extends along the second direction to split the internal volume into the first and second volume portions, and wherein the plurality of first electronic components is disposed in the first volume portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The computing system of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of second electronic components disposed in the second volume portion and coupled to the chassis, wherein each of the plurality of second electronic components is a hot-swappable electronic component. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The computing system of claim 5, wherein the flexible filter assembly connected to the chassis allows the plurality of second electronic components to remain accessible via a front side of the chassis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The computing system of claim 1, further comprising an opening defined between an end portion of the flexible filter assembly and a sidewall of the chassis and an air baffle coupled to the sidewall covering the opening, wherein one or more cables of the computing system are routed between the first volume portion and the second volume portion via the opening, and wherein the air baffle redirects the flow of the supply air moving along the opening towards the flexible filter assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The computing system of claim 1, further comprising a first airflow sensor disposed in the first volume portion, a second airflow sensor disposed in the second volume portion, and a manageability controller communicatively coupled to the first and second airflow sensors, wherein the manageability controller receives a first signal from the first airflow sensor that indicates a first speed of the clean air in the first volume portion and a second signal from the second airflow sensor that indicates a second speed of the supply air in the second volume portion, and wherein the manageability controller triggers a service event alert to replace the flexible filter assembly in response to determining that a difference between the second speed and the first speed is lesser than a threshold speed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The computing system of claim 1, further comprising a first temperature sensor disposed in the first volume portion, a second temperature sensor disposed in the second volume portion, and a manageability controller communicatively coupled to the first and second temperature sensors, wherein the manageability controller receives a first signal from the first temperature sensor that indicates a first temperature of the clean air in the first volume portion and a second signal from the second temperature sensor that indicates a second temperature of the supply air in the second volume portion, and wherein the manageability controller triggers a service event alert to replace the flexible filter assembly in response to determining that a difference between the second temperature and the first temperature is greater than a threshold temperature. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The computing system of claim 1, further comprising a microcontroller coupled to the flexible filter assembly and a manageability controller communicatively coupled to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller tracks an active runtime of the computing system and sends a signal that indicates the active runtime of the computing system to the manageability controller, and wherein the manageability controller triggers a service event alert to replace the flexible filter assembly in response to determining that the active runtime exceeds a threshold runtime of the computing system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The computing system of claim 1, wherein the flexible filter assembly slides into the chassis from outside of the chassis to detachably connect to the chassis without powering down the computing system or removing at least one of a cover, a front panel, or a rear panel of the chassis to access the internal volume. ### Claim 12 A method comprising: sliding a flexible filter assembly into a chassis along a pair of guide rails of a computing system, to detachably connect to the chassis via the pair of guide rails, wherein the flexible filter assembly connected to the chassis splits an internal volume of the chassis into a first volume portion and a second volume portion, wherein the first volume portion is located downstream relative to a flow of supply air into the chassis, and wherein the pair of guide rails are disposed spaced apart from each other along a first direction of the chassis and coupled to the chassis; and disposing a plurality of first electronic components in the first volume portion to allow the flexible filter assembly disposed upstream relative to the plurality of first electronic components to clean the flow of supply air and direct clean air towards the plurality of first electronic components. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein sliding the flexible filter assembly comprises pushing the flexible filter assembly into the chassis or pulling the flexible filter assembly out of the chassis via a slot defined in the chassis by the pair of guide rails, wherein each guide rail of the pair of guide rails comprises a first section extending along a second direction of the chassis, a second section extending along a third direction of the chassis that is perpendicular to the second direction, and a third curved section interconnecting the first and second sections, wherein the second section of each guide rail has an open end, and wherein the open ends of the pair of guide rails define the slot in the chassis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein sliding the flexible filter assembly comprises pushing the flexible filter assembly into the chassis to position a flexible filter of the flexible filter assembly between first sections of the pair of guide rails and extend the flexible filter along the second direction to split the internal volume into the first and second volume portions, and wherein the plurality of first electronic components is disposed in the first volume portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising disposing a plurality of second electronic components in the second volume portion, and wherein each of the plurality of second electronic components is a hot-swappable electronic component, wherein the flexible filter assembly connected to the chassis allows the plurality of second electronic components to remain accessible via a front side of the chassis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: defining an opening between an end portion of the flexible filter assembly and a sidewall of the chassis to allow routing of one or more cables of the computing system between the first volume portion and the second volume portion via the opening; and coupling an air baffle to the sidewall covering the opening to redirect the flow of supply air moving along the opening towards the flexible filter assembly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising a first airflow sensor disposed in the first volume portion, a second airflow sensor disposed in the second volume portion, and a manageability controller communicatively coupled to the first and second airflow sensors, wherein the manageability controller receives a first signal from the first airflow sensor that indicates a first speed of clean air in the first volume portion and a second signal from the second airflow sensor that indicates a second speed of the supply air in the second volume portion, and wherein the manageability controller triggers a service event alert to replace the flexible filter assembly in response to determining that a difference between the second speed and the first speed is lesser than a threshold speed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising a first temperature sensor disposed in the first volume portion, a second temperature sensor disposed in the second volume portion, and a manageability controller communicatively coupled to the first and second temperature sensors, wherein the manageability controller receives a first signal from the first temperature sensor that indicates a first temperature of clean air in the first volume portion and a second signal from the second temperature sensor that indicates a second temperature of the supply air in the second volume portion, and wherein the manageability controller triggers a service event alert to replace the flexible filter assembly in response to determining that a difference between the second temperature and the first temperature is greater than a threshold temperature. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising a microcontroller coupled to the flexible filter assembly and a manageability controller communicatively coupled to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller tracks an active runtime of the computing system and sends a signal that indicates the active runtime of the computing system to the manageability controller, and wherein the manageability controller triggers a service event alert to replace the flexible filter assembly in response to determining that the active runtime exceeds a threshold runtime of the computing system. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein sliding the flexible filter assembly comprises sliding the flexible filter assembly into the chassis from outside the chassis to detachably connect to the chassis without a need to power down the computing system or remove at least one of a cover, a front panel, or a rear panel of the chassis to access the internal volume of the chassis.