Inertial Stabilizer System
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsJason Scott Lee, Thomas S. Mazzeo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The illustrative embodiments provide a method and apparatus for stabilizing an electronic rack structure. In one embodiment the apparatus comprises an enclosure with a user interface panel. The apparatus also comprises a gyroscope, sensor system and controller attached within an enclosure. A sensor system associated with the gyroscope is capable of detecting a tilt of an electronic rack structure. A controller is also located within the enclosure and is capable of detecting the tilt of the electronic rack structure and controlling an orientation of the gyroscope to counter the tilt of the electronic rack structure in response to detecting the tilt. In another illustrative embodiment, a method for stabilizing an electronic rack structure is provided.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a device for generating a force to resist a tilt of a structure, attached within an enclosure;
- a sensor system capable detecting the tilt of the structure operably connected to the device;
- and
- a controller for controlling an orientation of the device to counter the tilt of the structure in response to the tilt of the structure being detected, wherein the controller is operably connected to the device.
A method for stabilizing an electronic rack structure, the method comprising:
- operating an inertial stabilizer system attached to the electronic rack structure;
- monitoring the electronic rack structure using a sensor system embodied in the inertial stabilizer system to determine a change in the center of gravity of the electronic rack structure;
- and
- changing an orientation of a gyroscope within the inertial stabilizer system to generate a force to oppose the change in the center of gravity.
A computer program product comprising a computer-readable-recordable storage medium storing program code for using an inertial stabilizer system to stabilize an electronic rack structure, the computer program product comprising:
- program code, stored on the computer-readable storage medium, for calculating a rotor spin speed, responsive to receiving a plurality of inputs;
- program code, stored on the computer-readable storage medium, for determining a required energy level to maintain the rotor spin speed;
- program code, stored on the computer-readable storage medium, for determining whether a power supply associated with the inertial stabilizer system is sufficiently charged;
- program code, stored on the computer-readable storage medium, for determining whether a failure is occurring in the operation of the inertial stabilizer system;
- and
- program code, stored on the computer-readable storage medium, for determining whether a rotor of the inertial stabilizer system is spinning at a calculated rotor spin speed.
An apparatus comprising:
- an enclosure;
- a gyroscope within the enclosure, wherein the gyroscope is attached within the enclosure, wherein the gyroscope comprises a first motor for inducing angular rotation of a rotor about a rotor axis, wherein the rotor is coupled to a shaft, and wherein the shaft is attached within a gimbal, wherein the gimbal rotates about a gimbal axis and a second motor for inducing a force on the rotor about an axis normal to both the rotor axis and the gimbal axis.
- a sensor system capable detecting a tilt of an electronic rack structure associated with the enclosure;
- a user interface panel;
- and
- a controller, wherein the controller is electrically connected to the gyroscope and controls movement of the gyroscope in a direction transverse to an axis of an axle in the gyroscope to generate the force, and wherein the controller generates a force that creates a resistance to a direction of tilt for the electronic rack structure
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.