# US 7,612,996 B2 · Temperature control device, disk drive unit test apparatus, and a method of testing or operating a plurality of disk drive units > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,612,996 B2 - Document ID: US7612996B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/567,378 - Filed: 2004-09-07 - Published: 2007-02-15 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2003-09-08 - Assignees: Xyratex Technology Limited - Inventors: Andrew William Atkins; David Ronald Bain Farquhar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612996B2 ## CPC - G11B 33/142: {by air cooling} - G11B 33/144: {by detection, control, regulation of the temperature} - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## Abstract The invention provides a temperature control device for a disk drive unit, the temperature control device includes a housing for connection to a carrier for a disk drive unit; an air flow generator arranged in the housing for providing a flow of air to a disk drive unit in a connected carrier; and, an air flow control device arranged at the side of the air flow generator and selectively configurable to control the air flow path whereby the temperature of air flowing to the disk drive unit can be controlled. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A temperature control device for a disk drive unit, the temperature control device comprising: a housing for connection to a carrier for a disk drive unit; an air flow generator arranged in the housing for providing a flow of air to a disk drive unit in a connected carrier; and, an air flow control device arranged at the side of the air flow generator and selectively configurable to control the air flow path whereby the temperature of air flowing to the disk drive unit can be controlled in which the air flow control device is provided at the same vertical level within the temperature control device as the air flow generator, the air flow control device being substantially planar and slidable to vary the degree of opening of apertures within a side of the housing of the temperature control device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The temperature control device according to claim 1, comprising at least two apertures in a side of the housing for providing possible air flow paths. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The temperature control device according to claim 2, in which the air flow control device comprises a linearly movable valve to control a degree of opening of the apertures. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The temperature control device according to claim 3, comprising a rack and pinion mechanism to operate the linearly movable valve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The temperature control device according to claim 2, comprising a heat exchanger in communication with the apertures arranged to selectively receive and cool at least a portion of the air from a said disk drive unit thereby to provide chilled air, wherein the air flow control device is selectively operable to cause air to recirculate directly across a said disk drive unit, or to cause at least a portion of the air that has passed over a said disk drive unit to pass through the heat exchanger. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The temperature control device according to claim 3, comprising a heat exchanger in communication with the apertures arranged to selectively receive and cool at least a portion of the air from a said disk drive unit thereby to provide chilled air, wherein the air flow control device is selectively operable to cause air to recirculate directly across a said disk drive unit, or to cause at least a portion of the air that has passed over a said disk drive unit to pass through the heat exchanger. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The temperature control device according to claim 4, comprising a heat exchanger in communication with the apertures arranged to selectively receive and cool at least a portion of the air from a said disk drive unit thereby to provide chilled air, wherein the air flow control device is selectively operable to cause air to recirculate directly across a said disk drive unit, or to cause at least a portion of the air that has passed over a said disk drive unit to pass through the heat exchanger. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The temperature control device according to claim 5, wherein the first and second apertures are capable of being open or closed in a desired proportion such that air provided to a said disk drive unit is a mixture of directly recirculated air and air from the heat exchanger. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The temperature control device according to claim 1, comprising a selectively operable heater in the air flow path to a said disk drive unit for selectively heating air prior to said air flowing across a said disk drive unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the air flow generator is a DC blower or a radial fan. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Disk drive unit test apparatus for receiving a plurality of disk drive units, the test apparatus comprising: a plurality of temperature control devices according to claims 1; and, a plurality of caters, each for connection to a respective one of the temperature control devices and each for receiving a respective disk drive unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A method of testing one or more disk drive units, wherein the temperature of each of the one or more disk drive units is independently controlled during testing of the disk drive units, the temperature being controlled using the temperature control device according to claim 1. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A method of operating one or more disk drive units, wherein the temperature of each of the one or more disk drive units is independently controlled during operation of the disk drive units, the temperature being controlled using the temperature control device according to claim 1. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The temperature control device according to claim 2, in which the air flow control device comprises a substantially planar slidable valve movable to vary the open area of the apertures.