# US 9,521,778 B2 · Configurable air baffle for directing airflow within information handling systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,521,778 B2 - Document ID: US9521778B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/635,841 - Filed: 2015-03-02 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-02 - Assignees: Dell Products L.P. - Applicants: Dell Products L.P. - Inventors: Kuang Hsi Lin; Yen-Lin Wang; Chih Min Su - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521778B2 ## CPC - H05K 7/20145: {Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides} - G06F 1/20: Cooling means - H05K 7/20181: {Filters; Louvers} - H05K 7/20563: {within sub-racks for removing heat from electronic boards} - H05K 7/20727: {within server blades for removing heat from heat source} - 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) ## Abstract An air baffle for directing air within an information handling system is disclosed. The air baffle includes an open region configured to permit passage of an airflow, a closed region configured to obstruct passage of the airflow, and a variable region between the open region and the closed region. The air baffle further includes an adjustable tab configured to obstruct passage of the airflow. The variable region is configured to permit and obstruct passage of the airflow based on a position of the adjustable tab with respect to the variable region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air baffle for directing air within an information handling system, the air baffle comprising: a open region configured to permit passage of an airflow; a closed region configured to obstruct passage of the airflow, the closed region including one or more vents configured to allow a portion of the airflow being obstructed to vent through the closed region; a first adjustable tab configured to obstruct passage of the airflow, the first adjustable tab including one or more vents configured to align with the vents of the closed region when the first adjustable tab is in one of a plurality of discrete alignment positions; and a first variable region between the open region and a first side of the closed region, the first variable region configured to permit and obstruct passage of the airflow based on a position of the first adjustable tab with respect to the first variable region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The air baffle of claim 1, wherein: the information handling system includes components arranged on a circuit board; the air baffle is arranged on the circuit board between the components along a plane perpendicular to a direction of the airflow; and the air baffle is configured to: thermally differentiate an upstream area of the circuit board from a downstream area of the circuit board; and direct the airflow moving from the upstream area to the downstream area to enhance the cooling of the components. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The air baffle of claim 2, wherein the position of the first adjustable tab is configured to regulate a thermal impedance between the upstream area and the downstream area to satisfy a thermal impedance parameter associated with cooling the components. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The air baffle of claim 1, wherein the open region is arranged between the first side and a second side of the closed region, the air baffle further comprising: a second adjustable tab obstructing passage of the airflow; and a second variable region between the open region and the second side of the closed region, the second variable region configured to permit and obstruct passage of the airflow based on a position of the second adjustable tab with respect to the second variable region. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The air baffle of claim 4, wherein the positions of the first and the second adjustable tabs are symmetrical with respect to a center of the open region. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The air baffle of claim 1, wherein the air baffle further comprises a tab retention feature associated with the first adjustable tab, the tab retention feature configured to set and retain the first adjustable tab in one of the plurality of discrete alignment positions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The air baffle of claim 1, wherein the plurality of discrete alignment positions include a first discrete alignment position associated with an opening approximately 68 millimeters (mm) wide and a second discrete alignment position associated with an opening approximately 86 mm wide. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The air baffle of claim 1, wherein the first adjustable tab is slidably coupled to the air baffle so as to move along the closed region and the first variable region to the position with respect to the first variable region. ### Claim 9 An information handling system comprising: a fan configured to generate an airflow; an upstream component configured to be cooled by the airflow; a downstream component configured to be cooled by the airflow; and an air baffle arranged between the upstream and downstream components configured to direct the airflow, the air baffle including: an open region configured to permit passage of the airflow; a closed region configured to obstruct passage of the airflow; a first adjustable tab configured to obstruct passage of the airflow; and a first variable region between the open region and a first side of the closed region, the first variable region configured to permit and obstruct passage of the airflow based on a position of the first adjustable tab with respect to the first variable region. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The information handling system of claim 9, further comprising a circuit board on which the upstream and downstream components are arranged and wherein: the air baffle is arranged on the circuit board along a plane perpendicular to a direction of the airflow; and the air baffle is further configured to: thermally differentiate an upstream area of the circuit board from a downstream area of the circuit board; and direct the airflow moving from the upstream area to the downstream area to enhance the cooling of at least one of the upstream and the downstream components. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The information handling system of claim 10, wherein the position of the first adjustable tab is configured to regulate a thermal impedance between the upstream area and the downstream area to satisfy a thermal impedance parameter associated with cooling at least one of the upstream and the downstream components. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The information handling system of claim 9, wherein the open region is arranged between the first side and a second side of the closed region, the air baffle further comprising: a second adjustable tab obstructing passage of the airflow; and a second variable region between the open region and the second side of the closed region, the second variable region configured to permit and obstruct passage of the airflow based on a position of the second adjustable tab with respect to the second variable region. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The information handling system of claim 12, wherein the positions of the first and the second adjustable tabs are symmetrical with respect to a center of the open region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The information handling system of claim 9, wherein: the closed region includes one or more vents configured to allow a portion of the airflow being obstructed to vent through the closed region; and the first adjustable tab includes one or more corresponding vents configured to align with the vents of the closed region when the first adjustable tab is in one of a plurality of discrete alignment positions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The information handling system of claim 14, wherein the air baffle further comprises a tab retention feature associated with the first adjustable tab, the tab retention feature configured to set and retain the first adjustable tab in one of the plurality of discrete alignment positions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The information handling system of claim 9, wherein the first adjustable tab is slidably coupled to the air baffle so as to move along the closed region and the first variable region to the position with respect to the first variable region. ### Claim 17 A method for directing air within an information handling system, comprising: determining a thermal impedance parameter associated with cooling at least one of an upstream area and a downstream area of the information handling system on opposite sides of an air baffle, the air baffle including: an open region configured to permit passage of an airflow; a closed region configured to obstruct passage of the airflow; an adjustable tab configured to obstruct passage of the airflow; and a variable region between the open region and the closed region, the variable region configured to permit and obstruct passage of the airflow based on a position of the adjustable tab with respect to the variable region; and adjusting the position of the adjustable tab with respect to the variable region to regulate a thermal impedance between the upstream area and the downstream area to satisfy the thermal impedance parameter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein: the closed region includes one or more vents to allow a portion of the airflow being obstructed to vent through the closed region; the adjustable tab includes one or more corresponding vents configured to align with the vents of the closed region when the adjustable tab is in one of a plurality of discrete alignment positions; and adjusting the position of the adjustable tab includes moving the adjustable tab into one of the plurality of discrete alignment positions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: determining that the adjustable tab lacks an alignment position corresponding to the thermal impedance parameter; and selecting a suitable alignment position from the plurality of discrete alignment positions, the suitable alignment position approximating the alignment position corresponding to the thermal impedance parameter; wherein adjusting the position of the adjustable tab based on the thermal impedance parameter includes moving the adjustable tab into the suitable alignment position.