Method and apparatus for multiple input power distribution to adjacent outputs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10777977-B2
Application number	US-201916505219-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2019
Priority date	May 31, 2011
Publication date	Sep 15, 2020
Grant date	Sep 15, 2020

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses provide power from multiple input power sources to adjacent outputs efficiently and reliably. Aspects of the disclosure provide a power distribution unit (PDU) that includes a number of power outputs including first and second adjacent power outputs. The PDU includes a printed circuit board having a first conducting layer electrically interconnected to a first power input connection and the first power output, a second conducting layer that is at least partially above the first conducting layer and in facing relationship thereto. The second conducting layer is electrically insulated from the first conducting layer and electrically interconnected with a second power input connection and the second power output, the first and second power outputs thereby connected to different power inputs.

First claim

We claim:

1. A power distribution apparatus adapted for use with a multi-phase power source that includes a first phase line conductor, a second phase line conductor, and a third phase line conductor, said power distribution apparatus comprising:
a housing;
a power input disposed at least partially within said housing and connectable to the multi-phase power source;
a multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) disposed in said housing and electrically connected to said power input, said PCB comprising:
a first conducting layer electrically connectable to said first phase line conductor;
a second conducting layer electrically connectable to said second phase line conductor; and
a third conducting layer electrically connectable to said third phase line conductor;

a plurality of power outputs disposed at least partially within said housing, comprising:
at least a first power output electrically connectable to the first phase line conductor via said first conducting layer;
at least a second power output electrically connectable to the second phase line conductor via said second conducting layer; and
at least a third power output electrically connectable to the third phase line conductor via said third conducting layer.

2. The power distribution apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second power output is located adjacent to said first power output and said third power output is located adjacent to said second power output.

3. The power distribution apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said at least a first power output, said at least a second power output and said at least a third power output define a multi-phase outlet group that extends lengthwise along said housing.

4. The power distribution apparatus of claim 3 , comprising a plurality of multi-phase outlet groups, each of said multi-phase outlet groups comprising an associated first power output, second power output and third power output.

5. The power distribution apparatus of claim 4 wherein said plurality of multi-phase outlet groups extend longitudinally adjacent to one another along said housing.

6. The power distribution apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said at least a first power output, at least a second power output and at least a third power output are configured as outlet receptacles that are mounted to said multi-layer PCB to define an outlet module.

7. The power distribution unit of claim 1 , wherein each of said at least a first power output, at least a second power output and at least a third power output is configured as an outlet receptacle and comprises an associated line connector electrically connected to the outlet's respective conducting layer.

8. The power distribution unit of claim 7 , wherein each of said at least a first power output, at least a second power output, and at least third power output further comprises an associated neutral connector and ground connector.

9. The power distribution unit of claim 8 , wherein said multi-layer PCB includes at least one ground conducting region electrically connected to the ground connector of each outlet, and at least one neutral conducting region electrically connected to the neutral conductor of each outlet.

10. The power distribution unit of claim 1 , wherein said first, second and third conducting layers are electrically insulated from one another.

11. The power distribution unit of claim 10 , wherein said multi-layer PCB includes a plurality of insulation layers interposed between adjacent ones of said first, second and third conducting layers.

12. The power distribution unit of claim 1 , wherein said multi-layer PCB further comprises a first conductively plated through hole extending through the first, second and third conducting layers, said first conductively plated through hole electrically connected to the first conducting layer, electrically insulated from the second and third conducting layers, and electrically interconnected to the at least a first power output.

13. The power distribution unit of claim 12 , wherein said multi-layer PCB further comprises a second conductively plated through hole extending through the first, second and third conducting layers, said second conductively plated through hole electrically connected to the second conducting layer, electrically insulated from the first and third conducting layers, and electrically interconnected to the at least a second power output.

14. The power distribution unit of claim 13 , wherein said multi-layer PCB further comprises a third conductive plated through hole extending through the first, second and third conducting layers, said third conductively plated through hole electrically connected to the third conducting layer, electrically insulated from the first and second conducting layers, and electrically interconnected to the at least a third output.

15. The power distribution unit of claim 14 , wherein said multi-layer PCB further comprises at least a first input connection in electrical communication with said first conducting layer, at least a second input connection in electrical communication with said second conducting layer, and at least a third input connection in electrical communication with said third conducting layer, each of said first, second and third input connections electrically connectable, respectively, to the first, second and third line conductors when said power input is electrically connected to the multi-phase power source.

16. The power distribution unit of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of power control relays disposed in said housing, each among the plurality of power control relays being connected in independent power control communication between said power input and a respective power output.

17. The power distribution unit of claim 1 wherein said multi-phase power source further includes a neutral line conductor and a ground conductor, and wherein at least one of said first, second and third conducting layers includes a plurality of conductive regions that are electrically insulated from one another, and wherein at least one of said plurality of conductive regions is electrically connectable to a respective phase line conductor, and another of said plurality of conductive regions is electrically connectable to either the neutral line conductor or the ground conductor when said power input is electrically connected to the multi-phase power source.

18. A power module, comprising:
a multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) comprising:
a first conducting layer;
a second conducting layer located at least partially below the first conducting layer and electrically insulated from the first conducting layer; and
a third conducting layer located at least partially below the first and second conducting layers and electrically insulated from the first and second conducting layers;

at least one outlet group disposed on said multi-layer PCB such that adjacent outlets within said at least one outlet group are connected to different conducting layers, said at least one outlet group, comprising:
at least a first power outlet mounted on said PCB, and having an associated first power outlet line connector electrically connected to said first conducting layer;
at least a second power outlet mounted on said PCB, and having an associated second power outlet line connector electrically connected to said second conducting layer; and
at least a third power outlet mounted on said PCB, and having an associated third power outlet line connector electrically connected to said third conducting layer.

19. The power module of claim 1

Assignees

• Server Tech Inc

Inventors

• Ewing Carrel W
• Cleveland Andrew J
• Maskaly James P

Classifications

• H01R25/006 Primary

  the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle · CPC title

• Y10T29/49139

  by inserting component lead or terminal into base aperture · CPC title

• H05K2201/042

  Stacked spaced PCBs; Planar parts of folded flexible circuits having mounted components in between or spaced from each other · CPC title

• H05K5/0026

  provided with connectors and printed circuit boards [PCB], e.g. automotive electronic control units · CPC title

• Y10T29/49117

  Conductor or circuit manufacturing · CPC title