Power distribution unit system incorporating smart cables and adapters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11901681-B2
Application number	US-202318155470-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 17, 2023
Priority date	Jun 1, 2016
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

Abstract

A power distribution unit including a plurality of outlet cores arranged along an outlet panel of a housing and mounted to one or more circuit boards with an unobstructed space between adjacent pairs of the plurality of outlet cores. The outlet cores each extend a portion of the distance between the circuit boards and the outlet panel, and the outlet panel includes a plurality of apertures each corresponding to an associated one of the plurality of outlet cores. One or more overcurrent protection devices are mounted in a non-outlet panel aligned along the length of the housing.

First claim

We claim:

1. A power distribution system, comprising:
a piece of electrical equipment having a power input;
a power distribution unit (PDU), comprising:
a housing;
an input adapted to receive input power from a power source;
at least one output for provisioning power to the piece of electrical equipment; and
a network interface card (NIC); and

at least one adapter interconnecting said PDU to the piece of electrical equipment, said at least one adapter comprising:
a first connector mated with at least one of said outputs; and
a second connector in electrical communication with said first connector via a power cable, said second connector mated with the power input of the piece of electrical equipment; and
interface circuitry including a transceiver circuit for wirelessly communicating power-related parameters of the electrical equipment to the PDU.

2. A power outlet adapter for interconnecting a power distribution unit (PDU) to a piece of electrical equipment, wherein said PDU includes at least one output and a network interface card (NIC), said adapter comprising:
a first connector configured to mate with said at least one output; and
a second connector in electrical communication with said first connector and adapted to mate with a power input of the piece of electrical equipment; and
interface circuitry including a transceiver circuit for wirelessly communicating power-related parameters of the electrical equipment to the PDU.

3. A power outlet adapter for interconnecting a power distribution unit (PDU) to a piece of electrical equipment, wherein said PDU includes at least one output and a network interface card (NIC), said adapter comprising:
a first connector configured to mate with said at least one output; and
a second connector in electrical communication with said first connector and adapted to mate with a power input of the piece of electrical equipment; and
interface circuitry for communicating power-related parameters of the electrical equipment to the PDU over a non-wired medium.

4. The power outlet adapter of claim 3 further comprising a cable interconnecting said first connector and said second connector.

5. The power outlet adapter of claim 4 wherein said cable includes a cable housing for accommodating at least a portion of said interface circuitry.

6. The power outlet adapter of claim 3 wherein said second connector is a C13 connector.

7. The power outlet adapter of claim 3 wherein said second connector is a C19 connector.

8. The power outlet adapter of claim 3 further comprising a housing for accommodating said first connector and said second connector.

9. The power outlet adapter of claim 8 wherein said first connector is disposed at a first end of said housing and said second connector is disposed at a second end of said housing.

10. The power outlet adapter of claim 8 wherein said housing comprises at least two mateable pieces.

11. The power outlet adapter of claim 8 wherein said housing is a single, unitary construction.

12. The power outlet adapter of claim 3 further comprising a first housing for accommodating said first connector and a second housing for accommodating said second connector.

13. The power outlet adapter of claim 3 wherein said interface circuitry is configured to store a unique identifier associated with the electrical equipment and to communicate said unique identifier to the PDU.

14. The power outlet adapter of claim 3 wherein said power outlet adapter is configured to receive power from an external power source.

15. The power outlet adapter of claim 3 wherein said interface circuitry includes a relay operative to switch between a first state and a second state to control flow of current through said power outlet adapter.

16. The power outlet adapter of claim 3 wherein said interface circuitry includes a power supply circuit.

17. The power outlet adapter of claim 16 wherein said power supply circuit comprises an offline power supply circuit and on-sense/frequency detection circuitry.

18. The power outlet adapter of claim 17 wherein said interface circuitry includes a relay operative to switch between a first state and a second state to control flow of current through said power outlet adapter.

19. The power outlet adapter of claim 3 wherein said interface circuitry includes a transceiver circuit for transmitting date to the PDU and receiving data from the PDU over a non-wired medium.

20. The power outlet adapter of claim 3 wherein said interface circuitry includes a current sensing circuit.

Assignees

• Legrand Dpc Llc
• Server Tech Inc

Inventors

• Irons Travis
• Giammona Peter
• Maskaly James P
• Bhakta Vimalkumar
• Ramsey Mark

Classifications

• H01R25/165 Primary

  Connecting locations formed by surface mounted apparatus · CPC title

• H05K7/1492

  having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications · CPC title