Backplane connector attachment mechanism for modular energy system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12235697-B2
Application number	US-202117217402-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2021
Priority date	Mar 30, 2021
Publication date	Feb 25, 2025
Grant date	Feb 25, 2025

Abstract

Disclosed is a modular energy system that comprises a first module, comprising a first panel, and a first connector attached to the first panel. A portion of the first connector extends past a first edge of the first panel. The modular energy system further comprises a second module, comprising a second panel, and a second connector attached to the second panel. The second connector is aligned with a second edge of the second panel, and the second connector defines a cavity. The second module is coupled to the first module, wherein the portion of the first connector that extends past the first edge of the first panel is positioned within the cavity defined by the second connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular energy system, comprising:
a first module, comprising:
a first panel comprising a first surface; and
a first connector removably attachable to the first panel and positioned against the first surface upon attachment to the first panel, wherein a portion of the first connector extends laterally past a first edge of the first surface of the first panel; and

a second module, comprising:
a second panel comprising a second surface; and
a second connector removably attachable to the second panel and positioned against the second surface upon attachment to the second panel, wherein the second connector is aligned with a second edge of the second surface of the second panel, and wherein the second connector defines a cavity,

wherein the second module is coupled to the first module in a laterally stacked configuration, wherein the portion of the first connector extending past the first edge of the first panel is positioned within the cavity defined by the second connector, wherein the first surface is aligned with the second surface in the stacked configuration, wherein the first panel comprises a first support member attached to and extending away from the first panel, wherein the first connector further defines a first hole in the first connector, wherein the first support member is slidably receivable into the first hole defined by the first connector during attachment of the first connector to the first panel, and wherein the first panel further comprises:
a support ledge attached to the first panel, wherein the support ledge is offset from the first support member,
wherein the first connector further comprises a support rib that extends away from the first connector, and wherein the support rib is configured to rest against the support ledge in a configuration defined by the first connector attached to the first panel.

2. The modular energy system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third module, comprising:
a third panel; and
a third connector attached to the third panel, wherein the third connector is aligned with a third edge of the third panel, wherein the third connector defines a second cavity;

wherein the second module further comprises:
a fourth connector attached to the second panel, wherein a portion of the fourth connector extends past a fourth edge of the second panel, wherein the fourth edge of the second panel is opposite the second edge of the second panel; and

wherein the third module is coupled to the second module, wherein the portion of the fourth connector that extends past the fourth edge of the second panel is positioned within the second cavity of the third connector.

3. The modular energy system of claim 2 , wherein the first, second, and third modules can be different sizes.

4. The modular energy system of claim 1 , wherein in the stacked configuration, the first module and the second module are physically and electrically connected.

5. The modular energy system of claim 1 , wherein the first support member comprises a fastener insert.

6. The modular energy system of claim 1 , wherein the support rib comprises multiple support ribs extending away from the first connector.

7. A modular energy system, comprising:
a first module, comprising:
a first panel comprising a first surface; and
a first connector removably attachable to the first panel and positioned against the first surface upon attachment to the first panel, wherein a portion of the first connector extends laterally past a first edge of the first surface of the first panel; and

a second module, comprising:
a second panel comprising a second surface; and
a second connector removably attachable to the second panel and positioned against the second surface upon attachment to the second panel, wherein the second connector is aligned with a second edge of the second surface of the second panel, and wherein the second connector defines a cavity, wherein the second module is coupled to the first module in a laterally stacked configuration, wherein the portion of the first connector extending past the first edge of the first panel is positioned within the cavity defined by the second connector, wherein the first surface is aligned with the second surface in the stacked configuration, wherein the first panel comprises a first support member attached to and extending away from the first panel, wherein the first connector further defines a first hole in the first connector, wherein the first support member is slidably receivable into the first hole defined by the first connector during attachment of the first connector to the first panel, and wherein the first panel further comprises:

a second support member attached to and extending away from the first panel, wherein the second support member is offset from the first support member;
wherein the second connector further defines a second hole in the second connector; and
wherein the second connector is slidably attachable to the first panel, wherein the second support member is slidably receivable into the second hole defined by the second connector.

8. A modular energy system, comprising:
a first module, comprising:
a first panel, comprising:
a first support member attached to the panel;
a second support member attached to the panel, wherein the second support member is offset from the first support member;
a support ledge attached to the first panel, wherein the support ledge is located between the first support member and the second support member;

a first connector, defining a first hole in the first connector, the first connector comprising a support rib that extends away from the first connector, wherein the first connector is slidably attachable to the first panel, wherein the first support member is slidably insertable into the first hole, and wherein in an attached configuration, the support rib is configured to rest against the support ledge, and wherein in the attached configuration, a portion of the first connector extends past a first edge of the first panel; and
a second connector defining a cavity and a second hole, wherein the second connector is slidably attachable to the first panel, wherein the second support member is slidably receivable into the second hole, wherein in the attached configuration, the second connector is aligned with a second edge of the first panel, and wherein the second edge of the first panel is opposite the first edge of the first panel.

9. The modular energy system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a second module, comprising:
a second panel, comprising:
a third support member attached to the second panel;
a fourth support member attached to the second panel, wherein the fourth support member is offset from the third support member;
a second support ledge attached to the second panel, wherein the support ledge is located between the third support member and the fourth support member;

a third connector defining a third hole in the third connector, wherein the third connector comprises a second support rib that extends away from the third connector, wherein the third connector is slidably attachable to the second panel, wherein the third support member is slidably receivable into the third hole define by the third connector and in the attached configuration, the second support rib is configured to rest against the second support ledge, and wherein in the attached configuration, a second portion of the third connector extends past a third edge of the second panel; and
a fourth connector defining a second cavity and a fourth hole in the fourth connector, wherein the fourth connector is slidably attachable to the second panel, wherein the fourth support member is slidably receivable into the fourth hol

Assignees

• Cilag Gmbh Int

Inventors

• Jayme Madeleine C
• Asher Ryan M
• Weisenburgh Ii William B
• Henderson Joshua M

Classifications

• H02J2105/46

  Medical devices, medical implants or life supporting devices · CPC title

• H05K7/023

  Stackable modules · CPC title

• H05K7/1422

  Printed circuit boards receptacles, e.g. stacked structures, electronic circuit modules or box like frames · CPC title

• H02J1/10

  Parallel operation of DC sources · CPC title

• H02J3/007

  Arrangements for selectively connecting one or more loads to one or more power sources or power lines · CPC title