Systems and methods for distributing power in a server system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016306397-A1
Application number	US-201514688655-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 16, 2015
Priority date	Apr 16, 2015
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for distributing power within a rack system, including a power distribution unit (“PDU”) and multiple servers, are provided. The internal power cable contains a first or a second power socket at one of its ends. The first power socket can be located on the same side as t the PDU while the second power socket can be located close to a PSU of the PSUs that are located on a different side of the PDU. The first power socket of the internal power cable can be connected to the PDU via a first short power cable. The PSU located on the different side of the PDU can be connected to the PDU via a second short power cable between the second power socket of the internal power cable and a power socket of the PSU, the internal power cable, and the first short power cable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system, comprising:
a power distribution unit (PDU) mounted on a first side of the system; a plurality of servers, a server of the plurality of servers including two or more power supply units (PSUs) and an internal power cable, a first PSU of the two or more PSUs of the server located close to or at the first side of the system and a second PSU of the two or more PSUs of the server located close to or at a second side of the system; and a plurality of connectors, each of the plurality of connectors coupled between the PDU and one of the plurality of server; wherein the internal power cable has a first power socket mounted on one end and a second power socket mounted on the other end, the first power socket located at the first side of the system and the second power socket located at the second side of the system; wherein the second PSU is coupled to the PDU of the system via a first short power cable between a power socket of the second PSU and the second power socket, the internal power cable, and a second short power cable between the first power socket and a corresponding one of the plurality of connectors.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first PSU is coupled to the PDU of the system via a third short power cable between a power socket of the first PSU and the corresponding one of the plurality of connectors.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the internal power cable is mounted on a chassis of the server.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first side of the system is one of front, back, left or right side of the system.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first power socket and the second power socket of the internal power cable is located close to one cooling component of the server.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the internal power cable of the server includes an elongated thermal conductor and an electrical conductor layer surrounding at least a portion of the elongated thermal conductor.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the internal power cable of the server is connected to at least one cooling component of the server.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one portion of the internal power cable of the server is a flexible cable that includes an insulation and sheath layer, the flexible cable configured to withstand forces of repeated flexing and abrasion.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the insulation and sheath layer includes one material from at least one of polyvinylchloride (PVC), fluoroethylenepropylene (PEP), or polytetrafluorethylene (TFE).

10 . A computing device, comprising:
two or more power supply units (PSUs), a first PSU of the two or more PSUs located close to or at a first side of the computing device and a second PSU of the two or more PSUs located close to or at a second side of the computing device, a power distribution unit (PDU) located at the first side of the computing device; and an internal power cable, the internal power cable having a first power socket mounted on one end and a second power socket mounted on the other end, the first power socket located at the first side of the computing device and the second power socket located at the second side of the computing device; wherein the second PSU is coupled to the PDU via a first short power cable between a power socket of the second PSU and the second power socket, and the internal power cable.

11 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the first PSU is coupled to the PDU via a third short power cable between a power socket of the first PSU and the PDU.

12 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the internal power cable is mounted on a chassis of the computing device.

13 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the first side of the computing device is one of front, back, left or right side of the computing device.

14 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first power socket and the second power socket of the internal power cable is located close to one cooling component of the computing device.

16 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the internal power cable includes an elongated thermal conductor and an electrical conductor layer surrounding at least a portion of the elongated thermal conductor.

17 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the internal power cable is connected to at least one cooling component of the computing device.

18 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein at least one portion of the internal power cable is a flexible cable that includes an insulation and sheath layer, the flexible cable configured to withstand forces of repeated flexing and abrasion.

19 . The computing device of claim 18 , wherein the insulation and sheath layer includes one material from at least one of polyvinylchloride (PVC), fluoroethylenepropylene (PEP), or polytetrafluorethylene (TFE).

20 . A computer-implemented method for distributing power in a computing system having two or more PSUs, comprising:
providing an internal power cable within the computing system; causing a location of a power distribution unit (PDU) of the computing system to be determined, the PDU located on a first side of the computing system, a first PSU of the two or more PSUs located close to or at the first side of the computing system and a second PSU of the two or more PSUs located close to or at a second side of the computing system; causing a first power socket to be mounted to a first end of the internal power cable, the first power socket located at the first side of the computing system; causing a second power socket to be mounted to a second end of the internal power cable, the second power socket located at the second side of the computing system; and causing the second PSU to be coupled to the PDU via a first short power cable between a power socket of the second PSU and the second power socket, and the internal power cable.

21 . The computer-implemented method of claim 20 , further comprising:
causing the first PSU to be coupled to the PDU via a third short power cable between a power socket of the first PSU and the PDU.

22 . The computer-implemented method of claim 20 , further comprising:
causing the internal power cable to be mounted on a chassis of the computing system.

Assignees

• Quanta Comp Inc

Inventors

• Chen Chao-Jung
• Chen Chi-Fu

Classifications

• G06F1/189 Primary

  Power distribution · CPC title

• G06F1/26

  Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) · CPC title

• G06F1/206

  comprising thermal management · CPC title

• G06F1/181 Primary

  Enclosures (for portable computers G06F1/1613) · CPC title

• G06F1/263

  Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC (G06F1/30 takes precedence) · CPC title