Flexible power supplies for computing systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9836107-B2
Application number	US-201414486501-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2014
Priority date	Sep 15, 2014
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

Abstract

Various techniques for flexible power supply in computing facilities are described herein. In one embodiment, a power distribution unit includes a first subsystem for receiving power from a power source and a second subsystem electrically coupled to one or more of the processing units in the component enclosure. The first subsystem includes a number of power supplies coupled to the power source, and the number of power supplies corresponds to a power requirement of the processing units.

First claim

I claim:

1. A power distribution unit (“PDU”) for a component enclosure having a plurality of processing units, the PDU comprising:
a first subsystem for receiving power from a power source;
a second subsystem electrically coupled to one or more of the processing units in the component enclosure, wherein the first subsystem includes a number of power supplies coupled to the power source to draw power from the power source, the number of power supplies corresponding to a power requirement of the processing units in the component enclosure; and
a set of connectors electrically coupling the first subsystem to the second subsystem allowing the power from the power source to flow from the first subsystem, via the second subsystem, and to the processing units in the component enclosure, wherein the set of connectors include:
a number of first connectors each corresponding to one of the number of power supplies; and
a second connector electrically coupled to the one or more processing units in the component enclosure, wherein each of the first connectors is mated with a portion of the second connector.

2. The power distribution unit of claim 1 wherein the first subsystem includes two, three, or six power supplies coupled to the power source.

3. The power distribution unit of claim 1 wherein:
each of the power supplies of the first subsystem includes a plurality of branch breakers coupled to a main input from the power source, the branch breakers each being electrically coupled to one of the first connectors.

4. The power distribution unit of claim 1 wherein:
each of the power supplies of the first subsystem includes a plurality of branch breakers coupled to a main input from the power source, the branch breakers each being electrically coupled to one of the conductors of one of the first connectors.

5. The power distribution unit of claim 1 wherein:
each of the power supplies of the first subsystem includes:
one or more branch breakers coupled to a main input from the power source; and
a plurality of conductive wires individually coupling one of the branch breakers to a pair of the conductors in one of the first connectors.

6. The power distribution unit of claim 1 wherein:
each of the power supplies of the first subsystem includes:
a single branch breaker coupled to a main input from the power source; and
a plurality of conductive wires individually coupling the branch breaker to a pair of the conductors in one of the first connectors.

7. The power distribution unit of claim 1 wherein:
each of the power supplies of the first subsystem includes one or more branch breakers coupled to a main input from the power source, the branch breakers being individually coupled to a pair of first conductors of one of the first connectors; and
the second subsystem includes a plurality of second conductors and receptacles each electrically coupled to a pair of the second conductors in the second connector.

8. The power distribution unit of claim 1 wherein:
each of the power supplies of the first subsystem includes one or more branch breakers coupled to a main input from the power source, the branch breakers being individually coupled to a pair of first conductors of one of the first connectors; and
the second subsystem includes a plurality of second conductors and receptacles each electrically coupled to a pair of the second conductors in the second connector, at least one of the plurality of receptacles being attached to the component enclosure and corresponding to one or more of the processing units in the component enclosure.

9. The power distribution unit of claim 1 wherein the first subsystem is external to the component enclosure, and wherein the second subsystem and the set of connectors are internal to the component enclosure.

10. The power distribution unit of claim 1 wherein the first subsystem, the second subsystem, and the set of connectors are located internal to the component enclosure.

11. The power distribution unit of claim 1 wherein the first connectors and the second connector each includes a plurality of conductors, the conductors of the first connectors have a different configuration then the conductors of the second connector.

12. A power distribution unit (“PDU”) for a component enclosure having a plurality of processing units, the PDU comprising:
a plurality of power supplies electrically coupled to a power source to draw power from the power source, the plurality of power supplies each including one or more branch breakers;
a plurality of first connectors each having a plurality of conductors electrically insulated from one another; and
a plurality of conductive wires individually connecting one of the branch breakers to a pair of the conductors in one of the first connectors, wherein a number of the first connectors corresponds to a number of the power supplies and the number of the power supplies corresponds to a power requirement of the processing units in the component enclosure; and
a second connector electrically coupled to the one or more processing units in the component enclosure, wherein each of the first connectors is mated with a portion of the second connector to allow power to flow from the power source to the processing units in the component enclosure via the first connectors and the second connector.

13. The power distribution unit of claim 12 wherein a total power rating of the power supplies is greater than or equal to the power requirement of the processing units.

14. The power distribution unit of claim 12 wherein the plurality of conductive wires directly connect one of the branch breakers to a pair of the conductors in one of the first connectors.

15. The power distribution unit of claim 12 wherein the power supplies have generally similar electrical configurations.

16. A computing system, comprising:
a component assembly having a frame and a plurality of processing units carried by the frame; and
a power distribution unit including:
a first subsystem for receiving power from a power source;
a second subsystem electrically coupled to one or more of the processing units in the component assembly, wherein the first subsystem includes a plurality of power supplies coupled to the power source to draw power from the power source; and
a set of connectors electrically coupling the first subsystem to the second subsystem allowing the power from the power source to flow from the first subsystem, via the second subsystem, and to the processing units, wherein the set of connectors include:
a number of first connectors each corresponding to one of the number of power supplies; and
a second connector electrically coupled to the one or more processing units in the component enclosure, wherein each of the first connectors is mated with a portion of the second connector.

17. The computing system of claim 16 wherein a number of the power supplies in the first subsystem corresponds to a power requirement of the processing units.

18. The computing system of claim 16 wherein a number of the power supplies in the first subsystem corresponds to a power requirement of the processing units, and wherein a total power rating of the power supplies in the first subsystem is greater than or equal to the power requirement of the processing units.

19. The computing system of claim 16 wherein a number of the power supplies in the first subsystem is modifiable based on a power requirement of the processing units.

20. The computing system of claim 16 wherein the first

Assignees

• Microsoft Corp
• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Schroeder James Darrin

Classifications

• G06F1/26

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

• H02B1/26

  Casings; Parts thereof or accessories therefor · CPC title

• G06F1/189 Primary

  Power distribution · CPC title

• G06F1/263 Primary

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

• H01R25/00

  Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits (supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/88) · CPC title