Lid and power supply interlock mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9910467-B2
Application number	US-201514701761-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2015
Priority date	May 1, 2015
Publication date	Mar 6, 2018
Grant date	Mar 6, 2018

Abstract

An approach is provided in which a system includes a lid detection mechanism that prevents a power supply unit from being electrically coupled to the system when a lid is detached from the system's chassis. According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the system includes a power supply unit detection mechanism that prevents the lid from being detached from the system's chassis when the power supply unit is electrically coupled to the system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a chassis;
a removable lid that attaches to the chassis;
one or more electrical contacts adapted to couple to a power supply unit and provide power to one or more electrical components included in the system;
a lid detection mechanism that prevents the power supply unit from being coupled to at least one of the one or more electrical contacts when the removable lid is detached from the chassis; and
a lid insertion pin included on the removable lid that adjusts the lid detection mechanism from a default position to an enabled position, wherein the enabled position allows the power supply unit to be inserted into the chassis and electrically couple to at least one of the one or more electrical contacts.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a lid spring element coupled to the chassis that places pressure on the lid insertion pin to insert the lid insertion pin into a chassis slot and position the removable lid to a retained position on the chassis.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a power supply unit detection mechanism that, when the power supply unit is inserted into the chassis, prohibits the removable lid from being detached from the chassis.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the power supply unit detection mechanism includes one or more lid restraints that butt against one or more lid embosses on the removable lid that prevent the removal of the removable lid.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the chassis comprises a plurality of power supply bays to house a plurality of power supply units, and wherein the lid detection mechanism prohibits each of the plurality of power supply units from being electrically coupled to at least one of the one or more electrical contacts when the removable lid is not attached to the chassis.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the lid detection mechanism comprises a mechanical interlock and is devoid of one or more electrical components.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the lid detection mechanism prohibits power to reach each one of the one or more electrical components included in the system when the removable lid is detached from the chassis.

8. A system comprising:
a chassis;
a removable lid that attaches to the chassis;
one or more electrical contacts adapted to couple to a power supply unit and provide power to one or more electrical components included in the system; and
a power supply unit detection mechanism comprising:
a lid restraint; and
one or more lid embosses on the removable lid that butt against the lid restraint and prevents the removable lid from being detached from the chassis when the power supply unit is electrically coupled to at least one of the one or more electrical contacts.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising:
a lid detection mechanism that prohibits the power supply unit from being electrically coupled to at least one of the one or more electrical contacts when the removable lid is not attached to the chassis.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the lid detection unit prohibits power to reach each one of the one or more electrical components included in the system when the removable lid is detached from the chassis.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising:
a lid insertion pin included on the removable lid that adjusts the removable lid detection mechanism from a default position to an enabled position, wherein the enabled position allows the power supply unit to be inserted into the chassis and electrically coupled to at least one of the one or more electrical contacts.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:
a lid spring element coupled to the chassis that places pressure on the lid insertion pin to insert the lid insertion pin into a chassis slot and position the removable lid to a retained position on the chassis.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the chassis comprises a plurality of power supply bays to house a plurality of power supply units, and wherein the lid detection mechanism prohibits each of the plurality of power supply units from being electrically coupled to at least one of the one or more electrical contacts when the removable lid is not attached to the chassis.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the power supply unit detection mechanism comprises a mechanical interlock and is devoid of one or more electrical properties.

15. A system comprising:
a chassis;
a removable lid that attaches to the chassis;
one or more electrical contacts adapted to couple to a power supply unit and provide power to one or more electrical components included in the system;
a lid detection mechanism that prevents the power supply unit from being coupled to at least one of the one or more electrical contacts when the removable lid is detached from the chassis; and
a power supply unit detection mechanism comprising one or more lid embosses that butt against one or more lid restraints to prevent the removable lid from being detached from the chassis when the power supply unit is electrically coupled to at least one of the one or more electrical contacts.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the removable lid further comprises:
a lid insertion pin that adjusts the removable lid detection mechanism from a default position to an enabled position when the removable lid is attached to the chassis, wherein the enabled position allows the power supply unit to be inserted into the chassis and electrically coupled to at least one of the one or more electrical contacts.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the chassis further comprises:
a lid spring element coupled to the chassis, which places pressure on the lid insertion pin to attach the removable lid to the chassis.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the lid detection mechanism and the power supply unit detection mechanism are both devoid of one or more electrical components.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Barron David
• Richardson Matthew T
• Schwark Steven L

Classifications

• H05K7/1487

  Blade assemblies, e.g. blade cases or inner arrangements within a blade · CPC title

• H05K5/0208

  Interlock mechanisms; Means for avoiding unauthorised use or function, e.g. tamperproof · CPC title

• G06F1/188 Primary

  Mounting of power supply units · CPC title

• H05K7/1492

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