Interoperable Power Delivery Module for Servers

Abstract

An embodiment of a power delivery module is disclosed, comprising: a power delivery plate rotatable about a first axis orthogonal to the power delivery plate between a first orientation and a second orientation; and a rotatable power fixture module. Two pairs of electrical contacts are located on the plate: a first pair of electrical contacts (positive and negative electrical contacts); and a second pair of electrical contacts (positive and negative electrical contacts). The two pairs of contacts are spaced apart from each other on the same side of the plate. The rotatable power fixture module is coupled to the power delivery plate and includes a pair of contact pads to engage with and electrically couple to the first or second pair of contacts. A power fixture is electrically coupled to each contact pad. The fixture module is rotatable about a second axis parallel to and spaced apart from the first axis between a first position in which the contact pads engage the first pair of contacts and a second position in which the contact pads engage the second pair of contacts.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The disclosed embodiments relate generally to servers, and particularly, but not exclusively, to a rotating power delivery module for supplying power to servers located in server racks in a data center. Background Art

[0002] Modern data centers, such as cloud computing centers, house a large number of information technology (IT) devices, such as servers, blade servers, routers, and edge servers. These individual IT devices are typically housed in racks within the computing center, with each rack containing multiple pieces of IT equipment. Racks are often grouped into clusters within the data center.

[0003] In both public and private cloud services, service providers may need to relocate servers from one rack cluster to another within the same data center, or even relocate and port servers from one data center site to another in a different geographic region. Relocating a server means moving it from one rack to another, but different data centers (or even different clusters within the same data center) can use different types of racks. This can create difficulties because IT equipment must be designed to be compatible with the rack in which it is installed.

[0004] There are many different rack configurations, but despite the existence of some industry standards - including OCP Open Rack, ODCC Scorpio Rack, etc. - there can still be large configuration differences between rack standards; racks differ in form factor, power delivery design, cooling method, etc. This means that IT equipment (such as servers) must be compatible with multiple rack specifications in order to be accommodated in various racks; if they are not compatible, IT equipment will be difficult to implement on different types of racks and may not function properly. This greatly limits the design of servers and systems and is a challenge for OEM suppliers, rack suppliers, server suppliers, component suppliers and end users. Hardware costs are critical for cloud service companies and Internet service companies, and interoperability is an important feature to reduce hardware costs. Previous IT equipment designs only allowed designs to be used in one or a few rack types. This lack of interoperability is a major flaw. Summary of the Invention

[0005] An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a power delivery module, comprising: a power delivery board (PDB), which has a first side and a second side and is rotatable between a first orientation and a second orientation around a first axis orthogonal to the PDB; a first pair of electrical contacts, which are positioned on the first side, the first pair of electrical contacts including a first positive contact adjacent to a first negative contact; a second pair of electrical contacts, which are positioned on the first side and spaced apart from the first pair of electrical contacts, the second pair of electrical contacts including a second positive contact and a second negative contact; and a power fixture module connected to the power delivery board, the power fixture module including a pair of power fixtures, the pair of power fixtures being suitable for electrically connecting to the first pair of electrical contacts or the second pair of electrical contacts, wherein the power fixture module is rotatable around a second axis, the second axis being parallel to and spaced apart from the first axis, so that the power fixture module can rotate between a first position in which the pair of power fixtures are electrically connected to the first pair of electrical contacts and a second position in which the pair of power fixtures are electrically connected to the second pair of electrical contacts.

[0006] In some embodiments, the power fixture module includes: a fixture module substrate having a first side and a second side; a positive contact pad and a negative contact pad positioned on the first side of the fixture module substrate so that they can be electrically connected to the first pair of electrical contacts or the second pair of electrical contacts; a positive power fixture and a negative power fixture, both positioned on the second side of the fixture module substrate, wherein the positive power fixture is electrically connected to the positive contact pad and the negative power fixture is electrically connected to the negative contact pad; and a shaft connected to the fixture module substrate, wherein the shaft is aligned with the second axis when the power fixture module is connected to the power delivery board.

[0007] In some embodiments, the PDB further includes a clamp mounting channel adapted to rotatably receive the shaft, the mounting channel positioned between the first pair of electrical contacts and the second pair of electrical contacts.

[0008] In some embodiments, the fixture module substrate is circular, and the positive and negative contact pads are pie-shaped segments that are electrically insulated from each other and are positioned on the same half of the fixture module substrate.

[0009] In some embodiments, the power fixture module substrate is square, and the positive and negative contact pads are quadrilateral and include buffer zones to account for misalignment between the positive and negative contact pads and their corresponding electrical contacts.

[0010] In some embodiments, the power fixture module further includes a nut attached to the shaft, wherein the nut can be tightened to hold the power fixture module in place, or loosened to allow the power fixture module to rotate.

[0011] In some embodiments, the power fixture module includes a visual indicator that, when pointed in a selected direction, indicates that the power fixture module is properly oriented and correctly integrated.

[0012] In some embodiments, the power delivery module further includes a rotatable connector mounted on a second side of the power delivery plate, the rotatable connector aligned with the first axis and electrically coupled to both the first pair of electrical contacts and the second pair of electrical contacts.

[0013] In some embodiments, the power delivery module further includes power electronics electrically coupled between the rotatable connector and the first and second pairs of electrical contacts.

[0014] In some embodiments, the pair of power clamps is electrically coupled to only one of the first pair of electrical contacts or the second pair of electrical contacts at a time.

[0015] The present disclosure also provides information technology equipment, comprising: an IT chassis; a motherboard mounted in the IT chassis and having electronic components thereon; a power delivery module chassis mounted to the IT chassis; and the power delivery module according to the above embodiment. The power delivery module is mounted to the power delivery module chassis and electrically coupled to the motherboard. The power delivery module further comprises a rotatable connector mounted on a second side of the power delivery board, aligned with the first axis, and electrically coupled to both the first pair of electrical contacts and the second pair of electrical contacts, wherein the rotatable connector electrically couples the power delivery module to the motherboard. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

[0017] Figure 1 is a side view of one embodiment of an information technology (IT) rack populated with various IT equipment.

[0018] Figures 2A to 2B is a rear view of an embodiment of an information technology (IT) rack.

[0019] Figures 3A to 3B is a diagram of one embodiment of a power delivery module. Figure 3A It's a floor plan. Figure 3B It is roughly along Figure 3A Sectional view taken along section line BB.

[0020] Figure 3C It is composed Figure 3A A plan view of one embodiment of a power delivery board that is part of a power delivery module.

[0021] Figures 3D to 3E It is composed Figure 3A A view of one embodiment of a power fixture module of a portion of a power delivery module. Figure 3D It's a floor plan. Figure 3E It is roughly along Figure 3D A sectional view taken along section line EE.

[0022] Figure 3F is a schematic diagram of the electrical connections on one embodiment of a power delivery board.

[0023] Figure 3G is a plan view of another embodiment of a power delivery module.

[0024] Figures 4A to 4B Use power delivery modules (such as Figures 3A to 3B Top and side views of an embodiment of an IT device having a power delivery module (shown).

[0025] Figures 5A to 5C yes Figures 4A to 4B Rear view of a power delivery module installation, illustrating one embodiment of its operation.

[0026] Figures 6A to 6C Use a power delivery module (such as Figures 3A to 3G Figure 2 is a diagram of an embodiment of a rack having a power delivery module (shown). DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Embodiments of a rotating power delivery module for supplying power to a piece of IT equipment in an IT rack are described. Specific details are described to provide an understanding of the embodiments, but one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the described details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In some cases, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail, but are still encompassed within the scope of the invention.

[0028] References in this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" mean that the described features, structures, or characteristics may be included in at least one of the described embodiments, and thus, appearances of "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. As used in this application, directional terms such as "front," "rear," "top," "bottom," "side," "lateral," and "longitudinal" refer to the orientation of the embodiments as they appear in the accompanying drawings, but any directional term should not be interpreted as implying or requiring a specific orientation of the embodiment in actual use.

[0029] The following describes an embodiment of a rotating power delivery module having a rotatable power distribution plate and a rotatable power fixture module. The power distribution plate is rotatable relative to the server chassis, while the power fixture module is rotatable relative to the power distribution plate. Safety pins or screws are used to ensure that the power delivery module is held in the proper orientation. The combined rotation of these two components enables the power fixture module to adapt to different busbar architectures and positions in different racks, while also ensuring that the corresponding positive and negative connections match the busbar design. In operation, the power delivery plate rotates 180 degrees, and then the power fixture module rotates 180 degrees. These two 180-degree rotations enable the power module to be adjusted to match different rack power architectures. Thus, the described embodiments improve server and rack interoperability and enable dynamic adjustment of the position of the server power delivery system to facilitate better airflow within the server chassis. The described embodiments also improve the serviceability of the power delivery design because they are particularly tool-free, that is, the embodiments do not require physical hardware tools to operate or repair. To further improve serviceability or reduce the need for repairs, the described embodiments include features to prevent improper operation.

[0030] An embodiment of a power distribution module (PDM) is integrated on a PDM chassis, and the PDM chassis is integrated and secured to an IT chassis. The PDM includes a power delivery board (PDB) having two sets of power connections, each set connected to power electronics enclosed on the PDB. Each set of power connections includes a positive connection and a negative connection. A power fixture module is attached to the PDB. The power fixture module encloses power connectors and power fixtures; these power connectors and fixtures are used to connect the circuit between the rack power bus and the PDB. A portion of the fixture module is designed to conduct current, and a portion of the fixture module is insulated and non-conductive. The conductive portion of the fixture module can be connected to any set of power connections on the PDB to connect to the PDB and the corresponding power electronics. The PDB can be rotated 180°, and the fixture module can also be rotated 180°, so that the PDM is interoperable between different rack configurations.

[0031] Figure 1 1 is a block diagram illustrating a side view of one embodiment of an electronics rack, a type of IT container commonly used in data centers. In one embodiment, electronics rack 100 includes a CDU 101, a rack management unit (RMU) 102, and one or more blade servers 103A through 103D (collectively, blade servers 103). Blade servers 103 can be inserted into an array of server slots from a front end 104 of electronics rack 100. Note that while only four blade servers 103A through 103D are shown, more or fewer blade servers can be accommodated within electronics rack 100. It should also be noted that the specific locations of CDU 101, CMU 102, and blade servers 103 are for illustrative purposes only; other arrangements or configurations of CDU 101, CMU 102, and blade servers 103 may also be implemented. Furthermore, the front door located at front end 104 and the rear door located at rear end 105 are optional. In some embodiments, there may be no doors on front end 104 and / or rear end 105.

[0032] In one embodiment, CDU 101 includes a heat exchanger 111, a liquid pump 112, and a pump controller 110. Heat exchanger 111 can be a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger. Heat exchanger 111 includes a first tube having a first pair of liquid connectors that connect to external liquid supply / return lines 131 and 132 to form a primary loop. The connectors connected to external liquid supply / return lines 131 and 132 can be arranged or mounted on the rear end 105 of electronics rack 100. Heat exchanger 111 also includes a second tube having a second pair of liquid connectors that connect to a liquid manifold 125. The liquid manifold can include a supply manifold that supplies cooling liquid to blade servers 103 and a return manifold that returns warmer liquid to CDU 101. Processors can be mounted on a cold plate, which includes embedded liquid distribution channels therein to receive cooling liquid from liquid manifold 125 and return cooling liquid carrying heat transferred from the processors to liquid manifold 125. Rack 100 is an example of an IT rack in which a rack such as Figure 3A and embodiments of the power delivery module shown below.

[0033] Each blade server 103 may include one or more IT components (e.g., CPU, GPU, memory, and / or storage devices). Each IT component may perform data processing tasks, wherein the IT component may include software installed in a storage device, loaded into a memory, and executed by one or more processors to perform the data processing tasks. The blade server 103 may include a host server (referred to as a host node) connected to one or more computing servers (also referred to as computing nodes). The host server (having one or more CPUs) typically interfaces with clients via a network (e.g., the Internet) to receive requests for specific services, such as storage services (e.g., cloud-based storage services such as backup and / or recovery), and to execute applications to perform certain operations (e.g., image processing, deep data learning algorithms or modeling, etc., as part of a software as a service or SaaS platform). In response to the request, the host server assigns the task to one or more computing servers (having one or more GPUs) managed by the host server. The computing servers perform the actual tasks, which generates heat during operation.

[0034] The electronics rack 100 further includes an RMU 102 configured to provide and manage power to the blade servers 103 and the CDU 101. The RMU 102 can be coupled to a power supply unit (not shown) to manage the power consumption of the power supply unit and other thermal management of the power supply unit (e.g., cooling fans). The power supply unit can include necessary circuitry (e.g., an alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) or DC to DC power converter, a battery, a transformer, or a voltage regulator, etc.) to provide power to the remaining components of the electronics rack 100.

[0035] In one embodiment, the RMU 102 includes optimal control logic 111 and a rack management controller (RMC) 122. The optimal control logic 111 is coupled to at least some of the blade servers 103 to receive the operating status of each blade server 103, such as the processor temperature of the processor, the current pump speed of the liquid pump 112, and the liquid temperature of the cooling liquid. Based on this information, the optimal control logic 111 determines the optimal pump speed of the liquid pump 112 by optimizing a predetermined objective function, thereby maximizing the output of the objective function while satisfying a set of predetermined constraints. Based on the optimal pump speed, the RMC 122 is configured to send a signal to the pump controller 110 to control the pump speed of the liquid pump 112 based on the optimal pump speed.

[0036] Figures 2A to 2B An embodiment of a bus bar in an information technology (IT) rack is shown. Figure 2A and Figure 2B Both show the rack as seen from the rear. Figure 2AOne embodiment of a rack 200 is shown having one or more pieces of IT equipment 202 housed therein in a vertical stack. Although the IT equipment 202 below is primarily described as servers, in various embodiments, the IT equipment 202 can be any type of IT equipment that can be housed in a rack; examples include servers, graphics processing units (GPUs), power units, battery backup units (BBUs), power supply units (PSUs), cooling units, or some combination of these (see, e.g., FIG. 1 ). Figure 1 To provide power to all IT equipment in a rack, or to all IT equipment that can be housed in a rack, bus bar 204 extends substantially the entire height of the rack (from bottom to top). Bus bar 204 includes two poles that serve as electrical contacts: a positive (+) pole and a negative (-) pole. The industry standard is for the positive pole to be on the right and the negative pole to be on the left, as viewed from the rear of the rack. In the illustrated embodiment, bus bar 204 is located to the right of the rack's centerline, near the right side of the rack, when viewed from the rear.

[0037] Figure 2B One embodiment of a rack 250 is shown. Rack 250 is similar to rack 200 in most respects: it has one or more servers 202 housed therein in a vertical stack and includes a bus bar 254 that extends substantially the entire height of the rack (from bottom to top) to provide power to all servers housed or potentially housed in the rack. Like bus bar 204, bus bar 254 includes two electrical contacts: a positive (+) bar and a negative (-) bar, with the positive bar on the right and the negative bar on the left when viewed from the rear of the rack. The primary difference between racks 200 and 250 is the location of the bus bar: instead of being to the right of the rack's centerline, bus bar 254 is positioned substantially along the rack's centerline. To enable easy movement of IT equipment 202 from rack 200 to rack 250, or otherwise, the servers 202 or rack must include a power delivery module that can accommodate different bus bar locations.

[0038] Figures 3A to 3F Together, one embodiment of a power delivery module 300 is shown. Figures 3A to 3B The assembled power delivery module 300 is shown together. The power delivery module 300 has two main parts: a power delivery board 302 and a power fixture module 310 .

[0039] The power delivery plate 302 has a first side or first surface S1 (see Figure 3A ) and a second side or second surface S2 (see Figure 3B). In one embodiment, the first side S1 and the second side S2 are flat, substantially parallel to each other, and spaced apart from each other by the thickness of the plate 302. In one embodiment, the plate 302 is a printed circuit board, but in other embodiments it can be another type of board. In the embodiment shown, the set screws or pins 301 are used to attach the plate 302 to the power delivery module (PDM) chassis and to hold the plate 302, and therefore the power delivery module 300, in a particular orientation (see Figures 4A to 4B ). In other embodiments, the mounting method may be different, so the set screw 301 may be slightly different, or in some applications, may not be required.

[0040] The plate 302 is rotatable about a first axis A1. In the illustrated embodiment, the first axis A1 is substantially orthogonal to the plane of the plate 302 and is substantially in the middle of the plate (i.e., W1=W2), but in other embodiments, the first axis A1 need not be orthogonal to the plane of the plate 302 and need not be located in the middle of the plate (i.e., W1≠W2). The set screw 301 and the output connector 304 are centered about the axis A1 and mounted on the second side S2; the output connector 304 can be used to connect the power delivery module 300 to the motherboard of an IT device such as a server (see, for example, FIG. 2 ). Figures 4A to 4B ).

[0041] The first side S1 of the board 302 includes two pairs of electrical contacts: a first pair of spaced-apart electrical contacts including a first negative contact (1-) and a first positive contact (1+); and a second pair of spaced-apart electrical contacts including a second negative contact (2-) and a second positive contact (2+). In other embodiments, for each pair of electrical contacts, the negative and positive contacts may be packaged together into a single module.

[0042] Fixture mounting channel 308 (in Figure 3C ) is formed or attached to the plate 302 orthogonal to the plane of the plate, and the mounting channel is positioned between the positive electrical contact and the negative electrical contact in each of the two pairs of electrical contacts. The fixture mounting channel 308 is designed to rotatably receive the fixture module 310 so that the fixture module can be rotated about a second axis A2 defined by the fixture mounting channel and / or the axis of the fixture module. In the embodiment shown, the second axis A2 is substantially parallel to the first axis A1 and is separated from the first axis by a non-zero distance W3. Generally speaking, W3 is preferably half the distance between the bus bars in the two rack configurations in which the power delivery module will be used. For example, in using Figures 2A to 2B In the example of the rack configuration shown, W3 can be Figure 2A The right busbar and Figure 2B half the distance between the central bus bars.

[0043] The power fixture module 310 has two main parts: a pair of power fixtures 318+ and 318-, which electrically connect to the busbars; and a pair of contact pads 314+ and 314-, which electrically connect the power fixtures 318+ and 318- to one of a pair of electrical contacts (i.e., 1+ / 1- or 2+ / 2-) on the board 302. In addition to the power fixtures and contact pads, the power fixture module 310 also includes a set screw 309 and a set nut 311. The power fixture module 310 is attached to the power delivery board 302 using the set screw 309 and the set nut 311. The set screw 309 is inserted into the fixture mounting channel 308 and serves as an axis about which the power fixture module 310 can rotate. Together, the set screw 309 and the set nut 311 maintain the attachment of the power fixture module 310 to the board 302; the screw is inserted into the nut and tightened to hold the fixture module 310 and the board 302 together. In one embodiment, the positioning nut 311 may include a flexible structure (such as a spring) to allow the clamp module 310 to be partially pulled out during the rotation operation, and then provide automatic elasticity to pull the clamp module back into place and fasten the plate and the clamp module together. Figures 3D to 3E Further details of the fixture module 310 are discussed.

[0044] Figure 3C The positioning of the pairs of electrical contacts on the board 302 is best shown. The power delivery board is mounted vertically in the IT chassis (see Figures 4A to 4B ), therefore, this figure is a view of the PDB from the back of the server. As described above, the first side S1 includes a first pair of horizontally spaced electrical contacts, which include a first negative contact (1-) and a first positive contact (1+). There is also a second pair of horizontally spaced electrical contacts on side S1, which include a second negative contact (2-) and a second positive contact (2+). The first and second pairs of electrical contacts are vertically spaced from each other on the board, with the first positive contact 1+ directly above the second negative contact 2-, and the first negative contact 1- directly above the second positive contact 2+. In other words, the first positive contact 1+ is diagonally opposite the second positive contact 2+, and the first negative contact 1- is diagonally opposite the second negative contact 2-. The clamp mounting channel 308 is positioned in the board 302, located between the pairs of electrical contacts, so that the four electrical contacts and the clamp mounting channel together form a five-point shape.

[0045] Figures 3D to 3E One embodiment of a power fixture module 310 is shown. Figure 3D It's a floor plan. Figure 3Eis a cross-sectional view. The power fixture module 310 forms an electrical connection between the bus bars and the electrical contacts on the power delivery module 300. The power fixture module 310 includes a fixture module substrate 312 having a first side CS1 and a second side CS2. The fixture module substrate can be made of any rigid material; for example, in one embodiment, it can be made of a rigid and electrically insulating material. In other embodiments, the fixture module substrate 312 can be made of a conductive material, but it must be provided that the contact pads and the power fixture are electrically isolated from each other. In the embodiment shown, the fixture module substrate 312 is circular, but in other embodiments, it can have different shapes, such as a quadrilateral (see, for example Figure 3G ).

[0046] When the power fixture module 310 is mounted on the board 302, the first side CS1 faces the board (see FIG. Figure 3B To enable electrical contact with one of the first electrical contact pair 1+ / 1- or the second electrical contact pair 2+ / 2-, a positive contact pad 314+ and a negative contact pad 314- are formed within or on first side CS1. A pair of power clamps 318 are formed on second side CS2, with positive clamp 318+ electrically coupled to positive contact pad 314+ and negative clamp 318- electrically coupled to negative contact pad 314-. Positive contact pad 314+ and negative contact pad 314- are electrically insulated from each other, and power clamps 318+ and 318- are also electrically insulated from each other. Clamp module base plate 312 also includes a hole 320 for receiving screw / shaft 309 and allowing for rotation about the axis. In the embodiment shown, the positive contact pad 314+ and the negative contact pad 314- are pie-shaped sectors of a circle, each sector being substantially a quarter of a circle, but in other embodiments, the positive contact pad 314+ and the negative contact pad 314- may have other shapes (see, e.g., Figure 3G ). With this arrangement, at a given time, power clamps 318+ and 318- will be electrically coupled to only one pair of electrical contacts on board 302 - either the first pair of contacts 1+ / 1- or the second pair of contacts 2+ / 2- - via contact pads 314+ and 314-.

[0047] As a safety feature to ensure that the positive power clamp is properly connected to the positive bus bar contact and the negative power clamp is properly connected to the negative bus bar contact (see, for example, Figure 4B ), the power fixture module 310 includes an installation symbol 322, which is a visual indicator that shows the operator the correct orientation of the power fixture module. In the illustrated embodiment, the installation symbol 322 is an arrow that points upward (i.e., toward the top of the rack) when the power fixture module is correctly oriented. However, in other embodiments, other types of visual indicators, with the same or different orientations, may be used.

[0048] Figure 3FThe electrical connections between the components on the power distribution board 302 are shown. Power conditioning electronics 306 are mounted on one of surfaces S1 or S2. In the illustrated embodiment, the power conditioning electronics are mounted on surface S1, and therefore are shown as solid lines in the view of S1. The power conditioning electronics condition the power received from the busbar at one of two pairs of electrical contacts (1+ / 1- or 2+ / 2-) before being output to the IT equipment through the output connector 304. In various embodiments, the power conditioning electronics 306 may include a voltage regulator, a rectifier, or other power conditioning and control components.

[0049] To ensure that the power electronics 306 is able to regulate power received from electrical contacts 1+ / 1- or from electrical contacts 2+ / 2-, the board 302 includes traces or connections that electrically couple the first and second contact pairs to the power conditioning electronics so that each pair of contacts has its own circuit routing to the power electronics. In the illustrated embodiment, trace pair T1, shown in solid lines, electrically couples the first pair of contacts 1+ / 1- (also shown in solid lines) to the power electronics. Trace pair T1 includes trace T1+ coupled to contact 1+ and trace T1- coupled to contact 1-. Similarly, trace pair T2, shown in dashed lines, electrically couples the second pair of contacts 2+ / 2- to the power electronics. Trace pair T2 includes trace T2+ coupled to contact 2+ and trace T2- coupled to contact 2-. In different embodiments, trace pairs T1 and T2 can be on the same or different sides, or even within the power delivery board 302. The operation of the power fixture module 310, described further below, ensures that only one of the two pairs of contacts (the first pair 1+ / 1- or the second pair 2+ / 2-) directs power to the power electronics at any one time. This is because the output connector 304 will be used to connect the PDB to the motherboard of the IT equipment, regardless of the orientation of the board 302 (see FIG. Figures 4A to 4B ), so only a single pair of traces 324 is required between the power electronics and the connector 304.

[0050] Figure 3GAnother embodiment of a power delivery module 350 is shown; some auxiliary structures used to assist in the rotation of the fixture module are not shown in the figure. Power delivery module 350 is similar to power delivery module 300 in most respects. The main difference between power delivery modules 350 and 300 is the configuration of the power fixture module. Power delivery module 350 includes a power fixture module 352, which is quadrilateral in shape rather than circular. Due to its quadrilateral shape, power fixture module 352 also includes quadrilateral contact pads. Power fixture module 352 may completely cover the two pairs of electrical contacts (1+ / 1- and 2+ / 2-) on board 302, making them difficult to see and properly align. To address this issue, power fixture module 352 may include displacement bumpers 354 located on both sides of the fixture to facilitate system installation and improve reliability. In other embodiments, the power fixture module can be packaged in different form factors, and multiple fixture modules can be placed on the power delivery board.

[0051] Figures 4A to 4B One embodiment of IT equipment 400 (eg, a server) including a power distribution module such as module 300 is collectively shown. Figure 4A It's a floor plan. Figure 4B The IT device 400 includes an IT chassis 402 housing a motherboard 404. In various embodiments, the motherboard 404 includes a plurality of electronic components (not shown) that collectively perform the functions of the IT device 400.

[0052] A power delivery module (PDM) chassis 406 is also positioned within the IT chassis 402 to receive and hold a power delivery module, such as the power delivery module 300 (see FIG. Figures 3A to 3F The PDM chassis provides structural support for the entire power module, including supporting the system installation (i.e., mounting and securing the structure). In one embodiment, the PDM chassis 406 can be a frame that engages the edges of the power delivery board 302 and the mounting / positioning screws 301, but in other embodiments, the PDM chassis can be constructed differently. The PDM chassis 406 is secured to the power module by means of brackets 408 ( Figure 4B 406 is fixed relative to the IT chassis 402. The PDM chassis 406 is positioned at the rear of the chassis 402 so that the power clamps on the power clamp modules 310 extend from the rear of the IT chassis and can be connected to the busbars of the rack where the IT equipment 400 is located. The PDM chassis 406 is also positioned so that it holds the power delivery module 300 vertically (i.e., the plane of the board 302 is vertically oriented, or in other words, the axes A1 and A2 are horizontally oriented) so that it can be rotated between different orientations (e.g., Figures 5A to 5C ), thereby moving the power fixture module 310 to a different position where it can engage different bus bars.

[0053] The power delivery module 300 is electrically coupled to the motherboard 404 using wires 408 coupled between the output connector 304 and the motherboard. Thus, the cable or one or more wires 408 may become twisted when the power delivery module 300 is moved from one orientation to another (see, e.g., Figures 5A to 5C ). However, the central location of the rotatable connector 304 ensures minimal interference with the wires 408 and, therefore, the power connection to the motherboard 404. In other embodiments, the cable / wire connection may be eliminated using direct blind-mate or other such techniques.

[0054] Figures 5A to 5C One embodiment of the operation of a power delivery module, such as power delivery module 300, is collectively illustrated. The views shown in these figures are from the rear of the rack. In the illustrated embodiment, power delivery module 300 is rotatably attached to PDM chassis 406, with axis A1 being orthogonal to both plate 302 and the PDM chassis. Furthermore, as described above, fixture module 310 is rotatably coupled to plate 302 so that fixture module 310 rotates about axis A2, which is parallel to axis A1.

[0055] Figure 5A A position of the power delivery module 300 is shown, which is suitable for use in a rack with the rack bus bars on the right side of the rack when viewed from the rear (eg, Figure 2A In this position, the power delivery module is connected to the bus bar by means of a power clamp which in turn is electrically connected to the electrical contacts 1+ and 1- on the S1 side of the board 302. To enable the server to be used with a rack whose bus bar is located in the middle of the rack (see Figure 2B ), the power transmission module 300 rotates 180 degrees around the axis A1, from Figure 5A Rotate the position shown to Figure 5B The PDM chassis 406 is fixed and therefore does not rotate with the power delivery module 300.

[0056] exist Figure 5B In the position shown, the power clamps on the power clamp module 310 are moved to where they can connect to the center bus bar, but they are still electrically coupled to the electrical contacts 1+ and 1-, as the module 300 is in Figure 5A and Figure 5B In order to reorient the power fixture so that it is properly oriented and connected to the correct set of electrical contacts (i.e. Figure 5B The contacts 2+ / 2- in the power fixture module 310 are connected, and the power fixture module 310 is rotated 180 degrees. Figure 5B Rotate to the position Figure 5CThe installation symbol points upwards. Figure 5C The power clamp is in the correct position and orientation to make a proper connection between the electrical contacts 2+ / 2- and the central busbar (see also Figures 6A to 6C ).

[0057] Figures 6A to 6C A power delivery module, such as power delivery module 300, is shown in different rack configurations. The view shown is of the back of a rack, which, in addition to servers, may be populated with different types of IT equipment, such as power supply units (PSUs) and battery backup units (BBUs), to improve interoperability. Although in the illustrated embodiment, the power delivery modules are depicted as being identical, in other embodiments, all power delivery modules used within a rack need not be identical. If the primary elements of the power delivery module are present (particularly the electrical connectors, power clamp modules, and output connectors), different IT equipment may use power delivery modules that differ in size, shape, location of axes, location of components, etc. Furthermore, because the rotational dimension W3 may be different or may be designed to accommodate different rack configurations, it can also be said that different embodiments of the power delivery module may use different form factors for the power delivery module or any component of the power delivery module.

[0058] Figure 6A An embodiment of a high-density side-by-side or double-wide rack is shown with bus bars near both sides of the rack. In this embodiment, two different embodiments of the power delivery module 300 can be used. For the IT equipment on the right, Figures 3A to 3B . For the IT equipment on the left, the power delivery module is nearly identical to power delivery module 300; the primary change is that electrical contacts 1+ / 1- and 2+ / 2-, as well as power clamp module 310, are moved to the left side of power delivery board 302 instead of the right. Note that electrical contacts 1+ / 1- and 2+ / 2- maintain their same position relative to each other, whether on the left or right side.

[0059] Figure 6B Another configuration that can be used to support high-density racks and different server configurations is shown. This system may be more suitable for edge computing systems and edge data center deployments. In the arrangement shown, Figure 6A Starting with the arrangement in FIG, the right and left power delivery boards 302 are each rotated 180 degrees so that their power fixture modules 310 are positioned to couple with a more central bus bar. All of the power fixture modules 310 are also rotated 180 degrees so that the mounting symbols point upward and the power fixture modules are in the correct orientation for the power fixtures to couple with their corresponding bus bar conductors.

[0060] Figure 6C Shows the rotation Figure 6A The right power delivery module is operated with a more central bus bar. Figure 6A Starting from the position shown, the power delivery board 302 has been rotated 180 degrees (see Figures 5A to 5B ), so the power fixture module 310 is positioned to connect to the more central bus bar. The power fixture module 310 has also been rotated 180 degrees (see Figures 5B to 5C ) so that the mounting symbol points upward and the power fixture modules are in the correct orientation for the power fixtures to couple with their corresponding bus bar conductors.

[0061] In addition to those described above, there are other power delivery module embodiments. For example:

[0062] -The integration methods of the fixture module and the PDB module can be different;

[0063] - Additional structures can be added to the power delivery module and the clamp module to assist with rotation;

[0064] -The installation method of the PDB chassis on the IT chassis can be different methods including fixing mechanisms.

[0065] The above description of the embodiments is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the form described. Specific embodiments and examples of the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes, but various modifications are possible.

Claims

1. A power transmission module, comprising: a power delivery board (PDB) having a first side and a second side and rotatable about a first axis orthogonal to the PDB between a first orientation and a second orientation; a first pair of electrical contacts positioned on the first side, the first pair of electrical contacts comprising a first positive contact adjacent a first negative contact; a second pair of electrical contacts positioned on the first side and spaced apart from the first pair of electrical contacts, the second pair of electrical contacts comprising a second positive contact and a second negative contact; as well as a power clamp module coupled to the power transmission board, the power clamp module including a pair of power clamps adapted to electrically couple with the first pair of electrical contacts or the second pair of electrical contacts, wherein the power clamp module is rotatable about a second axis that is parallel to and spaced apart from the first axis so that the power clamp module can rotate between a first position in which the pair of power clamps are electrically coupled with the first pair of electrical contacts and a second position in which the pair of power clamps are electrically coupled with the second pair of electrical contacts.

2. The power delivery module of claim 1 , wherein the power fixture module comprises: a fixture module base plate having a first side and a second side; a positive contact pad and a negative contact pad positioned on the first side of the fixture module substrate so that they can electrically couple with the first pair of electrical contacts or the second pair of electrical contacts; a positive power clamp and a negative power clamp both positioned on the second side of the clamp module substrate, wherein the positive power clamp is electrically coupled to the positive contact pad and the negative power clamp is electrically coupled to the negative contact pad; and A shaft is coupled to the fixture module base plate, wherein the shaft is aligned with the second axis when the power fixture module is coupled to the power delivery plate.

3. The power delivery module of claim 2, wherein the PDB further comprises a clamp mounting channel adapted to rotatably receive the shaft, the mounting channel being positioned between the first pair of electrical contacts and the second pair of electrical contacts.

4. The power delivery module according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the fixture module substrate is circular, and the positive and negative contact pads are pie-shaped segments electrically insulated from each other and positioned on the same half of the fixture module substrate.

5. The power delivery module of claim 2 or 3, wherein the power fixture module substrate is square, and the positive and negative contact pads are quadrilateral and include buffer zones to account for misalignment between the positive and negative contact pads and their corresponding electrical contacts.

6. The power delivery module of claim 2 or 3, wherein the power fixture module further comprises a nut attached to the shaft, wherein the nut can be tightened to hold the power fixture module in place, or loosened to allow the power fixture module to rotate.

7. The power delivery module of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the power fixture module includes a visual indicator that, when pointed in a selected direction, indicates that the power fixture module is in a correct orientation and correctly integrated.

8. The power delivery module of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a rotatable connector mounted on a second side of the power delivery board, the rotatable connector aligned with the first axis and electrically coupled to both the first pair of electrical contacts and the second pair of electrical contacts.

9. The power delivery module of claim 8, further comprising power electronics electrically coupled between the rotatable connector and the first and second pairs of electrical contacts.

10. The power delivery module of claim 9, wherein the pair of power clamps electrically couples with only one of the first pair of electrical contacts or the second pair of electrical contacts at a time.

11. Information technology (IT) equipment, comprising: IT chassis; a motherboard, which is installed in the IT chassis and has electronic components thereon; a power delivery module chassis mounted to the IT chassis; as well as The power transmission module according to any one of claims 1 to 10, The power delivery module is mounted to the power delivery module chassis, and the power delivery module is electrically coupled to the mainboard; the power delivery module further comprises a rotatable connector mounted on a second side of the power delivery board, aligned with the first axis, and electrically coupled to both the first pair of electrical contacts and the second pair of electrical contacts, wherein the rotatable connector electrically couples the power delivery module to the mainboard.

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