MODULAR POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR INFORMATION PROCESSING EQUIPMENT

Abstract

A modular power distribution subsystem for an information processing device includes one or more power distribution boards and a plurality of power rails. Each power distribution board may include a first edge receptacle configured to receive a first power supply unit (PSU) edge connector and a second edge receptacle configured to receive a second PSU edge connector, wherein the second edge receptacle has a different form factor than the first edge receptacle. The power distribution board may further include a plurality of power connection receptacles, each configured to receive a power connection of one of the power rails.The power distribution boards can be connected to a system board of the information processing device via the power rails and the power receptacles in a variety of different configurations that can accommodate a variety of different types of power supplies and / or a variety of different positional arrangements of power supplies.

Claims

[1] Modular power distribution subsystem for an information processing device, comprising: one or more power distribution units; and a variety of busbars, each power distribution panel includes: a first edge connector receptacle configured to receive a first edge connector of the power supply unit (PSU); a second edge connector socket configured to receive a second PSU edge connector, the second edge connector socket having a different form factor than the first edge connector socket; and a plurality of power pin sockets, each configured to receive a power pin of one of the power rails, wherein the power distribution boards can be connected via the power rails and the power receptacles to a system board of the information processing device in a variety of different configurations that accommodate a variety of different types of power supplies and / or a variety of different positional arrangements of power supplies. [2] Modular power distribution subsystem according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of different configurations comprise at least a first configuration and a second configuration; wherein, in a state of the modular power distribution subsystem installed in the information processing device, in the first configuration, the first edge connector sockets of the power distribution boards are arranged to receive the first PSU edge connectors of first power supply units; and wherein in the second configuration, the second edge connector receptacles of the power distribution plates are arranged to receive the second PSU edge connectors of second power supply units, the second PSU edge connectors being different from the first PSU edge connectors. [3] Modular power distribution subsystem according to claim 2, wherein, in the first configuration, each of the power distribution boards is oriented such that its respective first edge receptacle faces in a first direction relative to the system board and its respective second edge receptacle faces in a second direction relative to the system board, the second direction being opposite to the first direction; and wherein in the second configuration, each of the power distribution plates is oriented such that its respective second edge receptacle points in the first direction and its respective first edge receptacle points in the second direction. [4] Modular power distribution subsystem according to claim 2, wherein the one or more power distribution cabinets comprise a plurality of distribution cabinets; and wherein in the first configuration and in the second configuration the power distribution boards are arranged side by side and are connected to each other and to the system board in a daisy-chain arrangement via the respective power connectors of the power distribution boards and via the power rails. [5] The modular power distribution subsystem of claim 4, wherein the plurality of different configurations includes: a first variant of the first configuration in which the power distribution plates are arranged side by side on a first side of the system board; a second variation of the first configuration in which the power distribution boards are arranged side by side on a second side of the system board opposite the first side; a first variant of the second configuration in which the power distribution plates are arranged side by side on the first side of the system board; and a second variant of the second configuration in which the power distribution plates are arranged side by side on the second side of the system board. [6] The modular power distribution subsystem of claim 4, wherein the plurality of different configurations include at least a third configuration in which a first group comprising one or more of the power distribution plates is arranged on a first side of the system board and a second group comprising one or more of the power distribution plates is arranged on a second side of the system board. [7] Modular power distribution subsystem according to claim 6, wherein, in the third configuration, the first edge connector receptacles of the power distribution panels are arranged to receive first PSU edge connectors of first power supply units; and the plurality of different configurations includes at least a fourth configuration in which the first group comprising one or more of the power distribution plates is positioned on the first side of the system board and the second group comprising one or more of the power distribution plates is positioned on the second side of the system board, and the second edge receptacles of the power distribution plates are arranged to receive second PSU edge connectors of second power supply units. [8] Modular power distribution subsystem according to claim 2, wherein the one or more power distribution panels comprise a first power distribution panel and a second power distribution panel; wherein in the first and second configurations, the first and second power distribution boards are arranged side by side on a first side of the system board; wherein, in the first configuration, a first pair of power outlets of the second power distribution card is connected to the system card by a first pair of power rails, and a first pair of power outlets of the first power distribution card is connected to a second pair of power outlets of the second power distribution card by a second pair of power rails; and wherein in the second configuration, the second pair of power pin sockets of the second power distribution board is connected to the system board through the first pair of power rails, and a second pair of power pin sockets of the first power distribution board is connected to the first pair of power pin sockets of the second distribution board through the second pair of power rails. [9] The modular power distribution subsystem of claim 8, wherein in the first and second configurations, the first and second power distribution panels are horizontally adjacent to each other. [10] The modular power distribution subsystem of claim 8, wherein in the first and second configurations, the first and second power distribution panels are arranged vertically side by side. [11] Modular power distribution subsystem according to claim 2, wherein the one or more power distribution panels comprise a first power distribution panel and a second power distribution panel; wherein the plurality of different configurations include a third configuration in which the first power distribution card is disposed adjacent to a first side of the system board and the second power distribution card is disposed adjacent to a second side of the system board opposite the first side. [12] Modular power distribution subsystem according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of configurations includes a fourth configuration in which the first power distribution card is positioned adjacent the first side of the system board and the second power distribution card is positioned adjacent the second side of the system board; wherein, in the third configuration, a first pair of power pin receptacles of the first power distribution board is connected to the system board by a first pair of power rails, a second pair of power pin receptacles of the second power distribution board is connected to the system board by a second pair of power rails, and the first edge receptacles of the first and second power distribution boards are arranged to receive the first PSU edge connectors; and wherein in the fourth configuration, a second pair of the power pin receptacles of the first power distribution board is connected to the system board through the first pair of power rails, a first pair of the power pin receptacles of the second power distribution board is connected to the system board through the second pair of power rails, and the second edge receptacles of the first and second power distribution boards are arranged to receive the second PSU edge connectors. [13] Information processing device comprising: a system board with a processor; two or more power supply units (PSUs); a modular power distribution subsystem configured to electrically connect the power supplies to the system board, the modular power distribution subsystem comprising: two or more power distribution cabinets; and a variety of busbars, each of the power distribution panels comprising: a first edge connector receptacle configured to receive a first PSU edge connector; a second edge connector receptacle configured to receive a second PSU edge connector and having a different form factor than the first edge connector receptacle; and a plurality of power pin sockets, each configured to receive a power pin of one of the power rails, wherein the power distribution boards are connected to the system board via the power rails and the power receptacles; and the modular power distribution subsystem is reconfigurable between a plurality of different configurations accommodating a plurality of different types of power supplies and / or a plurality of different positional arrangements of the power supplies. [14] Information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the modular power distribution subsystem is in a first configuration of the plurality of different configurations, and in the first configuration, the first edge receptacles of the power distribution panels face the power supplies; and wherein the modular power distribution subsystem is reconfigurable into a second configuration of the plurality of different configurations, and in the second configuration, the second edge receptacles of the power distribution panels are opposite the power supplies. [15] Information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein in the first configuration and in the second configuration the power distribution boards are arranged side by side and are connected to the system board in a daisy-chain arrangement via the power rails and the power receptacles. [16] Information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the modular power distribution subsystem is reconfigurable into a third configuration from the plurality of different configurations; wherein in the third configuration, a first group comprising one or more of the power distribution boards is arranged on a first side of the system board and a second group comprising one or more of the power distribution boards is arranged on a second side of the system board. [17] Information processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein in the third configuration, the first edge sockets of the power distribution plates are arranged facing the power supplies; and wherein the modular power distribution subsystem is reconfigurable into a fourth configuration of the plurality of different configurations, and in the fourth configuration, the first group comprising one or more of the power distribution boards is positioned on the first side of the system board and the second group comprising one or more of the power distribution boards is positioned on the second side of the system board, and the second edge receptacles of the power distribution boards are arranged to face the power supplies. [18] Information processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the power distribution panels comprise a first power distribution panel and a second power distribution panel; wherein, in a first configuration of the plurality of different configurations, the first and second power distribution boards are arranged side by side on a first side of the system board and are connected to the system board in a daisy-chain arrangement by the power rails and the power receptacles; and wherein in a second configuration of the plurality of different configurations, the first power distribution board is positioned adjacent the first side of the system board and the second power distribution board is positioned adjacent a second side of the system board opposite the first side, and each of the first and second power distribution boards is connected to the system board by the power rails and the power pin receptacles. [19] Information processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein in the first configuration the first and second power distribution panels are arranged horizontally side by side, and in a third configuration of the plurality of different configurations, the first and second power distribution plates are located vertically next to one another. [20] Procedure comprising: Identifying the location of power supply units (PSUs) to be used in an information processing device; identifying a type of power supplies to be used in the information processing device; selectively configuring a modular power distribution subsystem of the information processing device to accommodate the identified position arrangement of the power supplies and the identified type of power supplies, wherein the modular power distribution subsystem is reconfigurable between a plurality of different configurations that can accommodate a plurality of different positional arrangements of power supplies and a plurality of different types of power supplies; and wherein the selective configuration of the modular power distribution subsystem comprises: selectively positioning power distribution cards of the modular power distribution subsystem relative to a system card of the information processing system according to the identified position arrangement; selectively aligning the power distribution plates so that a first edge receptacle thereof or a second edge receptacle thereof faces the power supplies according to the identified type of power supply; and Connecting the power distribution cards to the system board through a plurality of power rails of the modular power distribution subsystem, wherein the power rails are connected to power receptacles of the power distribution cards.

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