Keyed Lug Busbar Power Redundancy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Information handling systems face challenges in providing redundant and correct voltage levels to storage blades without impeding thermal circulation, as incorrect voltage can cause damage and data loss, and existing solutions struggle to manage multiple voltage requirements and heat dissipation effectively.

Innovation Solution

A power delivery system with at least two power supplies connected by a bridge using keyed lugs and busbar assemblies, ensuring correct voltage application and redundancy while allowing efficient airflow by minimizing wiring and using integral attachment points to prevent incorrect voltage connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple voltage connections are provided to storage blades, then power redundancy and correct voltage levels can be supplied, but the risk of incorrect voltage application and component damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply redundancyVSAvoidincorrect voltage damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry through keyed lugs with unique shapes that correspond to specific voltage levels. Each lug has a distinct geometry (e.g., different numbers of holes, varying distances between holes) that allows it to fit only into the correct attachment point on the busbar assembly, preventing incorrect voltage connections while maintaining power redundancy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Reliability

If redundant power supplies are implemented, then power availability is improved, but the complexity of managing multiple voltage levels and connections increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower availabilityVSAvoidvoltage management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The busbar assembly serves multiple functions: it provides electrical connections for multiple voltage levels (12V, 5V, 3.3V), acts as a mechanical support structure, and incorporates keyed attachment points that guide correct cable installation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate management mechanisms for each voltage level

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If extensive wiring is used to provide multiple voltage connections, then power redundancy is achieved, but thermal circulation and airflow are impeded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower redundancyVSAvoidthermal circulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate wiring paths into a single integrated busbar assembly. Instead of having separate cables for each voltage level, all voltage connections are consolidated onto one busbar structure with multiple attachment points, significantly reducing the total amount of wiring and improving airflow and thermal circulation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2671131B1System and method for a redundant and keyed power solution
Publication Date: 2018.04.04 DELL PROD LP
  • EP2671131B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2671131B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2671131B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

In accordance with the present disclosure, a system and method a power deliver system is presented. The power delivery system includes at least two power supplies with a bridge connecting an output of each of the at least two power supplies. The bridge may be made of busbars, each of which including an integral attachment point. Each of the attachment points may correspond to a lug which has been specifically keyed to the shape of the attachment point. The lugs may be attached to conductor cables that provide power from the power supplies to components in an information handling system. In some embodiments, each end of a conductor cable may include lugs of the same shape, to ensure that the correct voltage is supplied to the components of the information handling system.