PDU Outlet LED Indicators for Safe Power Cable Disconnection

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Solution Overview

Problem

In complex computer environments like data centers, maintenance technicians face difficulties in identifying and disconnecting the correct power cables from power distribution units (PDUs) due to bundling and accessibility issues, leading to inefficient maintenance and potential unintentional shutdowns of operational hardware devices.

Innovation Solution

A programmable logic circuit within the PDU assigns values to outlets and controls light-emitting diodes (LEDs) based on information about power supplies and conditions, indicating whether it is safe to disconnect power cables by activating, deactivating, or blinking the LEDs, helping technicians identify suitable cables for disconnection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If power cables are bundled together for organization, then cable management is improved, but accessibility and identifiability of specific cables deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable managementVSAvoidcable identifiability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses LED indicators that emit different colors or patterns to visually identify specific power cables and their operational status. Each LED is associated with a particular outlet and power cable, allowing technicians to quickly locate and identify cables without unbundling them, thus maintaining cable organization while improving identifiability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary visual indication system (LED indicators) between the power distribution unit and the technician. These LEDs serve as mediators that convey information about cable status and connectivity, enabling technicians to identify cables remotely without physical manipulation or unbundling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If physical tracing and unbundling of power cables is performed to locate correct cables, then cable identification is improved, but maintenance time and efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable identificationVSAvoidmaintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring and monitoring the status of each power outlet and associated cable before maintenance is needed. LED indicators are already in place showing the operational status and identity of each cable, so when maintenance is required, technicians can immediately identify the correct cable without time-consuming tracing or unbundling operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical process of physically tracing and unbundling cables with an optical information system. Instead of manually following cables through bundles, technicians use visual LED indicators to identify cable locations and status, substituting mechanical search operations with optical information display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If multiple power cables are disconnected to ensure power removal, then power disconnection reliability is improved, but risk of unintentional shutdown of operational devices increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower disconnection reliabilityVSAvoidunintentional shutdown risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the power supply status of connected devices and displaying this information through LED indicators. Before disconnection, technicians can verify which cables are actively powering devices and which are redundant, allowing informed decisions about which cables to disconnect while maintaining power supply reliability and avoiding unintentional shutdowns of operational devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The power distribution unit performs self-service by automatically monitoring and displaying the functional status of each outlet and connected device. The system independently provides information about power redundancy and device status, enabling technicians to make accurate disconnection decisions without manual verification or guesswork, thus maintaining reliability while preventing harmful unintentional shutdowns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution streamlines the disconnection process by clearly indicating which power cables can be safely disconnected, reducing maintenance time and preventing unintended hardware shutdowns by providing a visual indication of power redundancy and functionality.

Implementation Method 1

at least one light-emitting diode (LED) associated with the outlet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight-emitting diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentUS9945893B2Determining suitability for disconnection from an electrical outlet based on status of power supplies of a hardware device

Publication Date: 2018.04.17 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

A programmable logic circuit assigns a value to an outlet of a power distribution unit (PDU) that comprises a power source at an input of the PDU and at least one light-emitting diode (LED) associated with the outlet. The programmable logic circuit sends the value to a program on a hardware device that comprises one or more power supplies. The programmable logic circuit receives information from the program. Subsequently, an illumination state of the LED is modified based on the information.