CONTACTLESS CONNECTORS FOR USE IN A HIGH FREQUENCY ALTERNATING CURRENT POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

• US 20020060918A1
• Filed: 05/14/1999
• Published: 05/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: DROBNIK, JOSEF C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,430,069 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/68
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type

Abstract

A high frequency alternating current (AC) power distribution system includes a transmission medium. A system power supply is coupled to the transmission medium. A high frequency AC voltage regulator module (VRM) is coupled to the transmission medium via a contactless connector.

Claims

1. A high frequency alternating current (AC) power distribution system, comprising:

a transmission medium;

a system power supply coupled to the transmission medium;

a high frequency AC voltage regulator module (VRM) coupled to the transmission medium via a contactless connector.

2. The high frequency AC power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the transmission medium comprises a data bus.

3. The high frequency AC power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the system power supply comprises an inverter that transmits power in a high frequency AC domain on the transmission medium.

4. The high frequency AC power distribution system of claim 3, wherein the inverter comprises:

a rectifier unit that converts the power from a AC domain to a direct current (DC) domain;

a switching unit, coupled to the rectifier, that converts the power from a DC domain to a high frequency AC domain; and

a resonant circuit, coupled to the switching unit, that smooths an output of the power in the high frequency AC domain.

5. The high frequency AC power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the high frequency AC VRM comprises a post-regulator unit that regulates power in a high frequency AC domain from the transmission medium to a component on a computer system.

6. The high frequency AC power distribution system of claim 5, wherein the post-regulator unit comprises:

a rectifier unit that converts the power from the high frequency AC domain to a direct current (DC) domain; and

a filtering unit, coupled to the rectifier unit, that filters out noise from an output of the power from the DC domain.

7. The high frequency AC power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the contactless connector comprises a transformer with a primary core coupled to the transmission medium and a secondary core coupled to the high frequency AC VRM.

8. A high frequency alternating current (AC) voltage regulator module (VRM), comprising:

a contactless connector coupled to a transmission medium;

a post-regulator unit, coupled to the contactless connector, that regulates power in a high frequency AC domain from the transmission medium to a component on a computer system.

9. The high frequency AC VRM of claim 8, wherein the contactless connector comprises a transformer with a primary core coupled to the transmission medium and a secondary core coupled to the post-regulator unit.

10. The high frequency AC VRM of claim 8, wherein the post-regulator unit comprises:

a rectifier unit that converts the power from the high frequency AC domain to a direct current (DC) domain; and

a filtering unit, coupled to the rectifier unit, that filters out noise from an output of the power from the DC domain.

13. The system power supply of claim 10, wherein the inverter comprises:

a rectifier unit that converts the power from a AC domain to a direct current (DC) domain;

a switching unit, coupled to the rectifier, that converts the power from a DC domain to a high frequency AC domain; and

a resonant circuit, coupled to the switching unit, that smooths an output of the power in the high frequency AC domain.

11. A system power supply, comprising:

an inverter that regulates power into a high frequency AC domain; and

a contactless connector that couples the inverter to a transmission medium.

12. The system power supply of claim 11, wherein the contactless connector comprises a transformer with a primary core coupled to the inverter and a secondary core coupled to the transmission medium.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the contactless connector comprises a transformer with a primary core coupled to the system power supply and a secondary core coupled to the transmission medium.

17. The electronic system of claim 14, wherein the contactless connector comprises a transformer with a primary core coupled to the system power supply and a secondary core coupled to the transmission medium.

14. A computer system, comprising:

a processor;

a transmission medium;

a system power supply coupled to the transmission medium via a contactless connector; and

a high frequency voltage regulator module, coupled to the transmission medium, that regulates power from the transmission medium to the processor.

16. An electronic system, comprising:

an electronic service;

a transmission medium;

a system power supply coupled to the transmission medium via a contactless connector; and

a high frequency voltage regulator module, coupled to the transmission medium, that regulates power from the transmission medium to the processor