Stackable power supply system

• US 20020193015A1
• Filed: 08/08/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Henry Milan
• Original Assignee: Henry Milan
• Inventors: Milan, Henry
• Granted Patent: US 6,726,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/752.5
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4095 in incremental bus architectures, e.g. bus stacks

Abstract

A modular stackable hub system that includes at least one stackable hub for communicating any combination of a multiplicity of electrical signals, for example, ISDN modems, port replication, USB to Ethernet, Ethernet switching, direct current, alternating current, routers, KVM switches, cable modem, firewire, DVD drives, CDRW drives, and USB. The stackable hub would include at least one upstream port and at least one downstream port for releasable mounting to other components in the stackable component system, and may include at least one external port and/or at least one bay for receiving a removable module. The upstream port would communicate upstream electrical signals, which may be any combination of the electrical signals, for example, the aforementioned electrical signals, with an upstream component, and may pass these electrical signals on to the downstream port, where a separate downstream component may be connected, and/or the external port. The removable module may, for example, be a surge protector. Consequently, any number of stackable hubs may be stacked together and releasably mounted to and communicating electrical signals with a base unit.

Claims

1. A stackable component comprising:

a housing;

a circuit disposed within said housing;

at least one first power port disposed on a first portion of said housing for mounting said component to a upstream stackable component, if desired, and for communicating at least a first electrical signal to said upstream stackable component, wherein said at least one first power port is electrically connected to said circuit; and

at least one second power port disposed on a second portion of said housing for mounting said stackable component to a downstream stackable component, if desired, and for communicating at least a second electrical signal to said downstream stackable component, wherein said at least one second power port is electrically connected to said circuit.

2. The device defined in claim 1 further comprising at least one external port disposed on a third portion of said housing for communicating at least a third electrical signal to said circuit.

3. The device defined in claim 1 further comprising at least one bay disposed in said housing for receiving at least one removable module.

4. The device defined in claim 3, wherein said removable module is electrically connected to said circuit.

5. The device defined in claim 3, wherein said removable module comprises a surge protector.

6. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit includes direct current power.

7. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit includes alternating current power.

8. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit includes an ISDN modem.

9. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit includes port replication.

10. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit includes USB to Ethernet conversion.

11. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit includes a router.

12. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit includes KVM switches.

13. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit includes a cable modem.

14. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit includes firewire.

15. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit includes at least one DVD drive.

16. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit includes at least one CD-RW drive

17. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit includes USB.

18. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said first power port includes a first power port connector, a voltage conductor and ground conductor for supplying voltage and ground from said stackable component to said upstream component to supply the current requirements of said upstream component in high power applications.

19. The device defined in claim 18, wherein said first or top power port connector includes a boss extending from said housing.

20. The device defined in claim 19, wherein said boss is square shaped.

21. The device defined in claim 18, wherein said first power port connector includes a recess disposed in said housing, a pair of flanges each extending over said recess, and a pair of oppositely disposed grooves, wherein each of said grooves is defined between one of said flanges and said recess.

22. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said second power port includes a second power port connector, a voltage conductor and a ground conductor for receiving voltage and ground from said downstream component connected to said second power port.

23. The device defined in claim 22, wherein said second power port connector includes a recess extending into said housing, said recess being shaped to receive a first power port disposed on said downstream component, wherein said first power port is similar to said first power port disposed on said stackable hub.

24. The device defined in claim 22, wherein said second power port connector includes a boss protruding from said housing and a pair of flanges, each of said flanges extending from a side opposite said boss, and a groove defined between each of said flanges and said housing.

26. The device defined in claim 25, and further comprising at least one bay disposed in said housing for receiving at least one removable module.

27. The device defined in claim 26, wherein said removable module is electrically connected to said circuit.

28. The device defined in claim 26, wherein said removable module comprises a surge protector.

57. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said housing comprises:

a) A top portion, and at least a portion of a second opening therein to receive a back portion a top portion having an first or top power port provided therein, at least a portion of an opening therein to receive a faceplate

b) a bottom portion closing said top portion, and together with said at least a portion of an opening therein to receive a faceplate portion and said at least a portion of a second opening therein to receive a back portion, defining an opening to receive a faceplate portion and a second portion to receive a back portion,

c) an interchangeable faceplate portion of said housing mounted in said opening to receive a faceplate portion, and

d) an interchangeable back portion of said housing mounted in said second opening to receive a back portion.

58. The device defined in claim 25, wherein said housing comprises:

a) a top portion having an first or top power port provided therein, at least a portion of an opening therein to receive a faceplate portion, and at least a portion of a second opening therein to receive a back portion

b) a bottom portion closing said top portion, and together with said at least a portion of an opening therein to receive a faceplate portion and said at least a portion of a second opening therein to receive a back portion, defining an opening to receive a faceplate portion and a second portion to receive a back portion,

c) an interchangeable faceplate portion of said housing mounted in said opening to receive a faceplate portion, and

d) an interchangeable back portion of said housing mounted in said second opening to receive a back portion.

25. A base unit releasably mountable to a housing of a stackable component, said base unit comprising:

a housing;

a circuit disposed within said housing;

at least one outlet for distributing AC power to an electrical component connected thereto, wherein said outlet is electrically connected to said circuit; and

at least one first power port disposed on said housing for removably mounting said base unit to an upstream stackable component and for communicating at least one electrical signal with said upstream stackable component, wherein said first power port is electrically connected to said circuit.

29. A removeable surge suppression module comprising:

a housing including a base portion, and a cover portion fastenable to said base portion to enclose a space;

a printed circuit board enclosed within said space;

a first male connector mechanically and electrically connected to said printed circuit board, at least a portion of said first male connector extending outside said housing;

a second male connector mechanically and electrically connected to said printed circuit board, at least a portion of said second male connector extending outside said housing;

a third male connector mechanically and electrically connected to said printed circuit board, at least a portion of said third male connector extending outside said housing;

a forth male connector mechanically and electrically connected to said printed circuit board, at least a portion of said forth male connector extending outside said housing; and

surge suppression circuitry carried by said printed circuit board and electrically connected to said first male connector, said second male connector, said third male connector and said forth male connector.

30. A PCI card comprising:

i. A face plate;

ii. A printed circuit board fastened to said face plate;

iii. A DC connector mounted on said face plate comprising a voltage conductor and a ground conductor;

iv. Pads A-H carried by said printed circuit board, with pads E, F, H each receiving 5 volts DC when said PCI card is plugged into a PCI slot in a computer, and pad C receiving a ground connection when said PCI card is plugged into a PCI slot in a computer.

31. The PCI card defined in claim 30, wherein a Y-connector is connected to said voltage conductor and said ground conductor.

32. A modular stackable hub system comprising:

a base unit comprising;

a housing;

a circuit disposed within said base housing;

at least one outlet for distributing AC power to an electrical component connected thereto, wherein said outlet is electrically connected to said circuit;

at least one first power port disposed on said housing for removably mounting said base unit to an upstream stackable hub and for communicating at least a first electrical signal with said upstream stackable hub, wherein said first power port is electrically connected to said circuit;

at least one stackable hub removably mountable to said first power port comprising;

a housing;

a circuit disposed within said housing;

at least one first power port disposed on a first portion of said housing for mounting said stackable hub to an upstream stackable component and for communicating at least a second electrical signal with said upstream stackable component, wherein said power port is electrically connected to said circuit; and

at least second power port disposed on a second portion of said housing for mounting said stackable hub to a hub downstream stackable component and for communicating at least a third electrical signal with said hub downstream stackable component, wherein said second downstream port is electrically connected to said hub circuit.

33. The invention defined in claim 32, further comprising at least one bay disposed in said base housing for receiving at least one base removable module.

34. The invention defined in claim 33, wherein said base removable module is electrically connected to said base circuit.

35. The invention defined in claim 33, wherein said base removable module comprises a surge protector.

36. The invention defined in claim 32, further comprising at least one bay disposed in said hub housing for receiving at least one hub removable module.

37. The invention defined in claim 36, wherein said hub removable module is electrically connected to said hub circuit.

38. The invention defined in claim 36, wherein said hub removable module comprises a surge protector.

39. The invention defined in claim 32 wherein said circuit includes direct current power.

40. The invention defined in claim 32 wherein said circuit includes an ISDN modem.

41. The invention defined in claim 32 wherein said circuit includes port replication.

42. The invention defined in claim 32 wherein said circuit includes USB to Ethernet conversion.

43. The invention defined in claim 32 wherein said circuit includes a router.

44. The invention defined in claim 32 wherein said circuit includes KVM switches.

45. The invention defined in claim 32 wherein said circuit includes a cable modem.

46. The invention defined in claim 32 wherein said circuit includes firewire.

47. The invention defined in claim 32 wherein said circuit includes a DVD drive.

48. The invention defined in claim 32 wherein said circuit includes CDRW drives.

49. The invention defined in claim 32 wherein said circuit includes USB.

50. The invention defined in claim 32 wherein said first power port includes an first power port connector, a voltage conductor and ground conductor for receiving voltage and ground from said base unit to supply high current requirements of said hub in high power applications.

51. The invention defined in claim 50, wherein said first power port connector includes a boss extending from said stackable hub housing.

52. The invention defined in claim 50, wherein said boss is square shaped.

53. The invention defined in claim 50, wherein said first port connector includes a recess disposed in said hub housing, a pair of flanges each extending over said recess, and a pair of oppositely disposed grooves, wherein each of said grooves is defined between one of said flanges and said recess.

54. The invention defined in claim 50, wherein each of said second power ports includes a second power port connector, voltage conductor and ground conductor for receiving voltage and ground from said downstream stackable component connected to said second power port.

55. The invention defined in claim 54, wherein said each second or bottom power port connector includes a recess extending into respective said stackable housing, said recess being shaped to receive an upstream port disposed on said downstream stackable components, wherein said upstream port is similar to said upstream port disposed on said stackable hub.

56. The invention defined in claim 54 wherein each said second or bottom power port connector includes a boss protruding from respective said housing and a pair of flanges, each of said flanges extending from a side opposite said boss, and a groove defined between each of said flanges and respective said housing.