Power supplies, methods of installing power supplies, power distribution systems and methods of installing power distribution systems

• US 20050237724A1
• Filed: 02/23/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Streak Products Inc (Systemax Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Carl Fiorentino
• Inventors: Fiorentino, Carl, Kuo, Chih-Wei
• Granted Patent: US 7,313,000 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1457 Power distribution arrangements

Abstract

The present invention relates to power supplies, methods of installing power supplies, power distribution systems and methods of installing power distribution systems. More particularly, one embodiment of the present invention relates to a power distribution system for receiving AC current from an AC current source and for distributing DC current inside of a computer case.

Claims

1. A power distribution system for receiving AC current from an AC current source and for distributing DC current inside of a computer case at least partially covering an internal frame, comprising:

a power supply housing having an interior volume defined by a top panel, a bottom panel and a plurality of side panels;

AC to DC circuitry disposed within the interior volume of the power supply housing;

at least two DC output sockets, wherein each DC output socket is fixed to one of the top panel, bottom panel and side panels defining the interior volume of the power supply in which the AC to DC circuitry is disposed; and

at least two DC distribution sockets, wherein each DC distribution socket is remote from the power supply housing and is fixed to the internal frame;

wherein the AC to DC circuitry receives AC current from the AC current source;

wherein the AC to DC circuitry converts the received AC current into DC current and supplies the DC current to each DC output socket; and

wherein each DC output socket is fixed to one of the panels of the power supply housing in a position such that when the power supply is installed within the computer case each DC output socket is disposed inside of the computer case to allow a respective one of a plurality of removable cables to be removably connected between a single respective one of the DC output sockets and a single respective one of the DC distribution sockets.

2. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein a component which is to receive DC current is disposed inside of the computer case and the component receives the DC current from at least one of the DC distribution sockets.

3. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein each DC output socket is fixed to one of the panels of the power supply housing in a position such that when the power supply is installed within the computer case each DC output socket is disposed inside of the computer case to allow a respective removable cable to be:

(a) removably connected between the single respective DC output socket and the single respective DC distribution socket; and

(b) to reside entirely within the computer case.

4. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the DC distribution sockets is connected to another of the DC distribution sockets to supply DC current thereto.

5. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the computer case is a case for a personal computer.

6. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein each removable cable is removably connected to a respective DC output socket via a first plug and is removably connected to a respective DC distribution socket via a second plug.

7. The power distribution system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second plugs is formed by plastic injection molding.

8. The power distribution system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first and second plugs is formed of a first plug half and a second plug half which interface in a cooperative manner to form the plug.

9. The power distribution system of claim 2, wherein the component disposed within the computer case is selected from the group including:

(a) a motherboard;

(b) a magnetic disc drive;

(c) an optical disc drive;

(d) an input/output card;

(e) a memory card;

(f) a sound card;

(g) a gaming card;

(h) a video card;

(i) a network card;

(j) network hub; and

(k) a cooling device.

10. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the power supply housing is formed from a plurality of housing elements which interface in a cooperative manner to define the top panel, the bottom panel and the plurality of side panels.

11. The power distribution system of claim 10, wherein the power supply housing is formed from two housing elements which interface in a cooperative manner to define the top panel, the bottom panel and the plurality of side panels.

12. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the top panel, the bottom panel and one of the plurality of side panels includes an insert element which is reactive to UV light.

13. The power distribution system of claim 12, wherein the insert element gives off visible light when UV light is applied thereto.

14. The power distribution system of claim 13, wherein the insert element gives off visible light of a color selected from the group including:

(a) green;

(b) blue;

(c) red;

(d) orange;

(e) yellow; and

(f) white.

15. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the power supply includes at least one fan assembly including a fan housing and a fan blade and at least one of the fan housing and the fan blade is reactive to UV light.

16. The power distribution system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the fan housing and the fan blade gives off visible light when UV light is applied thereto.

17. The power distribution system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the fan housing and the fan blade gives off visible light of a color selected from the group including:

(a) green;

(b) blue;

(c) red;

(d) orange;

(e) yellow; and

(f) white.

18. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the removable cable is reactive to UV light.

19. The power distribution system of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the removable cable gives off visible light when UV light is applied thereto.

20. The power distribution system of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the removable cable gives off visible light of a color selected from the group including:

(a) green;

(b) blue;

(c) red;

(d) orange;

(e) yellow; and

(f) white.

21. A power distribution system for receiving DC current from a power supply and for distributing the DC current to at least one component disposed inside of a computer case at least partially covering an internal frame, comprising:

a DC distribution socket fixed to the internal frame, wherein the DC distribution socket operatively connects with a first end of a cable removable therefrom and wherein a second end of the cable operatively connects to the power supply to supply DC current therefrom; and

a DC current carrying mechanism for electrically connecting the component disposed inside of the computer case to the DC distribution socket for receiving DC current therefrom;

wherein the cable is disposed entirely within the computer case and the cable is disposed at least partially inside the internal frame and at least partially outside the internal frame.

22. The power distribution system of claim 21, further comprising a plurality of DC distribution sockets, at least one of which is connected to another to supply DC current thereto.

23. The power distribution system of claim 21, wherein the second end of the cable is hard-wired to the power supply.

24. The power distribution system of claim 21, wherein the second end of the cable is removable from the power supply.

25. The power distribution system of claim 21, wherein the first end of the cable connects to the DC distribution socket via a plug.

26. The power distribution system of claim 25, wherein the plug is formed by plastic injection molding.

27. The power distribution system of claim 26, wherein the plug is formed of a first plug half and a second plug half which interface in a cooperative manner to form the plug.

28. The power distribution system of claim 24, wherein the first end of the cable connects to the DC distribution socket via a first plug and the second end of the cable connects to the power supply via a second plug.

29. The power distribution system of claim 28, wherein each of the first and second plugs is formed by plastic injection molding.

30. The power distribution system of claim 29, wherein each of the first and second plugs is formed of a first plug half and a second plug half which interface in a cooperative manner to form the plug.

31. The power distribution system of claim 21, wherein the computer case is a case for a personal computer.

32. The power distribution system of claim 21, wherein the component disposed within the computer case is selected from the group including:

(a) a motherboard;

(b) a magnetic disc drive;

(c) an optical disc drive;

(d) an input/output card;

(e) a memory card;

(f) a sound card;

(g) a gaming card;

(h) a video card;

(i) a network card;

(j) network hub; and

(k) a cooling device.