Modular voltage regulator

• US 20060139888A1
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Barsun, Stephan Karl, Williams, Gary W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,154,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/715
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/614 including two stages of regulation, at least one of which is output level responsive

Abstract

An assembly comprises a voltage regulator module and a field-pluggable voltage converter module configured in an arrangement that interlocks with and optionally attaches to the voltage regulator module.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a voltage regulator module; and

a field-pluggable voltage converter module configured in an arrangement that interlocks with and optionally attaches to the voltage regulator module.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

the voltage regulator module regulates power from a first voltage for usage in a first system adapted for usage at the first voltage, and the voltage converter module, when attached to the voltage regulator module, converts the electronic apparatus to regulate power from a second voltage for usage in a second system adapted for usage at the second voltage.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

packaging containing the voltage regulator module and the voltage converter module in combination as a single inventory part number.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a component frame configured in an arrangement that interlocks with and convertibly attaches to the voltage regulator module.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising:

packaging containing the voltage regulator module, the voltage converter module, and the component frame in combination as a single inventory part number.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a heat sink coupled to the voltage regulator module.

7. An electronic system comprising:

an electronic component adapted to operate at an operating voltage; and

a power package adapted to receive the electronic component and comprising at least two functional units, the at least two functional units including a functional unit that is selectively included or omitted from the power package to supply the operating voltage.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein the power package further comprises:

a voltage regulator module and a voltage converter module in combination as a single inventory part number.

9. The system according to claim 7 wherein the power package further comprises:

a voltage regulator module; and

a field-pluggable voltage converter module configured in an arrangement that interlocks with and optionally attaches to the voltage regulator module.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein:

the voltage regulator module regulates power to a first voltage for usage in a first system adapted for usage at the first voltage, and the voltage converter module, when attached to the voltage regulator module, converts the power package to regulate power to a second voltage for usage in a second system adapted for usage at the second voltage.

11. The system according to claim 9 further comprising:

packaging containing the voltage regulator module and the voltage converter module in combination as a single inventory part number.

12. The system according to claim 9 wherein the power package further comprises:

a component frame configured in an arrangement that interlocks with and convertibly attaches to the voltage regulator module.

13. The system according to claim 9 further comprising:

packaging containing the voltage regulator module, the voltage converter module, and the component frame in combination as a single inventory part number.

14. The system according to claim 9 wherein:

a heat sink coupled to the voltage regulator module.

15. A method of arranging an electronic system comprising:

providing a voltage regulator module;

providing a field-pluggable voltage converter module; and

configuring the voltage converter module in an arrangement that interlocks with and optionally attaches to the voltage regulator module.

16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising:

packaging the voltage regulator module and the voltage converter module in combination as a single inventory part number.

17. The method according to claim 15 further comprising:

regulating power to a first voltage for usage in a first system adapted for usage at the first voltage; and

selectively converting to a second voltage for usage in a second system adapted for usage at the second voltage.

18. The method according to claim 15 further comprising:

providing a component frame; and

configuring the component frame in an arrangement that interlocks with and convertibly attaches to the voltage regulator module.

19. The method according to claim 18 further comprising:

packaging the voltage regulator module, the voltage converter module, and the component frame in combination as a single inventory part number.

20. The method according to claim 19 further comprising:

attaching a heat sink to the voltage regulator module.