Electronic system having a release control and method

• US 20070047180A1
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Belson, Steven, Peterson, Martha, Wirtzberger, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,791,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/600
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1457 Power distribution arrangements

Abstract

Various embodiments of an electronic system and method for removing a power module from an electronic system are provided. The electronic system includes a power module that supplies power to a load and is movable along an axis from an enabling position to a disconnected position. The electronic system also includes a release control that restricts the movement of the power module along the axis when the power module is moved beyond a disabling position located between the enabling position and the disconnected position.

Claims

1. An electronic system comprising:

a first power module that supplies power to a load and is movable along an axis from an enabling position to a disconnected position in which the first power module is disconnected from the load; and

a release control that restricts the movement of the power module along the axis when the power module is moved to a disabling position located between the enabling position and the disconnected position.

2. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the release control restricts movement of the power module by causing the power module to decelerate.

3. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the release control restricts movement of the power module by causing the power module to stop.

4. The electronic system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second power module that supplies power to the load and is in electrical communication with the first power module; and

wherein the second power module is adapted to increase power to the load when the first power module is moved to the disabling position.

5. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the release control is in physical communication with the power module.

6. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the electronic system further comprises a chassis and the release control is in physical communication with the chassis.

7. The electronic system of claim 6, wherein the release control is internal to the chassis.

8. The electronic system of claim 6, wherein the release control is external to the chassis.

9. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the release control comprises a protrusion that contacts the power module causing it to stop when the power module is moved along the axis to a position between the disabling position and the disconnected position.

10. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the electronic system further comprises a chassis external to the power module, and the release control comprises a protrusion that contacts the chassis causing the power module to stop when the power module is moved along the axis to a position between the disabling position and the disconnected position.

11. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the release control comprises a rack and a pinion that come into contact with one another causing the first power module to decelerate when it is moved along the axis between the disabling position and the disconnected position.

12. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein:

the power module comprises a signal connector and an output voltage connector, the length of the signal connector being shorter than the output voltage connector; and

the release control restricts the movement of the power module along the axis when the signal connector is disconnected from the load and the output voltage connector is connected to the load.

13. The electronic system of claim 1, wherein the power output provided by the power module is less than about 90% or less of the operating voltage.

14. The electronic system of claim 3, further comprising a clinch that prevents a release of the power module without restriction of the movement of the power module.

15. A method comprising:

moving a power module of an electronic system along an axis to disconnect a signal connector of a power module from a load; and

engaging a release control while an output voltage connector of the power module remains connected to the load.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

disengaging the release control after the signal connector is disconnected; and

disconnecting the output voltage connector of the power module from the load after the release control is disengaged.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising preventing the disengaging of the release control until after the signal connector is disconnected.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein deactivating the power module comprises moving the power module out of contact with a chassis of the electronic system.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the power output provided by the power module is less than about 90% or less of the operating voltage when the output voltage connector is disconnected from the load.

20. An electronic system comprising:

a first power module that supplies voltage to a load and is movable along an axis from an enabling position to a disconnected position in which the first power module is disconnected from the load; and

a means for restricting movement of the power module when the power module is moved beyond a disabling position located between an enabling position and a disconnected position.

21. The electronic system of claim 20 wherein the means for restricting movement of the power module along the axis comprises means for interfacing the power module with a chassis of the electronic system to stop movement of the power module relative to the chassis.

22. The electronic system of claim 20, further comprising means for preventing a release of the power module without stopping the movement of the power module relative to the chassis.

23. The electronic system of claim 20, wherein the means for restricting movement of the power module along the axis comprises means for interfacing the power module with a chassis of the electronic system to slow the movement of the power module relative to the chassis.