Stackable power supply system

• US 6,726,509 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henry Milan
• Original Assignee: Henry Milan
• Inventors: Milan, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): LUEBKE, RENEE S
• Application Number:
  US10/214,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20020193015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 439/752.5, 439/284, 439/286.92, 439/295, 439/529, 439/530, 439/540.1, 439/928, 439/928.1, 361/731, 361/732, 361/733, 361/735
• 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 having an axis of stacking;

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 along said axis of stacking, if desired, and for supplying high vower voltage and ground 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 along said axis of stacking, if desired, and for receiving high power voltage and ground from said downstream stackable component, wherein said at least one second power port is electrically connected to said circuit.

2. The stackable component 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 stackable component defined in claim 1 further comprising at least one bay disposed in said housing for receiving at least one removable module.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

18. The stackable component defined in claim 1, wherein said first power port includes a first power port connector, a voltage conductor and ground conductor for supplying said high power 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 stackable component defined in claim 18, wherein said first power port connector includes a boss extending from said housing.

20. The stackable component defined in claim 19 wherein said boss is square shaped.

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

22. The stackable component defined in claim 1, 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.

23. The stackable component 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.

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

a housing having an axis of stacking;

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 along said axis of stacking and for communicating at least one electrical power signal with said upstream stackable component, wherein said first power port is electrically connected to said circuit.

25. The base unit defined in claim 24, and further comprising at least one bay disposed in said housing for receiving at least one removable module.

26. The base unit defined in claim 25, wherein said removable module is electrically connected to said circuit.

27. The base unit defined in claim 25, wherein said removable module comprises a surge protector.

28. The base unit defined in claim 24, 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.

29. A modular stackable hub system comprising:

a base unit comprising;

a base housing having an axis of stacking;

a base 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 base circuit;

at least one first base power port disposed on said base housing and aligned with said axis of stacking for removably mounting said base unit to an upstream stackable hub and for communicating at least a first electrical power

signal with said upstream stackable hub, wherein said first base power port is electrically connected to said base circuit;

at least one stackable hub removably mountable to said first base power port along said axis of stacking comprising;

a hub housing;

a hub circuit disposed within said hub housing;

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

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

30. The system defined in claim 29, further comprising at least one bay disposed in said base housing for receiving at least one base removable module.

31. The system defined in claim 30, wherein said base removable module is electrically connected to said base circuit.

32. The system defined in claim 30, wherein said base removable module comprises a surge protector.

33. The system defined in claim 29, further comprising at least one bay disposed in said hub housing for receiving at least one hub removable module.

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

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

36. The system defined in claim 29 wherein said hub circuit includes direct current power.

37. The system defined in claim 29 wherein said hub circuit includes an ISDN modem.

38. The system defined in claim 29 wherein said hub circuit includes port replication.

39. The system defined in claim 29 wherein said hub circuit includes USB to Ethernet conversion.

40. The system defined in claim 29 wherein said hub circuit includes a router.

41. The system defined in claim 29 wherein said hub circuit includes KVM switches.

42. The system defined in claim 29 wherein said hub circuit includes a cable modem.

43. The system defined in claim 29 wherein said hub circuit includes firewire.

44. The system defined in claim 29 wherein said hub circuit includes a DVD drive.

45. The system defined in claim 29 wherein said hub circuit includes CDRW drives.

46. The system defined in claim 29 wherein said hub circuit includes USB.

47. The system defined in claim 29 wherein said second hub power port includes a 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.

48. The system defined in claim 47, wherein said second hub power port connector includes a boss extending from said stackable hub housing.

49. The system defined in claim 48, wherein said boss is square shaped.

50. The system defined in claim 47, wherein each of said first power ports includes a power port connector, voltage conductor and ground conductor for sending voltage and ground an upstream stackable component.

51. The system defined in claim 50, wherein said each power port connector of said first power ports includes a recess extending into respective said stackable housing, said recess being shaped to receive a port disposed on said stackable components, wherein said port is similar to said second hub power port disposed on said stackable hub.