Systems and methods for coupling AC power to a rack-level power infrastructure

• US 8,708,736 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2012
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Bailey, Edmond I., Wang, Kunrong, Mills, Richard S., Stuewe, John
• Primary Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US13/364,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20130198532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 439/535
• US Class Current: 439/535
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/26 Casings; Parts thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 3/00 Apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture, assembly, or maintenance of boards or switchgear
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1492 having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49119 Brush

Abstract

In accordance with the present disclosure, a detachable power cable interface box (PCIB) for coupling AC power to a rack-level power infrastructure is described. The detachable PCIB includes a body section and a terminal disposed within the body section. The terminal may be coupled to an AC power source. A wiring block may also be disposed within the body, and the modular wiring block may be coupled to the terminal. The wiring block may arrange power input from the AC power source into a pre-determined output configuration corresponding to a detachable interface. The system may also include the detachable interface, and the detachable interface may be configured to couple with an integrated connector of the rack-level power infrastructure. The detachable interface may be common to all types of AC power sources.

Claims

1. A detachable power cable interface box (PCIB) for coupling AC power to a rack-level power infrastructure, comprising:

a body section;

a terminal disposed within the body section, wherein the terminal is coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source;

a wiring block disposed within the body section, wherein the wiring block is coupled to the terminal, and wherein the wiring block arranges power from the AC power source into a pre-determined output configuration corresponding to a detachable interface, wherein the wiring block comprises a printed circuit board; and

the detachable interface, wherein the detachable interface is configured to couple with an integrated connector of the rack-level power infrastructure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detachable interface comprises a six-pin interface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wiring block is swappable.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wiring block is interchangeable according to a type of the AC power source.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the type of the AC power source includes at least one of single-phase, three-phase Wye, and three-phase Delta at a voltage level of at least one of 208V, 220V, 277V, and 480V.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the terminal is coupled to a High Voltage direct current (DC) power source.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detachable interface comprises an eight-pin interface.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a first pin of the eight-pin interface comprises a ground pin.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a second pin of the eight-pin interface comprises an input voltage identification pin.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the input voltage identification pin comprises an input 277V identification pin, and wherein a signal on the input 277V identification pin may cause the rack-level power infrastructure to disable at least one power element.

11. A method for coupling AC power to a rack-level power infrastructure, comprising:

determining a type of an alternating current (AC) power source;

coupling the AC power source to a power cable interface box (PCIB);

arranging a set of wires from the AC power source to correspond to a pre-determined pin configuration of a detachable interface, wherein arranging the set of wires comprises selecting a wiring block corresponding to the type of the AC power source, wherein the type of the AC power source includes at least one of single-phase, three-phase Wye, and three-phase Delta, with input voltage levels of 208V, 220V, 277V, and 480V, and wherein the wiring block comprises a printed circuit board;

coupling the detachable interface to an integrated connector of the rack-level power infrastructure.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the wiring block is swappable.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the detachable interface comprises a six-pin interface.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the detachable interface comprises an eight-pin interface, wherein a first pin of the eight-pin interface comprises a ground pin.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a second pin of the eight-pin interface comprises an input voltage identification pin.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the input voltage identification pin comprises an input 277V identification pin, and wherein a signal on the input 277V identification pin may cause the rack-level power infrastructure to disable at least one power element.

17. An information handling system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory element coupled to the processor;

a direct current (DC)/DC power supply coupled to the processor, wherein the DC/DC power supply receives power from a rack-level power infrastructure, wherein the rack-level power infrastructure comprises;

a detachable power cable interface box (PCIB), wherein the detachable PCIB is operable to couple with an alternating current (AC) power source, and wherein the detachable PCIB includes a detachable interface; and

a power distribution unit, wherein the power distribution unit includes a connector corresponding to the detachable interface, wherein the power distribution unit is operable to receive AC power from the detachable PCIB through the connector.

18. The information handling system of claim 17, wherein the detachable PCIB comprises:

a body section;

a terminal disposed within the body section, wherein the terminal is coupled to the AC power source; and

a wiring block coupled with the terminal, wherein the wiring block arranges power from the AC power source into a pre-determined output configuration corresponding to a detachable interface;

wherein the detachable interface includes a pre-determined pin configuration corresponding to an integrated connector of the rack-level power infrastructure.