System And Method For Rotatable Information Handling System Power Cable Connection

• US 20100210119A1
• Filed: 02/19/2009
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Bauer, John, Schwager, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,887,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/13
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 35/04 Turnable line connectors with limited rotation angle with frictional contact members

Abstract

A power connects at an information handling system housing through a rotational connector that allows the power cable to align with plural axes relative to the housing. For example, force applied to the cable causes the rotational connector to rotate from a rear surface of the housing to a side surface or bottom surface of the housing. Excessive force results in a breakaway mechanism releasing the rotational connector from the housing so that the connector and internal power subsystem components avoid damage.

Claims

1. An information handling system comprising:

a housing having four side surfaces and a bottom surface;

plural components disposed in the housing and operable to process information;

a power subsystem disposed in the housing and operable to power the plural components;

a rotational connector disposed at a side of the housing and interfaced with the power subsystem, the rotational connector operable to couple and decouple with a power cable for providing external power to the power subsystem and to rotate between at least a first and second axis.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the first and second axis comprises a first axis that has the power cable perpendicular to a first side surface and a second axis that has the power cable perpendicular to a second side surface.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the first and second axis comprises a first axis that has the power cable perpendicular to a first side surface and a second axis that has the power cable perpendicular to the bottom surface.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising a position lock associated with the rotational connector and operable to lock the rotational connector from rotation.

5. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the rotational connector is located at a corner defined by the intersection of a first and second side of the housing.

6. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising a detent module associated with the rotational connector and operable to engage so that a detent force is needed to rotate the rotational connector.

7. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising a breakaway mechanism operable to release the rotational connector from the housing if a breakaway force is applied at the rotational connector.

8. The information handling system of claim 7 wherein the breakaway mechanism is further operable to power down the processing components if the rotational connector releases from the housing.

9. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising an AC-to-DC adapter operable to couple with an AC power supply, to convert the AC power to DC, and to provide DC power to a cable adapted to couple to the rotational connector.

10. A method for providing power to an information handling system, the method comprising:

coupling a cable to connector of the information handling system at a first axis;

providing power through the cable to the information handling system; and

applying a force at the cable to move the connector to align the cable at a second axis.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein applying a force at the cable to move the connector further comprises rotating the connector from the first to second axis.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first axis comprises an axis having the power cable perpendicular to a first side of the information handling system and second axis comprises an axis having the power cable perpendicular to a second side of the information handling system.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the first axis comprises an axis having the power cable perpendicular to a first side of the information handling system and second axis comprises an axis having the power cable perpendicular to a bottom side of the information handling system

14. The method of claim 10 wherein applying a force further comprises applying a breakaway force, the method further comprising releasing the connector from the information handling system in response to the breakaway force.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising locking the connector at the second axis to prohibit rotation from the second axis.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein providing power through the cable further comprises providing DC power.

17. A system for receiving power at an information handling system housing, the system comprising:

a connector operable to couple with and decouple from a power cable; and

a rotational mechanism operable to rotational couple the connector to the information handling system housing to allow the connector to rotate between first and second axes relative to the housing.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the first and second axes comprises a first axis that aligns the connector with a first side of the housing and a second axis that aligns the connector with a second side of the housing.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the first and second axes comprises a first axis that aligns the connector with a first side of the housing and a second axis that aligns the connector with a second side of the housing.

20. The system of claim 17 further comprising a breakaway mechanism operable to release the connector from the housing if a breakaway force is applied at the connector.