System and method for distributing power between components via a magnetic coupling

• US 6,177,790 B1
• Filed: 01/04/2000
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Klein, Craig Anthony, Emberty, Robert George
• Primary Examiner(s): Riley, Shawn
• Application Number:
  US09/477,546
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 336/132, 336/DIG.2, 361/725, 361/726, 361/685, 361/788, 323/264, 323/347
• US Class Current: 323/347
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling

Abstract

A redundant array of independent disk drives (RAID) is coupled to a backplane for interfacing with a computer. Each drive in the array is mounted in a carrier. The backplane has a main power circuit and each carrier has a power conditioning and distribution circuit. Each pair of power circuits interfaces via a connectorless magnetic coupling having a core transformer with two halves. Half of the split core transformer is contained within each of the backplane and the carrier. The main power circuits deliver power to the magnetically coupled split core transformer halves, which then deliver electrical power to their respective power conditioning and distribution circuits on the carriers to provide power to the drives.

Claims

1. A data access and storage subsystem for a computer device, comprising:

a backplane having a main power conditioning circuit that is adapted to be connected to a power supply;

a disk drive assembly having a carrier, a disk drive mounted to the carrier, and a power conditioning and distribution circuit connected to the disk drive;

a transformer having a first core portion in the backplane interconnected with the main power conditioning circuit, and a second core portion in the carrier of the disk drive assembly interconnected with the power conditioning and distribution circuit; and

wherein

when the disk drive assembly is inserted into the subsystem, the first and second core portions of the transformer are magnetically coupled to each other to deliver power from the main power conditioning circuit to the power conditioning and distribution circuit for powering the disk drive.

2. The data access and storage subsystem of claim 1 wherein the disk drive assembly and the first core portion of the transformer are each hermetically sealed.

3. A method for empowering disk drives in an array of independent disk drives, comprising:

(a) providing a backplane with a main power conditioning circuit, and a disk drive assembly with a disk drive and a power conditioning and distribution circuit;

(b) dividing a core of a transformer into a backplane portion on the backplane and a carrier portion on the disk drive assembly;

(c) inserting the disk drive assembly into the subsystem;

(d) providing electrical power to the main power conditioning circuit; and

then

(e) magnetically coupling the backplane and carrier portions of the core of the transformer such that the disk drive on the disk drive carrier is provided with electrical power.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of hermetically sealing each of the disk drive assembly and the backplane portion of the core of the transformer.