Power distribution system for a personal computer

• US 7,313,000 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2005
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Streak Products Inc (Systemax Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ultra Products Incorporated (Systemax Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fiorentino, Carl, Kuo, Chih-Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tuan T.
• Application Number:
  US11/065,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20050237724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 361683-688, 361/730, 361752-759
• US Class Current: 361/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1457 Power distribution arrangements

Abstract

The present invention relates to power supplies, methods of installing power supplies, power distribution systems and methods of installing power distribution systems. More particularly, one embodiment of the present invention relates to a power distribution system for receiving AC current from an AC current source and for distributing DC current inside of a computer case.

Claims

1. A power distribution system, comprising:

a power supply housing having an interior volume defined by a top panel, a bottom panel and a plurality of side panels;

AC to DC circuitry disposed within the interior volume of the power supply housing;

at least two DC output sockets, wherein each DC output socket is fixed to one of the top panel, bottom panel and side panels defining the interior volume of the power supply in which the AC to DC circuitry is disposed;

at least two DC distribution sockets, wherein each DC distribution socket is remote from the power supply housing and is fixed to an internal frame at least partially covered by a computer case; and

a plurality of removable cables, each having two ends;

wherein the AC to DC circuitry receives AC current from an AC current source;

wherein the AC to DC circuitry converts the received AC current into DC current and supplies the DC current to each DC output socket;

wherein each DC output socket is fixed to one of the panels of the power supply housing in a position such that when the power supply is installed within the computer case each DC output socket is disposed inside of the computer case such that a respective one of the plurality of removable cables is removably connected between a single respective one of the DC output sockets and a single respective one of the DC distribution sockets;

wherein a component which is to receive DC current is disposed inside of the computer case and the component receives the DC current from at least one of the DC distribution sockets; and

wherein the component disposed within the computer case is selected from the group including;

(a) a motherboard;

(b) a magnetic disc drive;

(c) an optical disc drive;

(d) an input/output card;

(e) a memory card;

(f) a sound card;

(g) a gaming card;

(h) a video card;

(i) a network card;

(j) network hub; and

(k) a cooling device.

2. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein each DC output socket is fixed to one of the panels of the power supply housing in a position such that when the power supply is installed within the computer case each DC output socket is disposed inside of the computer case such that a respective removable cable is:

(a) removably connected between the single respective DC output socket and the single respective DC distribution socket; and

(b) resides entirely within the computer case.

3. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the DC distribution sockets is connected to another of the DC distribution sockets to supply DC current thereto.

4. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the computer case is a case for a personal computer.

5. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein each removable cable is removably connected to a respective DC output socket via a first plug and is removably connected to a respective DC distribution socket via a second plug.

6. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the power supply housing is formed from a plurality of housing elements which interface in a cooperative manner to define the top panel, the bottom panel and the plurality of side panels.

7. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the top panel, the bottom panel and one of the plurality of side panels includes an insert element which is reactive to UV light.

8. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the power supply includes at least one fan assembly including a fan housing and a fan blade and at least one of the fan housing and the fan blade is reactive to UV light.

9. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the removable cable is reactive to UV light.

10. The power distribution system of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first and second plugs is formed by plastic injection molding.

11. The power distribution system of claim 6, wherein the power supply housing is formed from two housing elements which interface in a cooperative manner to define the top panel, the bottom panel and the plurality of side panels.

12. The power distribution system of claim 7, wherein the insert element gives off visible light when UV light is applied thereto.

13. The power distribution system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the fan housing and the fan blade gives off visible light when UV light is applied thereto.

14. The power distribution system of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the removable cable gives off visible light when UV light is applied thereto.

15. The power distribution system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second plugs is formed of a first plug half and a second plug half which interface in a cooperative manner to form the plug.

16. The power distribution system of claim 12, wherein the insert element gives off visible light of a color selected from the group including:

(a) green;

(b) blue;

(c) red;

(d) orange;

(e) yellow; and

(f) white.

17. The power distribution system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the fan housing and the fan blade gives off visible light of a color selected from the group including:

(a) green;

(b) blue;

(c) red;

(d) orange;

(e) yellow; and

(f) white.

18. The power distribution system of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the removable cable gives off visible light of a color selected from the group including:

(a) green;

(b) blue;

(c) red;

(d) orange;

(e) yellow and (f) white.