Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-08
2001-03-27
Donels, Jeffrey (Department: 2837)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S731000, C307S150000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208520
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The field of the present invention relates generally to enclosures, housings, and computer housings in particular. More specifically, the field relates to a computer chassis for supporting redundant and non-redundant power supplies in the same computer system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Personal computer systems in general and IBM compatible personal computer systems in particular have attained widespread use. These personal computer systems now provide computing power to many segments of today's modem society. A personal computer system can usually be defined as a desktop, floor-standing, or portable microcomputer that includes a system unit having a system processor with associated volatile and non-volatile memory, a display monitor, a keyboard, a hard disk storage device or other type of storage media such as a floppy disk drive or a compact disk read only memory (CD ROM) drive. One of the distinguishing characteristics of these systems is the use of a system board or motherboard to electrically connect these components together. These personal computer systems are information handling systems which are designed primarily to give independent computing power to a single user or group of users and are inexpensively priced for purchase by individuals or small businesses. One way of keeping the cost of computer systems down is to manufacture systems that use electrical parts in an efficient manner. Given the number of electrical devices in a computer system, such efficiency is paramount.
Among the many electrical parts that must be manufactured efficiently is the power supply. Many computer systems, including computer servers, use redundant power supplies to avoid user down-time in the event of a power supply failure. Other computer systems utilize non-redundant power supplies. Typically, manufacturers either assemble computer systems with a non-redundant power supply or they assemble computer systems with redundant power supplies. What is needed is a computer system capable of efficient assemblage with either redundant or non-redundant power supplies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, to address the deficiencies of the prior art, an apparatus, computer system and method allow either redundant power supplies or a single non-redundant power supply to be mounted in a computer chassis, efficiently fitting into the same space.
The apparatus and computer system include a power supply bay for holding either a power supply of a first type or a plurality of power supplies of a second type wherein the power supply bay is capable of receiving either the power supply of the first type or the plurality of power supplies of the second type, the power supply of the first type fitting into the same space as the plurality of power supplies of the second type. In an embodiment, the power supply of the first type is a non-redundant-type power supply and the power supplies of the second type are redundant-type power supplies.
According to an embodiment, the power supply of the first type is mounted to a sled. The sled has at least one retainer projecting from a first end of the sled. The power supply bay has at least one retainer aperture projecting from a wall of the power supply bay. The at least one retainer aperture is capable of receiving the at least one retainer portion of the sled and bracing the plurality of power supplies of the second type. Bracing of the plurality of power supplies of the second type is accomplished through each power supply of the second type having a notched end shaped to brace against the at least one retainer aperture.
According to an embodiment, a computer system includes a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a power supply system for supplying power to the processor and the memory. The power supply system includes the power supply bay discussed above.
A method of supplying a power supply system includes providing a power supply bay for holding either a power supply of a first type or a plurality of power supplies of a second type and providing the power supply bay with a shape capable of receiving either one of the power supply of the first type or the plurality of power supplies of the second type. The power supply of the first type fits into the same space as the plurality of power supplies of the second type. The method includes mounting the power supply of the first type to a sled. The sled has at least one retainer projecting from a first end of the sled and provides the power supply bay with at least one retainer aperture projecting from a wall of the power supply bay. The retainer aperture is capable of receiving the retainer and of bracing the plurality of power supplies of the second type. The method also includes providing each of the power supplies in the plurality of power supplies of the second type with a notched end shaped to brace against the retainer aperture for holding the power supplies in place.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5612854 (1997-03-01), Wiscombe et al.
patent: 5672958 (1997-09-01), Brown et al.
patent: 5761045 (1998-06-01), Olson et al.
patent: 5777398 (1998-07-01), Valkeakari et al.
patent: 6040982 (2000-03-01), Gandre et al.
Dell USA L.P.
Donels Jeffrey
Kelton Margaret M.
Skjerven Morrill & MacPherson LLP
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