Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-08
2001-12-18
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S725000, C361S727000, C361S637000, C361S648000, C174S050510, CD13S110000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06331933
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to powering system units. In particular, the invention relates to facilitating the manufacture and maintenance of system units that require a reliable power supply for use in environments and applications that place high demands on system reliability, for example in the telecommunications industry.
Deregulation and privatization is causing unprecedented competition in the worldwide telecommunications market. This climate of fierce competition has meant that service providers must introduce new, more sophisticated and user-friendly services at an accelerated pace to retain or attract subscribers, while not compromising traditional telecommunications company (telco) service quality.
These pressures of competition have also placed high demands on Network Equipment Providers (NEPs). Traditionally, NEPs have designed, built and supported proprietary computing equipment, as the strict telco requirements could not be met by the commercial computing sector. Those requirements include the so-called Telcordia Technologies Network Equipment Buildings Systems (NEBS) tests. However, due to the lead times required to design and test such proprietary equipment, and the cost of supporting such equipment, there is a need to find another route, at least for the supply of the more cost and performance sensitive sectors within the telco industry.
A major concern of the telco sector is the reliability of systems. To address this issue, many prior systems, for example for providing the function of a telco server computer, have employed redundant computer systems. In such a redundant computer system, two or more processing sets are provided, typically with each being configured on a separate motherboard and with a mechanism for voting between the processing sets to determine whether one is faulty. Each of the processing sets may include one or more processors. If the voting system determines that one of the processing sets is faulty, then the other one or more processing sets can continue to function. In such systems, other multiple versions of other of the components of the system can be provided. For example, it is known to provide three power supply units such that if one of the power supply units fails, the system can continue to function with power from the remaining two power supply units.
In order to keep up with the ever-increasing demands of the telco industry, and in order to provide equipment at reasonable cost and within reasonable time scales, it would be desirable facilitate manufacture and testing of the system units and components. Also, in order to reduce as far as possible any down time, it is desirable that maintenance is facilitated.
Accordingly, it is an aim of the present invention to address the provision of cost-effective equipment that can meet technical demands of the telco environments, while also meeting the modern commercial demands of that environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Particular and preferred aspects of the invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Combinations of features from the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims as appropriate and not merely as explicitly set out in the claims.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a power sub-frame for a system unit. The power sub-frame comprises four walls defining first, second, third and fourth sides of a rectangular frame, a fifth, open, side of the frame for receiving a plurality of power supply units for powering the system unit and a power distribution board located at a sixth side of the frame opposite to the open side for making electrical contact to the power supply units.
The power subframe can be manufactured as a sub-assembly for the system unit, facilitating manufacture. This can be tested separately prior to insertion in the system unit, to enhance reliability. Also, the power sub-frame can be configured as a field replaceable unit, facilitating maintenance and reducing maintenance times.
To facilitate the mounting of the power supply units, internal walls can be provided for defining a plurality of compartments, each for receiving a power supply unit. In one embodiment there are two internal walls for defining three compartments.
The power sub-frame can include formations for securing the power sub-frame in the system unit. In one embodiment, these formations are formed by flanges with holes for receiving retaining screws.
To further facilitate assembly, testing and maintenance, the power distribution board can be pre-assembled with cabling for connection to components of the system unit.
Moreover, to yet further facilitate assembly, testing and maintenance, the power distribution board can be provided with power distribution logic. The power distribution board can also be arranged to carry a plurality of power rails for supplying different components. In this manner, good insulation against electrical noise between power rails can be provided.
In an embodiment of the invention, the walls of the power sub-frame can be stamped and folded from metal sheet.
In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a system unit comprising electronic circuitry and power sub-assembly, the power sub-assembly being formed by a power sub-frame including four walls defining first, second, third and fourth sides of a rectangular frame, a fifth, open, side of the frame for receiving a plurality of power supply units for powering the system unit and a power distribution board located at a sixth side of the frame opposite to the open side for making electrical contact to the power supply units.
In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of assembling a system unit including a plurality of power supply units, the method comprising: providing a sub-assembly forming a power sub-frame, the power sub-frame comprising four walls defining first, second, third and fourth sides of a rectangular frame, a fifth, open side of the frame for receiving a plurality of power supply units for powering the system unit and a power distribution board located at a sixth side of the frame opposite to the open side for making electrical contact to the power supply units; and mounting the power sub-frame sub-assembly in the system unit.
The system unit can be a computer system unit for mounting in a rack. Thus, an embodiment of the invention can facilitate manufacture, testing and maintenance of a computer system unit for use in environments that place high demands on cost, reliability and ease of maintenance to reduce potential down times. Accordingly, an embodiment of the invention is ideally suited to telecommunications applications.
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Conley Rose & Tayon PC
Kivlin B. Noäl
Lea-Edmonds Lisa
Picard Leo P.
Sun Microsystems Inc.
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