# US 11,910,554 B2 · Modular and pluggable PDU to power tray/shelf device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,910,554 B2 - Document ID: US11910554B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/448,978 - Filed: 2021-09-27 - Published: 2022-08-25 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-02-23 - Assignees: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Douglas P. Arduini; Sung K. Baek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11910554B2 ## CPC - H05K 7/1457: {Power distribution arrangements} - H01R 13/639: Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, {e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap} - H01R 25/006: {the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle} - H02B 1/04: Mounting thereon of switches or of other devices in general, the switch or device having, or being without, casing - G06F 1/189: {Power distribution} - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H02B: BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Implementations are described for a modular power distribution unit (PDU) for a rack-mountable power tray or power shelf. The modular PDU includes a housing defining an input face and an opposing output face, and a plurality of power cables extending to the input face. The modular PDU further includes one or more second power connectors arranged at the output face, and distribution circuitry configured to distribute power from a first power bus and a second power bus to the one or more second power connectors. The modular PDU further includes one or more fasteners configured to attach the output face of the housing to the face of the power tray or power shelf, wherein the one or more second power connectors are retained in a coupled configuration with the one or more first power connectors. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a rack-mountable power tray or power shelf comprising: a plurality of power supply units (PSUs); one or more first power connectors arranged at a face of the power tray or power shelf and coupled to the PSUs; and a modular power distribution unit (PDU) comprising: a housing defining an input face and an opposing output face; a plurality of power cables extending to the input face, wherein the plurality of power cables comprises a first power cable of a first power bus and a second power cable of a second power bus; one or more second power connectors arranged at the output face; distribution circuitry configured to distribute power from the first power bus and the second power bus to the one or more second power connectors; and one or more fasteners configured to attach the output face of the housing to the face of the power tray or power shelf, wherein the one or more second power connectors are retained in a coupled configuration with the one or more first power connectors. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a count of the one or more second power connectors is greater than a count of the one or more first power connectors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the first power bus and the second power bus each provide three-phase power, and wherein the distribution circuitry is configured to distribute, to each of the one or more second power connectors, a respective phase from one of the first power bus and the second power bus. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the first power bus and the second power bus each provide direct current (DC) power, and wherein the distribution circuitry is configured to distribute, to each of the one or more second power connectors, a respective polarity from one of the first power bus and the second power bus. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the modular PDU further comprises: a plurality of electronic or electro-mechanical circuit breakers with electronic ganging control between different phases of power. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of electronic or electro-mechanical circuit breakers comprises a respective local switch arranged at the input face. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of electronic or electro-mechanical circuit breakers comprises: a single transistor between a first input terminal and a first output terminal; and a single transistor between a second input terminal and a second output terminal, wherein the electronic ganging control is provided between gate drivers of the single transistors. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the power tray or power shelf further comprises one or more first power interlock connectors at the face of the power tray or power shelf, wherein the modular PDU further comprises one or more second power interlock connectors at the output face, and wherein the one or more second power interlock connectors are retained in a coupled configuration with the one or more first power interlock connectors when the output face is attached to the face of the power tray. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power cables comprises a plurality of pendant cables that extend into the housing through the input face. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power cables couple to the modular PDU at the input face of the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the power tray or power shelf further comprises one or more first identifier connectors at the face of the power tray or power shelf, wherein the modular PDU further comprises one or more second identifier connectors at the output face, and wherein the one or more second identifier connectors are retained in a coupled configuration with the one or more first identifier connectors when the output face is attached to the face of the power tray or power shelf. ### Claim 12 A modular power distribution unit (PDU) to distribute power to a plurality of power supply units (PSUs) arranged in a rack-mountable power tray or power shelf, the modular PDU comprising: a housing configured to receive, at an input face, a plurality of power cables comprising: a first power cable of a first power bus; and a second power cable of a second power bus; one or more first power connectors arranged at an output face of the housing opposite the input face, wherein the one or more first power connectors are arranged to couple with one or more second power connectors of the power tray or power shelf; distribution circuitry within the housing, wherein the distribution circuitry is configured to distribute power from the first power bus and from the second power bus to each of the plurality of PSUs via a respective one or more of the first power connectors; and one or more fasteners configured to attach the output face of the housing to a face of the power tray or power shelf such that the one or more second power connectors are retained in a coupled configuration with the one or more first power connectors. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The modular PDU of claim 12, wherein the modular PDU further comprises one or more fasteners configured to attach the housing to the power tray or power shelf. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The modular PDU of claim 12, wherein the first power bus and the second power bus each provide three-phase power, wherein the distribution circuitry is further configured to distribute, to each of the plurality of PSUs, one phase from the first power bus and one phase from the second power bus. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The modular PDU of claim 12, wherein the plurality of power cables comprises a plurality of pendant cables that extend into the housing through the input face. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The modular PDU of claim 12, wherein the plurality of power cables couple to the PDU at the input face of the housing. ### Claim 17 A modular power distribution unit (PDU) to distribute power to a plurality of power supply units (PSUs) arranged in a rack-mountable power tray or power shelf, the modular PDU comprising: a housing configured to receive, at an input face, a plurality of power cables comprising: a first power cable of a first power bus; and a second power cable of a second power bus; a plurality of electronic or electro-mechanical circuit breakers, wherein each of the circuit breakers has electronic ganging control between different phases of multi-phase power of one of the first power bus and the second power bus; one or more first power connectors arranged at an output face of the housing opposite the input face, wherein the one or more first power connectors are arranged to couple with one or more second power connectors of the power tray or power shelf; and one or more fasteners configured to attach the output face of the housing to a face of the power tray or power shelf such that the one or more second power connectors are retained in a coupled configuration with the one or more first power connectors. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The modular PDU of claim 17, wherein each of the circuit breakers comprises a respective two-pole circuit breaker, wherein each two-pole circuit breaker comprises a respective pair of transistors, and wherein the electronic ganging control is provided between gate terminals of the transistors of the respective pair. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The modular PDU of claim 18, wherein for each pair of transistors, the electronic ganging control comprises multiple gate voltage supplies coupled to the gate terminals of the transistors of the respective pair. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The modular PDU of claim 17, wherein the plurality of power cables comprises a plurality of pendant cables that extend into the housing through the input face.