# US 9,438,012 B2 · Systems and methods for coupling AC power to a rack-level power infrastructure

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- Number: US 9,438,012 B2
- Document ID: US9438012B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/838,892
- Filed: 2015-08-28
- Published: 2015-12-24
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-02-01
- Assignees: Dell Products L.P.
- Applicants: Dell Products L.P.
- Inventors: Richard S. Mills; Edmond I. Bailey; John Stuewe; Kunrong Wang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438012B2

## CPC

- H05K 7/1492: {having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications}
- G06F 1/26: Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C)
- H02B 1/26: Casings; Parts thereof or accessories therefor
- H02B 3/00: Apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture, assembly, or maintenance of boards or switchgear
- Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing
- Y10T 29/49119: Brush
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H02B: BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

In accordance with the present disclosure, a detachable power cable interface box (PCIB) for coupling AC power to a rack-level power infrastructure is described. The detachable PCIB includes a body section and a terminal disposed within the body section. The terminal may be coupled to an AC power source. A wiring block may also be disposed within the body, and the modular wiring block may be coupled to the terminal. The wiring block may arrange power input from the AC power source into a pre-determined output configuration corresponding to a detachable interface. The system may also include the detachable interface, and the detachable interface may be configured to couple with an integrated connector of the rack-level power infrastructure. The detachable interface may be common to all types of AC power sources.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A power distribution unit (PDU) system, comprising:
a first detachable interface, wherein the first detachable interface is configured to couple with a first integrated connector of a rack-level power infrastructure;
a second detachable interface, wherein the second detachable interface is configured to couple with a second integrated connector of the rack-level power infrastructure;
a first and a second detachable power cable interface boxes, wherein each of the first and second detachable power cable interface boxes comprises a wiring block wherein the wiring block arranges power from a first alternating current (AC) power source and a second AC power source, respectively, into a pre-determined output configuration corresponding to a detachable interface, wherein the wiring block comprises a printed circuit board;
one or more relays coupled between one or more output wires of the wiring block and one or more switched AC outlets;
a first power distribution unit (PDU), wherein the first PDU includes a first connector corresponding to a first detachable interface, wherein the first PDU is operable to receive AC power from a first detachable power cable interface box through the first connector; and
a second PDU, wherein the second PDU includes a second connector corresponding to a second detachable interface, wherein the second PDU is operable to receive AC power from a second detachable power cable interface box through the second connector and wherein the first PDU is cross-cabled with the second PDU to provide redundant AC power.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more relays are coupled to the wiring block via two different wires of a terminal.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein one or more output wires of the terminal is fed into a breaker.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein one or more output wires of the terminal are each connected respectively to one or more individual breakers to protect against power surges.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein each of one or more output wires of the terminal are coupled individually to one or more dedicated cables.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more dedicated cables are connected in a staggered configuration with the one or more switched AC outlets.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein each of the one or more switched AC outlets is coupled to a unique combination of the one or more dedicated cables.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more relays are triggered from a remote source.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more relays comprise at least one of a mechanical switch or an electrical switch.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a batter backup unit disposed within the PDU system.

### Claim 11

A method for coupling alternating current (AC) power to a rack-level power infrastructure, comprising:
receiving at a first power distribution unit (PDU) alternating current (AC) power from a first AC power source;
receiving at a second PDU AC power from a second AC power source;
determining a type of the first AC power source;
determining a type of the second AC power source;
coupling the first AC power source to a first power cable interface box (PCIB);
coupling the second AC power source to a second PCIB;
cross-cabling the first PDU and the second PDU to provide redundant AC power;
arranging, respectively, a set of wires from the first AC power source and the second AC power source to correspond to a pre-determined pin configuration of a first detachable interface and a second detachable interface, respectively, wherein arranging the set of wires comprises selecting a wiring block corresponding to the type of the AC power source, wherein the type of the AC power source includes at least one of single-phase, three-phase Wye, and three-phase Delta, with input voltage levels of 208V, 220V, 277V, and 480V, and wherein the wiring block comprises a printed circuit board;
coupling one or more relays between one or more output wires of the wiring block and one or more switched AC outlets;
coupling the first detachable interface to a first integrated connector of the rack-level power infrastructure; and
coupling the second detachable interface to a second integrated connector of the rack-level power infrastructure.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein each of the one or more relays are coupled to the wiring block via two different wires of a terminal.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein one or more output wires of the terminal is fed into a breaker.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein one or more output wires of the terminal are each connected respectively to one or more individual breakers to protect against power surges.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein each of one or more output wires of the terminal are coupled individually to one or more dedicated cables.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more dedicated cables are connected in a staggered configuration with the one or more switched AC outlets.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein each of the one or more switched AC outlets is coupled to a unique combination of the one or more dedicated cables.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more relays are triggered from a remote source.

### Claim 19

An information handling system, comprising:
a processor;
a memory element coupled to the processor; and
a direct current (DC)/DC power supply coupled to the processor, wherein the DC/DC power supply receives power from a rack-level power infrastructure, wherein the rack-level power infrastructure comprises:
a first detachable power cable interface box (PCIB), wherein the first detachable PCIB is operable to couple with a first alternating current (AC) power source, and wherein the first detachable PCIB includes a first detachable interface;
a second detachable PCIB, wherein the second detachable PCIB is operable to couple with a second AC power source, and wherein the second detachable PCIB includes a second detachable interface;
one or more relays coupled between one or more output wires of the first detachable PCIB and the second detachable PCIB and one or more switched AC outlets
a first power distribution unit (PDU), wherein the first PDU includes a first connector corresponding to the first detachable interface, wherein the first PDU is operable to receive AC power from the first detachable PCIB through the first connector; and
a second PDU, wherein the second PDU includes a second connector corresponding to the second detachable interface, wherein the second PDU is operable to receive AC power from the second detachable PCIB through the second connector.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The information handling system of claim 19, wherein the one or more relays are triggered from a remote source.