Independently powered slots architecture and method

1 . A method of providing power to a telecom/datacom system, the system having a plurality of slots for housing a plurality of types of electronic circuit boards and a plurality of power supplies, the method comprising:

forming independently powered slots by coupling each slot adapted to receive a power supply to a slot adapted to receive any of a plurality of types of electronic circuit boards;

housing one power supply in a slot adapted to receive a power supply;

housing one electronic circuit board of the plurality of types in a slot coupled to a slot housing the power supply; and

supplying power to the one electronic circuit board of the at plurality of types from the power supply via the coupled slots.

2 . An independently powered slots architecture comprising:

housing for a plurality of types of electronic circuit boards and a plurality of power supplies, the housing having independently powered slots formed by coupling each slot adapted to receive a power supply to a different slot adapted to receive any of a plurality of types of electronic circuit boards; and

power input connectors for providing power from a central power supply to the power supply via the slots adapted to receive a power supply.

3 . An independently powered slots architecture for use in a telecom/datacom system, comprising:

a chassis having a front side and a rear side;

a card cage for housing a plurality of types of electronic circuit boards and a plurality of power supplies, the card cage having independently powered slots formed by coupling each slot adapted to receive a power supply to a different slot adapted to receive any of a plurality of types of electronic circuit board;

a cooling module; and

at least one independent power supply connected via the coupled slots to an I/O card to provide power to the I/O card.

4 . The architecture according to claim 3 , wherein the power provided to the I/O card is provided via a midplane using power pins.

5 . The architecture according to claim 3 , wherein the power provided to the I/O card is provided via a cable from the independent power supply.

7 . The architecture according to claim 3 , further comprising a manager module.

8 . The architecture according to claim 7 , wherein the manager module itself provides power to the I/O card via the coupled slots.

9 . The architecture according to claim 8 , wherein the manager module provides connections to the at least one power supply in the chassis.

10 . The architecture according to claim 3 , further comprises an alarm module.

11 . The architecture according to claim 10 , wherein the alarm module includes I/O connectivity for each power supply.

12 . The architecture according to claim 11 , wherein the alarm module further includes at least one LED.

13 . A method for supplying power in telecom/datacom systems, comprising:

connecting dual power inputs from a central power supply to independent power supplies; and

connecting each of the independent power supplies to a corresponding I/O card, and utilizing the power supply as the sole power source to the I/O card.