System and method for supplying power to electronics enclosures utilizing distributed DC power architectures
View Patent ↗A power entry module (PEM) that is used with an electronics equipment enclosure. The PEM has a housing adapted to be coupled to a shelf of the electronics equipment enclosure. The housing has at least one pair of power cable lugs accessible from an exterior of the housing for coupling the PEM to a pair of power cables associated with a power feed. The PEM also has a backplane connector for coupling the PEM to a blackplane of the electronics enclosure. A distribution network is disposed within the PEM housing and forms at least a pair of electrically isolated power distribution buses for coupling electrical power provided from the power cables to each of the power distribution branches. Each power distribution branch independently provides electrical power to at least one blade supported within the electronics equipment enclosure.
1. A power entry module (PEM) comprising:
a PEM housing adapted to be coupled to a backplane of an electronics equipment enclosure;
at least one pair of power cable lugs accessible from an exterior of the housing for coupling the PEM to a pair of power cables associated with a power feed;
a backplane connector for electrically coupling the PEM to a backplane of the electronics equipment enclosure;
a distribution network entirely disposed within the PEM housing and forming at least a pair of electrically isolated power distribution branches, for coupling electrical power provided from the power cables to each of said electrically isolated power distribution branches, and for providing a return path for current flowing through each said electrically isolated power distribution branch; and
where each said electrically isolated power distribution branch independently provides electrical power to at least one blade associated therewith; and
wherein the distribution network being entirely disposed with the PEM housing permits a second PEM housing having a second distribution network entirely disposed within the second PEM housing to be substituted for the PEM housing without modification to the backplane, and wherein the second distribution network differs from the distribution network in the PEM housing.
2. The PEM of claim 1 , further comprising a circuit breaker in electrical communication with said pair of power cable lugs.
3. The PEM of claim 2 , further comprising a filter associated with said circuit breaker.
4. The PEM of claim 1 , wherein the PEM housing includes a second pair of power cable lugs for coupling the PEM housing to a second pair of power cables supplying power to the PEM.
5. The PEM of claim 4 , wherein said PEM housing includes:
a second pair of power cable lugs for supplying power to a second electrically isolated power distribution branch within the PEM housing;
a third pair of power cable lugs for supplying power to a third electrically isolated power distribution branch within the PEM housing; and
a fourth pair of power cable lugs for supplying power to a fourth electrically isolated power distribution branch within the PEM housing.
6. The PEM of claim 5 , wherein:
said second electrically isolated power distribution branch independently supplies power to a second plurality of blades;
said third electrically isolated power distribution branch independently supplies power to a third plurality of blades; and
said fourth electrically isolated power distribution branch independently supplies power to a fourth plurality of blades.
7. A power entry module (PEM) comprising:
a PEM housing adapted to be coupled to a backplane of an electronics equipment enclosure;
at least one pair of power cable lugs accessible from an exterior of the housing for coupling the PEM to a pair of power cables associated with a power feed;
a backplane connector for electrically coupling the PEM to a backplane of the electronics equipment enclosure;
a distribution network disposed within the PEM housing and forming at least a pair of electrically isolated power distribution branches, for coupling electrical power provided from the power cables to each of said electrically isolated power distribution branches, and for providing a return path for current flowing through each said electrically isolated power distribution branch and where each said electrically isolated power distribution branch independently provides electrical power to at least one blade associated therewith;
the PEM housing includes a second pair of power cable lugs for coupling the PEM housing to a second pair of power cables supplying power to the PEM;
the one pair of power cable lugs supplies power to said at least a pair of electrically isolated power distribution branches; and
said second pair of power cable lugs supplies power to an additional electrically isolated power distribution branch.
8. The PEM of claim 7 , further comprising an additional circuit breaker and filter subsystem independently associated with said second pair of power cables.
9. A power entry module (PEM) comprising:
a housing adapted to be coupled to a component of an electronics equipment enclosure;
first and second pairs of power cable lugs accessible from an exterior of the housing for coupling the PEM to two pairs of power cables associated with first and second power feeds;
a backplane connector for coupling the PEM to a backplane of the electronics equipment enclosure; and
a distribution network disposed within the PEM housing and forming at least first, second and third independent, electrically isolated power distribution branches;
said distribution network adapted to feed electrical power from said first power feed to said first electrically isolated power distribution branch; and
said distribution network adapted to feed electrical power from said second power feed to said second and third electrically isolated power distribution branches, independently of said first electrically isolated power distribution branch.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein:
said first electrically isolated power distribution branch independently feeds electrical power to at least one first blade of said first electrically isolated power distribution branch;
said second distribution branch independently feeds electrical power to at least one second blade of said second electrically isolated power distribution branch; and
said third electrically isolated power distribution branch independently feeds electrical power to at least one third blade of said third electrically isolated power distribution branch.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:
a first circuit breaker operably associated with said first pair of power cable lugs and said first power feed; and
a second circuit breaker operable independently of said first circuit breaker and associated with said second pair of power cable lugs and said second power feed.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:
a first filter operably associated with said first pair of power cable lugs and said first power feed; and
a second filter operable independently of said first filter and associated with said second pair of power cable lugs and said second power feed.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein:
said first circuit breaker and said first filter form a first integrated subassembly located within said PEM housing; and
said second circuit breaker and said second filter form a second integrated subassembly located within said PEM housing.
14. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the PEM housing is electrically coupled to a backplane of the electronics equipment enclosure.
15. A method for forming a power entry module (PEM) for use in an electronics equipment enclosure to interface at least one power feed to a plurality of blades housed in the electronics equipment enclosure, the method comprising:
providing a PEM housing adapted to be coupled to a component of the electronics equipment enclosure;
using at least one pair of power cable lugs accessible from ah exterior of the housing for coupling the PEM to a pair of power cables associated with the at least one power feed;
using an electrical connector for coupling the PEM housing to the component of the electronics equipment enclosure;
forming a power distribution network entirely within the PEM housing that has at least a pair of electrically isolated power distribution branches positioned entirely within the PEM housing, the PEM when plugged into the backplane providing connections for coupling electrical power supplied to the power cable lugs to each of the electrically isolated power distribution branches; and
configuring each said electrically isolated power distribution branch to independently provide electrical power to at least first and second ones of the plurality of blades housed within the electronics equipment enclosure.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said using an electrical connector to couple the PEM housing to the component of the electronics equipment enclosure comprises using an electrical connector associated with the PEM housing to electrically couple the at least a pair of electrically isolated power distribution branches to a backplane of the electronics equipment enclosure.
17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising placing a circuit breaker in communication with the at least one pair of power cable lugs.
18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising placing a filter in communication with the at least one pair of power cable lugs.
19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising placing an integrated subsystem comprising a circuit breaker and a filter, in communication with the at least one pair of power cable lugs.
20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
providing an additional pair of power cable feed lugs on the PEM housing; and
independently interfacing the additional pair of power cable feed lugs to at least a third electrically isolated power distribution branch within the PEM housing, which is electrically isolated from each one of said pair of electrically isolated power distribution branches.