IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,281,717
Granted Patent B2
US 9,281,717 · App. 13/364,167 · Granted Mar 8, 2016

Form factor swappable DC battery back-up

Inventors: Edmond I. Bailey (Cedar Park, TX); Joseph A. Vivio (Santa Rosa, CA)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
H02J9/062H05K7/1492Y10T307/625
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,281,717
App. No.
13/364,167
Granted
Mar 8, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

In accordance with the present disclosure, a system and method for providing a battery back-up unit (BBU) for a rack-level power infrastructure is described. The system may include a chassis sized to fit within a commodity power supply unit (PSU) slot in a power distribution unit (PDU). A battery may be disposed within the chassis, and at least one power module coupled to the battery. The system may also include a power module controller coupled to the at least one power module, and a form-factor connector coupled to the power module controller and the at least one power module.

Claims (60)

1. A battery back-up unit (BBU) for a rack-level power infrastructure, comprising:

a chassis sized to fit within a commodity power supply unit (PSU) slot in a power distribution unit (PDU);

a distribution element coupled to the commodity PSU, wherein the distribution element comprises a wiring scheme that distributes phase-balanced power to the PDU;

a power cable interface box (PCIB) coupled to the PDU, wherein the PDU receives power through the PCIB, wherein the power couples to the PCIB via a first terminal;

a wiring block coupled to the first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the wiring block arranges one or more wires received from the first terminal into a pre-determined wiring arrangement at a second terminal;

a third terminal, of the distribution element, coupled to the second terminal;

one or more circuit breakers, of the distribution element, wherein each output wire of the third terminal is fed to an individual circuit breaker of the one or more circuit breakers;

one or more wireways, of the distribution element, wherein the individual circuit breaker is coupled to a corresponding one of the one or more wireways, and wherein the one or more wireways are coupled to one or more outlets in a staggered configuration;

a battery disposed within the chassis;

at least one power module coupled to the battery;

a power module controller coupled to the at least one power module;

a form-factor connector coupled to the power module controller and the at least one power module, wherein the form-factor connector comprises a card slot; and

a form-factor card coupled to the card slot, wherein the form-factor card protrudes from a back of the commodity PSU, and wherein the form-factor card comprises a pre-determined pinout configuration that matches a pinout configuration of the commodity PSU.

2. The BBU of claim 1 , wherein the form-factor connector comprises a card connector.

3. The BBU of claim 2 , wherein the card connector protrudes out of the chassis, and comprises a pre-determined pinout configuration.

4. The BBU of claim 3 , wherein the pre-determined pinout configuration matches a pre-determined pinout configuration of a commodity PSU.

5. The BBU of claim 4 , wherein the BBU receives direct current (DC) power and discharges DC power through the card connector.

6. The BBU of claim 5 , wherein the power module controller receives a control signal through the card connector and cause the battery to discharge DC power through the card connector when the PDU loses AC power.

7. The BBU of claim 6 , wherein the BBU is operable to discharge DC power to a busbar coupled to the card connector.

8. The BBU of claim 7 , wherein the busbar provides power to at least one server mounted within a rack.

9. The BBU of claim 1 , wherein the chassis include at least one alignment mechanism.

10. A method of providing a battery back-up unit (BBU) for a rack-level power infrastructure, comprising:

providing a chassis sized to fit within a commodity power supply unit (PSU) slot in a power distribution unit (PDU);

coupling a distribution element to the commodity PSU, wherein the distribution element comprises a wiring scheme that distributes phase-balanced power to the PDU;

coupling a power cable interface box (PCIB) to the PDU;

receiving power by the PDU, wherein the power couples to the PCIB via a first terminal;

arranging by a wiring block one or more wires received from the first terminal into a pre-determined wiring arrangement at a second terminal;

coupling a third terminal, of the distribution element, to the second terminal;

providing one or more circuit breakers, of the distribution element, wherein each output wire of the third terminal feeds to an individual circuit breaker of the one or more circuit breakers;

providing one or more wireways, of the distribution element, wherein the individual circuit breaker is coupled to a corresponding one of the one or more wireways, and wherein the one or more wireways are coupled to one or more outlets in a staggered configuration;

providing a battery disposed within the chassis;

coupling at least one power module to the battery;

coupling a power module controller to the at least one power module;

coupling a form-factor connector to the power module controller and the at least one power module, wherein the form-factor connector comprises a card slot; and

coupling a form-factor card to the card slot, wherein the form-factor card protrudes from a back of the commodity PSU, and wherein the form-factor card comprises a pre-determined pinout configuration that matches a pinout configuration of the commodity PSU.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the form-factor connector comprises a card connector.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the card connector protrudes out of the chassis, and comprises a pre-determined pinout configuration.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the pre-determined pinout configuration matches a pre-determined pinout configuration of a commodity PSU.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the BBU receives direct current (DC) power and discharges DC power through the card connector.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the power module controller receives a control signal through the card connector and cause the battery to discharge DC power through the card connector when the PDU loses AC power.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the BBU is operable to discharge DC power to a busbar coupled to the card connector.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the busbar provides power to at least one server mounted within a rack.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the chassis include at least one alignment mechanism.

19. An information handling system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory element coupled to the processor;

a direct current (DC)/DC power supply coupled to the processor, wherein the DC/DC power supply receives power from a battery back-up unit (BBU), wherein the BBU comprises:

a chassis sized to fit within a commodity power supply unit (PSU) slot in a power distribution unit (PDU);

a distribution element coupled to the commodity PSU, wherein the distribution element comprises a wiring scheme that distributes phase-balanced power to the PDU;

a power cable interface box (PCIB) coupled to the PDU, wherein the PDU receives power through the PCIB, wherein the power couples to the PCIB via a first terminal;

a wiring block coupled to the first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the wiring block arranges one or more wires received from the first terminal into a pre-determined wiring arrangement at a second terminal;

a third terminal, of the distribution element, coupled to the second terminal;

one or more circuit breakers, of the distribution element, wherein each output wire of the third terminal is fed to an individual circuit breaker of the one or more circuit breakers;

one or more wireways, of the distribution element, wherein the individual circuit breaker is coupled to a corresponding one of the one or more wireways, and wherein the one or more wireways are coupled to one or more outlets in a staggered configuration;

a battery disposed within the chassis;

at least one power module coupled to the battery;

a power module controller coupled to the at least one power module;

a form-factor connector coupled to the power module controller and the at least one power module wherein the form-factor connector comprises a card slot; and

a form-factor card coupled to the card slot, wherein the form-factor card protrudes from a back of the commodity PSU, and wherein the form-factor card comprises a pre-determined pinout configuration that matches a pinout configuration of the commodity PSU.

20. The information handling system of claim 19 , wherein the form-factor connector comprises a card connector.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2012
From: BAILEY, EDMOND I.; VIVIO, JOSEPH A.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 027636/0459 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130193764A1 · Aug 1, 2013