IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,621,948
Granted Patent B2
US 12,621,948 · App. 18/229,012 · Granted May 5, 2026

Rack power distribution unit with configurable phase control

Inventor: Joshua Thomas Haffner (Saint Louis, MO)
Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATION
H05K7/1457
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,621,948
App. No.
18/229,012
Granted
May 5, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure a power distribution unit (PDU) is provided, the PDU comprising: a phase selection interface having: a first source contact configured to couple to a configuration system, a first return contact configured to couple to the configuration system, a second source contact configured to couple to the configuration system, and a second return contact configured to couple to the configuration system; a first outlet having: a first supply opening coupled to the first source contact, and a first return opening coupled to the first return contact; and a second outlet having: a second supply opening coupled to the second source contact, and a second return opening coupled to the second return contact.

Claims (27)

1 . A power distribution unit (PDU) comprising:

a phase selection interface having:

a first source contact configured to couple to a configuration system,

a first return contact configured to couple to the configuration system,

a second source contact configured to couple to the configuration system, and

a second return contact configured to couple to the configuration system, wherein the configuration system includes a controller to set a plurality of power output configurations of the PDU for the phase selection interface;

a first outlet having:

a first opening coupled to the first source contact, and

a second opening coupled to the first return contact; and

a second outlet having:

a third opening coupled to the second source contact, and

a fourth opening coupled to the second return contact.

2 . The PDU of claim 1 , wherein the configuration system is configured to conductively link at least one source contact to at least one input configured to provide a phase of input power.

3 . The PDU of claim 1 , wherein the configuration system is configured to conductively link at least one return contact to at least one input configured to provide a phase of input power.

4 . The PDU of claim 1 , wherein the configuration system is configured to conductively link at least one source contact or at least one return contact to a neutral or ground line.

5 . The PDU of claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional outlets, each additional outlet having a fifth opening coupled to a source contact of the phase selection interface and a sixth opening coupled to a return contact of the phase selection interface.

6 . The PDU of claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional outlets, wherein a total number of outlets of the PDU equals an integer multiple of a total number of phases of input power received by the PDU.

7 . The PDU of claim 6 , wherein the total number of phases of input power is three and the total number of outlets of the PDU is a multiple of three.

8 . The PDU of claim 1 , wherein each outlet includes a first receptacle and a second receptacle, each respective first receptacle including a respective fifth opening coupled to a source contact of the phase selection interface, and each respective second receptacle including a respective sixth opening coupled to a return contact of the phase selection interface.

9 . The PDU of claim 8 , wherein each receptacle includes three openings.

10 . The PDU of claim 1 , wherein to set the plurality of power output configurations of the PDU, the controller is configured to change one or more conductive paths within the configuration system based at least in part on respective power output configurations of the plurality of power output configurations.

11 . The PDU of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:

determine the configuration system has a topology to configure the PDU in a power output configuration of the plurality of power output configurations; and

change, based at least in part on the power output configuration, one or more conductive paths within the configuration system to the topology.

12 . The PDU of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of power output configurations include at least one of a delta configuration or a wye configuration.

13 . The PDU of claim 1 , wherein the configuration system includes a switching circuit selectively connectable by the controller to different inputs to receive different phases of input power.

14 . The PDU of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of power output configurations is set based at least in part on a single configuration of the phase selection interface.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2023
From: HAFFNER, JOSHUA THOMAS
To: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC IT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064455/0449 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250048580A1 · Feb 6, 2025
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