Patent ID: 7394170
Filing Date: 2008-07-01
Classification: G06F,H02J,H05K

Abstract:
1. A backplane system comprising: a backplane, including at least three power zones; circuit board slots coupled to the backplane; a first power entry module (PEM) and a second PEM, wherein the first PEM and the second PEM are configured to receive power from one or more power sources; power distribution circuitry having a first power configuration and a second power configuration and configured to distribute power from the first PEM to a first power zone of the backplane and power from the second PEM to a second power zone of the backplane; switching circuitry configured to switch between the first power configuration and the second power configuration, thereby providing a flexible reconfigurable power arrangement; a power configuration module (PCM) that can be plugged into at least one of the circuit board slots to distribute power to the circuit board slots, wherein, in the first power configuration, the PCM bridges circuit elements from the first PEM and the second PEM to provide balanced power to the at least three power zones of the backplane, including the first power zone and the second power zone; wherein the backplane is capable of receiving a third PEM, and wherein, in the second power configuration, the third PEM provides power to a third power zone of the at least three power zones of the backplane.