Abstract:
A cable management unit having a base section and a top section, the base section and the top section defining a space therebetween, a plurality of distribution walls coupled between the base section and the top section and having a front surface facing the space and a back surface facing away from the space, an electronic device disposed within the space, and a plurality of ports disposed on the back surface of the contiguous section of the plurality of distribution walls and each having a port surface extending beyond the back surface of the contiguous section.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §120 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/475,144, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HIGH-DENSITY POWER DISTRIBUTION UNIT WITH INTEGRATED CABLE MANAGEMENT,” filed on May 29, 2009, now U.S. publication number 2010/0248534, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/057,431, filed on May 30, 2008. The entire disclosures of each of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The disclosure relates to providing a high-density distribution system with an integrated cable management. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a novel distribution system enabling multiple cables to be received at one unit with minimal cable interference. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In a conventional distribution system, input receptacles are located in the front and rear faces of the conventional distribution system because there often is an inadequate amount of space in the rear of the conventional distribution system to handle all of the input receptacles. 
     For example, the conventional 1U distribution system may not have enough space to have 24 receptacles in the rear for 24 cables. However, by having the cables plugged into the front and the rear of the conventional distribution system, the cables in the front of the conventional distribution system need to be routed to the rear of the distribution system for connection to the power supplies or other components. This could cause problems with the cable lengths, access, airflow, tangling, or dislodging of the connections between the cables and the ports. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a method and apparatus to provide a high-density distribution system with improved cable management ability. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a cable management unit may include a base section and a top section, the base section and the top section defining a space therebetween, a plurality of distribution walls coupled between the base section and the top section, the plurality of distribution walls forming a contiguous section, the contiguous section having a front surface facing the space and a back surface facing away from the space, an electronic device disposed within the space, and a plurality of ports disposed on the back surface of the contiguous section of the plurality of distribution walls, each of the plurality of ports having a port surface, the plurality of port surfaces extending beyond the back surface of the contiguous section. 
     In another embodiment, a power distribution system may include a housing having a base section and a top section, the top section and the base section defining a space therebetween, an electronic device disposed within the space, and a plurality of distribution walls interposed between the base section and the top section, the plurality of distribution walls configured to form a contiguous section having a front surface facing the space and a back surface facing away from the space, the plurality of distribution walls having left, center, right distribution walls, the left and the right distribution walls for establishing one or more connections for the electronic device, the center distribution wall coupled between the left and the right distribution walls. 
     In yet another embodiment, a power distribution system may include a housing having a base section, a top section, and a side section, the base section, the top section and the side section defining a space therebetween, an electronic device disposed within the space, a concave distribution wall interposed between the top section and the base section, the concave distribution wall having a front surface facing the space and a back surface facing away from the space, and a plurality of ports arranged on the back surface of the concave distribution wall, each port having a port surface extended beyond the back surface of the concave distribution wall, at least one of the plurality of ports is configured to connect the electrical device to one or more connecting members located outside of the space. 
     The disclosed embodiments can be used as part of a power distribution or data distribution rack. The disclosed embodiments can also include one or more processor circuits in communication with a memory circuit for controlling the input/output of each power distribution or data distribution unit or for the entire rack. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other embodiments of the disclosure will be discussed with reference to the following exemplary and non-limiting illustrations, in which like elements are numbered similarly, and where: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the distribution system of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the distribution system of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the distribution system of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of an alternative distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of an alternative distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic representation of another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a rack holding several power distribution systems according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4  are perspective views of a distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring simultaneously to  FIGS. 1-4 , distribution system  2  includes a first side  4 , a second side  6 , a third side  24 , a fourth side  26 , a top portion  22 , a bottom portion (interchangeably, base section)  8 , a distribution portion  10 , a first distribution wall  12 , a second distribution wall  14 , a third distribution wall  16 , component receptacles  28  and optional component receptacles  52 , and connection  20 . Distribution system  2  may also include a cable management bar connected between elements  6  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Cable management bar can be the same height as elements  6  and may include a number of holes or openings. Each hole allows the passage of a cable that is connected to distribution system  2 . Cable management bar prevents cable entanglement at the rear of the distribution system  2 . 
     First distribution wall  12 , second distribution wall  14 , and third distribution wall  16  form distribution portion  10 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 , distribution portion  10  is in the shape of a trapezoid to increase the surface area allocated to the ports. The increased surface area enables substantially more ports to be used with each distribution system. In addition, the trapezoidal arrangement improves and enhances cable management as the cables associated with adjacent ports can be formed into bundles. It should be noted that the trapezoidal shape represents only one embodiment of the disclosure. Other shapes which maximize the surface allocated to the distribution walls, or ultimately increase the number of available ports, can be used without departing from the principles of the disclosure. 
     In one embodiment, distribution wall  12  is configured to communicate 120 V power at each port  18  of distribution wall  12 , while distribution walls  14  and  16  are configured to communicate 208 V and 240 V, respectively. The distribution walls can also provide different current output at each segment. Alternatively, each segment or distribution wall may provide a different power output phase (i.e., single phase and three phase options). 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show an embodiment having optional component receptacles  52  positioned along second distribution portion wall  14  and third distribution portion wall  16 . Optional Component receptacles  52  can house additional ports  18  as needed.  FIG. 1  shows connection  20  which can be used to feed wires directed to optional component receptacles  52 . 
     In one embodiment, ports  18  are power plug outlets, and in another embodiment, ports  18  are for establishing electronic connections. Electronic connections may include, among others, USB connections, firewall connections, cable connections, or any other type of connections or any other type of ports. For a 1U distribution system  2 , each of the second and third distribution portion walls  14  and  16  can have a total of 13 or more ports  18 . For a 2U distribution system  2 , each of the second and third distribution portion walls  14  and  16  can have a total of 25 or more ports  18 . 
     Each of the first, second or third distribution wall can be configured to support a number of ports  18 . In the exemplary embodiments of  FIGS. 1-4 , each of second distribution wall  14  or third distribution wall  16  may have a greater number of ports than first distribution wall  12 . Second distribution wall  14  may support an equal number of ports  18  as third distribution wall  16 . It should be noted that while the exemplary embodiments of  FIGS. 1-4  use distribution walls to support ports  18 , the disclosure is not limited thereto. In other words, ports  18  may be positioned on (or integrated with) base section  8  without requiring a distribution wall. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, at least one optional component receptacle  52  disposed on second distribution wall  14  or on third distribution wall  16  houses at least 13 ports. In another embodiment, at least one of optional component receptacle  52  disposed on second distribution wall  14  or on third distribution wall  16  houses at least 25 ports. In one embodiment, first distribution wall  12  can have one or more ports. 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 , distribution walls  12 ,  14  and  16  form a contiguous V-shaped section which forms a right-angle with base section  8 . In another embodiment of the disclosure, the first, second and third distribution walls may be disconnected from each other. The distribution walls may also form an acute angle with base section  8 . By forming a trapezoidal shape along base section  8 , optional component receptacles  52  which reside along second distribution wall  14  and third distribution wall  16  can encompass an expanded distribution portion  10 . The expanded area allows more ports  18  to be housed by power distribution system  2 . 
       FIG. 4  shows cables  48  connected to ports  18 . Cables  48  can be, for example, IEC C14 or any power cord (IEC C13 is the female plug and IEC C14 is the male plug). Since more ports  18  can be housed in a single location, cables  48 , which connect to ports  18 , can be easily located. Furthermore, by having cables  48  connected to ports  18  in a single location, there is less likelihood of cables  48  becoming entangled with each other as they are less likely to be strung haphazardly from different locations along distribution system  2 . Since ports  18  are housed in a single central location, it is less likely that cables  48  can become tangled with each other or with other objects. Furthermore, by having the configuration of the present invention, it is less likely that cables  48  can be accidentally or inadvertently disconnected from ports  18 . 
     For example, if cables  48  were connected at first side  4 , cables  48  may have to be routed to second side  6  for connecting to other components. This could cause cables  48  to be entangled with themselves or other objects as they are being routed to second side  6 . Furthermore, cables  48  could become disengaged from ports  18  along first side  4 . In addition, if cables  48  become entangled with other objects, cables  48  could inadvertently move distribution system  2  or cause distribution system  2  to have a sudden impact upon a foreign surface causing damage to distribution system  2 . 
     Referring again to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , connection  20  is located on side  6 . Connection  20  could be a master power plug or any other type of ports such as serial ports, Ethernet ports, and/or environmental ports. A fuse box (not shown) or a breaker (not shown) may be arranged in the proximity of connection  20  to provide surge protection for the circuit. In one embodiment of the disclosure, connection  20  may also includes a locking mechanism to prevent accidental disconnection of the main power supply from power distribution system  2 . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 3 , connection  20  includes a bolt for securely receiving an incoming line. 
     Component receptacles  28  can be used to house components such as circuit breakers, meters, serial ports, Ethernet ports, and/or environmental ports, etc. Optional component port  52  arranged on the distribution walls  12 ,  14 , and  16  can be used to receive connection ports  18 . In one embodiment of the disclosure, first distribution wall  12  is covered with a bracket instead of ports to allow easy access to receptacles situated at the far end of the distribution system  2 . In still another embodiment of the disclosure, a display unit is provided on the distribution system  2  to display data. The displayed data may include power setting, time, environmental factors (e.g., temperature) or any other attribute of the power distribution unit&#39;s operation. 
       FIG. 4  shows mounting brackets  30  which allows securing the power distribution system  2  to a housing, a rack or any other support structure. Mounting brackets  30  allow a plurality of power distribution units  2  to be received at a rack infrastructure. The distribution units can be mounted to the rack horizontally or vertically. When used with a data system, distribution system  2  can be integrated into a rack infrastructure to house multiple data distribution units on one rack to thereby consolidate functionality that is typically performed by multiple conventional units. 
     Distribution system  2  can also have one or more processor circuits in communication with a memory circuit for controlling input/output through ports  18 . In an exemplary embodiment, distribution system  2  can be used as part of a data server and ports  18  can be USB (or similar) data ports. Component receptacles  28  can house I/O control circuits for controlling data transmission through each of the multiple ports. In still another embodiment, component receptacles  28  can house cooling devices such as electro-mechanical fans for cooling power distribution system  2 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment where a rack may store a plurality of distribution systems  2 , at least one of the distribution systems  2  can be used to control operation of the other units in the rack. If the distribution systems  2  are used primarily as data distribution hubs, then the designated controller unit can be used to control the Input/Output from each of ports  18  in each distribution system  2 . For example,  FIG. 8  shows an exemplary embodiment using a rack  800  to store multiple power distribution units  2  by using brackets  30  to secure each power distribution system  2 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the power distribution units  2  may be connected with one another via the cables  48 . 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of an alternative distribution system  2  according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 5 , distribution system  2  has a distribution portion  32  formed in a hexagonal shape along bottom surface  8 . Distribution portion  32  is formed by sides  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  and  42 . Sides  34  and  36  may form an acute angle or a right angle, whereas sides  36  and  38  may form an obtuse angle. Similarly, sides  42  and  40  may form an acute angle or a right angle, whereas sides  40  and  38  may form an obtuse angle. 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of an alternative distribution system  2  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As seen in  FIG. 6 , distribution system  2  has a distribution portion  44  formed in a curved (e.g., semi-circle or an arc) shape along bottom surface  8 . Distribution wall  44  is formed by a curved segment  46 . 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic representation of another embodiment of the disclosure. Distribution system  2  of  FIG. 7  is may include a base section  8  supporting a plurality of ports  18 . Each of the plurality of ports  18  is so positioned that the port surface of the port is substantially parallel to the edge  9  of the base section  8 . In this manner, connecting and disconnecting from ports  18  would be easier. 
     While the principles of the disclosure have been illustrated in relation to the exemplary embodiments shown herein, the principles of the disclosure are not limited thereto and include any modification, variation or permutation thereof.