Power supply circuit for hard disk drive

A power supply circuit for powering first and second groups of hard disk drives in a cabinet, includes a connector and first to third connection units. When there is only one server in the cabinet, the first node is connected to the first power terminal of the connector, the first connection unit is turned on, and the second connection unit is turned off. When there are two servers in the cabinet, the first and second nodes are respectively connected to the first and second power terminals of the connector, the first connection unit is turned on, and the second and third connection units are turned off.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a circuit for supplying power to hard disk drives in servers.

2. Description of Related Art

When there is only one server in a cabinet, hard disk drives are powered by the server. When there are two servers in the cabinet, the hard disk drives are divided into two groups. Each group of hard disk drives are powered by a single server. In this condition, backplanes for the cabinet with only one server and for the cabinet with two servers are different. This is an inconvenience.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a power supply circuit is set on a backplane. The backplane is set in a cabinet1000. A first exemplary embodiment of the power supply circuit includes a connector100and a plurality of resistors. In this embodiment, there are twelve hard disk drives (HDDs)1-12in the cabinet1000. The cabinet1000can contain four servers20,21,22, and23. The resistors include seven resistors R1-R7.

If there is only one server in the cabinet1000, the HDDs1-12are powered by the single server. If there are two servers in the cabinet1000, the HDDs1-12are divided into two groups. Each group of HDDs includes six HDDs, and is powered by one of the two servers. If there are three servers in the cabinet1000, the HDDs1-12are divided into three groups. Each group of HDDs includes four HDDs, and is powered by one of the three servers. If there are four servers in the cabinet1000, the twelve HDDs1-12are divided into four groups. Each group of HDDs includes three HDDs, and is powered by one of the four servers.

The connector100includes four power terminals P1-P4, and four ground terminals G1-G4. The connector100receives power from a power supply unit (PSU)1100, and outputs power from the four power terminals P1, P2, P3, and P4. The four ground terminals G1-G4are grounded.

Power terminals of the HDDs1-3are connected to a node H1. Power terminals of the HDDs5and6are connected to a node H2. A power terminal of the HDD4is connected to the node H2through the resistor R5. Power terminals of the HDDs7and8are connected to a node H3. A power terminal of the HDD9is connected to the node H3through the resistor R6. Power terminals of the HDDs10-12are connected to a node H4. The power terminal of the HDD3is further connected to the power terminal of the HDD4through the resistor R4. The power terminal of the HDD9is further connected to the power terminal of the HDD10through the resistor R7.

The node H1is further connected to the node H2through the resistor R1. The node H2is further connected to the node H3through the resistor R2. The node H3is further connected to the node H4through the resistor R3.

The manner of operation of the power supply circuit is as follows.

When there is only one server in the cabinet1000, the server provides power for the HDDs1-12. In this condition, the resistors R1, R2, R3, R5, and R6are used as part of the circuitry of the backplane, and the resistors R4and R7are removed from the circuitry of the backplane. The node H1is connected to the power terminal P1of the connector100.

In this condition, the power terminal P1of the connector100outputs power to the node H1. As a result, power from the node H1is transmitted to the HDDs1-3, and is transmitted to the HDDs5and6through the resistor R1, and is transmitted to the HDD4through the resistors R1and R5in series, and is transmitted to the HDDs7and8through the resistors R1and R2in series, and is transmitted to the HDD9through the resistors R1, R2, and R6in series, and is transmitted to the HDDs10-12through the resistors R1, R2, and R3in series.

When there are two servers in the cabinet1000, each server provides power for a group of HDDs. In this condition, the resistors R1, R3, R5, and R6are use as part of the circuitry of the backplane, and the resistors R2, R4and R7are removed from the circuitry of the backplane. The node H1is connected to the power terminal P1of the connector100, and the node H3is connected to the power terminal P3of the connector100.

In this condition, the power terminal P1of the connector100outputs power to the node H1, and the power terminal P3of the connector100outputs power to the node H3. As a result, power from the node H1is transmitted to the HDDs1-3, and is transmitted to the HDDs5and6through the resistor R1, and is transmitted to the HDD4through the resistors R1and R5in series. Power from the node H3is transmitted to the HDDs7and8, and is transmitted to the HDD9through the resistor R6, and is transmitted to the HDDs10-12through the resistor R3.

When there are three servers in the cabinet1000, each server provides power for a group of HDDs. In this condition, the resistors R2, R4, and R7are used as part of the circuitry of the backplane, and the resistors R1, R3, R5, and R6are removed from the circuitry of the backplane. The node H1is connected to the power terminal P1of the connector100, the node H3is connected to the power terminal P3of the connector100, and the node H4is connected to the power terminal P4of the connector100.

In this condition, the power terminal P1of the connector100outputs power to the node H1, the power terminal P3of the connector100outputs power to the node H3, and the power terminal P4of the connector100outputs power to the node H4. As a result, power from the node H1is transmitted to the HDDs1-3, and is transmitted to the HDD4through the resistor R4. Power from the node H3is transmitted to the HDDs5and6through the resistor R2, and is transmitted to the HDDs7and8. Power from the node H4is transmitted to the HDD9through the resistor R7, and is transmitted to the HDDs10-12.

When there are four servers in the cabinet1000, each server provides power for a group of HDDs. In this condition, the resistors R5and R6are used as part of the circuitry of the backplane, and the resistors R1-R4, and R7are removed from the circuitry of the backplane. The node H1is connected to the power terminal P1of the connector100, the node H2is connected to the power terminal P2of the connector100, the node H3is connected to the power terminal P3of the connector100, and the node H4is connected to the power terminal P4of the connector100.

In this condition, the power terminal P1of the connector100outputs power to the node H1, the power terminal P2of the connector100outputs power to the node H2, the power terminal P3of the connector100outputs power to the node H3, and the power terminal P4of the connector100outputs power to the node H4. As a result, power from the node H1is transmitted to the HDDs1-3. Power from the node H2is transmitted to the HDD4through the resistor R5, and is transmitted to the HDDs5and6. Power from the node H3is transmitted to the HDDs7and8, and is transmitted to the HDD9through the resistor R6. Power from the node H4is transmitted to the HDDs10-12.

Referring toFIG. 2, a second exemplary embodiment of a power supply circuit is shown. In the second exemplary embodiment, seven connection units, such as seven switches K1-K7replace the seven resistors R1-R7in the first exemplary embodiment. For example, when there are four servers in the cabinet, the switches K5and K6are turned on, and the switches K1-K4and K7are turned off.

Referring toFIG. 3, a third exemplary embodiment of a power supply circuit is shown. In the third exemplary embodiment, seven jumpers J1-J7replace the seven switches K1-K7in the second exemplary embodiment. Each jumper includes two pins and a connecting cap. For example, when there are four servers in the cabinet, the two pins of the jumper J5are connected by the cap, the two pins of the jumper J6are connected by the cap, the two pins of each of the jumpers J1-J4and J7are disconnected.

Referring toFIG. 4, a fourth exemplary embodiment of a power supply circuit includes a connector C100and six resistors R11-R16. In this embodiment, there are six HDDs D11through D16in a cabinet C1000. The cabinet C1000can contain three servers.

The connector C100includes three power terminals P11, P12, and P13, and three ground terminals G11, G12, and G13. The connector C100receives power from a PSU P1100, and outputs power through the three power terminals P11, P12, and P13. The three ground terminals G11, G12, and G13are grounded.

Power terminals of the HDDs D11and D12are connected to a node H11. Power terminals of the HDDs D13and D14are respectively connected to first terminals of the resistors R14and R15. Second terminals of the resistors R14and R15are connected to a node H12. The power terminal of the HDD D12is further connected to the power terminal of the HDD D13through the resistor R13. Power terminals of the HDDs D15and D16are connected to a node H13. The power terminal of the HDD D14is further connected to the power terminal of the HDD D15through the resistor R16. The node H11is further connected to the node H12through the resistor R11. The node H12is further connected to the node H13through the resistor R12.

When only one server is in the cabinet C1000, the server powers the six HDDs D11-D16. In this condition, the resistors R11, R12, R14, and R15are welded onto the backplane, and the resistors R13and R16are taken off from the backplane. Meanwhile, the node H11is connected to the power terminal P11of the connector C200.

In this condition, the power terminal P11of the connector C100outputs power to the node H11. As a result, power from the node H11is transmitted to the HDDs D11and D12, is transmitted to the HDD D13through the resistors R11and R14, is transmitted to the HDD D14through the resistors R11and R15, and is transmitted to the HDDs D15and D16through the resistor R12.

When there are two servers in the cabinet C1000, the two servers respectively power the HDDs D11-D13and D14-D16. In this condition, the resistors R13and R16are welded onto the backplane, and the resistors R11, R12, R14, and R15are taken off from the backplane. Meanwhile, the node H11is connected to the power terminal P11of the connector100, and the node H13is connected to the power terminal P13of the connector100.

In this condition, the power terminal P11of the connector C100outputs power to the node H1, and the power terminal P12of the connector C100outputs power to the node H12. As a result, power from the node H11is transmitted to the HDDs D11and D12, and is transmitted to the HDD D13through the resistor R13. Power from the node H13is transmitted to the HDDs5and6, and is transmitted to the HDD D14through the resistor R16.

When there are three servers in the cabinet C1000, the three servers respectively power the HDDs D11and D12, D13and D14, D15and D16. In this condition, the resistors R14and R15are welded onto the backplane, and the resistors R11-R13, and R16are taken off from the backplane. Meanwhile, the node H11is connected to the power terminal P11of the connector100, the node H12is connected to the power terminal P12of the connector C100, and the node H13is connected to the power terminal P13of the connector C100.

In this condition, the power terminal P11of the connector C100outputs power to the node H1, the power terminal P12of the connector C100outputs power to the node H12, and the power terminal P13of the connector C100outputs power to the node H13. As a result, power from the node H11is transmitted to the HDDs D11and D12. Power from the node H12is transmitted to the HDDs3and4through the resistors R14and R15. Power from the node H13is transmitted to the HDDs5and6.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of everything above. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosure and their practical application so as to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the disclosure and various embodiments and with such various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skills in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.