Abstract:
A module type PDU for different power supply is provided. The PDU includes: a base configured to transmit different kinds of power; and a multi socket module connected with the base to transmit one kind of power to devices plugs of which are connected to the multi socket module. Accordingly, double power supply can be achieved through a single PDU and thus a PDU installing cost can be reduced, and, as the number of PDUs is reduced, electric equipments can be simplified.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to a Korean patent application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 31, 2013, and assigned Serial No. 10-2013-0168083, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a Power Distribution Unit (PDU), and more particularly, to a PDU which transmits power to servers in a data center environment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various methods for using a high performance server uninterruptedly in an environment where a plurality of servers are used like a data center are developing. One of them is to double supply power to a server. This method supplies separate power and prevents abnormal power supply even when a problem arises from one power supply system. 
     However, in order to double supply power, a PDU should be connected to different power sources and thus two PDUs are physically required. Accordingly, a double power system is required and thus an operator should add the same PDU set as the existing PDU set. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is a primary aspect of the present invention to provide a module type PDU which can transmit different kinds of power through a single unit, thereby achieving double power supply and making it easy to extend/separate. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a PDU includes: a base configured to transmit different kinds of power; and a multi socket module connected with the base to transmit one kind of power to devices plugs of which are connected to the multi socket module. 
     When the multi socket module is connected with the base in a first direction, the multi socket module may transmit first power to the devices, and, when the multi socket module is connected with the base in a second direction, the multi socket module may transmit second power to the devices. 
     The first power may be normal power, and the second power may be emergency power. 
     The base may include: a first output terminal configured to output the first power to the multi socket module; and a second output terminal configured to output the second power to the multi socket module, and a display for indicating a kind of the first power may be displayed around the first output terminal, and a display for indicating a kind of the second power may be displayed around the second output terminal. 
     A plurality of multi socket modules may be connectable with the base. 
     Multi socket modules having sockets of different standards may be connectable with the base. 
     As described above, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, double power supply can be achieved through a single PDU. That is, normal power and emergency power can be transmitted through a single PDU. Accordingly, a PDU installing cost can be reduced, and, as the number of PDUs is reduced, electric equipments can be simplified. 
     In addition, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, multi sockets of a PDU can be implemented in the form of a module and thus it is easy to extend and change the PDU. In addition, sockets of various standards can be used and thus the PDU can be widely utilized. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts: 
         FIG. 1  is a view to explain the concept of a PDU according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a view showing a multi socket module, rotated 180° about a lengthwise direction axis of multi sockets from the view of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a view showing the multi socket module which is connected with a base to transmit normal power; 
         FIG. 4  is a view showing the multi socket module in a state where it is connectible with an emergency power output terminal of the base; 
         FIG. 5  is a view showing the multi socket module, rotated 180° about the lengthwise direction axis of the multi sockets from the view of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a view showing the multi socket module which is connected with the base to transmit emergency power; 
         FIG. 7  is a view showing a PDU according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a view showing a multi socket module on which multi sockets of a different standard are provided. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiment of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiment is described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept by referring to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a view to explain the concept of a PDU according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The whole PDU is illustrated in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 1  illustrates only a part of the PDU to explain the concept of the PDU according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     The PDU according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be used to supply power to a plurality of server racks in an Internet Data Center (IDC). However, this is merely an example and the PDU may be used for other purposes. 
     The PDU which performs the above-described function includes a multi socket module  110  and a base  120  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The base  120  is a means for receiving power from an external source and transmitting the power to the multi socket module  110 , and receives/transmits normal power and emergency power. The normal power is supplied by Korea Electric Power Corporation and is output through a normal power output terminal  121 . The emergency power is supplied by Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) installed in the IDC and is output through an emergency power output terminal  122 . 
     That is, the PDU according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention supplies different kinds of power including the normal power and the emergency power for the sake of electrical redundancy. 
     The multi socket module  110  includes multi sockets  111  and state display lamps  112 . Plugs of servers are connected to the multi sockets  111  and the state display lamp  112  is lit when a corresponding socket is able to transmit power. 
     The multi socket module  110  is connected with the base  120  to output power output from the base  120  through the multi sockets  111  and thus transmit the power to the servers the plugs of which are connected to the multi sockets  111 . 
     The kind of the power received by the multi socket module  110  from the base  120  is determined based on a connection direction of the multi socket module  110  and the base  120 . 
     Specifically, a single power input terminal  113  is provided on a bottom surface of the multi socket module  110  as shown in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a view showing the multi socket module  110 , rotated 180° about the lengthwise direction axis of the multi sockets  111  from the view of  FIG. 1 . 
     Accordingly, when the power input terminal  113  is connected with the normal power output terminal  121  of the base  120 , the multi sockets  111  output the normal power, and, when the power input terminal  113  is connected with the emergency power output terminal  122  of the base  120 , the multi sockets  111  output the emergency power. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the multi socket module  110  which is connected with the base  120  to transmit the normal power. 
     In  FIG. 4 , the multi socket module  110  is in a state where it is able to be connected with the emergency power output terminal  122  of the base  120 . It can be seen that the locations of the multi socket module  110  and the state display lamps  112  are opposite to those of  FIG. 1   
     In addition,  FIG. 5  is a view showing the multi socket module  110 , rotated 180° about the lengthwise direction axis of the multi sockets  111  from the view of  FIG. 4 . It can be seen that the locations of the multi socket module  110  and the power input terminal  113  are opposite to those of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the multi socket module  110  which is connected with the base  120  to transmit the emergency power. Likewise, it can be seen that the locations of the multi socket module  110  and the state display lamps  112  are opposite to those of  FIG. 3 . 
     A text, a mark, or other indicators may be displayed on a side surface of the base  120  or around the output terminals  121  and  122  to inform the kind of power (normal power or emergency power) output through the output terminals  121  and  122 . 
       FIG. 7  is a view showing a PDU according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the base  120  of the PDU according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be designed to connect with five (5) multi socket modules  110 . However, “five” is merely an exemplary number. That is, the base  120  may be designed to connect with more than 5 or less than 5 multi socket modules  110 . 
     All of the connectible multi socket modules  110  are not connected with the base  120 . A smaller number of multi socket modules  110  may be connected. For example, the number of multi socket modules  110  connectible with the base  120  is five (5), but four (4) multi socket modules  110  may be connected. 
     Furthermore, the base  120  may be implemented in the form of a module and the number of connectible multi socket modules  110  may be determined according to the number of modules assembled. 
     In addition, multi sockets having a different standard from that of the multi sockets  111  may be provided on the multi socket module  110 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the multi socket module  110  having multi sockets  114  of a different standard from that of the multi sockets  111  may be connected with the base  120 . 
     Furthermore, the standards of the multi sockets implemented in the multi socket modules  110  connected with the base  120  may differ from multi socket module to multi socket module. 
     That is, the PDU according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be customized to a server environment of the IDC and thus can be changed or extended freely later. 
     The exemplary embodiment of the module type PDU which can supply different kinds of power has been described up to now. 
     In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the PDU supplies two kinds of power selectively. However, this is merely an example. The technical idea of the present invention can be applied when three or more kinds of power are selectively supplied. 
     Furthermore, the standard of the socket described above is merely an example. The technical idea of the present invention can be applied to sockets of other standards. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described with an exemplary embodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.