Patent Publication Number: US-2020285292-A1

Title: Power adapters for component interconnect ports

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Computing devices may use computing components to enable, augment, or improve functionality. For instance, computing components may include graphical processing components, such as may be installed in computing devices to provide augmented graphical processing capabilities to the computing device. At times, computing components receive power via a motherboard of a computing device. At times, computing components may use power received via an auxiliary power connection directly from a power supply of the computing device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various examples will be described below by referring to the following figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating of an example power adapter; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a sample PCB having component interconnect ports; 
         FIG. 3  is a profile view of an example PCB with a computing component and a power adapter connected to component interconnect ports; 
         FIG. 4  is a profile view of an example power adapter; and 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are schematic illustrations of example combinations of computing components and power adapters. 
     
    
    
     Reference is made in the following detailed description to accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, wherein like numerals may designate like parts throughout that are corresponding and/or analogous. It will be appreciated that the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale, such as for simplicity and/or clarity of illustration. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     At times, functionality of computing devices may be enabled, increased, and/or augmented by use of computing components (e.g., physical parts of a subsystem of a computing device). To illustrate, example computing components may include components for storing and/or reading signals and/or states stored to media, such as digital versatile disc (DVD) players, hard disk drives (HDD), flash drives, phase-change media drives, removable media readers, and the like; example computing components may also include components for wired and/or wireless interfaces, such as universal serial bus (USB), THUNDERBOLT, Ethernet, WIFI, BLUETOOTH, and near-field communication (NFC) interfaces, and the like; and components for specialized (e.g., application-specific) processing, such as graphics processing or compute cards, by way of non-limiting example. 
     There may exist a number of possible methods and mechanisms for providing power (e.g., electrical power) to computing components of a computing device (e.g., directly from a wall outlet, from a battery, etc.). In one implementation, power may be transmitted to computing components from a power supply of a computing device. A power supply refers to a component of a computing device that may convert power of one form (e.g., from a wall outlet) into a second form (such as for components of the computing device). For example, one power supply may convert alternating current (AC) power from a wall outlet into direct current (DC) power for computing components. 
     In one example case, power from a power supply may be fed directly to certain computing components (e.g., HDDs, SSDs, and/or DVD drives of a computing device), such as via wires and a wiring harness. The power supply may also transmit power to a printed circuit board (PCB), such as a motherboard, of a computing device for allocation to other computing components. For instance, the PCB may comprise circuitry to provide power to additional computing components. By way of example, the PCB may comprise connectors for peripheral interface components, such as graphical processing components (e.g., that may be connected to a display), and other interface components, such as networking components (e.g., WIFI card, Ethernet card, etc.), and the like. Power may be transmitted via the connectors according to industry standards, which is to be understood to include standards yet to be established in the future. For example, peripheral component interconnect (PCI), PCI eXtended (PCI-X), and PCI Express (PCIe) are example component connector ports (referred to alternatively herein as interconnect slots) that may have respective power transmission standards, including limits on power levels that may be transmitted via a particular component interconnect slot. For example, some PCIe ports may be limited to providing 25 W of power to connected devices, which may be dependent on a number of power and ground signals for a given interconnect slot. However, at times, some computing components may use power that exceeds the limits of power available through a particular component interconnect slot. 
     In one case (such as to overcome power limits of a particular component interconnect slot), supplemental power may be provided to computing components via an empty component interconnect slot of a PCB using a power adapter connectable to the empty component interconnect slot. By way of example, a computing component may be connected to a first component interconnect slot, and a power adapter may be connected to a second component interconnect slot. Power may be transmitted to the computing component via the first component interconnect slot and also, using the power adapter, power may be transmitted to the computing component via the second component interconnect slot. As such, computing components may be able to use a power adapter connected to additional interconnect slots to achieve desired power levels (e.g., such as in cases of computing components having power usage that exceeds power availability through a single component interconnect slot). 
     There may also be size-related constraints on power adapters. For example, some computing components may have a width extending beyond a particular component interconnect slot and potentially impeding access to neighboring component interconnect slots. For example, as computing components for graphical processing (e.g., graphical processing cards) increase in power, a size of the computing components may also increase, such as due to increases in size and/or number of electrical, thermal, and mechanical elements thereof. As a result, some computing components for graphical processing may extend over (e.g., cover) neighboring PCIe slots. However, in some cases, a power adapter may be sized to allow the power adapter to be connected to component interconnect slots covered by computing components. 
     Because it may be desirable to use otherwise unoccupied component interconnect slots (to which additional power has been allocated), example interconnector power adapters may be capable of connecting to component interconnect slots associated with (e.g., in communication with) empty processor sockets or ports. Said otherwise, in cases in which a power adapter is used to provide supplemental power to a computing component connected to another component interconnect slot, data may not be transferred via the power adapter. In fact, in some cases, the power adaptor may not include contacts to enable data transfer. 
     With the foregoing in mind, implementations of claimed subject matter may comprise multiple power adapters used in combination to provide power to a computing component from multiple component interconnect slots, without limitation. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an example power adapter  100 , such as may be usable for providing supplemental power to a computing component. Computing component  120  may comprise, for example, a graphical processing component, and may use more power than may be provided by a component interconnect slot to which it is connected. As such, power adapter  100  may be capable of transmitting supplemental power from another component interconnect slot to component  120 . 
     In one implementation, for example, power adapter  100  may comprise an interconnect  105 . Interconnect  105  may comprise a portion that is connectable to a port, such as a component interconnect slot (e.g., interconnect slot  115 ). Interconnect  105  may comprise contacts capable of forming an electrical connection with contacts of interconnect slot  115 . In one case, for example, interconnect  105  may comprise contacts for receiving power but not contacts for transmitting data signal packets. 
     Power may be transmitted from power adapter  100  (e.g., to component  120 ) via an output  110 . For example, output  110  may be connected to an auxiliary power connection of a computing component, such as computing component  120 , via a wire or cable. 
     In a case in which power adapter  100  comprises a number of portions for receiving and transmitting power, an interconnect portion, interconnect  105 , may receive power from interconnect port  115 . As noted, the interconnect portion may receive power via interconnect port  115  without transferring or receiving data via interconnect port  115 . And an output portion, such as output  110 , may transmit power (e.g., the power received via interconnect  105 ), such as to component  120 , which may be arranged within (e.g., connected to) a second interconnect slot (e.g., distinct from interconnect slot  115 ). Of course, implementations using an integrated receiver/transceiver portion is also contemplated by the present disclosure. 
     Example interconnect ports may include PCIe slots. In one example implementation, for example, a power adapter may be capable of receiving power from a PCIe slot and transmitting the received power to a computing component, such as a graphical processing component in another PCIe slot. For example, the graphical processing component, which may use 150 W to operate, may be connected to (e.g., inserted within) a PCIe slot with a 75 W power limit. Consequently, power adapter  100  may be connected to (e.g., inserted into) a second PCIe slot, and 75 W of additional power may be transferred to the graphical processing component via power adapter  100 . Of course, the foregoing sample numbers are provided for illustration and are not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
     In this example, the graphical processing component (e.g., computing component  120 ) may overhang a neighboring PCIe slot (e.g., interconnect slot  115 ). In such a case, power adapter  100  may be sized to connect to the neighboring PCIe slot, which PCIe slot may have otherwise remained empty due to the overhang from component  120 , and be able to nevertheless transmit power from the PCIe slot to component  120 . For example, power adapter  100  may be sized and arranged underneath an electromechanical space of component  120 . 
     In a case in which PCIe slots are associated with different processor sockets, if one of the processor sockets is empty (e.g., no processor is installed), power may nevertheless be allocated and provided to PCIe slots associated with the empty processor socket. Consequently, the PCIe slots for which no processor is installed in the respective processor sockets, may be otherwise unusable for transmission and reception of data. Nevertheless, in the context of transmitting supplemental power to component  120 , the PCIe slots associated with empty processor sockets may still be usable, such as to provide supplemental power to component  120 . 
     Similarly, power adapter  100  may limit signals received (e.g., via interconnect  105 ) to power and ground signals (e.g., such as via a power connector or contact). Thus, power adapter may be capable of receiving and transmitting power without transmission of data signals. Indeed, in some cases, power adapter  100  may be unable to transmit data signals, such as due to a lack of data connectors, an inability to transmit data to other components, a lack of circuitry to handle data, etc. 
     In addition to the preceding PCIe examples, other example uses of power adapter  100  may comprise use in conjunction with PCI slots, PCI-X slots, and the like (including interconnect port standards to be developed in the future, and for which power output may be limited, such as by a standard), without limitation. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a sample PCB  225  having two component interconnect ports, component interconnect slots  215   a  and  215   b . Interconnect slots  215   a  and  215   b  may be in electrical communication with processors  240   a  and  240   b  via traces  230   a  and  230   b  and sockets  235   a  and  235   b .  FIG. 2  illustrates a case in which PCB  225  comprises a plurality of processors  240   a  and  240   b . In a case in which data transfer is desired, data exchanged via interconnect slot  215   a  may be handled by processor  240   a , and data exchanged via interconnect slot  215   b  may be handled by processor  240   b . However, in contrast to data transfer, power may be exchanged without intervention from a processor. Thus, at times, a processor socket, such as socket  235   b , may be empty. Nevertheless, and as noted above, power may still be provided via interconnect slot  215   b  in cases in which processor  240   b  is not installed in socket  235   b.    
     In one implementation, sockets  235   a  and  235   b  may be generalized to represent root ports. For example socket  235   a  may refer to a first root port associated with a first processor, a chipset, or an additional like root port source (e.g., additional processors, PCIe switch, etc.). And socket  235   b  may refer to a second root port associated with a second processor, a chipset, or an additional like root port source. And PCB  225  may include additional root ports associated with additional interconnect slots. 
     Additionally, at times, a component connected to one component interconnect slot, such as interconnect slot  215   a , may extend over a second component interconnect slot, such as interconnect slot  215   b . In such a case, interconnect slot  215   b  may not be accessible, such as for connecting computing components. However, a power adapter, such as power adapter  100  in  FIG. 1 , may be sized to be connected to interconnect slot  215   b . For example, the power adapter may be sized to fit under an electromechanical space of the computing component. An example power adapter capable of fitting under an electromechanical space of a computing component is discussed in relation to  FIG. 3 , discussed hereinafter. 
       FIG. 3  is a profile view of a sample PCB  325  having two interconnect slots  315   a  and  315   b . As shown in this implementation, a computing component  320  is connected to interconnect slot  315   a  and power adapter  300  is connected to interconnect slot  315   b . Computing component  320  is a dual-width component, having, for example, a width that exceeds (e.g., is approximately two times) that of a standard component size (e.g., such as set by a standards body, by way of non-limiting example). For example, for component interconnect ports, such as interconnect slot  315   a , a standard width of computing component  320  is indicated by width A. A dual-width component, such as computing component  320 , may have a width of approximately width B. As shown, due to the dual-width nature of computing component  320 , interconnect  315   b  is obscured and may be otherwise unusable. It is to be understood that though dual-width components are discussed and shown in the examples of the present disclosure, other component sizes are also contemplated by the present disclosure. 
     Returning to the discussion of  FIG. 3 , it may be desirable to provide power to a computing component from an unoccupied component interconnect port via a power adapter. For instance, some computing components, such as computing component  320 , may use power exceeding that provided by interconnect slot  315   a . Alternatively, even though sufficient power may be available via interconnect slot  315   a , supplemental power may nevertheless be desired (e.g., such as to create a power buffer to keep power supply usage within an optimal efficiency band). Consequently, power adapter  300  may be connected to interconnect slot  315   b  and may provide supplemental power to computing component  320 . 
     As should be apparent, power adapter  300  may be sized to fit within a space below an electromechanical space (shown with broken line  345 ) of computing component  320 . As referred to herein, a power adapter, such as power adapter  300 , that is sized to be arranged under an electromechanical space of a computing component refers to a height-limited adapter or a power adapter having a height-limited exposed portion. 
       FIG. 4  is a profile view of a sample power adapter  400  as compared with a sample computing component  420  and a sample component interconnect slot  415 . The bracket labeled  445  indicates electromechanical space of component  420 . The bracket labeled  455  indicates an exposed portion of power adapter  400  that may extend above interconnect slot  415  while power adapter  400  is connected thereto. And the bracket labeled  450  indicates an interconnect space of power adapter  400 , such as may be inserted within interconnect slot  415 . Thus, power adapter  400  may be considered a height-limited adapter if exposed portion  455  is small enough to fit underneath electromechanical space  445  of computing component  420 . An example size of exposed portion may comprise approximately 6 mm or less, 5 mm or less, 4 mm or less, etc., by way of illustration but not limitation. Indeed, in other cases, an exposed portion of an example power adapter  400  may be greater than 6 mm (such as according to industry standards yet to be established, by way of example). For instance, in one such case, an exposed portion may comprise 7 mm or less, etc. 
     In one implementation of sample power adapter  400 , therefore, an interconnect (e.g., interconnect  105  in  FIG. 1 ), which may be located in interconnect space  450 , may be connected to interconnect slot  415  to receive power from interconnect slot  415 . In one example case, the interconnect may comprise a plurality of contacts (e.g., power and ground contacts) arranged to create an electrical connection with a contact arranged in interconnect slot  415  for transfer of power. Power adapter  400  may also comprise an output (e.g., output  110  in  FIG. 1 ) to transmit received power to an auxiliary power connector of component  420 , such as while component  420  is arranged in a second component interconnect slot. And, as noted above, sample power adapter  400  may be height-limited. As such, in one case, an exposed portion  455  of power adapter  400  may not extend into electromechanical space  445 , shown as a portion of component  420  between dash-dot-dot line B and a top-most extremity of component  420 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , exposed portion  455  of example power adapter  420  refers to a portion of power adapter  420  visible above a top of interconnect slot  415  (e.g., indicated by dash-dot-dot line A), shown by dash-dot-dot line A′ on power adapter  420 , to a top-most extremity of power adapter  420 . 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates a plurality of interconnect slots  515   a - 515   c , such as may be arranged on a PCB. As shown, in one example case, a plurality of power adapters, power adapters  500   a  and  500   b  (shown with dotted lines, such as to not obscure other elements in the figure), may be used together to provide power to computing component  520  (also shown with a dotted line).  FIG. 5A  also shows a power cable  565  for transferring power from an output of power adapters (e.g.,  500   a  and  500   b ) to an auxiliary power connector  560 . While an example is shown using a plurality of power adapters, this is merely done by way of example and illustration. It should be understood that cases in which fewer or more power adapters may be used are contemplated by the present disclosure. 
     Turning to  FIG. 5B , a diagram illustrates an example case in which a plurality of interconnect slots, interconnect slots  515   a - 515   g  are arranged, such as in an array on a PCB. In the example case illustrated in  FIG. 5B , differing sizes of interconnect slots  515   a - 515   g  illustrate different throughput (e.g., x1, x4, x8, x12, x16, etc.) and interconnect versions (e.g., PCIe version 1.x, PCIe version 2.x, PCIe version 3.x, etc.). Differing fill patterns refer to different associations with differing processors of a PCB (e.g., a distinct motherboard processor or chipset, providing a PCIe root port supporting a different throughput for each interconnect slot, in this case). Thus, interconnect slot  515   a  may represent a PCIe3x4 slot (e.g., a PCIe version 3.x slot with x4 lanes) associated with a first processor socket; interconnect slot  515   b  may represent a PCIe3x16 slot (e.g., a PCIe version 3.x slot with x16 lanes of throughput) associated with the first processor socket; interconnect slot  515   c  may represent a PCIe3x16 slot (e.g., a PCIe version 3.x slot with x16 lanes of throughput) associated with a second processor socket; interconnect slot  515   d  may represent a PCIe3x16 slot (e.g., a PCIe version 3.x slot with x16 lanes of throughput) associated with the second processor socket; interconnect slot  515   e  may represent a PCIe3x8 slot (e.g., a PCIe version 3.x slot with x8 lanes of throughput) associated with the second processor socket; interconnect slot  515   f  may represent a PCIe3x16 slot (e.g., a PCIe version 3.x slot with x16 lanes of throughput) associated with the first processor socket; and interconnect slot  515   g  may represent a PCIe2x1 slot (e.g., a PCIe version 2.x slot with x1 lane of throughput) associated with a motherboard chipset, by way of example. 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 5B , computing component  520  may be a dual-width graphical processing component connected to interconnect slot  515   b . Two power adapters, power adapter  500   a  and power adapter  500   b , may be connected to interconnect slots  515   c  and  515   d , respectively, to provide supplemental power to component  520 . Power cable  565  may transmit power from power adapters  500   a  and  500   b , such as via an output of each respective power adapter, to auxiliary power connector  560 . In the illustrated example case, the second processor socket, associated with interconnect slots  515   c ,  515   d , and  515   e , may be empty. Nevertheless, interconnect slots  515   c ,  515   d , and  515   e  may be used to provide supplemental power to component  520  (e.g., even in cases in which the second processor socket is empty). As should be apparent, therefore, in one implementation, a plurality of height-limited power adapters may be used to provide power to a computing component. 
     Therefore, as disclosed herein, power to a computing component connected to a first component interconnect slot may be supplemented using a power adapter, which may be able to connect to a second component interconnect slot to provide the supplemental power. The power adapter may be height-limited, such as to be able to fit underneath an electromechanical space of the computing component. The power adapter may be able to provide power from an interconnect slot without data transmission via the same interconnect slot. 
     In the preceding description, various aspects of claimed subject matter have been described. For purposes of explanation, specifics, such as amounts, systems and/or configurations, as examples, were set forth. In other instances, well-known features were omitted and/or simplified so as not to obscure claimed subject matter. While certain features have been illustrated and/or described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes and/or equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all modifications and/or changes as fall within claimed subject matter.