Patent Publication Number: US-2022221915-A1

Title: System chassis with rotatable psu cover

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/137,556, filed on Jan. 14, 2021, titled “Design Of PSU Foolproof Mechanism To Solve PCB Assembly,” which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to system chassis, and more specifically, to system chassis with a rotatable PSU cover. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Power supply units (PSUs) can be used in computers (such as servers), and other electronic equipment that use DC voltage input power components. The PSU is used to convert AC power to regulated DC voltage. A computer system may include a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) and a PSU connected to the PCBA. For example,  FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a prior art computer system  10  with a bottom panel  12 . The prior art computer system  10  includes a PSU  30 , which is installed in a PSU housing  20 . The PSU  30  is also connected to the PCBA  40  positioned on the bottom panel  12 . The PSU housing  20  includes a rear panel  22 , which is better illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  2 - 2  showing the prior art computer system  10 . The rear panel  22  of the PSU housing  20  includes a stopper  24 , which prevents the PSU  30  from being inserted too far when the PSU  30  is inserted incorrectly (i.e., upside-down). As shown, a PCBA  50  cannot be lowered into the system  10 , even though there is enough space on bottom panel  12 , below the rear panel  22  of the PSU housing  20 . Thus, as shown, the size of the PCBA that the system chassis  10  can accommodate is limited by the rear panel  22 . 
     A need exists for more efficient utilization of chassis space, which would in turn allow faster computing performance as more components may be inserted in the chassis space. The present disclosure is directed to solving these problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The term embodiment and like terms, e.g., implementation, configuration, aspect, example, and option, are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this disclosure and the claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the claims below. Embodiments of the present disclosure covered herein are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the disclosure and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter. This summary is also not intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this disclosure, any or all drawings, and each claim. 
     According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, a power supply unit (PSU) housing configured to receive a PSU from a first end of the PSU housing is disclosed. The PSU housing includes a top panel, a bottom panel opposite to the top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel opposite to the first side panel, and a PSU cover. The first side panel and the second side panel define a width of the PSU housing. The PSU cover extends along the width of the PSU housing. The PSU cover includes a first elongated plate and a second elongated plate, which are perpendicular to each other. The PSU cover is configured to rotate relative to the top panel, such that (i) in a first orientation, the first elongated plate of the PSU cover is above and parallel to the top panel, and (ii) in a second orientation, the second elongated plate of the PSU cover is about flush with and parallel to the top panel. 
     In some implementations, the PSU includes a body, a retractable latch, and a control board. A portion of the control board protrudes from the body of the PSU. In some implementations, when the PSU housing receives the PSU in a correct orientation (e.g., right-side up), the control board of the PSU extends through an opening at the second end of the PSU housing uncovered by the PSU cover, such that the retractable latch of the PSU is retracted. In some implementations, when the PSU housing receives the PSU in an incorrect orientation (e.g., upside-down), the first elongated plate of the PSU cover contacts the control board of the PSU, and the retractable latch of the PSU is exposed outside the PSU housing. 
     In some implementations, the PSU cover includes an aperture for receiving a screw to affix the PSU cover in the second orientation. 
     In some implementations, the PSU housing is positioned within a system chassis. The system chassis is configured to receive one or more electronic components outside of the PSU housing. In some implementations, the system chassis includes a base panel extending from the bottom panel of the PSU housing in a direction opposite to the first end of the PSU housing, such that at least a portion of the base panel is configured to support a printed circuit board (PCB). 
     In some implementations, the PSU cover is rotatably coupled to the first side panel and the second side panel of the PSU housing. 
     According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, a system includes a power supply unit (PSU) housing, a PSU cover, and a printed circuit board (PCB) outside the PSU housing. The PSU housing is configured to receive a PSU from a first end of the PSU housing. The PSU housing includes a top panel, a bottom panel opposite to the top panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel opposite to the first side panel. The first side panel and the second side panel define a width of the PSU housing. The PSU cover extends along the width of the PSU housing. The PSU cover includes a first elongated plate and a second elongated plate, which are perpendicular to each other. The PSU cover is coupled to the PSU housing at a second end of the PSU housing, such that (i) the first elongated plate of the PSU cover is positioned at a distance from the second end of the PSU housing, and (ii) the second elongated plate of the PSU cover is about flush with and parallel to the top panel of the PSU housing. The PCB is supported on a base panel extending from the bottom panel of the PSU housing. 
     In some implementations, when the PSU housing receives the PSU the correct orientation, the portion of the control board of the PSU extends into a connector of the PCB. 
     In some implementations, the PSU housing includes a divider positioned between the first side panel and the second side panel. The divider of the PSU housing is configured to separate a first PSU from a second PSU. 
     In some implementations, the system further includes a system housing such that the PSU housing is positioned within the system housing. The system housing is configured to receive one or more electronic components outside of the PSU housing. 
     According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, a method for assembling a system having a system chassis is disclosed. The system chassis includes a power supply unit (PSU) housing configured to receive a PSU from a first end of the PSU housing. The PSU housing includes a top panel, a bottom panel opposite to the top panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel opposite to the first side panel. The first side panel and the second side panel define a width of the PSU housing. The system chassis also includes a PSU cover extending along the width of the PSU housing. The PSU cover including a first elongated plate and a second elongated plate, which are perpendicular to each other. The PSU cover is coupled to the PSU housing at a second end of the PSU housing, such that (i) in a first orientation, the first elongated plate of the PSU cover is above and parallel to the top panel of the PSU housing, and (ii) in a second orientation, the second elongated plate of the PSU cover is about flush with and parallel to the top panel of the PSU housing. The system chassis also includes a base panel extending from the bottom panel of the PSU housing, in a direction opposite to the first end of the PSU housing. At least a portion of the base panel is configured to support a printed circuit board (PCB). The PSU cover is placed in the second orientation. The PSU is inserted from the first end of the PSU housing towards the second end of the PSU housing. Whether a retractable latch of the PSU is exposed outside the PSU housing is determined. 
     In some implementations, prior to placing the PSU cover in the second orientation, the PCB is lowered onto the base panel of the system chassis. 
     In some implementations, in response to determining that the retractable latch of the PSU is exposed outside the PSU housing, the PSU is removed from the PSU housing. The PSU is rotated about 180 degrees around a longitudinal axis of the PSU. The PSU is re-inserted from the first end of the PSU housing towards the second end of the PSU housing. 
     The above summary is not intended to represent each embodiment or every aspect of the present disclosure. Rather, the foregoing summary merely provides an example of some of the novel aspects and features set forth herein. The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages of the present disclosure, will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of representative embodiments and modes for carrying out the present invention, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. Additional aspects of the disclosure will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure, and its advantages and drawings, will be better understood from the following description of representative embodiments together with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings depict only representative embodiments, and are therefore not to be considered as limitations on the scope of the various embodiments or claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a prior art computer system having a power supply unit (PSU) housing. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view showing the prior art computer system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a PSU cover of a system chassis in a first orientation and in a second orientation, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view showing how to place a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) in the system chassis of  FIG. 3 , according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a PSU configured to be installed in the system chassis of  FIG. 3 , according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view showing the PSU of  FIG. 5  correctly installed in the system chassis of  FIG. 3 , according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing the PSU of  FIG. 5  incorrectly installed in the system chassis of  FIG. 3 , according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the PSU of  FIG. 5  incorrectly installed in the system chassis of  FIG. 3 , according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure relates to a system chassis having a power supply unit (PSU) housing that includes a rotatable PSU cover. For example, when implemented as a part of a server chassis, the system chassis of the present disclosure can accommodate a larger printed circuit board (PCB) and/or more cable routing space, compared to a traditional PSU housing of similar size, because the rotatable PSU cover provides additional horizontal clearance for the PCB to be lowered into the system chassis. 
     Various embodiments are described with reference to the attached figures, where like reference numerals are used throughout the figures to designate similar or equivalent elements. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and are provided merely to illustrate aspects and features of the present disclosure. Numerous specific details, relationships, and methods are set forth to provide a full understanding of certain aspects and features of the present disclosure, although one having ordinary skill in the relevant art will recognize that these aspects and features can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, with other relationships, or with other methods. In some instances, well-known structures or operations are not shown in detail for illustrative purposes. The various embodiments disclosed herein are not necessarily limited by the illustrated ordering of acts or events, as some acts may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts or events. Furthermore, not all illustrated acts or events are necessarily required to implement certain aspects and features of the present disclosure. 
     For purposes of the present detailed description, unless specifically disclaimed, and where appropriate, the singular includes the plural and vice versa. The word “including” means “including without limitation.” Moreover, words of approximation, such as “about,” “almost,” “substantially,” “approximately,” and the like, can be used herein to mean “at,” “near,” “nearly at,” “within 3-5% of,” “within acceptable manufacturing tolerances of,” or any logical combination thereof. Similarly, terms “vertical” or “horizontal” are intended to additionally include “within 3-5% of” a vertical or horizontal orientation, respectively. Additionally, words of direction, such as “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “above,” and “below” are intended to relate to the equivalent direction as depicted in a reference illustration; as understood contextually from the object(s) or element(s) being referenced, such as from a commonly used position for the object(s) or element(s); or as otherwise described herein. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of a PSU housing  300  of a system chassis is shown, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. The system chassis may be a chassis for a computer system such as a server, or another electronic component that requires a PSU. The PSU housing  300  includes a top panel  320 , a bottom panel  322  (opposite to the top panel  320 ), a first side panel  324 , and a second side panel  326  (opposite to the first side panel  324 ). The first side panel  324  and the second side panel  326  define a width W of the PSU housing  300 . One or more PSUs (not shown) are inserted between the side panels  324  and  326 . In this example, the PSU housing  300  can accommodate two PSUs. Thus, in some implementations, the PSU housing  300  includes a divider  328  positioned between the first side panel  324  and the second side panel  326  for separating the two PSUs. 
     A PSU cover  310  extends along the width W of the PSU housing  300 . The PSU cover  310  is coupled to the first side panel  324  and the second side panel  326  of the PSU housing  300 , such that the PSU cover  310  is swingably and/or rotatably coupled to the PSU housing  300 . For example, the PSU cover  310  may be coupled to the first side panel  324  via a first pin  334 , and to the second side panel  326  via a second pin (not shown). The first pin  334  and the second pin allow the rotation of the PSU cover  310  between the first orientation  302  and the second orientation  304 . The PSU cover  310  includes a first elongated plate  312  and a second elongated plate  314 . The first elongated plate  312  and the second elongated plate  314  are perpendicular to each other. 
     In this example, the PSU cover  310  is configured to alternate between the first orientation  302  (e.g., an open orientation) and the second orientation  304  (e.g., a closed orientation). In the first orientation  302 , the first elongated plate  312  of the PSU cover  310  is above and parallel to the top panel  320  of the PSU housing  300 , In the second orientation  304 , the second elongated plate  314  of the PSU cover  310  is about flush with and parallel to the top panel  320  of the PSU housing  300 . In some implementations, the PSU cover  310  further includes an aperture  316  for receiving a screw to affix the PSU cover  310  in the second orientation  304  by insertion of the screw into a portion of the system chassis  400  ( FIG. 4 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a cross-sectional view of a system chassis  400  is shown, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. The system chassis  400  includes the PSU housing  300  and the PSU cover  310  of  FIG. 3 . A printed circuit board assembly (PCBA)  410  having a printed circuit board (PCB)  412  is placed in the system chassis  400 . 
     The system chassis  400  includes a base panel  402  that extends from the bottom panel  322  of the PSU housing  300 , in a direction opposite to the first end  420  of the PSU housing  300 . In some implementations, the base panel  402  of the system chassis  400  is integrated with the bottom panel  322  of the PSU housing  300 . As shown, at least a portion of the base panel  402  supports the PCB  412  of the PCBA  410 . 
     As shown, the PSU cover  310  is coupled to the PSU housing  300  at a second end  422  of the PSU housing  300 . In order to lower the PCBA  410  onto the bottom panel  322  of the PSU housing  300 , the PSU cover  310  may be positioned in the first orientation  302 , thereby allowing unobstructed movement of the PCBA  410 . After the PCBA  410  is installed in the system chassis  400 , the PSU cover  310  may be positioned in the second orientation  304 . The system chassis  400  is then ready to receive a PSU  500  ( FIG. 5 ) from the first end  420  of the PSU housing  300 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a perspective view of the PSU  500  configured to be installed in the system chassis  400  ( FIG. 4 ) is shown, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. The PSU  500  includes a body  510 , two retractable latches  520   a  and  520   b,  and a control board  530 . A portion  532  of the control board  530  protrudes from the body  510  of the PSU  500 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a cross-sectional view of the PSU  500  correctly installed in the system chassis  400  is shown, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. The PSU  500  may be inserted from the first end  420  of the PSU housing  300  and pushed towards the second end  422  of the PSU housing  300 . When the PSU housing  300  receives the PSU  500  correctly (i.e., right-side up), the control board  530  of the PSU extends through an opening  610  that is uncovered by the PSU cover  310 . A connector  614  receives the protruding portion  532  of the control board  530 , and couples it to the PCB  412 . The connector  614  may further include a clamp  616  or a spring that holds the protruding portion  532  of the control board  530  in place. Additionally, in some implementations, when the PSU housing  300  receives the PSU  500  correctly, the retractable latches  520   a  and  520   b  ( FIG. 5 ) of the PSU  500  are retracted, because the PSU  500  is fully inserted into the PSU housing  300 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a cross-sectional view of the PSU  500  incorrectly installed in the system chassis  400  is shown, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. When the PSU housing  300  receives the PSU  500  incorrectly (i.e., upside-down), the first elongated plate  312  of the PSU cover  310  contacts the control board  530  of the PSU  500 . In some implementations, the PSU cover  310  includes a stopper  710  coupled to the first elongated plate  312 . The first elongated plate  312  then contacts the control board  530  of the PSU  500  via the stopper  710 , which may protect the control board  530  from being scratched and/or damaged. Additionally, when the PSU housing  300  receives the PSU  500  upside-down, the first elongated plate  312  of the PSU cover  310  prevents the PSU  500  from being inserted as far as when the PSU housing  300  receives the PSU  500  right-side up as in  FIG. 6 . Thus, a portion  720  of the PSU  500  remains outside of the PSU housing  300 , which allows a user to quickly determine that the PSU  500  is incorrectly installed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , another perspective view of the PSU  500  incorrectly installed in the system chassis  400  is shown, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. When the PSU housing  300  receives the PSU  500  upside-down, the retractable latches  520   a  and  520   b  of the PSU  500  are exposed outside the PSU housing  300 , because the PSU  500  cannot be fully inserted into the PSU housing  300 . Thus, the user can determine that the PSU  500  is incorrectly installed if the retractable latches  520   a  and  520   b  of the PSU  500  are exposed. In some implementations, the user can then remove the PSU  500  from the PSU housing  300 , rotate the PSU about 180 degrees around a longitudinal axis z of the PSU, and re-insert the PSU  500  from the first end  420  of the PSU housing  300 . 
     The example PSU cover  310  may be built into any chassis for any electronic system having a PSU. Such electronic systems may include, for example, any type of server, storage devices, network switches, communications equipment, and the like. 
     Although the disclosed embodiments have been illustrated and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur or be known to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application. 
     While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein, without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above described embodiments. Rather, the scope of the disclosure should be defined in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.