Patent 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.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    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, 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 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The disclosure relates to providing a high-density power distribution unit with an integrated cable management. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a novel power distribution unit enabling multiple cables to be received at one unit with minimal cable interference. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    In a conventional power distribution unit, input receptacles are located in the front and rear faces of the conventional power distribution unit because there often is an inadequate amount of space in the rear of the conventional power distribution unit to handle all of the input receptacles. 
         [0006]    For example, the conventional 1 U power distribution unit 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 power distribution unit, the cables in the front of the conventional power distribution unit need to be routed to the rear of the power distribution unit 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. 
         [0007]    Therefore, there is a need for a method and apparatus to provide a high-density power distribution unit with improved cable management ability. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a cable management unit having a base section for supporting a plurality of distribution walls. The distribution walls support several ports and can form a contiguous section or several discontinuous segments. A first mounting bracket and a second mounting bracket are integrated with the base section for securing the base to a receiving structure. Some of the distribution walls can be arranged at an angle with relation to each other in order to expand the number of ports that are formed on the base. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, the disclosure relates to a power distribution system formed by a housing having a base section, a top section and three side sections; a plurality of ports interposed between the base section and the top section, the plurality of ports adapted to receive one or more connections; and a mounting bracket for mounting the power distribution system to a structure. The ports can be arranged on the base to form a geometric shape having a plurality of sides and at least one angle separating two of the adjacent sides. In a related embodiment, the ports are arranged on the base such that the face of each port is substantially parallel to an edge of the base section. 
         [0010]    In still another embodiment, the disclosure relates to a power distribution system formed by a housing having a base section, a top section and three side sections; a plurality of ports interposed between the base section and the top section, the plurality of ports adapted to receive one or more connections; and a mounting bracket for mounting the power distribution system to a structure. The plurality of ports can be arranged on the base to form a geometric shape having a plurality of sides and at least one angle separating two of the adjacent sides. 
         [0011]    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 
         [0012]    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: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the distribution system of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the distribution system of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the distribution system of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an alternative distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a top view of an alternative distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a schematic representation of another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a rack holding several power distribution systems according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]      FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4  are perspective views of a power distribution unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring simultaneously to  FIGS. 1-4 , power distribution unit  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  52 , and connection  20 . Power distribution unit  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 power distribution unit  2 . Cable management bar prevents cable entanglement at the rear of the power distribution unit  2 . 
         [0022]    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 power distribution unit. 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. 
         [0023]    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). 
         [0024]      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 . Component receptacles  52  can house additional ports  18  as needed.  FIG. 1  shows connection  20  which can be used to feed wires directed to component receptacles  52 . 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, ports  18  are power plug outlets, and in another embodiment, ports  18  are 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 1 U power distribution unit  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 2 U power distribution unit  2 , each of the second and third distribution portion walls  14  and  16  can have a total of 25 or more ports  18 . 
         [0026]    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  18  without requiring a distribution wall. 
         [0027]    In an exemplary embodiment, at least one receptacle  52  on second distribution wall  14  or receptacle  52  on third distribution wall  16  houses at least 13 ports. In another embodiment, at least one of receptacle  52  on second distribution portion wall  14  or receptacle  52  on third distribution portion wall  16  houses at least 25 ports. In one embodiment, first distribution wall  12  can have one or more ports. 
         [0028]    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  10  along base section  8 , component receptacle  52  which resides along second distribution wall  14  and third distribution wall  16  can encompass an expanded area. The expanded area allows more ports  18  to be housed by power distribution  2 . 
         [0029]      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 power 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 . 
         [0030]    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 power distribution unit  2  or cause power distribution unit  2  to have a sudden impact upon a foreign surface causing damage to power distribution unit  2 . 
         [0031]    Referring again to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , connection  20  is located in wall  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. 
         [0032]    Component receptacles  28  can be used to house components such as circuit breakers, meters, serial ports, Ethernet ports, and/or environmental ports, etc. Component port  52  can be used to receive the distribution walls ( 12 ,  14 ,  16 ) and/or 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 distribution system  2 . In still another embodiment of the disclosure, a display unit is provided on the power distribution unit 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. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  shows mounting brackets  30  which allow securing distribution system  2  to a housing, a rack or any other support structure. Mounting brackets  30  allow a plurality of distribution systems  2  to be received at a rack infrastructure. The distribution systems 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 systems on one rack to thereby consolidate functionality that is typically performed by multiple conventional units. 
         [0034]    Power distribution unit  2  can also define one or more processor circuits in communication with a memory circuit for controlling input/output through ports  18 . In an exemplary embodiment, power distribution system  2  can be used as part of a data server and ports  18  define one or more 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  are configured to receive cooling devices such as electro-mechanical fans for cooling power distribution system  2 . 
         [0035]    In an exemplary embodiment defined by a rack having a plurality of power distribution units  2 , at least one of the power distribution units can be used to control operation of the other units in the rack. If the power distribution units 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 unit  2 . For example,  FIG. 8  shows one embodiment using a rack  800  to store multiple power distribution systems  2  by using brackets  30  to secure each power distribution system  2 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the power distribution systems  2  may be connected with one another via the cables  48 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an alternative power distribution unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 5 , power distribution unit  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 . As shown, 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  40  and  42  may form an acute angle or a right angle, whereas sides  38  and  40  may form an obtuse angle. 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  is a top view of an alternative power distribution unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. As seen in  FIG. 6 , power distribution unit  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 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 7  is a schematic representation of another embodiment of the disclosure. Power distribution unit  2  of  FIG. 7  is defined by a base portion  8  supporting a plurality of ports  18 . Each of the plurality of ports  18  is positioned on the base such that the face portion of the port is substantially parallel to the edge  9  of the base section. In this manner, connecting and disconnecting from ports  18  would be easier. 
         [0039]    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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7