Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Other

Chin Y Cheng

Anthony N Eberhardt

Mario J Lee

Eddie Y Wong

Stimson Ho

In a piece of equipment deriving power from a three-phase power supply, a method and a connector provide a country-independent arrangement of connection pins to interface with the equipment, so as to provide one or more single-phase output voltages at designated pins. The connector includes a number of electrical terminals wired to the connection pins according to a country-dependent arrangement. In one embodiment, the connector includes one or more jumpers each configured to provide a short circuit between a designated pair of connection pins according to the country-dependent arrangement scheme. The country-independent arrangement provides a single-phase output voltage between 200-240 volts (RMS) across a designated pair of connection pins. In one application, a connector configured for the United States is used in conjunction with a 4-conductor cable having a U.S. conforming connector for plugging into a U.S. three-phase specification wall socket (e.g., NEMA). Similarly, a connector configured for Europe is used in conjunction with a 5-conductor cable having a conforming connector for plugging into a three-phase specification wall socket of the host European country (e.g., IEC 309).

Method and apparatus for three-phase to single-phase power distribution

An AC sequencer receives source AC voltage via a sequencer-mounted universally accepted connector, such as an IEC 309 compatible connector. Source AC is coupled by an AC connector plug and AC power cord from a wall socket to the AC sequencer via a mating connector. Although specifications for the AC power cord and AC connector will vary from country to country, the same AC sequencer may be used in many countries. Further, the AC sequencer receives control and status signals via sequencer-mounted universally accepted connectors, and can respond to signals that may be voltage-sourced, current-sourced, in addition to signals representing switch openings and closures. This permits a master server AC sequencer to be intelligently daisy-chained to remote slave units containing a similar AC sequencer, such that status information may be received from and control signals sent to the slave unit.

Universal AC sequencer for a server

Methods and apparatus for operating a power sequencer/controller system are disclosed. In a typical operation, an AC power sequencer/controller of the present invention senses the current through a first outlet connected to a first load, and when the current through the first outlet exceeds a first threshold voltage, indicating that the first load is turned on, the AC power sequencer/controller provides power to a second outlet so that a second load connected to the second outlet can be turned on. A power sequencer/controller of the present invention includes at least (a) a master outlet for coupling to a first load, (b) a current sensor for sensing the current through the master outlet and for coupling to a power source, (c) a switch controller for receiving a signal from the current sensor, a DC power supply or an input from a second power sequencer/controller, (d) a switch controlled by the switch controller and for coupling to the power source, and (e) a slave outlet coupled to the switch and for coupling to a second load. Multiple power sequencers/controllers can be also cascaded. While a master outlet may be always powered, a slave outlet of a power sequencer/controller can be either always powered, controlled (a) by one of the master outlet or a slave outlet of the same power sequencer/controller or (b) by a master outlet or a slave outlet of another power sequencer/controller in a cascaded system.

Method and apparatus for sequencing and controlling power distribution

A redundant blower unit is installed in a rack above another unit containing heat-emitting electrical elements (such as CPU cards) in order to draw air through the underlying unit and out to atmosphere. Four blowers in the blower unit draw air from a plenum, each blower discharging into an individual exhaust duct leading to the exterior. Two blowers are positioned at a first tier relative to the bottom of the plenum and the other two at a second tier higher than the first tier. If one blower fails, its exhaust duct may malfunction as an air inlet, in which case the incoming air is mixed with exhaust air and discharged through the other blower in the same tier as the failed blower. Thus the efficiency of the two blowers in the other tier is not impeded.

Redundant blower unit

A full wave rectification circuit for use with a three-phase input signal connected in a wye configuration for rectifying a line to neutral high input voltage is disclosed. The rectification circuit has two portions. A first portion generates a control signal which oscillates every 60.degree. and is switched in phase with one of the input signals. A second control signal, also oscillating in 60.degree., but completely out of phase with respect to the first oscillating signal is also generated. The two oscillating signals are used in a SCR switch configuration to switch the rectification circuit every 60.degree. thereby rectifying the peak voltage portion of each phase.

Growing community of inventors

Cupertino, CA, United States of America

Chin Y Cheng