International Business Machines Corporation

Cis Global LLC

Lenovo (singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Karl Klaus Dittus

Brian Alan Trumbo

Michael Sven Miller

Martin Joseph Crippen

Timothy Andreas Meserth

John Joseph Struble, Jr

Aubrey Lamond Hodges

Whitcomb Randolph Scott, Iii

Dean Frederick Herring

Eric Alan Eckberg

Jason Aaron Matteson

Vinod Kamath

Michael Raymond Miller

Daniel Paul Kelaher

David Frederick Champion

Stephen Peter Mroz

David John Jensen

John Paul Scavuzzo

Michael Kevin Jansma

John Geoffrey Gundlach

Joel Edwin Walker

Jean Jidong Xu

James Goode

Wade A Clarke

Paul Andrew Wormsbecher

Brian Michael Kerrigan

Timothy Samuel Farrow

Robert William Stegner

Scott Alan Shurson

John Mark Weber

William Mark Megarity

Ralph M Begun

Raymond Mathew Clemo

William Fred Martin-Otto

Joseph Francis Herman

Walter Adrian Goodman

Mohanlal Savji Mansuria

Eric T Gamble

Edward N Dials

Rodrigo Samper

Matthew Scott Henry

Leo Harold Webster, Jr

Cynthia Michelle Grosser

William Beauchamp

Warren E Price

Gregory Scott Vande Corput

John Harold Mohlke

Ronald Gary King

Brian Gormley

Michael J Huck

Charles Edmond White, Iii

Yuanbing Li

Ronald S Taylor

Michael John Stowell

Suzanne E Pail

Randy J Speltz

An electrical outlet assembly includes a molded housing having side walls, end walls extending between the side walls, a bottom wall interconnecting the side walls and the end walls, and an outlet core extending upwardly from the bottom wall into a space defined between the side and end walls. In one example, a first end wall of the end walls includes a latch portion that is deflectable relative to the space to selectively secure an electrical plug that is engaged with the outlet core. In another example, a biasing element is attached to the molded housing to bias the latch portion toward the outlet core.

Combination outlet assembly and power distribution unit including the same

A power cord locking assembly includes a button projecting from an upper surface of an electrical outlet housing having an outlet core therein. The button is selectively positionable relative to the housing in a direction obliquely oriented to a plug insertion axis between a locked position, in which the button engages and secures a plug connector housing mated to the outlet core, and an unlocked position, in which the button is disengaged from the plug connector housing for removal of the mated plug connector housing from the outlet core.

Locking combination outlet assembly and power distribution unit including the same

A combination outlet assembly includes a single piece integrally formed housing having first and second outlet cores respectively having a similar outer shape and profile but differently shaped sets of three terminal apertures, and three terminals associated with each respective set of three terminal apertures in the first outlet core and the second outlet core. The first outlet core and the second outlet core may be interchangeably used with power cord plug connectors of different types. Power cord latching features are also described. Power distribution units may include a number of combination outlet assemblies ganged together.

A self-close drawer mechanism includes a housing, a slidable self-close latch selectively positionable within the housing, a rotatable cam element in the housing, a flexible link system extending around the cam element, and a spring applying stored force to the sliding self-close latch through the flexible link. Dual cam surfaces in the cam elements realize a decreasing pull force as the user opens the drawer and provides smoother opening and closing operations with an improved user experience.

Self closing drawer assembly with dual-cam closing mechanism

A power distribution unit includes a housing, a plurality of power outlets disposed within the housing, and a dynamic illumination element operable in a user selected one of a plurality of distinct colors. Systems and methods of color coding input power paths to power distribution units are also described. The power distribution units are universally used in different color coded combinations with increased manufacturing and supply chain efficiencies, and simplified customer order processing.

Universal power distribution unit, systems and methods including user selectable dynamic color illumination

High power outlet count PDUs are disclosed having sufficient access to latching features in basic, metered, and managed PDUs. The power outlets may be oriented and spaced apart from one another to allow sufficient access to a latch of a corresponding plug such that plugs may individually be removed from the corresponding power outlets with ease. For example, the power outlets may be arranged longitudinally along the PDU, and staggered widthwise and/or rotated to allow access to the latch(es).

Power distributions units and orientation of power outlets

A method and apparatus for securing electronic components in an electronics system enclosure are disclosed. An apparatus can include an electronics system enclosure having a compartment adapted to receive a removable electronic component. The apparatus also includes a cam having a portion extending into the compartment sufficient to hinder insertion of the removable electronic component in a default orientation. The portion of the cam includes first and second surfaces. The portion of the cam is configured to deflect sufficient to permit insertion of the removable electronic component into the compartment in response to a normal force. The deflection causes the cam to deflect to a modified orientation. The cam portion returns to the default orientation in the absence of the normal force. The second surface of the portion is configured and arranged to engage a cam lever that is rotatably mounted to the removable electronic component.

Securing modules in an electronics system

Methods and computer equipment racks configured for data communications and power distribution are disclosed that include a plurality of servers mounted horizontally, each server having a power distribution connection and one or more switch connections; one or more power distribution units ('PDUs') mounted vertically; and one or more network switches mounted vertically, each network switch comprising one or more rows of switch connections.

Data communications and power distribution in a computer equipment rack

A method includes securing a midplane to a bracket disposed between a first and second ends of a chassis, wherein a first surface of the midplane engages the bracket and faces the first end of the chassis. A first electronic device is secured within the first end of the chassis with a first device connector coupled to a first midplane connector on the first surface of the midplane and a first device latch secured directly to a first slot in the chassis adjacent the first end. A sub-chassis is secured within the second end of the chassis, wherein the sub-chassis has a proximal end that engages a second surface of the midplane. Furthermore, a second electronic device is secured within the sub-chassis with a second device connector coupled to a second midplane connector on the second surface of the midplane and a second device latch secured directly to a slot in the sub-chassis adjacent the distal end of the sub-chassis.

Method of securing electronic devices within a sub-chassis

An embodiment of a computer rack is capable of supporting up to 48U of electronic devices, including a central rack space for up to 42U and six 1U side bays. The side bays are fully accessible from the rear of the rack, so that all of the components may be serviced without pulling the rack out from a row and removing side panels. Optional strip PDUs may be mounted at the rear. The rack complies with standard dimensions for a 19-inch rack, including standard vertical and horizontal rail dimensions, and fits on a standard 600 mm&#xd7;1200 mm floor tile.

High-capacity computer rack with rear-accessible side bays

A rail for toolless installation between first and second vertical rack rails. The rail comprises a telescoping rail body having a first and second ends, and an inside surface having a shelf, wherein a latch assembly is disposed at each end of the rail body. Each latch assembly comprises a flange secured to an end of the rail, a latch arm, a release handle, and a retractable pin. The latch arm is pivotally secured to the rail body, distally extends from the flange, and is biased toward a latched position. The release handle is on the inside surface of the rail body for movement from a latched position to an unlatched position. The retractable pin distally extends from each end and is biased toward a distally extended position, wherein the pin is stepped from a first diameter portion to a second larger diameter portion for adapting to different sized holes.

Toolless rail enabling simplified installation and removal

An apparatus comprises a chassis securing a midplane at a known distance from the first end of the chassis, wherein a first electronic device is securable within the first end of the chassis in connection with a midplane connector on a first surface of the midplane. A sub-chassis is receivable within the second end of the chassis with a proximal end of the sub-chassis engaging a second surface of the midplane. A distal end of the sub-chassis has a sub-chassis latch that secures the sub-chassis in the second end of the chassis with the proximal end engaged against the second surface of the midplane. A second electronic device is securable within the sub-chassis with a second device connector coupled to a midplane connector on the second surface of the midplane and a second device latch secured to a sub-chassis slot adjacent the distal end of the sub-chassis.

Variable latch to position a sub-chassis within a chassis

A rack for supporting electronic devices and modules with adjustable rails. The rack has a vertical wall with a set of holes at various elevations, each set of holes including at least a proximal hole evenly spaced apart from a distal hole. A longitudinally-extending rail has a set of clips for selectively securing the rail to the vertical wall, wherein the set of clips includes at least a proximal clip selectively receivable in the proximal hole at a selected elevation for supporting a proximal end of the rail and a distal clip selectively receivable in the distal hole at the selected elevation for supporting a distal end of the rail. The system may include a second rail for securing to an opposing vertical wall of the rack to form a shelf or bay for an electronic device. Each rail may be latched in place and can be selectively installed and removed without use of tools.

Toolless rail mounting for a computer system rack

A system comprising a chassis that includes a plurality of modules and a fan assembly disposed in a distal end of the chassis for drawing air in parallel pathways through the plurality of modules. At least one of the modules is a compute module having a thermal sensor disposed to sense the temperature of air flowing across a processor mounted on a motherboard. The system further comprises a fan controller receiving output from the thermal sensor, wherein the fan controller operates the fan assembly to cool the plurality of modules and maintain the thermal sensor output within an operating temperature range. The fan controller controls the fan speed according to predetermined thermal profile settings associated with one of the compute modules received in the chassis. For example, the predetermined thermal profile settings may include a minimum fan speed, a maximum fan speed, and control loop feedback settings.

Plurality of configurable independent compute nodes sharing a fan assembly

Growing community of inventors

Durham, NC, United States of America

Karl Klaus Dittus