GB2256319A - Power supply unit/computer systems - Google Patents

Abstract

A computer system has a power supply unit 2 comprising a cabinet 4 carrying a fan 24 on a removable front panel 18, and a slidably removable circuit board 28 carrying the power supply circuitry 30, whereby the circuit board can be readily replaced/repaired. The computer system includes a disk drive module received in aperture (51) (e.g. Figs 57) in the front panel of a cabinet (48). The module can be in either of three alternative orientations relative to the cabinet so that the cabinet can be used in different orientations with the disk drive module remaining the same way up. The computer system can receive plug-in cards in sockets (64, 68) (Figs 8, 9) on alternative mounting housings (82) located adjacent the back of the cabinet (48). <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO COMPUTERS The present invention relates to modules for computer systems. One such module is a power supply unit.

A power supply unit includes at least one mains socket and a cooling fan which are mounted on a front face of the casing of the unit. This face is exposed at the back of the computer. Inside the unit there is at least one circuit board for power distribution to various other parts of the computer.

In a conventional industry-standard power supply unit a board is enclosed within the casing. It is fixed to the casing, usually by screws. Should the unit be faulty, it is difficult to gain access to the board in order to service it. The unit must be removed from the computer before it can be opened by unscrewing a top cover, which is part of the casing. Only then can the unit be taken apart for testing and repair.

Commonly, a circuit board fault is overcome by replacement of a whole unit even though most of the components within the unit are sound. Conventional units are of a complex construction, making initial and subsequent assembly difficult.

In a power supply unit, there is a cable which connects each mains socket, via an on/off switch, to the distribution circuitry.

In a conventional unit, the cable extends through an aperture in the casing to a remote switch which is difficult to access. The remote end of the cable must be disconnected from the switch in order to free the unit.

The present invention is defined in the appended independent claims to which reference should now be made. Advantageous features of the invention are set out in the subclaims.

A preferred power supply unit for a computer which embodies the invention has a fan and two mains connectors mounted on a separate front panel. This is easily removed from the rest of the unit to expose the power distribution circuitry. The whole unit need not be removed from the computer tooachieve this, as is conventionally required.

The preferred power supply unit is adapted further in a number of ways to permit ready access to its circuitry. A circuit board is supported between ledges which run along the sides of the casing. On removing the front panel, the board can be slid-out for repair or replacement. Because the whole unit need not be removed or replaced if a fault develops within it, there are many obvious benefits, including savings of costs and labour.

The cable to the on/off switch plugs into a socket mounted on the back face of the unit. The socket is connected to the circuit board. The board is easily released because the need to locate and free the remote end of the cable is avoided.

The casing of the unit has a groove in the end of one side wall through which distribution leads from the circuit board are passed out. When the front panel is removed, the leads are not confined within the groove. Accordingly, the board is easily removed. Conventionally, the groove for the distribution leads is in the top of the side wall and the leads cannot be freed from it until the unit is removed from the microprocessor and the cover is taken off.

Another problem with computer systems is that different cabinets have to be produced for different types or configurations of computer. One particular problem is that the cabinet may need to be positioned horizontally on a desktop, or may need to be positioned vertically on the floor. Present cabinets do not permit this interchange while still allowing of convenient operation of the computer system.

Also there is a need to accommodate half length or full length expansion cards or circuit boards in a computer system.

Such boards may need to be arranged in one of two or more configurations. Present designs require different housing systems to be constructed for the different configurations.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic sectional side view of a power supply unit; Figure 2 is a schematic view of the front panel of the unit; Figure 3 is a simplified side view of the unit; Figure 4 is a schematic sectional right-side view of the unit without a circuit board enclosure; Figure 5 is a front view of a microprocessor in a desk-top configuration; Figure 6 is a front view of the microprocessor in an upright configuration (mini-tower); Figure 7 is a front view of the microprocessor in an alternative upright configuration (mini-tower); Figure 8 is a rear view of the microprocessor; and Figure 9 is a rear view of the microprocessor having a different slot housing.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4 the power supply unit 2 comprises a casing 4 having a base 6, top 8, rear face 10 with ventilation slots 12, and sides 14, 16. The unit 2 has a front panel 18 in which female and male mains sockets 20, 22 are mounted. A cooling fan 24 is also mounted in the panel as is a voltage selector 26.

The unit includes power distribution circuitry comprising a circuit board 28 having circuit components 30 mounted on the board.

Each side 14 of the casing 4 has narrow ledges 32, 33 produced by cutting and bending up portions of the side. The board 28 is held in position between the lower ledge 32 and upper ledge 33 of each side 14, 16.

The board 28 carries a socket via which power is supplied to the fan 24 by means of a flexible lead, a plug and socket connector which connects the mains sockets 20, 22 to the circuit board, and a multipin socket 34 mounted on the circuit board and open at the rear face 10 of the unit 2.

The multipin socket 34 allows a cable 36 which is connected to a remote on/off power switch to be connected, via a multipin plug 38, both to the mains sockets 20, 22 and the circuit board 28.

Optionally, the circuit board carries a secondary board 40, as shown in Figure 1, but not Figure 4. Power received at mains input socket 20 is passed by the board directly to the socket 34 and thence to the on/off switch. Power from the on/off switch returns via socket 34 to the board.

As shown in Figure 2, the front panel 18 includes two screws 19, 21 which may be unscrewed using a coin, and a lower lip portion 42 below the fan 24 of reduced width. In position, the lower lip portion 42 engages with a lower front face lip (not shown) of the casing 4. The front panel is held in position by the two screws.

If it is desired to remove the board 28 for repair, the front panel 18 is simply released by unscrewing the screws 19, 21 and tilting it so that the lip portion 42 disengages from the casing 4. The circuit board can then be slid out, the ledges 32, 33 forming a guide for the edges of the board. The cable 36 is easily disconnected at its plug 38, to be inserted in a socket 34 of a repaired or replacement board. The front panel 18 is completely removable by detaching a fan power plug from its socket on the board and disconnecting the mains sockets 20, 22 from the board 28. A faulty fan 24 for example is then simply replaced.

As shown in Figure 3, the right side 14 of the casing 4 has a slot 44 in its front end 46. Distribution leads (not shown) pass from the board, to which they are soldered, to provide power to various computer elements. When the front panel 18 is in place the slot 44 is converted into a hole via which the distribution leads must pass. However, upon the front panel 18 being removed, the leads are readily pulled forwards out of the slot, making it easy to release the board 28.

It will be seen that either the front panel 18, or the circuit board 28, or both can selectively be removed without having to replace the entire power supply unit, including the casing 4. It then becomes an easy matter to repair a faulty unit by replacing the front panel or the circuit board as appropriate, and the removed panel or board can be taken away for investigation and repair at leisure.

The power supply unit 2 illustrated is designed for use in a personal computer or other small computer system, and is mounted in a computer cabinet 48, as indicated in Figures 8 and 9. The front of the power supply unit including the fan 24 and mains sockets 20, 22 are on the rear of the cabinet 48, as is conventional, and the front panel 18 of the power supply unit forms a removable portion of the back panel of the computer cabinet.

The computer illustrated in Figures 5 to 9 includes a disk drive (3#) module 50 and bolt-on.mounting therefor which are of square cross section in front view as shown in Figures 5 to 7.

The disk drive module 50 is a simple plug-in unit which is locatable within a square aperture 51 in the front panel 52 of the computer in at least three orientations. One orientation is shown in Figure 5, the computer being in a desk top configuration. If the mounting and module are rotated through 900 one way around a front-to-back axis and then put into position, a mini-tower configuration is produced as shown in Figure 6. If rotated through 900 the other way, an alternative mini-tower configuration is produced as shown in Figure 7. The module includes two 3i" floppy disk drive bays 72, 74 and a hard disk drive bay 76. Other elements shown in the front panel 52 include two larger (5i") disk drive bays 54, a tape streamer 56 and indicator lights 58.

By making the drive module 50 of square section it is seen that the same cabinet can be used to produce versions for use horizontally or vertically but still having the disk drives themselves in conventional orientation.

The back 60 of the computer which is shown in Figure 8 includes a removable slot housing 62 which has on its interior a series of vertical slots 64 for plug-in cards. The slot housing 62 fits in a recess. The slot housing 62 allows a standard 8 slots AT configuration of slot mountings. The slot housing 62 is replaceable by a second slot housing 66 having horizontal slots 68.

The slot housing 66 allows an alternative configuration of slot mountings. Additionally, the slot mountings used with the vertical slot housing 66 allow four full length vertical slots, and the slot mountings with the horizontal slot housing 66 allows three fulllength horizontal slots.

Simply by replacing the slot housing the same computer cabinet can be used to accommodate two different slot configurations. Space remains-for a further 3" hard disk drive 70 to be located above the power supply unit at the rear of the cabinet.

Claims (13)

1. A power supply unit comprising a casing having a removable front panel, parallel guide means mounted on opposed sides of the casing, and a circuit board carrying power distribution circuitry slidably received by the guide means, whereby the circuit board can be removed for replacement or repair by removal of the front panel and sliding the circuit board out of the casing.

2. A power supply unit according to claim 1, including a cooling fan mounted on the front panel.

3. A power supply unit according to claim 1 or 2, including at least one mains connector each mounted on the front panel and electrically connected to the circuit board.

4. A power supply unit according to any preceding claim, in which each guide means comprises a pair of ledges formed on a side panel of the casing.

5. A power supply unit according to any preceding claim, in which the casing comprises a side panel formed with a slot open to the front edge of the side panel and which is closed when the front panel is in position, and in which distribution leads connected to the circuit board pass through the slot.

6. A power supply unit according to any preceding claim, including a mains connector mounted on the rear edge of the circuit board.

7. A power supply unit according to claim 6, including a mating connector for connection to the mains connector on the rear edge of the circuit board, and an on/off switch coupled to the mating connector.

8. A computer system having a cabinet, and at least one disk drive mounted in the cabinet, the disk drive being comprised in a module of square section and the cabinet having an aperture of corresponding square section to receive the module, whereby the module can be mounted in the cabinet in at least two orientations at 90 degrees to each other

9. A computer system according to claim 8, in which the cabinet includes a disk drive mounting for receiving the module, the disk drive mounting being capable of being positioned in the cabinet in at least two orientations at 90 degrees to each other.

10. A computer system according to claim 8 or 9, in which the module comprises at least one floppy disk drive.

11. A method of making a computer system adapted to receive a plurality of plug-in circuit boards, comprising the steps of providing a cabinet, providing a plurality of mounting housings of different types having elongate sockets adapted to receive plug-in circuit boards in respective different configurations, selecting a desired mounting housing, inserting the selected mounting housing in the cabinet, and electrically connecting the mounting housing to computer circuitry in the cabinet.

12. A method according to claim 11, in which the mounting housings are generally rectangular and in one type of housing the elongate sockets are parallelly arranged transverse to the length of the housing and in another type of housing the sockets are arranged parallel to the length of the housing in at least two rows.

13. A computer system made by the method of claim 11 or 12.