GB2322972A

GB2322972A - Universal computer power supply unit

Info

Publication number: GB2322972A
Application number: GB9704572A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Bai Leng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-03-05
Filing date: 1997-03-05
Publication date: 1998-09-09
Also published as: GB9704572D0

Abstract

A DC power output access panel (1) is included in a computer power supply unit or a computer power supply system to provide DC power to the external devices connected to the host computer system, such as printers, external fax modems, multimedia speakers, scanners, video conference cameras and many other external media drives. An AC power output socket may also be provided (Figs 2,4). The panel (1) may include DC sockets of different sizes (eg A2,A4), LED indicators (A1) and fuses (A3). The panel may be embodied as a separate unit (10, Fig 5) connected to the rest of the supply unit (9) by a cable (11).

Description

Universal Computer Power Supply Unit & Universal Computer Power Supply System This invention relates to a computer power supply unit and a computer power supply system which supply the DC power to both the internal devices and the external devices which are connected to the host computer system.

A power supply unit (PSU) is used in every computer system to provide direct current (DC) power to the internal devices. The disadvantage to the existing computer power supply unit is that there is no DC power source to supply external devices which are commonly connected to the host computer system, such as printer, external fax modem, multimedia speakers, video conference camera and other external media drives. All external devices are powered individually by separate mains sockets and many of the external devices require DC power and hence have alternative current (AC) to DC adapters which convert AC power into DC. As one computer system and its external devices have many separate power supply sources and duplicated AC to DC adapters, many mains power sockets are required and power cables become tangled and may cause safety problems.

An object of this invention is to install a single universal power supply unit(UPSU) or a universal power supply system(UPSS) inside the host computer system to supply power to both the internal and the external electronic devices.

Accordingly, this invention provides a single computer power supply unit or a computer power supply system which has DC power output access for the external devices. The DC power output access for external devices consists of one or more DC power sockets, one or more fuses to protect the DC power sockets and the host computer, one or more DC power good indicating LEDs and one or more types of DC power sockets for small and large DC power output. The DC power output access panel is a built-in part of the universal computer power supply unit and it is a separate part of the universal computer power supply system which consists of two parts -- a power supply unit and a DC power output access unit . The universal computer power supply unit supplies all the power needed, both AC and DC, to the internal and external devices. The universal computer power supply unit itself converts AC mains power to DC power by employing a step down AC transformer, rectification, filtering, voltage regulation and other protective circuits and components. DC power output access provides one or more DC voltages to drive different external devices. DC power output access panel is a connection device for external devices to draw DC power.

Preferably the universal computer power supply unit (Version 1.01 to Version 1.04 as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4) is made of metal or plastics, but it may instead be made from a combination of metal and plastic materials. All the universal computer power supply unit itself must have an earth connection point. The DC power output access unit of the UPSS may be made of metal or plastics or the combinations of these two or any other conductive and non-conductive materials. The connection between the UPSU and DC power output access unit may be of the type permanently fixed at both ends, or one end is permanently fixed and the other end using a plug, or both ends use plugs or any combination of the connections. The DC power output access unit of UPSS may be fixed on any location of the host computer case with any orientation.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the UPSU with DC power output access panel and single AC power socket. It is a standard type of UPSU as the ventilation fan is located at the rear of the UPSU.

Figure 2 shows the UPSU with DC power output access panel and two AC power sockets. It is a standard type of UPSU as the ventilation fan is located at the rear of the UPSU.

Figure 3 shows the UPSU with DC power output access panel and single AC power socket. It is an ATX type UPSU, of which the ventilation fan is located on the other side of UPSU and it supplies extra more DC voltages; Figure 4 shows the UPSU with DC power out put access panel and two AC power sockets. It is an ATX type UPSU, of which the ventilation fan is located on the other side of UPSU and it supplies extra more DC voltages; Figure 5 shows the universal computer power supply system which consists of a universal computer power supply unit, a separate DC power output access unit and power cable connection between the two units; Figure 6 shows a brief circuit block diagram which indicates the electronic functioning circuit building blocks of the universal computer power supply unit.

Figure 1 is a rear view of the UPSU. It shows that the DC power output access panel (1) consists of one or more DC power good LEDs (Al) and one or more fuses (A3) for DC power sockets and host computer system protection. DC power output socket type one (A2) is for the small DC current , and DC power output socket type two (A4) is for the large DC current, i.e. large power multimedia speakers. DC power output voltage may be one or more voltages as one or more DC power output sockets can be installed. The only AC power socket(male) is an AC power input socket (2). There is no socket for AC power out put. The other components of the UPSU are shown as follows: an AC voltage selection switch (3), a ventilation air way (4), component fixing screws (5), UPSU to computer case fixing screws(female), (6) and the enclosure of the unit (8).

Figure 2 shows a different version of UPSU from Figure 1. There are two AC power sockets.

The AC power socket (7) is for AC power output and usually is connected to a monitor. As there two AC power sockets, the UPSU housing case must be re-shaped to allow the room for DC power output access panel (1).

Figure 3 shows the rear view of another version of UPSU, an ATX type of UPSU. There is a DC power output access panel (1) and a single AC power input socket (2). The UPSU cooling fan is fixed on the other side of the power supply unit case (not shown). Ventilation air way (4) is necessary for the UPSU.

Figure 4 shows the rear view and different version of UPSU from Figure (3). There is a DC power output access panel (1) to supply DC power to external devices. There are two AC power sockets (2) and (7), one for AC power input and the other for AC power output. The rest are the same as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows a Universal Computer Power Supply System. This power supply system consists of two separate units: a universal power supply unit (9) with two AC power sockets and a DC power output access unit (10). Where the DC power output access unit (10) consists of DC power sockets, DC power good LEDs and fuses for DC sockets and host computer system protection. One or more DC power sockets, one or more DC power good LEDs and one or more fuses are installed in this DC power output access unit (10). The DC power socket may be more than one type to allow different DC power output rates. The layout or arrangement of all DC sockets, fuses, and LEDs may be in any location or orientation. The DC power output access unit (10) as a single separate unit must be fixed on one of the sides of a computer chassis or case with its DC output sockets facing outwards.

The system UPSU supplies regulated DC powers to (10) via a power cable (11). The DC voltage supplied from the system USPU may be of more than one DC voltages. The DC power output access unit (10) may contain electronic circuit and components to perform the DC voltage conversion and regulation and to provide regulated DC voltage from the DC power output access unit (10) itself. Also the DC power output access unit (10) may contain electronic circuitry and components to perform the DC output over load and power surge protection or both the functions of DC voltage regulation, over load and power surge protection. Cable (11) which connects (9) and (10) together may be permanently fixed at the both ends of (9) and (10), or either one of the ends of (11) is permanently fixed on (9) or (10) and the other end uses a plug, or both the connection ends on (9) and (10) use plugs. The cable connection between (9) and (10) may be in any forms or any combinations of the forms mentioned above. The power cable (11) must be able to carry high DC current from (9) to (10) to satisfy the power demand on (10) and to prevent the DC voltage drop at (10). The universal computer power supply unit (9) as the only power source of the whole computer system, must be able to supply efficient power output with a large safety margin.

The DC power output access panel is included and fixed as one of the internal parts or structure of the universal computer power supply unit. It provides a separate access of DC output power, which is generated by the universal computer power supply unit, to external devices which are connected to the host computer system. The universal computer power supply system works on the bases of UPSU but it consists of two separate units. The DC power output access unit may be fixed at, on or near the computer case for easier access by the external devices connected to the host computer system.

Claims

1. A universal computer power supply unit including a built-in DC power output access panel and a universal computer power supply system including a separated DC power output access unit so that the regulated DC power can be supplied to both the internal electronic devices and to the external electronic devices which are connected to the host computer system such as printers, external fax modems, multimedia speakers, video conference cameras, and many other external media drives.

2. A universal computer power supply unit and a universal computer power supply system as claimed in Claim 1 must have at least one direct current (DC) power output access panel in the universal computer power supply unit and at least one DC power output access unit in the universal computer power supply system.

3. A universal computer power supply unit and a universal computer power supply system as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2, there can be one or more DC power output sockets and one or more DC power good indicating LEDs and one or more fuses for the DC socket protection in a DC power output access panel and a DC power output access unit, and all of the DC power output sockets, DC power good indication LEDs and fuses can be located at any point, any layout or orientation on the universal computer power supply unit and DC power output access unit.

4. A universal computer power supply unit and a universal computer power supply system as claimed in Claim 2 and Claim 3, there can be one or more types of DC power output sockets and one or more types of fuses to meet the DC output power requirement, and the DC output voltages can be of one or more voltage to supply different external devices which are connected to the host computer system.

5. A universal computer power supply unit and a universal computer power supply system as claimed in Claim 2 and Claim 3, there can be one or more types and sizes of DC power good indication LEDs and these DC power good indication LEDs can be of and can emmit any colour and of any combination of colours.

6. A universal computer power supply unit and a universal computer power supply system as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2, can be housed in a case which is made of metal or plastics, or other conductive and non-conductive materials, or any combination of these materials, and an earth connection point must exist on the housing case of the universal computer power supply unit and DC power output access unit.

7. A universal computer power supply unit and a universal computer power supply system as claimed in Claim 1, one or more AC power sockets can be installed for AC power input and output, and the type, location and the layout of the AC power sockets can be different depending on the requirements of the connected external devices.

8. A universal computer power supply system as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2, Claim 3, Claim 4 and Claim 5, wherein is consisted of two separate units known as the universal computer power supply unit and the DC power output access unit and the two said units are connected by a power cable. The power cable provides DC power from the universal power supply unit to the DC power output access unit. The DC power output access unit can contain electronic circuits and components to perform power regulation, over load and power surge protection and other functions.

9. A universal computer power supply unit and a universal computer power supply system as claimed in any preceding claim, is to be fixed on one, two or any location on or near the host computer case with the DC power output access panel facing outwards for easy access of connection of external devices.

10. A universal computer power supply unit and a universal computer power supply system substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.