Patent Application
20220113772
Computing systems may include various components to perform various functions. For example, computing systems may include central processors, system memory, a graphics processor, various add-in cards and modules, storage devices, and the like. Each component draws power to operate and perform the respective functions.
In some computer systems, the power supply units may be wired to a system board. The system board may then redistribute power to the various components with additional wiring.
Examples described herein provide an extended system board for power distribution within a computing system. As noted above, a computing system may include various components to perform various functions. For example, a computing system may include a central processor, system memory, a graphics processor, various optional add-in cards and modules, storage devices, and the like. Each component draws power to operate and perform the respective functions.
In some computer systems, the power supply units may be wired to a system board. The system board may then redistribute power to the various components with additional wiring. However, there may be a large number of wires within a limited amount of space of a housing that may cause the wires to be stacked on top of one another. As a result, the wires can block airflow from the fans of the power supply units and create airflow issues, potential overheating issues, and the like.
The present disclosure provides an extended system board for power distribution that reduces the amount of wiring and/or relocates the wiring. The extended system board may redistribute power connections on an extended portion of the system board. The power supply unit may be directly connected to the extended portion of the system board, and wiring from the system board to the other components may be located along a single plane. As a result, airflow within the housing of the computing system may be improved, and the wiring to distribute power to other components may be simplified.
In an example, the computing system 100 may include a display 102 to display text, graphical images, videos, and so forth. The computing system 100 may include a housing 104 that has a height “h” as shown in
In an example, the PSU 108 may be a power supply that powers the computing system 100. The PSU 108 may convert alternating current (AC) power into a low voltage regulated direct current (DC) power used by the powered components 110.
In an example, the powered components 110 may include any component within the computing system 100 that operates with power supplied by the PSU 108. The powered components 110 may include a memory, a graphics processor, optional add-in cards and modules, storage devices, and the like.
As housings of computing systems become thinner and smaller, the wiring within the housing can consume more space. As noted above, the wiring between components within the housing and the system board can consume much of the volume within the housing. The wiring can be stacked on top of one another, creating a wall between the system or the PSU fans and components on the extended system board. This “wall of wiring” can restrict airflow and make it difficult to prevent some heat sensitive components within the housing from overheating and malfunctioning.
The extended system board 106 of the present disclosure may allow the wiring to be eliminated or arranged in such a way as to prevent the “wall of wiring.” As a result, air flow may be less restricted, and the temperature of components may be more easily controlled.
In an example, an extended portion 204 may be formed around a periphery of PCB 202. The extended portion 204 may also be a printed circuit board. The extended portion 204 may be formed as part of the PCB 202. In other words, the extended portion 204 and the PCB 202 may be fabricated as a single piece.
The extended portion 204 may include an edge 212 that includes a power supply unit connector 208 and a plurality of power connections 2101 to 210n (hereinafter also referred to individually as a power connection 210 or collectively as power connections 210). Although two power supply unit connectors 208 are illustrated in
The power supply unit connector 208 may be a physical or mechanical connector. For example, the power supply unit connector 208 may be a blind mate connector. The power connections 210 may include physical or mechanical connections that allow powered components within the computing system 100 to be connected to the PSU 108 to receive power.
In an example, the edge 212 may be sized to be sufficient to include a desired number of power supply unit connectors 208 and power connections 210. For example, a length “l” of the edge 212 may be fabricated to any desired length.
In an example, extended system board 106 may include a demarcation 214 between the PCB 202 and the extended portion 204. The demarcation 214 may allow the extended portion 204 to be removed from the PCB 202 for different deployments within housings of computing systems that cannot fit the extended portion 204. As a result, a single extended system board 106 can be used for different computing systems with different housings for different wiring layouts. This may reduce manufacturing costs and inventory costs for the extended system board 106.
In an example, the demarcation 214 may be a printed line or marking that indicates where the extended portion 204 should be cut away with a cutting tool to be removed. As shown in
The PSUs 108, and 1082 may include fans 1501 and 1502, respectively. The fans 1501 and 1502 may generate air flow to help cool the PSUs 1081 and 1082. The fans 1501 and 1502 may also generate air flow that moves within the housing 104 to cool the CPU 206, the components 1101 to 1104, as well as other components that are not shown.
Although the fans 1501 and 1502 are illustrated as being near the PSUs 1081 and 1082, it should be noted that the fans 1501 and 1502 may be located anywhere around the extended system board 106 to cool the components 1101 to 1104, the CPU 206, and the like. For example, the fans 1501 and 1502 may be located to the right of the PSUs 108 and the components 110, to the left of the extended system board 106, or anywhere in between. In an example, hot air flow generated from air heated from cooling the PSUs 1081 and 1082 may be ducted away from the other components (e.g., the components 110, the CPU 206, and the like).
In addition, although two fans 1501 and 1502 are illustrated in
The components 1101 to 1104 may be connected to respective power connections 2101 to 2104 of the extended portion 204. The components 1101 to 1104 may be connected via respective wires 2201 to 2204. The edge 212 may be located along a side that is closest to the PSUs 1081 and 1082 and the components 1101 to 1104. This may minimize the amount of wiring that is used to connect the power connections 2101 to 2104 to the components 1101 to 1104.
In an example, the components 1101 to 1104 may be any type of component within the computing system 100 that uses power from the PSUs 1081 and 1082 to operate. For example, the component 1101 may be an external graphics processor, the component 1102 may be a wireless radio, the component 1103 may be a hard disk drive, the component 1104 may be an optical drive, and so forth.
The power connections 2101 to 2104 along a line on the edge 212 of the extended portion 204 may allow the wires 2201 to 2204 to be arranged on a common plane. In other words, the wires 2201 to 2204 may lie flat on a horizontal plane that is parallel to the PCB 202 and the extended portion 204.
As illustrated in
As a result, the arrangement of the connections provided by the extended portion 204 allows more vertical space, as shown by an arrow 230, to be available within the housing 104. As computing systems 100 become thinner and thinner, the amount of height “h” available in the housing 104 is reduced. For example, some housings may have a height as little as 1.7 inches. By arranging the wires 2201 to 2204, as shown in
In an example, the extended system board 506 may include an extended portion 504 that is formed around a periphery of the PCB 502. In an example, the extended portion 504 and the PCB 502 may be formed as a single piece. The extended portion 504 may include an edge 512 that includes power supply unit connectors 508 and power connections 5101 to 510n (hereinafter also referred to individually as a power connection 510 or collectively as power connections 510). The edge 512 may be located along a side of the extended portion 504 that is closest to other powered components within a housing of a computing system (e.g., the computing system 100).
In an example, a perforation 514 may be formed between a boundary of the PCB 502 and the extended portion 504. The perforation 514 may allow the extended portion 504 to be easily broken off from the PCB 502 for different deployments or form factors. For example, some housings may not have room for the extended portion 504. Thus, the extended portion 504 may be broken off from the PCB 502. Then the PCB 502 may be installed in the housing. The power supply unit may then be connected to the PCB 502 with wires, and additional wires may be used to connect other powered components within the housing.
In another example, the housing may be large enough to provide sufficient air flow while connecting external components (e.g., in a large desktop tower housing). Thus, the extended portion 504 may be broken off from the PCB 502, and the PCB 502 may be inserted into a larger housing. The power supply unit may then be connected to the PCB 502.
In an example, a bus 518 within the extended portion 504 may distribute power from the power supply units connected to the power supply unit connectors 508 to the power connections 510. The power may be distributed to the power connections 510 and other components on the PCB 502 (e.g., the CPU 506) via printed circuits within the extended portion 504 and the PCB 502. Thus, power may be distributed to the power connections 510 and components on the PCB 502 without having to use additional wiring. In an example, a single connection 520 may be used to route power to the CPU 506 or PCB 502. The PCB 502 may then distribute power to necessary components on the PCB 502 via the printed circuits formed within the PCB 502.
The single connection 520 may be located within a gap 516 of the perforations 514. As a result, when the extended portion 504 is removed, the single connection 520 may also be broken. The power supply units and other components can then be connected with additional wiring from the PCB 502, as noted above.
It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
