Economic and competitive conditions create incentive for business organizations to improve operations to reduce costs, including inventory costs. Operations can be improved in fields of advancing technology by focusing design and development resources in areas that improve competitive advantage while leveraging costs of other product aspects across multiple products.
Cost leveraging enables aggregation of component demand across possibly many products leading to improved economies of scale, aggregate volume discounts, and reduction of supplier prices. Component leveraging and re-use also can reduce supply chain, handling, and inventory costs since component sorting, labeling, and tracking are reduced.
Component leveraging can reduce costs in other areas. For example, usage of a particular component in multiple products can avoid duplication of research and development costs. A reduction in the number of components can reduce the incidence of confusion and errors by inadvertently including an incompatible component in a product.
In a high-volume producer, inventory handling and tracking costs can be reduced by millions of dollars simply by aggregating components among multiple products.
In accordance with an embodiment of an electronic apparatus, an assembly comprises a voltage regulator module and a field-pluggable voltage converter module configured in an arrangement that interlocks with and optionally attaches to the voltage regulator module.
Embodiments of the invention relating to both structure and method of operation, may best be understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings whereby:
One aspect of an electronic system or device that may be adapted for usage in multiple products or product lines is a power converter assembly.
Referring to
The illustrative embodiment of the voltage regulator module 102 includes a voltage regulator circuit coupled to a printed circuit board 108, a first voltage (X) input terminal 110, and a heat sink 112.
In typical usage, the voltage regulator module 102 regulates power from a first particular voltage, generally an appropriate voltage for a first system.
The illustrative voltage converter module embodiment 104 includes a Y-X voltage converter circuit coupled to a printed circuit card 114 and a second voltage (Y) input terminal 116.
In a particular illustrative example, a base voltage regulator module 102 regulates power to 12 volts. The voltage converter module 104 converts from another direct current (DC) voltage, in the particular example 48 volts, to 12 volts and supplies the 12 volts to the voltage regulator module 102. The voltage converter module 104 can be a simple and inexpensive, add-on “field-pluggable” module that enables one base part, the voltage regulator module 102, to be used in multiple platforms. The voltage converter module 104 is typically a smaller, less expensive, secondary part that can be added, if appropriate, to accommodate usage in different platforms.
The voltage regulator module 102 and voltage converter module 104 can be packaged in combination and issued a single inventory part number, increasing inventor efficiency and reducing handling costs.
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In the illustrative embodiment, the power package 204 includes a voltage regulator module 102 and a voltage converter module 104 which, in combination, may be handled as a single inventory part number. Accordingly, the power package 204 can be a combination of the voltage regulator module 102 and the field-pluggable voltage converter module 104 with the voltage converter module 104 having a structure and form suitable to convertibly attach to the voltage regulator module 102.
The modular voltage regulator module 102 supplies power to a central processing unit (CPU) or other component. A base model of the power package 204 uses X voltage, for example 12 volts, and omits the voltage converter module 104. A converted model of the power package 204 attaches a simple and inexpensive, add-on field-pluggable voltage converter module 104 that converts from a different direct current (DC) Y voltage, in one example 48 volts, to the X voltage of 12 volts, and supplies the converted voltage into the base voltage regulator module 102. The power package 204 can be used in multiple platforms, attaching the voltage converter module 104, when appropriate, to accommodate usage in the different platforms.
In some embodiments, the power package 204 may also include a component frame 106 adapted for attachment to the voltage regulator module 102. The component frame 106 has a shape and structure suitable for attaching an electronic component, for example the CPU.
The illustrative power package 204 may be used to arrange an electronic system, for example in manufacturing or assembly, by supplying a voltage regulator module 102, and supplying a field-pluggable voltage converter module 104. The voltage converter module 104 is configured in an arrangement that interlocks with the voltage regulator module 102 and can selectively be included or omitted from the assembly.
The voltage regulator module 102 and the voltage converter module 104 may be packaged in combination as a power package 204 and may be handled as a single inventory part number, enabling improved component compatibility across product lines. Storage and handling of the power package 204 may also lower costs by reducing the number of different field-replaceable-units to be stocked to support a product line that supports different system or platform voltages or power specifications.
During electronic system operation, the power package 204 facilitates regulation of power to the first (X) voltage for usage in a system adapted to operate at the first (X) voltage. The power package 204 also enables selective conversion to a second (Y) voltage for usage in a second system adapted for usage at the second (Y) voltage. In the example application, a power package 204 incorporates a base model voltage regulator module 102 that regulates power to a component from system power at 12 volts in combination with a field-pluggable voltage converter module 104 enabling conversion for usage in a 48 volt system. In a typical application, the power package 204 enables high-end, low-volume 48 volt servers to benefit from the economies of scale of low-end, high-volume 12 volt servers with the addition of only small incremental costs. Accordingly, the power package 204 enables a capability to leverage processors or other components across a product line with different voltage specifications.
In some embodiments, part and inventory count may be further reduced by supplying the component frame 106 with the power package 204 using the component frame 106 configured in an interlocking arrangement with respect to the voltage regulator module 102. Part or inventory count can be further reduced by packaging all components, including the voltage regulator module 102, the voltage converter module 104, and the component frame 106 in combination as a single inventory part number. Additional components or devices can also be added to the power package 204 to facilitate inventory handling. For example, a heat sink 112 may also be included in the power package 204 to further reduce the count of inventory items.
The illustrative power package 204 and associated method enable usage of a field-pluggable part capable of optional or convertible usage to supply power at an appropriate regulated voltage to an assembly for usage in multiple systems or platforms operating at multiple operating voltages. The illustrative power package 204 further enables packaging of the assembly as a single inventory part number, improving inventory efficiency and reducing inventory costs.
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Although any suitable voltage regulator may be used,
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The illustrative modular power assembly 100 and power package 202 may be used in combination with a common modular processor carrier.
In an embodiment class, shown in
While the present disclosure describes various embodiments, these embodiments are to be understood as illustrative and do not limit the claim scope. Many variations, modifications, additions and improvements of the described embodiments are possible. For example, those having ordinary skill in the art will readily implement the steps necessary to provide the structures and methods disclosed herein, and will understand that the process parameters, materials, and dimensions are given by way of example only. The parameters, materials, and dimensions can be varied to achieve the desired structure as well as modifications, which are within the scope of the claims. For example, components and assemblies with particular structures and geometries are shown. Other examples may have other suitable forms, structures, shapes, and geometries.
In the claims, unless otherwise indicated the article “a” is to refer to “one or more than one”.