Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Computer power control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-17
2001-06-26
Etienne, Ario (Department: 2781)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Computer power control
C713S340000, C307S052000, C323S280000, C323S281000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253330
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to redundant power supply systems and more particularly relates to monitoring concurrently the active and backup power supplies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Critical circuits within a complex electronic system require a highly reliable source of regulated power. Such systems typically employ several power supplies, active and backup power supplies, to provide the required reliability. A conventional method of combining redundant power supplies uses diodes to “Or” the outputs of the power supplies. To regulate the level of the voltage that is being supplied to the drain (load), the voltage at the drain is sensed and fed back to each of the redundant power supplies. As will be explained below in detail, each such power supply compares the value of the sensed signal with the value of a respective preset signal and changes its output as a function of the difference between the sensed and preset signal. Such regulation may have the effect of causing the output voltage level of one of the power supplies (typically the backup power supply) to decrease significantly, while the other power supply outputs an acceptable voltage level. Apparatus that monitors the backup power supply would thus be unable to determine if that power supply is operating properly, and, more likely, would incorrectly conclude that the backup supply has failed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
We have recognized that the foregoing problem may be dealt with, in accordance with an aspect of the invention, by using as the sense signal a feedback signal that is derived as a function of both the voltage signal outputted by a power supply and the voltage signal (sensed signal) delivered to the load. Accordingly, then, the regulation of the outputted voltage signal is based on both the outputted voltage signal and sensed voltage signal. More specifically, in accordance with various aspects of the invention, a feedback signal that is supplied to a power supply as the sensed signal is derived using a voltage divider network across the output of the power supply and a common connection at which the sensed voltage is derived. A power supply then regulates its output voltage as a function of the level of the feedback signal and the level of the preset signal.
These and other aspects of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5914606 (1999-06-01), Becker-Irvin
Denkin Nathan M.
Golubchik Alexander
Sinha Bharat P.
Etienne Ario
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
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