Powering loads with a power supply and an uninterruptible power supply

• US 10,348,123 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2013
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Hai Ngoc
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Warmflash, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US15/036,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20160294210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,033 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/0073 for providing alternative feeding paths between load and source when the main path fails, e.g. transformers, busbars
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

A system in accordance with an example includes a first load and a second load. The first load includes a first power supply connected to a first uninterruptible power supply (UPS). The second load includes a second power supply connected to a second UPS, where the first UPS is connected to the second UPS. The first power supply is to deliver power to the first load and to the second load when power to the second load is disabled, and the second power supply is to deliver power to the second load and to the first load when power to the first load is disabled.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first server comprising;

a first power supply that converts input power into DC power that is output to a first rail that powers the first server, and

a first backup power supply that outputs DC power to the first rail; and

a second server comprising;

a second power supply that converts input power into DC power that is output to a second rail that powers the second server, and

a second backup power supply that outputs DC power to the second rail;

wherein the first rail is directly electrically connected to the second rail such that the first power supply and the first backup power supply can provide power to the second server and the second power supply and the second backup power supply can provide power to the first server.

2. The system of claim 1,

wherein the first power supply and the first backup power supply are housed within the first server, and

the second power supply and the second backup power supply are housed within the second server.

3. The system of claim 2,

wherein the first rail is electrically connected to the second rail by way of current path that exits the rear of the first server and enters the rear of the second server.

4. The system of claim 3,

wherein the first backup power supply has a first rear power connection that is electrically connected to the first rail and the second backup power supply has a second rear power connection that is electrically connected to the second rail, and

the first rear power connection is electrically connected to the second rear power connection as part of the current path between the first rail and the second rail.

5. The system of claim 1,

wherein the first backup power supply comprises a first battery to output the DC power to the first rail,

the second backup power supply comprises a second battery to output the DC power to the second rail, and

the first and second batteries are both charged by both the first and second rails.

6. The system of claim 1,

wherein the first rail is directly electrically connected to the second rail by way of a power connection of the first backup power supply that is electrically connected to a power connection of the second backup power supply.

7. The system of claim 1, comprising

a first power source that provides the input power to the first power supply, where the input power provided to the first power supply is AC power;

and

a second power source that provides the input power to the second power supply, where the input power provided to the second power supply is AC power.

8. The system of claim 1, comprising

a first power source that provides the input power to the first power supply, where the input power provided to the first power supply is DC power;

and

a second power source that provides the input power to the second power supply, where the input power provided to the second power supply is DC power.

9. The system of claim 1,

wherein the first server comprises a first controller to control whether the first backup power supply outputs power to the first rail;

and

the second server comprises a second controller to control whether the second backup power supply outputs power to the second rail.

10. The system of claim 9,

wherein the first controller is to cause the first backup power supply to output power to the first rail when the first power supply fails;

and

the second controller is to cause the second backup power supply to output power to the second rail when the second power supply fails.

11. A system comprising:

a first computing device comprising;

a first power supply that converts input power into DC power that is output to a first rail that powers the first computing device, and

a first backup power supply that outputs DC power to the first rail; and

a second computing device comprising;

a second power supply that converts input power into DC power that is output to a second rail that powers the second computing device, and

a second backup power supply that outputs DC power to the second rail;

wherein the first rail is directly electrically connected to the second rail such that the first power supply and the first backup power supply can provide power to the second computing device and the second power supply and the second backup power supply can provide power to the first computing device.

12. The system of claim 11,

wherein the first power supply and the first backup power supply are housed within the first computing device, and

the second power supply and the second backup power supply are housed within the second computing device.

13. The system of claim 12,

wherein the first rail is electrically connected to the second rail by way of current path that exits the rear of the first computing device and enters the rear of the second computing device.

14. The system of claim 13,

wherein the first backup power supply has a first rear power connection that is electrically connected to the first rail and the second backup power supply has a second rear power connection that is electrically connected to the second rail, and

the first rear power connection is electrically connected to the second rear power connection as part of the current path between the first rail and the second rail.

15. The system of claim 11,

wherein the first backup power supply comprises a first battery to output the DC power to the first rail,

the second backup power supply comprises a second battery to output the DC power to the second rail, and

the first and second batteries are both charged by both the first and second rails.

16. The system of claim 11,

wherein the first rail is directly electrically connected to the second rail by way of a power connection of the first backup power supply that is electrically connected to a power connection of the second backup power supply.

17. The system of claim 11, comprising

a first power source that provides the input power to the first power supply, where the input power provided to the first power supply is AC power;

and

a second power source that provides the input power to the second power supply, where the input power provided to the second power supply is AC power.

18. The system of claim 11, comprising

a first power source that provides the input power to the first power supply, where the input power provided to the first power supply is DC power;

and

a second power source that provides the input power to the second power supply, where the input power provided to the second power supply is DC power.

19. The system of claim 11,

wherein the first computing device comprises a first controller to control whether the first backup power supply outputs power to the first rail;

and

the second computing device comprises a second controller to control whether the second backup power supply outputs power to the second rail.

20. The system of claim 19,

wherein the first controller is to cause the first backup power supply to output power to the first rail when the first power supply fails;

and

the second controller is to cause the second backup power supply to output power to the second rail when the second power supply fails.