Information handling system including a power supply unit with a switching regulator that reduces transient load release

• US 20070029981A1
• Filed: 08/02/2005
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Johnson, Brian, McDonald, Brent
• Granted Patent: US 7,408,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 323/222
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/158 including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load

Abstract

An information handling system (“IHS”) includes a system board and a power supply unit coupled to the system board. The power supply unit includes a switching power regulator. The switching power regulator includes an inductor coupled to an output, a capacitor coupled to the inductor, a switch, coupled to the inductor, for regulating power supplied by the power supply unit in response to a duty cycle, and a control circuit, coupled to the switch, for supplying current to the inductor while the switch is closed and charging the capacitor while the switch is open.

Claims

1. A power supply unit comprising:

a switching power regulator including;

an inductor coupled to an output;

a capacitor coupled to the inductor;

a switch, coupled to the inductor, for regulating power supplied by the power supply unit in response to a duty cycle; and

a control circuit, coupled to the switch, for supplying current to the inductor while the switch is closed and charging the capacitor while the switch is open.

2. The power supply unit of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is for:

in response to determining that voltage level at the output is rising, discharging energy stored in the inductor to the capacitor.

3. The power supply unit of claim 2, wherein the switch is a first switch and charging the capacitor includes:

during periods of the duty cycle in which the first switch is open, closing a second switch located between a voltage input and the capacitor and closing a third switch located between the capacitor and ground.

4. The power supply unit of claim 3, wherein discharging energy stored in the inductor to the capacitor includes:

opening the first, the second, and the third switches and closing a fourth switch located between the capacitor and ground.

5. The power supply unit of claim 4, wherein one or more of the switches is a junction field effect transistor (“

JFET”

), and one or more of the switches is a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (“

MOSFET”

).

6. The power supply unit of claim 1, wherein the capacitor is any suitable capacitor.

7. The power supply unit of claim 1, wherein the switching regulator is a buck type of switching regulator.

8. An information handling system (“

IHS”

) comprising;

a system board; and

a power supply unit coupled to the system board including;

a switching power regulator including;

an inductor coupled to an output;

a capacitor coupled to the inductor;

a switch, coupled to the inductor, for regulating power supplied by the power supply unit in response to a duty cycle; and

a control circuit, coupled to the switch, for supplying current to the inductor while the switch is closed and charging the capacitor while the switch is open.

9. The IHS of claim 8, wherein the control circuit is for:

in response to determining that voltage level at the output is rising, discharging energy stored in the inductor to the capacitor.

10. The IHS of claim 9, wherein the switch is a first switch and charging the capacitor includes:

during periods of the duty cycle in which the first switch is open, closing a second switch located between a voltage input and the capacitor and closing a third switch located between the capacitor and ground.

11. The IHS of claim 10, wherein discharging energy stored in the inductor to the capacitor includes:

opening the first, the second, and the third switches and closing a fourth switch located between the capacitor and ground.

12. The IHS of claim 11, wherein one or more of the switches is a junction field effect transistor (“

JFET”

), and one or more of the switches is a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (“

MOSFET”

).

13. The IHS of claim 8, wherein the capacitor is any suitable capacitor.

14. The IHS of claim 8, wherein the switching regulator is a buck type of switching regulator.

15. A method of operating a power supply unit including a switching power regulator including an inductor coupled to an output, a capacitor coupled to the inductor, and a switch, coupled to the inductor, for regulating power supplied by the power supply unit in response to a duty cycle, the method comprising:

supplying current to the inductor while the switch is closed and charging the capacitor while the switch is open.

16. The method of claim 15, and comprising:

in response to determining that voltage level at the output is rising, discharging energy stored in the inductor to the capacitor.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the switch is a first switch and charging the capacitor includes:

during periods of the duty cycle in which the first switch is open, closing a second switch located between a voltage input and the capacitor and closing a third switch located between the capacitor and ground.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein discharging energy stored in the inductor to the capacitor includes:

opening the first, the second, and the third switches and closing a fourth switch located between the capacitor and ground.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein one or more of the switches is a junction field effect transistor (“

JFET”

), and one or more of the switches is a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (“

MOSFET”

).

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the capacitor is any suitable capacitor.