INTEGRATED CURRENT FAULT CONTROLLER

• US 20070255460A1
• Filed: 05/01/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lopata, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 7,460,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/293
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/60 Limiting power consumption in the network or in one section of the network, e.g. load shedding or peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

A fault monitoring and management system integrates a fault controller with the power load functions within the power management device of a battery operated system. Multiple input load lines allow the fault controller to diagnose and disable defective or faulty power load functions that draw current from the system supply or battery. In addition, the fault monitor allows the system to stay operational if the fault is non-catastrophic to the critical functions.

Claims

1. A fault monitoring and management system comprising:

a power management device having a plurality of power load functions, each of the plurality of power load functions having at least two states;

a fault controller integrated on the power management device;

a plurality of input load lines each having a first connection to one of the plurality of power load functions and a second connection to the fault controller for transmitting an input load signal from each of the plurality of power load functions to the fault controller; and

,

wherein the fault controller is configured to switch at least a subset of the power load functions from a first load state to a second load state within said states of the power load functions, for reacting to an operational condition of the power load functions.

2. The fault monitoring and management system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one fault status detector integrated on the power management device; and

at least one fault status line, each said fault status line having a first connection to one fault status detector and a second connection to the fault controller for transmitting a fault status signal from the fault status detector to the fault controller.

3. The fault monitoring and management system of claim 2, wherein a fault status detector is an on-chip temperature monitor, whereby the fault status signal is a temperature signal.

4. The fault monitoring and management system of claim 2, wherein a fault status detector is a thermal shutdown circuit, whereby the fault status signal is a thermal shutdown signal.

5. The fault monitoring and management system of claim 1, wherein said at least two states comprise an on-state and an off-state.

6. The fault monitoring and management system of claim 1, wherein said at least two states comprise a partially powered state.

7. The method of monitoring and managing device faults comprising the steps of:

monitoring a plurality of power load functions on a power management device, wherein each of the plurality of power load functions is electrically coupled to an over-current fault controller;

receiving an over-current indication from at least one of the plurality of power load functions for alerting the fault controller that a fault has occurred;

evaluating the system to determine a course of action; and

managing the system according to the course or action determined.

8. The method of monitoring and managing device faults of claim 7, further comprising the step of monitoring an on-chip temperature monitor.

9. The method of monitoring and managing device faults of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a thermal shutdown circuit; and

receiving a thermal shutdown signal from the thermal shutdown circuit.

10. The method of monitoring and managing device fault of claim 7, wherein the step of evaluating the system to determine a course of action includes gauging the severity of the fault with the assistance of the on-chip temperature monitor.

11. The method of monitoring and managing device fault of claim 7, wherein a course of action is selected from the group consisting of:

shutting down an offending function, shutting down the sourcing regulator, generating an interrupt, and setting an appropriate status indication in the status register.