APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR ERROR DETECTION IN A STAND ALONE POWER SUPPLY

• US 20100007370A1
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Malik, Randhir S., Lindfors, Eino A., Dishman, Cecil C., Lin, Jen-Ching, Wilhite, Dale W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,924,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/764.10
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10

Abstract

An apparatus for error checking in a power supply includes a power module that determines that the power supply is in a self-test condition. The self-test condition involves the power supply being connected to an input power source while it is disconnected from the electronic load that it normally services. A load module connects an internal test load to the power supply when the power supply is in self-test condition, and an error checking module performs error check operations on the power supply while it is connected to the test load. The apparatus also includes a notify module that actuates an indicator when the error checking module determines that there are one or more faults in the power supply. The apparatus may also include a log module for storing error messages and reports in non-volatile memory.

Claims

1. An apparatus for error checking in a power supply, the apparatus comprising:

a power module that determines that a power supply is in a self-test condition, wherein the self-test condition comprises the power supply being connected to an input power source and the power supply being disconnected from an electronic load;

a load module that connects a test load to the power supply in response to a determination by the power module that the power supply is in the self-test condition, wherein the test load is internal to the power supply;

an error checking module that performs one or more error check operations on the power supply connected to the test load, wherein the error check operations determine the presence or absence of one or more faults in the power supply; and

a notify module that actuates an indicator in response to the error checking module determining that one or more faults are present in the power supply.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a connection module that determines that the power supply is one of connected to the electronic load and disconnected from the electronic load, the connection module further providing a self-test signal in response to the power supply being disconnected from the electronic load.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the power module determines that the power supply is in a self-test condition in response to receiving the self-test signal from the connection module while the power supply is connected to the input power source.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power supply being disconnected from the electronic load comprises one of the power supply being physically removed from the electronic load and the power supply being electrically disconnected from the electronic load.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power supply further comprises an AC indicator that is actuated in response to the presence of an AC input and a DC indicator that is actuated in response to a determination that the power supply is providing an expected DC output to a load.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the notify module actuates the DC indicator in response to the error checking module determining that one or more faults are present in the power supply.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the DC indicator is an LED, and wherein actuating the DC indicator comprises setting the DC indicator to an off state.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a log module that records error messages reported when the power supply is connected to one of the electronic load and the test load in non-volatile memory.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more error check operations comprises determining whether the power supply is providing an expected regulated voltage value at the output terminal of the power supply while the power supply is connected to the test load.

10. A system for error checking in a power supply, the system comprising:

a power supply that provides a regulated output voltage to an electronic load;

a test load that provides a predetermined level of impedance, wherein the test load is internal to the power supply;

a power module that determines that a stand-alone power supply is in a self-test condition, wherein the self-test condition comprises the power supply being connected to an input power source and the power supply being disconnected from the electronic load;

a connection module that sends the power module a self-test signal in response to the power supply being disconnected from the electronic load;

a load module that electrically connects the test load to the power supply in response to a determination by the power module that the power supply is in the self-test condition;

an error checking module that performs one or more error check operations on the power supply connected to the test load in response to the load module electrically connecting the test load, wherein the error check operations determine the presence or absence of one or more faults in the power supply; and

a notify module that actuates an indicator in response to the error checking module determining that one or more faults are present in the power supply.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising an electronic load that connects to the power supply and receives as input the regulated output voltage of the power supply, wherein the electronic load is one of a computer, a blade system, and an appliance.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the power supply receives one of a direct current input and an alternating current input, and provides one of a direct current output and an alternating current output.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the notify module actuates a DC indicator in response to a determination that one or more faults are present in the power supply.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising a log module that records error messages in non-volatile memory reported when the power supply is connected to the host computing device.

15. A computer program product, comprising instructions stored in a computer readable medium, for checking a power supply for errors, the computer program product comprising instructions for:

determining that a power supply is in a self-test condition, wherein the self-test condition comprises the power supply being connected to an input power source and the power supply being disconnected from an electronic load;

connecting a test load that is internal to the power supply to an output terminal of the power supply in response to a determination that the power supply is in the self-test condition;

performing one or more error check operations on the power supply connected to the test load, wherein the error check operations determine the presence or absence of one or more faults in the power supply; and

actuating an indicator in response to the error checking module determining that one or more faults are present in the power supply.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising instructions for determining whether the power supply is connected to the electronic load and providing a self-test signal in response to the power supply being disconnected to the electronic load.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the power supply is transitioned to the self-test condition in response to receiving the self-test signal while the power supply is connected to the AC input power source.

18. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein one of the error check operations comprises determining that the power supply is providing an expected regulated voltage at the output terminal of the power supply while the power supply is connected to the test load.

19. A method for checking a power supply for errors, the method comprising:

determining that a power supply is in a self-test condition, wherein the self-test condition comprises the power supply being connected to an input power source and the power supply being disconnected from an electronic load;

connecting a test load internal to the power supply in response to a determination that the power supply is in the self-test condition, wherein the test load is internal to the power supply;

performing one or more error check operations on the power supply connected to the test load, wherein the error check operations determine the presence or absence of one or more faults in the power supply; and

actuating an indicator in response to the error checking module determining that one or more faults are present in the power supply.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the indicator is a DC indicator LED, and wherein an individual determines that the power supply is in need of repair by:

determining that the DC indicator LED of the power supply is in an off state when the power supply is connected to the electronic load;

removing the power supply from the electronic load;

having the power supply connected to the input power source while the power supply is not connected to the electronic load such that the power supply is in the self-test condition and the test load is connected; and

designating the power supply as needing repair in response to the DC indicator LED maintaining the off state.