Electrically connecting blower to power supply stage providing higher voltage

• US 20110110806A1
• Filed: 11/09/2009
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines SA (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines SA (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Steinmetz, Michael J., Chung, Chu Te, Lin, Jen-Ching, Malik, Randhir S., Dishman, Cecil C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,508,182 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/423.7
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/06 the pump being electrically driven F04D25/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49245 Vane type or other rotary, e.g., fan

Abstract

An alternating current-to-direct current (AC-to-DC) power supply has a first stage providing a first DC voltage and a second stage providing a second DC voltage. The AC-to-DC power supply has a first efficiency at the first stage and a second efficiency at the second stage that is less than the first efficiency. The second DC voltage is also less than the first DC voltage. A blower is electrically connected to the first stage of the AC-to-DC power supply to receive the first DC voltage from the AC-to-DC power supply to power the blower. Electrical connection of the blower to the first stage of the AC-to-DC power supply instead of to the second stage of the AC-to-DC power supply wastes less power and is more efficient.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an alternating current-to-direct current (AC-to-DC) power supply having a first stage providing a first DC voltage and a second stage providing a second DC voltage, the second DC voltage less than the first DC voltage; and

,

a blower electrically connected to the first stage of the AC-to-DC power supply to receive the first DC voltage from the AC-to-DC power supply to power the blower.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the AC-to-DC power supply has a first efficiency at the first stage and a second efficiency at the second stage, the second efficiency less than the first efficiency, such that electrical connection of the blower to the first stage of the AC-to-DC power supply instead of to the second stage of the AC-to-DC power supply wastes less power and is more efficient.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the blower comprises:

a motor having an electrical connector to connect to the first stage of the AC-to-DC power supply; and

,

a plurality of fan fins connected to and rotated by the motor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first stage of the AC-to-DC power supply comprises:

a rectifier to rectify an AC signal input to the first stage;

an inductor and a diode connected in series to an output side of the rectifier;

a capacitor connected between an output of the diode and the rectifier; and

,

a transistor connected between the inductor and the diode and connected to the rectifier,

wherein the transistor is opened and closed in a pulse width modulated manner to provide the first DC voltage of the first stage between the diode and the capacitor.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first stage of the AC-to-DC power supply further comprises an electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) filter between the AC signal and the rectifier.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the first stage of the AC-to-DC power supply further comprises a pulse width modulator to modulate opening and closing of the transistor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second stage of the AC-to-DC power supply comprises:

a transformer having a first coil and a second coil, the first coil connected to an output of the first stage of the AC-to-DC power supply;

an inductor and a first diode connected in series to the second coil;

a capacitor connected to the inductor and to the second coil;

a second diode connected between the inductor and the first diode and connected to the second coil; and

,

a transistor connected to the first coil,

wherein the transistor is opened and closed in a pulse width modulated manner to provide the second DC voltage of the first stage between the inductor and the capacitor.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the second stage of the AC-to-DC power supply further comprises a pulse width modulator to modulate opening and closing of the transistor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the AC-to-DC power supply comprises:

a first transistor of the first stage;

a second transistor of the second stage; and

,

a pulse width modulator to modulate the first transistor and the second transistor to provide the first DC voltage at the first stage and to provide the second DC voltage at the second stage.

10. A method comprising:

providing an alternating current-to-direct current (AC-to-DC) power supply having a first stage providing a first DC voltage and a second stage providing a second DC voltage, the second DC voltage less than the first DC voltage;

providing a blower; and

,

electrically connecting the blower to the first stage of the AC-to-DC power supply for the blower to receive the first DC voltage from the AC-to-DC power supply to power the blower.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the AC-to-DC power supply has a first efficiency at the first stage and a second efficiency at the second stage, the second efficiency less than the first efficiency, such that electrical connection of the blower to the first stage of the AC-to-DC power supply instead of to the second stage of the AC-to-DC power supply wastes less power and is more efficient.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein providing the blower comprises providing the blower as comprising:

a motor having an electrical connector to connect to the first stage of the AC-to-DC power supply; and

,

a plurality of fan fins connected to and rotated by the motor.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein providing the AC-to-DC power supply comprises providing the first stage of the AC-to-DC power supply as comprising:

a rectifier to rectify an AC signal input to the first stage;

an inductor and a diode connected in series to an output side of the rectifier;

a capacitor connected between an output of the diode and the rectifier; and

,

a transistor connected between the inductor and the diode and connected to the rectifier,

wherein the transistor is opened and closed in a pulse width modulated manner to provide the first DC voltage of the first stage between the diode and the capacitor.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the AC-to-DC power supply comprises providing the first stage of the AC-to-DC power supply as further comprising an electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) filter between the AC signal and the rectifier.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the AC-to-DC power supply comprises providing the first stage of the AC-to-DC power supply as further a pulse width modulator to modulate opening and closing of the transistor.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein providing the AC-to-DC power supply comprises providing the second stage of the AC-to-DC power supply as comprising:

a transformer having a first coil and a second coil, the first coil connected to an output of the first stage of the AC-to-DC power supply;

an inductor and a first diode connected in series to the second coil;

a capacitor connected to the inductor and to the second coil;

a second diode connected between the inductor and the first diode and connected to the second coil; and

,

a transistor connected to the first coil,

wherein the transistor is opened and closed in a pulse width modulated manner to provide the second DC voltage of the first stage between the inductor and the capacitor.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein providing the AC-to-DC power supply comprises providing the second stage of the AC-to-DC power supply as further comprising a pulse width modulator to modulate opening and closing of the transistor.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein providing the AC-to-DC power supply comprises providing the AC-to-DC power supply as comprising:

a first transistor of the first stage;

a second transistor of the second stage; and

,

a pulse width modulator to modulate the first transistor and the second transistor to provide the first DC voltage at the first stage and to provide the second DC voltage at the second stage.

19. A blower comprising:

a motor having an electrical connector to connect to a first stage of an alternating current-to-direct current (AC-to-DC) power supply providing a first DC voltage for the blower to receive the first DC voltage to power the motor; and

,

a plurality of fan fins connected to and rotated by the motor,

wherein the AC-to-DC power supply further has a second stage providing a second DC voltage less than the first DC voltage.

20. The blower of claim 19, wherein the AC-to-DC power supply has a first efficiency at the first stage and a second efficiency at the second stage, the second efficiency less than the first efficiency, such that electrical connection of the blower to the first stage of the AC-to-DC power supply instead of to the second stage of the AC-to-DC power supply wastes less power and is more efficient.