APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING POWER REDUNDANCY TO A DEVICE DESIGNED TO DRAW POWER FROM A SINGLE EXTERNAL POWER ADAPTER

• US 20140328094A1
• Filed: 07/05/2013
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Juniper Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Juniper Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Rodrigues, Paulo
• Granted Patent: US 9,812,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/52
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/10 Arrangements incorporating converting means for enabling loads to be operated at will from different kinds of power supplies, e.g. from ac or dc

Abstract

An apparatus may include a plurality of power inputs configured to receive direct current from a plurality of external power adapters that convert alternating current to direct current. The plurality of external power adapters may include a primary external power adapter and at least one backup external power adapter. The apparatus may also include a power output configured to provide direct current to a device. In addition, the apparatus may include a switching mechanism that, when the primary external power adapter is operational, supplies direct current from the primary external power adapter to the power output and, when the primary external power adapter fails, supplies direct current from the backup external power adapter to the power output. Various additional apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of power inputs configured to receive direct current from a plurality of external power adapters that convert alternating current to direct current, the plurality of external power adapters comprising a primary external power adapter and at least one backup external power adapter;

a power output configured to provide direct current to a device;

a switching mechanism that;

when the primary external power adapter is operational, supplies direct current from the primary external power adapter to the power output;

when the primary external power adapter fails, supplies direct current from the backup external power adapter to the power output.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of external power adapters are housed in physical enclosures that are external to, and separate from, a physical enclosure that houses the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the primary external power adapter is housed in a physical enclosure that is external to, and separate from, a physical enclosure that houses the backup external power adapter.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the primary external power adapter and the backup external power adapter draw alternating current from independent power sources.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein both the primary external power adapter and the backup external power adapter draw alternating current from a single power source.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a single power input.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switching mechanism prevents the backup external power adapter from supplying direct current to the power output when the primary external power adapter is operational.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the backup external power adapter comprises a plurality of backup external power adapters;

when the primary external power adapter fails, the switching mechanism supplies direct current from at least one of the plurality of backup external power adapters to the power output.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein, when the primary external power adapter fails, the switching mechanism supplies direct current from a single backup external power adapter within the plurality of backup external power adapters to the power output.

10. A system comprising:

a plurality of external power adapters that convert alternating current to direct current, the plurality of external power adapters comprising a primary external power adapter and at least one backup external power adapter;

an apparatus comprising;

a plurality of power inputs that are electrically coupled to, and draw direct current from, the plurality of external power adapters;

a power output;

a switching mechanism that;

when the primary external power adapter is operational, supplies direct current from the primary external power adapter to the power output;

when the primary external power adapter fails, supplies direct current from the backup external power adapter to the power output;

a device that is electrically coupled to, and draws direct current from, the power output of the apparatus.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of external power adapters are housed in physical enclosures that are external to, and separate from, a physical enclosure that houses the apparatus.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the primary external power adapter is housed in a physical enclosure that is external to, and separate from, a physical enclosure that houses the backup external power adapter.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the primary external power adapter and the backup external power adapter draw alternating current from independent power sources.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein both the primary external power adapter and the backup external power adapter draw alternating current from a single power source.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the device comprises a single power input that is electrically coupled to the power output of the apparatus.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the switching mechanism prevents the backup external power adapter from supplying direct current to the power output when the primary external power adapter is operational.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the backup external power adapter comprises a plurality of backup external power adapters;

when the primary external power adapter fails, the switching mechanism supplies direct current from at least one of the plurality of backup external power adapters to the power output.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein, when the primary external power adapter fails, the switching mechanism supplies direct current from a single backup external power adapter within the plurality of backup external power adapters to the power output.

19. A method comprising:

drawing direct current from at least one of a plurality of external power adapters that convert alternating current to direct current, the plurality of external power adapters comprising a primary external power adapter and at least one backup external power adapter;

when the primary external power adapter is operational, supplying direct current from the primary external power adapter to a power output;

when the primary external power adapter fails, supplying direct current from the backup external power adapter to the power output.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising preventing the backup external power adapter from supplying direct current to the power output when the primary external power adapter is operational.