Apparatus and Method for Providing Smooth Power-On Operation with Power Assist Unit

• US 20200133363A1
• Filed: 10/30/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Muccini, Mark A., Zhu, Guangyong
• Granted Patent: US 10,877,536 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices

Abstract

An information handling system includes active and standby power supplies and a power assist unit. The power supplies provide power to a power rail. The standby power supply supplies current to the power rail when a current demanded by a load is greater than a proportion of a maximum current demand, and is off when the current demand is less than the proportion. The power assist unit is coupled to the power rail and includes a power storage element, a converter coupled to the power storage element and to the power rail, and a controller. The controller receives a current level indication that indicates the current demanded by the load, and in response to the current level indication indicating that the current demand peaks to greater than the proportion of the maximum current demand, directs the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail to prevent the second power supply unit from turning on.

Claims

1. An information handling system, comprising:

a first power supply unit configured to provide power to a power rail to power a load of the information handling system, wherein the first power supply unit operates as an active power supply unit to power the load at all times;

a second power supply unit configured to provide power to the power rail, wherein the second power supply unit operates as a first stand-by power supply unit, such that when a current demanded by the load is below a first proportion of a maximum current demand, the second power supply unit is off and does not supply any current to the load, and when the current demanded by the load is greater than the first proportion of the maximum current demand, the second power supply unit is on and supplies current to the load; and

a power assist unit coupled to the power rail, the power assist unit including;

a power storage element;

a converter coupled to the power storage element and to the power rail; and

a controller configured to receive a current level indication that indicates the current demanded by the load, and in response to the current level indication indicating that the current demanded by the load peaks to greater than the first proportion of the maximum current demand, to direct the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail to prevent the second power supply unit from turning on.

2. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the first proportion is fifty percent.

3. The information handling system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third power supply unit configured to provide power to the power rail, wherein the third power supply unit operates as a second stand-by power supply unit, such that, when the current demanded by the load is below a second proportion of a maximum current demand, the third power supply unit is off and does not supply any current to the load, and when the current demanded by the load is greater than the second proportion of the maximum current demand, the third power supply unit is on and supplies current to the load;

wherein the controller is further configured, and in response to the current level indication indicating that the current demanded by the load peaks to greater than the second proportion of the maximum current demand, to direct the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail to prevent the third second power supply unit from turning on.

4. The information handling system of claim 3, wherein the first proportion is one third, and the second proportion is two thirds.

5. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive an indication that the information handling system is turning on the second power supply unit.

6. The information handling system of claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to receive an indication of a voltage level of the power rail.

7. The information handling system of claim 6, wherein, in response to receiving the indication that the information handling system is turning on the second power supply unit, the controller is further configured to direct the converter to provide power to from the power storage element to the power rail to maintain the voltage level of the power level at a specified level.

8. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the power storage element comprises a capacitor.

9. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the power storage element comprises a rechargeable battery.

10. A method, comprising:

providing, by a first power supply unit of an information handling system, power to a power rail to power a load of the information handling system;

providing, by a second power supply unit of the information handling system, power to the power rail when a current demanded by the load is greater than a first proportion of a maximum current demand;

turning off the second power supply when the current demanded by the load is less than the first proportion of the maximum current demand;

coupling a converter of a power assist unit to the power rail and to a power storage element of the power assist unit;

receiving, by the power assist unit, a current level indication that indicates the current demanded by the load; and

directing, by the power assist unit, the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail in response to the current level indication indicating that the current demanded by the load peaks to greater than the first proportion of the maximum current demand to prevent the second power supply unit from turning on.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first proportion is fifty percent.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing, by a third power supply unit of the information handling system, power to the power rail when the current demanded by the load is greater than a second proportion of a maximum current demand;

turning off the third power supply when the current demanded by the load is less than the second proportion of the maximum current demand;

directing, by the power assist unit, the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail in response to the current level indication indicating that the current demanded by the load peaks to greater than the second proportion of the maximum current demand to prevent the third power supply unit from turning on.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first proportion is one third, and the second proportion is two thirds.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, by the power assist unit, an indication that the information handling system is turning on the second power supply unit.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving, by the power assist unit, an indication of a voltage level of the power rail.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

directing, by the power assist unit, the converter to provide power to from the power storage element to the power rail to maintain the voltage level of the power level at a specified level in response to receiving the indication that the information handling system is turning on the second power supply unit.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the power storage element comprises a supercapacitor.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the power storage element comprises a rechargeable battery.

19. An information handling system, comprising:

a first power supply unit configured to provide power to a power rail to power a load of the information handling system, wherein the first power supply unit operates as an active power supply unit to supply power to the load at all times;

a second power supply unit configured to provide power to the power rail, wherein the second power supply unit operates as a first stand-by power supply unit such that, when a current demanded by the load is below fifty percent of a maximum current demand, the second power supply unit is off and does not supply any current to the load, and when the current demanded by the load is greater than fifty percent of the maximum current demand, the second power supply unit is on and supplies current to the load; and

a power assist unit coupled to the power rail, the power assist unit including;

a power storage element;

a converter coupled to the power storage element and to the power rail; and

a controller configured to receive a current level indication that indicates the current demanded by the load, to receive an indication that the information handling system is turning on the second power supply unit, to receive an indication of a voltage level of the power rail, to direct the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail to prevent the second power supply unit from turning on in response to the current level indication indicating that the current demanded by the load peaks to greater than fifty percent of the maximum current demand, and to direct the converter to provide power to from the power storage element to the power rail to maintain the voltage level of the power level at a specified level in response to receiving the indication that the information handling system is turning on the second power supply unit.

20. The information handling system of claim 19, wherein the power storage element comprises one of a capacitor and a rechargeable battery.