Method and Apparatus for Extending Power Hold-Up with Power Assist Unit

• US 20200133379A1
• 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, Thibodeau, Thomas R., Wang, Lei
• Granted Patent: US 11,126,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• 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 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• 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: G06F 1/3253 Power saving in bus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3275 Power saving in memory, e.g. RAM, cache
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0096 Means for increasing hold-up time, i.e. the duration of time that a converter's output will remain within regulated limits following a loss of input power
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/07 using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode , e.g. charge pumps
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/23 arranged for operation in parallel H02M7/2176 takes precedence

Abstract

An information handling system includes first and second power supplies and a power assist unit. The power supplies are each configured to provide power to a power rail to power a load of the information handling system, to provide input power indications that indicates whether or not the power supplies are receiving good input power, and to provide a output power indications that indicates whether or not the power supplies are providing good power to the power rail. 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 hold-up signal from the information handling system, and in response to receiving the hold-up signal, directs the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail. The hold-up signal is based upon the input power indications and upon the output power indications.

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, to provide a first input power indication that indicates whether or not the first power supply unit is receiving good input power, and to provide a first output power indication that indicates whether or not the first power supply unit is providing good power to the power rail;

a second power supply unit configured to provide power to the power rail, to provide a second input power indication that indicates whether or not the second power supply unit is receiving good input power, and to provide a second output power indication that indicates whether or not the second power supply unit is providing good power to the power rail; 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 hold-up signal from the information handling system, and in response to receiving the hold-up signal, to direct the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail, wherein the hold-up signal is based upon the first and second input power indications and upon the first and second output power indications.

2. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the hold-up signal is conditioned upon at least one of:

the first input power indication indicating that the first power supply unit is not receiving good input power;

the second input power indication indicating that the second power supply unit is not receiving good input power;

the first output power indication indicating that the first power supply unit is not providing good power to the power rail; and

the second output power indication indicating that the second power supply unit is not providing good power to the power rail.

3. The information handling system of claim 2, wherein:

the first power supply unit is further configured to provide a first current indication that indicates an amount of current that the first power supply unit is providing to the load; and

the second power supply unit is further configured to provide a second current indication that indicates an amount of current that the second power supply unit is providing to the load.

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

a current averaging module configured to receive the first and second current indications, and to provide an average current indication that indicates an average current provided to the load by the first and second power supply units.

5. The information handling system of claim 4, further comprising:

a threshold detection module configured to receive the average current indication and to provide an under current indication when the average current provided to the load by the first and second power supply units is below a current threshold.

6. The information handling system of claim 5, wherein the hold-up signal is further conditioned upon the under current indication indicating that the average current provided to the load by the first and second power supply units is below a current threshold.

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

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

9. 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 a first input power indication that indicates whether or not the first power supply unit is receiving good input power;

providing a first output power indication that indicates whether or not the first power supply unit is providing good power to the power rail;

providing, by a second power supply unit, power to the power rail;

providing a second input power indication that indicates whether or not the second power supply unit is receiving good input power;

providing a second output power indication that indicates whether or not the second power supply unit is providing good power to the power rail;

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 hold-up indication, wherein the hold-up signal is based upon the first and second input power indications and upon the first and second output power indications; and

directing the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail in response to receiving the hold-up signal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the hold-up signal is conditioned upon at least one of:

the first input power indication indicating that the first power supply unit is not receiving good input power;

the second input power indication indicating that the second power supply unit is not receiving good input power;

the first output power indication indicating that the first power supply unit is not providing good power to the power rail; and

the second output power indication indicating that the second power supply unit is not providing good power to the power rail.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing a first current indication that indicates an amount of current that the first power supply unit is providing to a load; and

providing a second current indication that indicates an amount of current that the second power supply unit is providing to the load.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, by a current averaging module of the information handling system, the first and second current indications; and

providing, by the current averaging module, an average current indication that indicates an average current provided to the load by the first and second power supply units.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving, by a threshold detection module of the information handling system, the average current indication; and

providing, by the threshold detection module, an under current indication when the average current provided to the load by the first and second power supply units is below a current threshold.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the hold-up signal is further conditioned upon the under current indication indicating that the average current provided to the load by the first and second power supply units is below a current threshold.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the power storage element comprises a supercapacitor.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the power storage element comprises a rechargeable battery.

17. An information handling system, comprising:

a power assist unit coupled to a power rail of the information handling system, 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 hold-up signal from the information handling system, and in response to receiving the hold-up signal, to direct the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail, wherein the hold-up signal is conditioned upon at least one of;

a first input power indication indicating that a first power supply unit is not receiving good input power;

a first output power indication indicating that the first power supply unit is not providing good power to the power rail;

a second input power indication indicating that a second power supply unit is not receiving good input power; and

a second output power indication indicating that the second power supply unit is not providing good power to the power rail.

18. The information handling system of claim 17, wherein the hold-up signal is further conditioned upon an average current provided to a load by the first and second power supply units being below a current threshold.

19. The information handling system of claim 17, wherein the power storage element comprises a supercapacitor.

20. The information handling system of claim 17, wherein the power storage element comprises a rechargeable battery.