Method and Apparatus to Charge Power Assist Unit

• US 20200136418A1
• 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: Jenne, John E., Thibodeau, Thomas R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,951,051 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 1/26 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: H02J 1/02 Arrangements for reducing harmonics or ripples
• 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 a power supply unit (PSU) and a power assist unit (PAU). The PSU provides a power rail to power a load, and a constant current indication that indicates whether the power supply unit is operating in a constant current mode. The PAU 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 an enable signal when the constant current indication indicates that the first power supply unit is operating in the constant current mode, and in response, the controller directs the converter to convert a voltage from the power storage element and to a current to the power rail to meet an additional demand of the load for power. When the controller does not receive the enable signal, the controller directs the converter to charge the power storage element from the power rail.

Claims

1. An information handling system, comprising:

a power supply unit configured to provide a power rail to power a load of the information handling system, and to provide a constant current indication that indicates whether the power supply unit is operating in a constant current mode; 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 an enable signal when the constant current indication indicates that the power supply unit is operating in the constant current mode;

wherein, when the controller receives the enable signal, the controller is configured to direct the converter to provide a current to the power rail from the power storage element to meet an additional demand of the load for power; and

wherein, when the controller does not receive the enable signal, the controller is configured to direct the converter to charge the power storage element from the power rail.

2. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein:

the power supply unit is further configured to provide a current level indication to the controller that indicates an amount of current supplied to the load by the power supply unit;

the controller is further configured, when the controller does not receive the enable signal, to determine if the amount of current supplied to the load is greater than a threshold level based upon the current level indication; and

when the amount of current supplied to the load is greater than a threshold level, the controller is further configured to direct the converter to charge the storage element at a first current level.

3. The information handling system of claim 2, wherein when the amount of current supplied to the load is less than the threshold level, the controller is further configured to direct the converter to charge the power storage element at a second current level, the second current level being greater than the first current level.

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

the power assist unit further includes a data interface configured to receive a maximum current level indication; and

when the controller directs the converter to charge the power storage element at the second current level, the second current level is less than the indicated maximum current level.

5. The information handling system of claim 4, wherein the maximum current level is based upon an inventory of the elements of the information handling system.

6. The information handling system of claim 5, wherein the maximum current level is based upon a state in which the information handling system is operating.

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 power supply unit, a power rail to power a load of an information handling system;

providing a constant current indication that indicates whether the power supply unit is operating in a constant current mode;

receiving, by a controller of a power assist unit coupled to the power rail, an enable signal when the first constant current indication indicates that the first power supply unit is operating in the constant current mode;

controlling, by the power assist unit, a converter of the power assist unit to provide a current to the power rail from a power storage element of the power assist unit to meet an additional demand of the load for power when the controller receives the enable signal; and

controlling the converter to charge the power storage element from the power rail when the controller does not receive the enable signal.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a current level indication that indicates an amount of current supplied to the load by the power supply unit;

determining if the amount of current supplied to the load is greater than a threshold level based upon the current level indication when the controller does not receive the enable signal; and

directing the converter to charge the storage element at a first current level when the amount of current supplied to the load is greater than a threshold level.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

directing the converter to charge the power storage element at a second current level when the amount of current supplied to the load is less than the threshold level, the second current level being greater than the first current level.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, by a data interface of the power assist unit, a maximum current level indication, wherein, when the controller directs the converter to charge the power storage element at the second current level, the second current level is less than the indicated maximum current level.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the maximum current level is based upon an inventory of the elements of the information handling system.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the maximum current level is based upon a state in which the information handling system is operating.

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. A power assist unit of an information handling system, the power assist unit comprising:

a power storage element;

a converter coupled to the power storage element and to a power rail to a load of the information handling system;

a controller configured to receive an enable signal when a first constant current indication indicates that a power supply unit is operating in a constant current mode, wherein;

when the controller receives the enable signal, the controller is further configured to direct the converter to provide a current to the power rail from the power storage element to meet an additional demand of the load for power; and

when the amount of current supplied to the load is greater than a threshold level, the controller is further configured to direct the converter to charge the storage element at a first current level.

18. The power assist unit of claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a current level indication from the power supply unit that indicates an amount of current supplied to the load by the power supply unit;

determine if the amount of current supplied to the load is greater than a threshold level based upon the current level indication when the controller does not receive the enable signal; and

direct the converter to charge the storage element at a first current level when the amount of current supplied to the load is greater than a threshold level.

19. The power assist unit of claim 19, wherein when the amount of current supplied to the load is less than the threshold level, the controller is further configured to direct the converter to charge the power storage element at a second current level, the second current level being greater than the first current level.

20. The power assist unit of claim 19, wherein:

the power assist unit further includes a data interface configured to receive a maximum current level indication; and

when the controller directs the converter to charge the power storage element at the second current level, the second current level is less than the indicated maximum current level.