Method and Apparatus to Charge Power Assist Unit
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An information handling system, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A power assist unit of an information handling system, the power assist unit comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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- 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.
Specification