MULTIPLE REDUNDANT POWER SUPPLY

• US 3,748,500 A
• Filed: 12/22/1971
• Issued: 07/24/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Tam
• Original Assignee: Ford Tam
• Inventors: Tam, Ford
• Primary Examiner(s): Huckert, John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anagnos, L. N.
• Application Number:
  US05/210,720
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 128/419P 307/60,61,63,64,65,69,71,77,201,202,242,243,296,297 320/7,13,15,16,17,18
• US Class Current: 327/526
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility

Abstract

A multiple redundant power supply for supplying a substantially constant voltage to output terminals is disclosed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. A first pair of voltage sources is coupled to one output terminal and a second pair of voltage sources is coupled to another output terminal and connected in series with the first pair of voltage sources. Steering diodes are provided such that a series connection obtains between either one of the voltage sources included in the first pair and either one of the voltage sources included in the second pair. First switch means interconnects the voltage sources included in the first pair and is adapted when activated to provide a series connection between the first pair voltage sources. Second switch means interconnects the voltage sources included in the second pair and is adapted when activated to provide a series connection between the second pair of voltage sources. The first or second switch means are activated by voltage detecting means coupled to the output terminals upon detection of a failure of the second pair or first pair of voltage sources, respectively.

Claims

1. A multiple redundant power supply for supplying a substantially constant voltage to output terminals notwithstanding a failure of one or more voltage sources included therein comprising:

a first pair of voltage sources coupled to one output terminal;

first switch means interconnecting the voltage sources included in said first pair and adapted when activated to provide a series connection between said voltage sources included in said first pair;

a second pair of voltage sources coupled to another output terminal and connected in series with said first pair of voltage sources whereby a series connection is provided between either one of the voltage sources included in said first pair and either one of the voltage sources included in said second pair;

second switch means interconnecting the voltage sources included in said second pair and adapted when activated to provide a series connection between said voltage sources included in said second pair; and

voltage detecting means coupled to said output terminals for selectively detecting a failure of said first or second pairs of voltage sources and for activating said second or first switcH means, respectively, said voltage detecting means including first transistor means adapted to assume a first state when neither said first pair nor said second pair of voltage sources has failed and a second state when said first pair or said second pair of voltage sources has failed; and

control transistor means coupled to said first transistor means for controlling the state assumed by said first transistor means;

said control transistor means being coupled to the series connection of said first and second pairs of voltage sources for receiving a bias voltage therefrom.

2. The multiple redundant power supply of claim 1 further including first and second uni-directional current conducting means connected in parallel relationship with said first and second pairs of voltage sources, respectively, for selectively providing a first conducting path between said one output terminal and said second pair of voltage sources when said first pair of voltage sources fails and a second conducting path between said other output terminal and said first pair of voltage sources when said second pair of voltage sources fails.

3. The multiple redundant power supply of claim 2 wherein said first and second switch means each comprise transistor means having collector and emitter electrodes coupled to the respective voltage sources included in the associated pair of voltage sources and a base electrode coupled to said first transistor means and responsive to the state assumed thereby.

4. The multiple redundant power supply of claim 3 further including operable switch means coupled to said control transistor means for de-energizing said control transistor means thereby forcing said first transistor means to assume said second state whereby a series connection is provided between said voltage sources included in said first pair and a series connection is provided between said voltage sources included in said second pair.

5. The multiple redundant power supply of claim 3 wherein said first transistor means and said control transistor means comprise complementary transistors each including a base electrode, said base electrode of said control transistor means being coupled to said series connection of said first and second pairs of voltage sources and said base electrode of said first transistor means being coupled to the collector electrode of said control transistor means.

6. A multiple redundant power supply for supplying a substantially constant voltage to output terminals notwithstanding a failure or one or more voltage sources included therein comprising:

first and second voltage sources coupled in parallel relationship to one output terminal;

third and fourth voltage sources coupled in parallel relationship to another output terminal and connected in series with said first and second parallel connected voltage sources whereby a series connection is provided between either one of said first and second voltage sources and either one of said third and fourth voltage sources;

voltage detecting means coupled to said output terminals for selectively detecting a failure of both said first and second voltage sources or both said third and fourth voltage sources;

first switch means interconnecting said first and second voltage sources and adapted when activated by said voltage detecting means upon the detection of a failure of both said third and fourth voltage sources to provide a series connection between said first and second voltage sources; and

second switch means interconnecting said third and fourth voltage sources and adapted when activated by said voltage detecting means upon the detection of a failure of both said first and second voltage sources to provide a series connection between said third and fourth voltage sources.

7. The multiple redundant power supply of claim 6 including further switch means for simultaneously activating said first and second switch means to provide a series connection between said output terminals and said first, said Second, said third and said fourth voltage sources, whereby the operativeness of said voltage sources may be examined.

8. The multiple redundant power supply of claim 7 wherein said further switch means comprises magnetically sensitive switch means.