Computer-controlled uninterruptable power supply
First Claim
1. A power supply system for receiving at least an AC power signal and a DC power signal and therefrom supplying power to apparatus for sustaining normal operation of said apparatus, comprising:
- means for rectifying said AC power signal, when it is supplied to said system, and providing a rectified signal;
first regulating means for regulating said rectified signal and providing a first regulated DC signal;
second regulating means for regulating a DC signal and providing a second regulated DC signal;
control means for causing one signal of said DC power signal and said first regulated DC signal, when both said DC power signal and said AC power signal are supplied and one of them when only one of them is supplied, to be coupled to said second regulating means;
said control means being settable to cause a preselected one of said DC power signal and said first regulated DC signal to be coupled to said second regulating means when both said DC power signal and said AC power signal are supplied.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-controlled, uninterruptable power supply system is disclosed. The system selectively operates from more than one input source of power, e.g., an AC input, an external DC input and internal batteries. The system is of the type which utilizes one or more switch mode converters and is especially suited for use in computer systems. The system monitors a number of functions under computer control and reacts automatically to the monitored functions to follow a programmed course of action. During start up, the system monitors prescribed functions and prevents power turn-on upon detection of prescribed faults. The system may communicate with a host computer, provide data thereto, and receive down-loaded parameters therefrom. Such down-loaded parameters may be used by the system to control operation of the system. The system determines the condition of internal batteries so that when operating from the batteries, the system is cognizant of how long it or a host may continue operating, and then reacts accordingly. The system includes at least one fan and a number of sensors which sense temperature at a number of locations in the system, and is capable of controlling fan operation and locating faults based on sensed parameters. The system comprises a watchdog circuit to monitor computer operation. The watchdog circuit and the computer periodically self test operation of the watch dog circuit. The system determines current drain by means of a current sense resistance which is a trace on a circuit board, and the system itself calibrates the sense resistance.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A power supply system for receiving at least an AC power signal and a DC power signal and therefrom supplying power to apparatus for sustaining normal operation of said apparatus, comprising:
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means for rectifying said AC power signal, when it is supplied to said system, and providing a rectified signal; first regulating means for regulating said rectified signal and providing a first regulated DC signal; second regulating means for regulating a DC signal and providing a second regulated DC signal; control means for causing one signal of said DC power signal and said first regulated DC signal, when both said DC power signal and said AC power signal are supplied and one of them when only one of them is supplied, to be coupled to said second regulating means;
said control means being settable to cause a preselected one of said DC power signal and said first regulated DC signal to be coupled to said second regulating means when both said DC power signal and said AC power signal are supplied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A power supply system for receiving at least an AC power signal and a DC power signal and therefrom supplying power to apparatus for sustaining normal operation of said apparatus, and for receiving a battery DC signal, comprising:
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means for rectifying said AC power signal, when it is supplied to said system, and providing a rectified signal; first regulating means for regulating said rectified signal and providing a first regulated DC signal; second regulating mans for regulating a DC signal and providing a second regulated DC signal; a battery providing said battery DC signal; control means for causing one signal of said first regulated DC signal, said DC power signal and said battery DC signal when at least two of them are supplied, and one of them when only one of them is supplied, to be coupled to said second regulating means;
said control means being settable to cause said one signal to be coupled to said second regulating means in a predetermined priority sequence. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A power supply system comprising:
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regulating means for regulating a power input signal and providing a regulated DC output signal; a battery providing a DC input signal; control means for causing said power input signal when supplied and said Dc input signal when said power input signal is not supplied to be coupled to said regulating means; means coupled to said battery for determining the condition of said battery; said control means including means for determining, when said DC input signal is coupled to said regulating means, the length of time said system may safely operate from said battery. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An electronic control system comprising a computer and a watchdog circuit coupled thereto to monitor operation of said computer and reset said computer when said watchdog circuit detects a fault therein, said watchdog circuit and said computer including means to periodically self test operation of said watchdog circuit.
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25. A computer-controlled power supply system including a local computer for controlling operation of said power supply system, means programmable in said local computer for causing said local computer to control operation of said power supply system based on a plurality of parameters, a communication channel for communicating with a host system, and means cooperating with said host system for downloading from said host system at least one of said parameters.
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26. A power supply system comprising a regulator receiving a power input and providing at least three regulated DC outputs, means for monitoring at least one power supply parameter during turn on of said power supply system, and means for sequentially activating said outputs in response to said monitoring means when said power supply system is turned on or reset.
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27. A power supply system comprising a regulator and means for determining the current drawn by at least one load coupled to said regulator, said current determining means including a current sense resistance, said resistance being a trace on a circuit board, said system including means for calibrating said sense resistance.
- 28. A power supply system comprising regulating means for receiving at least one power input and providing at least one regulated power output, means coupling said at least one power output to a plurality of loads, control means for controlling said coupling means to selectively supply said regulated power output to said loads, and monitoring means for monitoring at least one power supply system parameter, said control means causing said coupling means to selectively disconnect said loads from said regulated power output in response to said monitoring means in at least one predetermined sequence determined by said control means.
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33. A power supply system for receiving at least one power input signal and providing at least one regulated power output, comprising a switch mode regulator which receives said at least one power input signal and provides said at least one power output, monitoring means for monitoring operation of said switch mode regulator and said at least one power input signal, and control means for controlling operation of said switch mode regulator, said control means, upon turning on or resetting of said power supply system, and before said regulating means provides said at least one power output, controlling whether said switch mode regulator provides said power output or not in dependence upon said monitoring means.
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34. A power supply system for receiving at least one power input signal and providing at least one regulated power output and for powering at least one fan, comprising first means for monitoring the temperature at a first location relative to said fan and providing a first signal relating to said temperature at said first location, second means for monitoring the temperature at a second location relative to said fan and providing a second signal relating to said temperature at said second location, and control means for controlling said fan or operation of said power supply system, or both, in response to said first and second signals and the configuration of said control means.
- 35. A power supply system for receiving at least one power input and providing therefrom a plurality of power outputs, comprising means for providing said plurality of power outputs from said at least one power input, means for coupling said plurality of power outputs to respective loads, control means for controlling said coupling means for selectively coupling respective outputs to respective loads and monitoring means for monitoring at least one power supply parameter, said control means causing said coupling means to selectively couple power outputs to respective loads in accordance with said at least one monitored power supply parameter and the configuration of said control means.
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40. A power supply system comprising a computer for controlling operation of said power supply system, means programmable in said computer for causing said computer to control operation of said power supply system based on a plurality of parameters, means for monitoring said plurality of parameters, and under control of said computer, providing information relating to said parameters to said computer, a communication channel for communicating with a host system, means cooperating with said host system for providing said information from said computer to said host system, and means cooperating with said host system for downloading at least one parameter from said host system to said computer for causing said computer to change operation of said power supply system.
Specification