Power controller for permitting multiple processors to power up shared input/output devices and inhibit power down until all processors have ceased service with the I/O devices
First Claim
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1. In a multiprocessor system for data processing having shared input/output devices, a shared power controller for enabling said devices comprising:
- a plurality of input connections of a plurality of control modules for receiving control signals from a system power interface of each processor;
a plurality of switching devices included within the control modules for supplying a first control signal to an output module for indicating a power up command in response to a POWER PICK signal and POWER HOLD signal received from said input connections;
a relay means included in said output module for supplying a second control signal to an external power control compartment, coupled with said shared input/output devices when any one of said switching devices is supplying said first control signal indicating a power up command and maintaining said second control signal as long as any one of said switching devices is asserting a first control signal, and means for supplying a pulse output signal to said external power control compartment when all of said switching devices are not supplying a power command, whereby said input/output devices are initially powered up when any one of said processor system power interfaces issues a POWER PICK signal, and is subsequently powered down only when none of said processor system power interfaces generates a POWER PICK or POWER HOLD signal; and
,means located at a rack of said shared input/output devices for implementing a self-test of shared input/output devices which asserts a power pick signal to said plurality of switching means for generating a power up command in a local mode of operation when none of said processors are accessing said shared input/output devices.
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Abstract
A shared power controller for a rack of interface devices which are shared among a plurality of processor units. The shared power controller may be commanded into a power up mode by any connected central processor via its system power interface. A power down of a connected rack of interface units may, however, only be effected when all the connected CPU units enter a power down mode. A system power controller provides both remote and local operation such that diagnosis and analysis of problems may be effected locally at each rack of input/output devices.
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3 Claims
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1. In a multiprocessor system for data processing having shared input/output devices, a shared power controller for enabling said devices comprising:
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a plurality of input connections of a plurality of control modules for receiving control signals from a system power interface of each processor; a plurality of switching devices included within the control modules for supplying a first control signal to an output module for indicating a power up command in response to a POWER PICK signal and POWER HOLD signal received from said input connections; a relay means included in said output module for supplying a second control signal to an external power control compartment, coupled with said shared input/output devices when any one of said switching devices is supplying said first control signal indicating a power up command and maintaining said second control signal as long as any one of said switching devices is asserting a first control signal, and means for supplying a pulse output signal to said external power control compartment when all of said switching devices are not supplying a power command, whereby said input/output devices are initially powered up when any one of said processor system power interfaces issues a POWER PICK signal, and is subsequently powered down only when none of said processor system power interfaces generates a POWER PICK or POWER HOLD signal; and
,means located at a rack of said shared input/output devices for implementing a self-test of shared input/output devices which asserts a power pick signal to said plurality of switching means for generating a power up command in a local mode of operation when none of said processors are accessing said shared input/output devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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Specification