Method and apparatus to maintain power using a fault-tolerant power supply and a temporary external power supply
First Claim
1. A power supply system for providing continuous power to an electronic device, comprising:
- a current share board having a first input and a second input each for receiving power and an output for providing received power to the electronic device;
a fault-tolerant power supply having an output removably coupled to said first input of said current share board, said fault-tolerant power supply including;
first and second internal power supply circuits, andan internal current share circuit coupled to said first and second internal power supply circuits for providing power at said output of said fault-tolerant power supply; and
a temporary external power supply for coupling to said second input of said current share board for providing power to the electronic device while said fault-tolerant power supply is replaced in the event of partial failure of said fault-tolerant power supply.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power supply system including a power supply providing power to an electronic device through current share circuitry, which includes a second connector for receiving power from an external power supply. The power supply is preferably a fault-tolerant power supply so that the electronic device receives continuous power in the event of partial failure. When the fault-tolerant power supply partially fails, the external power supply is connected to the second connector of the current share circuitry, which is switched to temporarily provide power to the electronic device from the external power supply. The power supply is then replaced while the external power supply provides power, so that power to the electronic device is continuously maintained. The electronic device thus experiences zero down-time. Even in low-end systems with a single power supply, down-time is substantially reduced. The external power supply is connected internally or through an external connector on the electronic device. In an alternative embodiment, each power supply or current share board includes a second output for serving as the external power supply to another electronic device having a partially failed power supply. The present invention is particularly advantageous for use with PC server systems, where it is desired to maintain continuous power with zero down-time.
30 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A power supply system for providing continuous power to an electronic device, comprising:
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a current share board having a first input and a second input each for receiving power and an output for providing received power to the electronic device; a fault-tolerant power supply having an output removably coupled to said first input of said current share board, said fault-tolerant power supply including; first and second internal power supply circuits, and an internal current share circuit coupled to said first and second internal power supply circuits for providing power at said output of said fault-tolerant power supply; and a temporary external power supply for coupling to said second input of said current share board for providing power to the electronic device while said fault-tolerant power supply is replaced in the event of partial failure of said fault-tolerant power supply. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A power supply system for providing continuous power, comprising:
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first and second electronic devices, each comprising; a current share board having a first input and a second input each for receiving power and an output for providing received power from either or both of said first and second inputs; a fault-tolerant power supply including first and second internal power supply circuits coupled to an internal current share circuit having first and second outputs wherein said first output is removably coupled to said first input of said current share board; and a secondary output power connector coupled to said second output of said fault-tolerant power supply for providing external power from said fault-tolerant power supply; wherein said secondary output power connector of said first electronic device is coupled to said second input of said current share board of said second electronic device to provide power while said fault-tolerant power supply of said second electronic device is disconnected. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of providing continuous power to an electronic device including a fault-tolerant power supply, the fault-tolerant power supply including two internal power supply circuits coupled to an internal current share circuit having an output, the output of the internal share circuit being removeably coupled to a current share board, comprising the steps of:
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connecting an external power supply to the current share board for providing power to the electronic device in the event of partial failure of the fault-tolerant power supply; disconnecting and replacing the partially failed fault-tolerant power supply with a fully functional fault-tolerant power supply; connecting the fully functional fault-tolerant power supply to the current share board; and disconnecting the external power supply. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification