Backup apparatus

• US 5,734,204 A
• Filed: 03/16/1994
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sobue, Ikuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAPLAN, JONATHAN STUART
• Application Number:
  US08/213,519
• Time in Patent Office: 1,476 Days
• Field of Search: 307/64, 307/66, 307/18, 307/19, 307/21, 307/23, 307/29, 307/43, 307/65, 307/85, 307/86, 307/87, 365/226, 365/229
• US Class Current: 307/65
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

A backup apparatus includes a main body power supply for applying a voltage from a main body to loads during a normal operation, a first backup power supply for applying a power supply voltage to a specific load of the loads when a voltage of the main body power supply drops, a second backup power supply for applying a power supply voltage to the specific load when a voltage of the first backup lower supply drops, a first threshold voltage generator for generating a first threshold voltage generated by the first backup power supply, a second threshold voltage generator for generating a second threshold voltage generated by the second backup power supply, a comparator for comparing the first threshold voltage with the second threshold voltage, a first switch circuit for switching the power supply voltage applied to the specific load from the main body power supply to the first backup power supply when the voltage of the main body power supply drops, and a second switch circuit for switching the power supply voltage applied to the specific load from the first backup power supply to the second backup power supply in accordance with a comparison result from the comparator when the voltage of the first backup power supply drops.

Claims

1. A backup apparatus comprising:

a first backup power supply for applying a power supply voltage to a load when a voltage provided by a main power supply falls below a first threshold voltage, said first backup power supply generating a first threshold voltage;

threshold voltage generating means for generating a second threshold voltage using a second backup power supply;

first comparing means for comparing the first threshold voltage generated by said first backup power supply with the voltage of the main power supply;

second comparing means for comparing the second threshold voltage generated by said threshold voltage generating means with the voltage of said first backup power supply;

switching means for switching the power supply voltage applied to the load from the main power supply to said first backup power supply in response to a comparison result provided by said second comparing means; and

output means for outputting the status of said first backup power supply in response to a comparison result provided by said first comparing means.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first backup power supply is a charging power supply, and further comprising additional signal generating means for generating a notification that said first backup power supply is being charged while the main power supply is in operation.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the load includes a memory.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising refresh control means, wherein, when the memory is backed up by said first backup power supply, said refresh control means controls the refreshing of the memory.

5. A backup apparatus for a plurality of loads comprising a first load and a second load supplied with power by a main power supply, said backup apparatus comprising:

a first backup power supply for supplying power to the first load when a voltage of the main power supply falls below a first predetermined threshold voltage;

a second backup power supply for supplying power to the second load when the main power supply voltage falls below a second predetermined threshold voltage;

first switch means for switching the power supply to the first load from the main power supply to said first backup power supply when the main power supply voltage falls below the first predetermined threshold voltage;

second switch means for switching the power supply to the second load from the main power supply to said second backup power supply when the main power supply voltage falls below the second predetermined threshold voltage; and

third switch means for switching the power supply to the second load from said first backup power supply to second backup power supply when a voltage of said first backup power supply voltage falls below the first predetermined threshold voltage.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

generating means for generating first and second thresholds;

first comparing means for comparing the first threshold generated by said generating means with the voltage of the main power supply; and

second comparing means for comparing the second threshold generated by said generating means with the voltage of said first backup power supply,

wherein said first and second switch means perform respective switching operations in response to a comparison result obtained by said first comparing means and said third switching means performs a switching operation in response to a comparison result obtained by said second comparing means.

7. A method for backing up a main power supply, comprising:

an applying step, of applying a power supply voltage from a first backup power supply to a load when a voltage of the main power supply falls below a predetermined voltage;

a first generating step, of generating a first threshold voltage from the first backup power supply;

a second generating step, of generating a second threshold voltage using a second backup power supply;

a first comparing step, of comparing the first threshold voltage generated in said first generating step with the voltage of the main power supply;

a second comparing step, of comparing the second threshold voltage generated in said second generating step with the voltage of the backup power supply;

a switching step, of switching the power supply voltage applied to the load from the main power supply to the first backup power supply in response to a comparison result obtained in said second comparing step; and

an outputting step, of outputting the status of the first backup power supply in response to a comparison result obtained in said first comparing step.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of applying a power supply voltage from a second backup power supply to the load when a voltage of the first backup power supply in response to a comparison result obtained in said second comparing step.

9. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of supplying a notification that the first backup power supply is abnormal in accordance with the comparison result obtained in said second comparing step.

10. A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of supplying a notification that the first backup power supply is abnormal in accordance with the comparison result obtained in said second comparing step.

11. A method according to claim 7, wherein the first backup power supply is a charging power supply, and further comprising the step of generating a notification that the first backup power supply is being charged while the main power supply is in operation.

12. A method for backing up power supplied from a main power supply to a plurality of loads comprising a first load and a second load, said method comprising the steps of:

supplying power from a first backup power supply to the first load when a voltage of the main power supply falls below a first threshold voltage;

supplying power from a second backup power supply to the second load when the main power supply voltage falls below a second threshold voltage;

switching the power supply to the first load from the main power supply to the first backup power supply when the main power supply voltage falls below the first threshold voltage;

switching the power supply to the second load from the main power supply to the second backup power supply when the main power supply voltage falls below the second threshold voltage; and

switching the power supply to the first load from the first backup power supply to the second backup power supply when the voltage of the first backup power supply falls below the second threshold voltage.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

a generating step, of generating first and second thresholds;

a first comparing step, of comparing the first threshold generated in said generating step with the voltage of the main power supply; and

a second comparing step, of comparing the second threshold generated in generating step with the voltage of the first backup power supply,

wherein said first and second switching steps are performed to perform respective switching operations in response to a comparison result obtained in said first comparing step and said third switching step is performed to perform a switching operation in response to a comparison result obtained in said second comparing step.