Method and apparatus for the remote programming of a power supply
First Claim
1. An electronics system comprising:
- a power supply including a supply output for supplying a supply voltage, a sense input for receiving a sense voltage, and circuitry for adjusting the supply voltage in response to the sense voltage;
a supply line coupled to the supply output of the power supply for carrying the supply voltage;
a sense line coupled to the sense input of the power supply for carrying the sense voltage;
a plurality of circuits each coupled at different positions of the supply line for receiving the supply voltage; and
a plurality of supply programming circuits, each coupled to sense the supply voltage delivered to a corresponding one of the plurality of circuits and to the sense line, wherein a supply programming circuit that senses a lowest value of the supply voltage outputs the sense voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system that includes supply programming circuits for remotely programming a power supply such that minimum operating voltages are maintained. The computer system includes a power supply having a supply output line and a supply sense line. The power supply provides a supply voltage via the supply output line in response to a sense voltage received via the sense line. A first circuit that operates at the supply voltage is coupled to the supply output line. A first supply programming circuit is coupled to the first circuit, the supply output line and the sense line. The first supply programming circuit senses the supply voltage at the first circuit and adjusts the sense voltage in response to the sensed supply voltage at the first circuit. A second circuit is also coupled to the supply output line. A second supply programming circuit senses the supply voltage at the second circuit and adjusts the sense voltage in response to the sensed supply voltage at the second circuit. Only the supply programming circuit that senses the lowest supply voltage adjusts the sense voltage.
23 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An electronics system comprising:
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a power supply including a supply output for supplying a supply voltage, a sense input for receiving a sense voltage, and circuitry for adjusting the supply voltage in response to the sense voltage; a supply line coupled to the supply output of the power supply for carrying the supply voltage; a sense line coupled to the sense input of the power supply for carrying the sense voltage; a plurality of circuits each coupled at different positions of the supply line for receiving the supply voltage; and a plurality of supply programming circuits, each coupled to sense the supply voltage delivered to a corresponding one of the plurality of circuits and to the sense line, wherein a supply programming circuit that senses a lowest value of the supply voltage outputs the sense voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An adapter card for coupling to a bus of a computer system and to a first position of a supply output line, the adapter card comprising:
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at least one integrated circuit not for use in monitoring or controlling a supply voltage on said supply line coupled to receive a supply voltage from the supply output line; and a supply programming circuit coupled to a sense line and coupled to sense the supply voltage received by the adapter card from the supply output line, the supply programming circuit being operative to output a sense voltage to the sense line in response to comparing the supply voltage to a reference voltage. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. An adapter card for coupling to a bus of a computer system, the adapter card comprising:
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a circuit not for use in monitoring or controlling a supply voltage on said supply line for coupling to a supply output line at a first position to receive a supply voltage; and a supply programming circuit coupled to sense the supply voltage as received by the circuit, the supply programming circuit for outputting a sense voltage to a sense line. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. An adapter card for coupling to a bus of a computer system and to a first position of a supply output line, the adapter card comprising:
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at least one integrated circuit not for use in monitoring or controlling a supply voltage on said supply line coupled to receive a supply of voltage from the supply output line; and a supply programming circuit coupled to a sense line and coupled to sense the supply voltage received by the adapter card from the supply output line, the supply programming circuit being operative to output the sense voltage only if the supply programming circuit senses a lowest value when the adapter card is one of a plurality of adapter cards equipped with a plurality of supply programming circuits coupled at different positions on the supply output line.
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19. An adapter card for coupling to a bus of a computer system, the adapter card comprising:
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a circuit not for use in monitoring or controlling a supply voltage on said supply line for coupling to a supply output line at a first position to receive a supply voltage; and a supply programming circuit coupled to sense the supply voltage as received by the circuit, the supply programming circuit for outputting a sense voltage to a sense line, said supply programming circuit including; an output circuit for coupling to the sense line for adjusting the sense voltage; and a voltage reference circuit for coupling to the supply output line and the output circuit for making a comparison between a sensed supply voltage and an internal reference voltage, and for driving the output circuit in response to the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification