Redundant power supply switchover circuit
First Claim
1. A power supply system for an in-flight entertainment system, that supplies power to a load, comprising:
- a first power supply and a second power supply each having a first output terminal and a second output terminal, said first power supply delivering a majority portion of required power to the load when functional, said first power supply operating in one of a remote sense mode and a local sense mode;
a monitor coupled to the first output terminal of said first power supply, said monitor for monitoring a supply voltage of said first power supply, said monitor generating a first signal and a second signal according to an operational condition of said first power supply;
a first diode and a second diode, each having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of said first diode being coupled to said monitor, the second terminal of said first diode being coupled to a load, the first terminal of said second diode being coupled to the first output terminal of said second power supply, the second terminal of said second diode being coupled to the load;
a switch coupled to said monitor, said switch having a first position for coupling said second output terminal of said first power supply to the load in response to the first signal from said monitor, said switch having a second position for coupling said second output terminal of said second power supply to the load in response to the second signal from said monitor; and
a charging element coupled across the load for storing energy from the first power supply, said charging element providing stored energy to the load when the load is switched from the first power supply to the second power supply.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a method and apparatus for providing a power supply system having a redundant power supply switchover circuit, which maintains a remotely regulated output voltage when the power supply system switches over from the primary power supply to the secondary power supply. The power supply system comprises a secondary power supply that is connected in parallel to a primary power supply. The two power supplies are OR-connected to a load through two diodes, with the primary power supply connected to the diode via a monitor. During normal operating conditions, the primary power supply delivers most of the current because it operates in a "remote sense" configuration which provides a voltage output that is higher, by a diode voltage drop, than that of the secondary power supply, which operates in a "local sense" configuration. When a monitor detects the failure of the primary power supply, it generates a control signal to direct a relay switch to switch the secondary power supply from the "local sense" configuration to the "remote sense" configuration. As a result, the secondary power supply will deliver the full power requirements of the load. During the momentary switchover period, fluctuations in load voltage are minimal and within the range permitted by most logic devices.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A power supply system for an in-flight entertainment system, that supplies power to a load, comprising:
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a first power supply and a second power supply each having a first output terminal and a second output terminal, said first power supply delivering a majority portion of required power to the load when functional, said first power supply operating in one of a remote sense mode and a local sense mode; a monitor coupled to the first output terminal of said first power supply, said monitor for monitoring a supply voltage of said first power supply, said monitor generating a first signal and a second signal according to an operational condition of said first power supply; a first diode and a second diode, each having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of said first diode being coupled to said monitor, the second terminal of said first diode being coupled to a load, the first terminal of said second diode being coupled to the first output terminal of said second power supply, the second terminal of said second diode being coupled to the load; a switch coupled to said monitor, said switch having a first position for coupling said second output terminal of said first power supply to the load in response to the first signal from said monitor, said switch having a second position for coupling said second output terminal of said second power supply to the load in response to the second signal from said monitor; and a charging element coupled across the load for storing energy from the first power supply, said charging element providing stored energy to the load when the load is switched from the first power supply to the second power supply. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 29, 30)
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11. A method of providing power to a load, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first power supply and a second power supply; energizing said first power supply and said second power supply; operating the first power supply in one of a remote sense mode and a local sense mode; monitoring a supply voltage of said first power supply; delivering a majority portion of required power to the load from the first power supply if the supply voltage of the first power supply is above a predetermined level; switching delivery of power to the load from the first power supply to the second power supply if the supply voltage of the first power supply is below the predetermined level; storing energy from the first power supply in a charging element; and providing energy stored in the charging element to the load when the load is switched from the first power supply to the second power supply. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of providing power to a load, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first power supply and a second power supply each having a first output terminal and a second output terminal, said first power supply delivering a majority portion of required power to the load when functional; operating said first power supply in one of a remote sense mode and a local sense mode; coupling a monitor to the first output terminal of said first power supply; coupling a first terminal of a first diode to said monitor, and coupling a second terminal of said first diode to a load; coupling a first terminal of a second diode to the first output terminal of said second power supply, and coupling a second terminal of said second diode to the load; coupling a switch to said monitor, said switch having a first position for coupling said second output terminal of said first power supply to the load, said switch having a second position for coupling said second output terminal of said second power supply to the load; monitoring a supply voltage of the first power supply; storing energy from the first power supply in a charging element; and providing energy stored in the charging element to the load when the load is switched from the first power supply to the second power supply; coupling said switch to the first position if the supply voltage is above a predetermined level; and coupling said switch to the second position if the supply voltage is below a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A power supply system for an in-flight entertainment system, that supplies power to a load, comprising:
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first means and second means for supplying power, each having a first output terminal and a second output terminal, said first means delivering a majority portion of required power to the load when functional, said first means operating in one of a remote sense mode and a local sense mode; monitor means coupled to the first output terminal of said first means, said monitor means for monitoring the supply voltage of said first means, said monitor means generating a first signal and a second signal according to an operational condition of said first power supply; first diode means and second diode means, each having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal of said first diode means being coupled to said monitor means, the second terminal of said first diode means being coupled to a load, the first terminal of said second diode means being coupled to the first output terminal of said second means, the second terminal of said second diode means being coupled to the load; switch means coupled to said monitor means, said switch means having a first position for coupling said second output terminal of said first means to the load in response to a first signal from said monitor means, said switch means having a second position for coupling said second output terminal of said second means to the load in response to a second signal from said monitor means; and charging means coupled across the load for storing energy from the first power supply, said charging means providing stored energy to the load when the load is switched from the first power supply to the second power supply. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification