Uninterruptable power supply

• US 6,225,708 B1
• Filed: 03/24/1999
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Furukawa, Noboru, Suzuki, Keiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Ballato, Josie
• Assistant Examiner(s): DeBeradinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US09/274,676
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 307/45, 307/46, 307/58, 307/64, 307/65, 307/66, 307/23, 307/80
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/305 in the event of power-supply fluctuations
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/108 using diodes blocking reverse current flow H02J1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/008 Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators

Abstract

Disclosed is an integrated uninterruptable power supply (UPS) for a computer powered by a commercial power supply. The uninterruptable power supply is operative to feed power from a normal power supply to a first load to be operated at a first DC voltage and a second DC voltage that is lower than the first DC voltage. If a characteristic of the normal power supply is deviated from a defined value, the UPS of the present invention will continue feeding power from a battery power supply to the first load. The uninterruptable power supply includes a power supply unit, having an output connected to the first load, for converting a voltage of the normal power supply to the first DC voltage and for outputting the same. The UPS also includes a first voltage converter having an input connected to the battery and an output connected to the first load, for converting an output voltage of the battery to the second DC voltage and for outputting the same. If the normal power supply is within the defined value, the first voltage converter waits in a no-load state.

Claims

1. An uninterruptable power supply for feeding power from a normal power supply as a first power supply to a first load to be operated within a defined DC voltage range comprising:

a power supply unit, having an output connected to the first load, for converting a voltage of the normal power supply to a first DC voltage within the defined DC voltage range and for outputting the same;

a first voltage converter, having an input connected to a second power supply and an output connected to the first load, for converting an output voltage of the second power supply to a second DC voltage within the defined DC voltage range and lower than the first DC voltage and for outputting the same; and

wherein if a characteristic of the normal power supply is deviated from a defined value, said uninterruptable power supply is operative to continue feeding power from the second power supply in place of the first power supply to the first load.

2. The uninterruptable power supply of claim 1, wherein the second power supply is a battery power supply.

3. An uninterruptable power supply for providing power from a normal power supply to a first load to be operated within a defined DC voltage range comprising:

a power supply unit for converting a voltage of the normal power supply to a first DC voltage within the defined DC voltage range and for outputting the same;

a switch, having one terminal connected to an output of the power supply unit and another terminal connected to the first load, the switch being operated in response to a signal indicating that the characteristic of the normal power supply has deviated from the defined value;

a first voltage converter, having an input connected to a battery power supply and an output connected to the first load, for converting an output voltage of the battery power supply to a second DC voltage within the defined DC voltage range and lower than the first DC voltage and for outputting the same; and

wherein if a characteristic of the normal power supply is deviated from a defined value, said uninterruptable power supply is operative to continue feeding powerfrom the battery power supply to the first load.

4. An uninterruptable power supply for feeding power from a normal power supply to a first load to be operated within a defined DC voltage range encompassing both of a first DC voltage and a second DC voltage lower than the first DC voltage, and to a second load to be operated at a third DC voltage comprising:

a power supply unit for converting a voltage of the normal power supply to the first DC voltage and for outputting the same;

a first rectifying element, having one terminal connected to an output of the power supply unit and another terminal connected to the first load;

a first voltage converter, having an input connected to a battery and an output connected to the first load, for converting an output voltage of the battery to the second DC voltage and for outputting the same;

a second voltage converter, having an input connected to the output of the power supply unit and an output connected to the second load, for converting the first DC voltage to the third DC voltage and for outputting the same;

a second rectifying element, having one terminal connected to the battery and another terminal connected to an input of the second voltage converter; and

wherein if a characteristic of the normal power supply is deviated from a defined value, said uninterruptable power supply is operative to continue feeding power from the battery to the first load and the second load.

5. The uninterruptable power supply of claim 4, wherein the first voltage converter is replaced by a switch that is operated in response to a signal indicating that the characteristic of the normal power supply has deviated from the defined value.

6. The uninterruptable power supply of claim 5, wherein the second voltage converter is replaced by a switch that is operated in response to a signal indicating that the characteristic of the normal power supply has deviated from the defined value.

7. An uninterruptable power supply for feeding power from a normal power supply to a first load to be operated within a defined DC voltage range encompassing both of a first DC voltage and a second DC voltage lower than the first DC voltage, and to a second load to be operated at a third DC voltage comprising:

a power supply unit for converting a voltage of the normal power supply to the first DC voltage and for outputting the same;

a first FET, having a drain connected to an output of the power supply unit, a source connected to the first load and a gate accepting a signal indicating that the characteristic of the normal power supply has been deviated from the defined value;

a first voltage converter, having an input connected to a battery and an output connected to the first load, for converting an output voltage of the battery to the second DC voltage and for outputting the same;

a second voltage converter, having an input connected to the output of the power supply unit and an output connected to the second load, for converting the first DC voltage to the third DC voltage and for outputting the same;

a second FET, having a drain connected to the battery, a source connected to an input of the second voltage converter and a gate accepting the signal indicating that the characteristic of the normal power supply has been deviated from the defined value;

a battery charge control circuit, having an input connected to the power supply unit and an output connected to the battery terminal; and

wherein if a characteristic of the normal power supply is deviated from a defined value, said uninterruptable power supply is operative to continue feeding powerfrom the battery to the first load and the second load.

8. The uninterruptable power supply of claim 7, further comprising a power interruption detection circuit for detecting the first DC voltage and generating a signal in accordance with a voltage magnitude with respect to a reference voltage.

9. An electronic device comprising:

a first load to be operated within a defined DC voltage range encompassing a first DC voltage and a second DC voltage lower than the first DC voltage;

an uninterruptable power supply for accepting power from an operating normal power supply to feed the power to the first load,

said uninterruptable power supply including;

a power supply unit for converting a voltage of the normal power supply to the first DC voltage and for outputting the same;

a switch, having one terminal connected to an output of the power supply unit and another terminal connected to the first load, the switch being operated in response to a signal indicating that the characteristic of the normal power supply has deviated from the defined value;

a first voltage converter, having an input connected to a battery power supply and an output connected to the first load, for converting an output voltage of the battery power supply to the second DC voltage and for outputting the same; and

wherein if a characteristic of the normal power supply is deviated from a defined value, said uninterruptable power supply is operative to continue feeding power from the battery power supply to the first load.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a first load to be operated at a first DC voltage and a second DC voltage lower than the first DC voltage;

a second load to be operated at a third DC voltage;

an uninterruptable power supply including;

a power supply unit for converting a voltage of the normal power supply to the first DC voltage and for outputting the same;

a first rectifying element, having one terminal connected to an output of the power supply unit and another terminal connected to the first load;

a first voltage converter, having an input connected to a battery and an output connected to the first load, for converting an output voltage of the battery to the second DC voltage and for outputting the same;

a second voltage converter, having an input connected to the output of the power supply unit and an output connected to the second load, for converting the first DC voltage to the third DC voltage and for outputting the same;

a second rectifying element, having one terminal connected to the battery and another terminal connected to an input of the second voltage converter; and

wherein if a characteristic of the normal power supply is deviated from a defined value, said UPS is operative to continue feeding power from the battery to the first load and the second load.