Active filter for computer, filter module, power module and computer

• US 6,362,980 B1
• Filed: 12/01/2000
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: X Corp. (f/k/a Twitter, Inc.) (X Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ohashi, Kazuo, Suzuki, Keiji
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MATTHEW VAN
• Application Number:
  US09/728,795
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 363/16, 363/20, 363/21.01, 363/21.04, 363/21.07, 363/21.12, 363/21.15, 363/95, 363/97, 363/131, 365/226, 365/227, 365/229
• US Class Current: 363/21.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0006 Arrangements for supplying an adequate voltage to the control circuit of converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0032 Control circuits allowing low power mode operation, e.g. in standby mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/36 Means for starting or stopping converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/335 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

Abstract

A signal PWR is driven into a low level in response to a power-off command from the computer, then the low level PWR signal is entered to an input terminal 36 of a switching circuit 130 and regulators 152 to 156 respectively. Consequently, the regulators come to rest and thereby the power supply to the computer is shut off. Receiving the low level PWR signal, a photo-coupler 134 and a transistor 132 in the switching circuit 130 are turned off respectively, as well as the operation of a power factor correction circuitry is stopped. Consequently, an AC power factor correction circuitry comes to rest when the power supply to the computer is shut off, and thereby the power consumption of the computer can be reduced.

Claims

1. An active filter used for a computer, comprising:

a power factor correction circuitry for supplying an electric power rectified from an AC input to a primary winding of a transformer intermittently so as to supply an electric power generated on a secondary winding of said transformer to said computer, wherein the power factor correction circuitry comprises;

a resister coupled to said AC input,

a power factor correction controller,

a reactor with a fly-back winding coupled to said power factor correction controller and another winding coupled to said AC input, and

a transistor switch, wherein a drain of said transistor switch is coupled to said primary winding, a source of said transistor switch is coupled to said another winding, and a gate of said transistor switch is coupled to said power factor correction controller; and

an enabling device having an input device for receiving a command signal that indicates supply of an electric power to said computer and for enabling said power factor correction circuitry when receiving said command signal, said enabling device disables said power factor correction circuitry when receiving a shut-off signal as said command signal for shutting off supply of said electric power to said computer, wherein said enabling device comprises;

a photo coupler coupled to said input device, and

a transistor, wherein a gate of said transistor is coupled to said photo coupler, an emitter of said transistor is coupled to said resister, and a collector of said transistor is coupled to said power factor correction controller.

2. A filter module having said power factor correction circuitry and said enabling device according to claim 1 in one and the same chip.

3. A power module, comprising:

a rectifier circuit for rectifying an AC input;

a power factor correction circuitry for supplying a rectified electric power to a primary winding of a transformer intermittently, wherein the power factor correction circuitry comprises;

a resister coupled to said AC input,

a power factor correction controller,

a reactor with a fly-back winding coupled to said power factor correction controller and another winding coupled to said AC input, and

a transistor switch, wherein a drain of said transistor switch is coupled to said primary winding, a source of said transistor switch is coupled to said another winding, and a gate of said transistor switch is coupled to said power factor correction controller;

a power supply device including said transformer and used for supplying an electric power generated on a secondary winding of said transformer to said computer; and

an enabling device having an input device for receiving a command signal that indicates supply of an electric power to said computer and used for enabling said power factor correction circuitry when receiving said command signal, said enabling device disables said power factor correction circuitry when receiving a shut-off signal as said command signal for shutting off supply of said electric power to said computer, wherein said enabling device comprises;

a photo coupler coupled to said input device, and

a transistor, wherein a gate of said transistor is coupled to said photo coupler, an emitter of said transistor is coupled to said resister, and a collector of said transistor is coupled to said power factor correction controller.

4. A computer having a power module according to claim 3.

5. A computer, comprising:

a rectifier circuit for rectifying an AC input;

a power factor correction circuitry for supplying a rectified electric power to a primary winding of a transformer intermittently, wherein the power factor correction circuitry comprises;

a resister coupled to said AC input,

a power factor correction controller,

a reactor with a fly-back winding coupled to said power factor correction controller and another winding coupled to said AC input, and

a transistor switch, wherein a drain of said transistor switch is coupled to said primary winding, a source of said transistor switch is coupled to said another winding, and a gate of said transistor switch is coupled to said power factor correction controller;

a power supply device including a constant use power source for keeping supply of an electric power generated on a secondary winding of said transformer to said computer and a selective power source for supplying an electric power when receiving an enabling signal for supplying said electric power to said computer; and

an enabling device having an input device for receiving a command signal for indicating supply of an electric power to said computer and used for enabling said power factor correction circuitry when receiving said command signal, said enabling device disables said power factor correction circuitry when receiving a shut-off signal as said command signal for shutting off supply of said electric power to said computer, wherein said enabling device comprises;

a photo coupler coupled to said input device, and

a transistor, wherein a gate of said transistor is coupled to said photo coupler, an emitter of said transistor is coupled to said resister, and a collector of said transistor is coupled to said power factor correction controller.

6. An active filter used for said computer, comprising:

a power factor correction circuitry for supplying an electric power rectified from an AC input to a primary winding of a transformer intermittently so as to supply an electric power generated on a secondary winding of said transformer to said computer, wherein the power factor correction circuitry comprises;

a resister coupled to said AC input,

a power factor correction controller,

a reactor with a fly-back winding coupled to said power factor correction controller and another winding coupled to said AC input, and

a transistor switch, wherein a drain of said transistor switch is coupled to said primary winding, a source of said transistor switch is coupled to said another winding, and a gate of said transistor switch is coupled to said power factor correction controller; and

an enabling device having an input device for receiving a command signal output when an electric power supplied to said computer exceeds a first value and used for enabling said power factor correction circuitry when receiving said command signal, said enabling device disables said power factor correction circuitry when receiving a shut-off signal as said command signal, said shut-off signal being output when said electric power supplied to said computer is smaller than a second value, wherein said enabling device comprises;

a photo coupler coupled to said input device, and

a transistor, wherein a gate of said transistor is coupled to said photo coupler, an emitter of said transistor is coupled to said resister, and a collector of said transistor is coupled to said power factor correction controller.

7. A power module, comprising:

a rectifier circuit for rectifying an AC input;

a power factor correction circuitry for supplying a rectified electric power to a primary winding of a transformer intermittently, wherein the power factor correction circuitry comprises;

a resister coupled to said AC input,

a power factor correction controller,

a reactor with a fly-back winding coupled to said power factor correction controller and another winding coupled to said AC input, and

a transistor switch, wherein a drain of said transistor switch is coupled to said primary winding, a source of said transistor switch is coupled to said another winding, and a gate of said transistor switch is coupled to said power factor correction controller;

a power supply deice including said transformer and used for supplying an electric power generated on a secondary winding of said transformer to said computer; and

an enabling device having an input device for receiving a command signal output when said electric power supplied to said computer exceeds a first value and used for enabling said power factor correction circuitry when receiving said command signal, said enabling device disables said power factor correction circuitry when receiving a shut-off signal as said command signal, said shut-off signal being output when an electric power supplied to said computer is smaller than a second value, wherein said enabling device comprises;

a photo coupler coupled to said input device, and

a transistor, wherein a gate of said transistor is coupled to said photo coupler, an emitter of said transistor is coupled to said resister, and a collector of said transistor is coupled to said power factor correction controller.

8. A computer having said power module according to claim 7.

9. A computer, comprising:

a rectifier circuit for rectifying an AC input;

a power factor correction circuitry for supplying a rectified electric power to a primary winding of a transformer intermittently, wherein the power factor correction circuitry comprises;

a resister coupled to said AC input,

a power factor correction controller,

a reactor with a fly-back winding coupled to said power factor correction controller and another winding coupled to said AC input, and

a transistor switch, wherein a drain of said transistor switch is coupled to said primary winding, a source of said transistor switch is coupled to said another winding, and a gate of said transistor switch is coupled to said power factor correction controller;

a power supply device including a constant use power source for keeping supply of an electric power generated on a secondary winding of said transformer to said computer and a selective power source for supplying an electric power when receiving an enabling signal for supplying said electric power to said computer; and

an enabling device having an input device for receiving a command signal output when said electric power supplied to said computer exceeds a first value and used for enabling said power factor correction circuitry when receiving said command signal, said enabling device disables said power factor correction circuitry when receiving a shut-off signal as said command signal, said shut-off signal being output when said electric power supplied to said computer is smaller than a second value, wherein said enabling device comprises;

a photo coupler coupled to said input device, and

a transistor, wherein a gate of said transistor is coupled to said photo coupler, an emitter of said transistor is coupled to said resister, and a collector of said transistor is coupled to said power factor correction controller.