Intelligent power supply control for electronic systems requiring multiple voltages

• US 6,396,169 B1
• Filed: 02/29/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Cranston, Michael, Shuma, Roger, Voegeli, Derick, Glasshof, Gregory, Salzman, Scot
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhane, Adolf Deneke
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUK, LAWRENCE W
• Application Number:
  US09/515,791
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 307/52,33,43,65,73,54 323/283,318,350,351 363/17,37,71
• US Class Current: 307/52
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/001 Hot plugging or unplugging of load or power modules to or from power distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network

Abstract

A system and method for developing a cost efficient electronic power supply system that handles a range of supported electronic circuits is provided. The electronic power supply system adaptively configures the power applied to electronic circuits. Thereby, eliminating redesign of a power supply system when a newly developed or different electronic circuit is implemented. When an electronic circuit is attached to the electronic power supply, a controller confirms electronic circuit presence and queries for electronic circuit power on requirements. As more electronic circuits are added, the controller examines each electronic circuit power on requirements and determines if a power conflict is present. If a conflict exists, the controller will not supply power to the electronic circuits until the conflict is resolved. If a conflict does not exist, the controller powers up the present electronic circuits according to desired power on requirements by broadcasting commands to power supplies, some of which are programmable.

Claims

1. An electronic power supply system for adaptively configuring the power applied to a plurality of electronic circuits, said system comprising:

a power bus;

at least one module connected to said power bus;

a plurality of power supplies connected to said power bus, wherein at least one of said plurality of power supplies is a programmable power supply, and wherein said plurality of power supplies provides power to said at least one module;

a power control bus; and

a power supply controller coupled to said plurality of power supplies by said control bus and coupled to said at least one module, wherein said power supply controller determines power supply requirement parameters of said at least one module and responsively programs said plurality of power supplies over said power control bus.

2. The electronic power supply system of claim 1 further comprising a communication bus, and wherein said power supply controller retrieves said power supply requirement parameters from said at least one module over said communication bus.

3. The electronic power supply system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said parameters include voltage requirements for said programmable power supply.

4. The electronic power supply system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a communication bus, and wherein said power supply controller retrieves a module identification parameter from said at least one module over said communication bus.

5. The electronic power supply system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a lookup table, wherein said power supply controller determines said power supply requirement parameters of said at least one module from said lookup table based on said module identification parameter.

6. The electronic power supply system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising parameter registers associated with each one of said at least one module.

7. The electronic power supply system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power-on requirements contain at least one voltage control parameter to indicate the preferred voltage level of at least one of said plurality of power supplies.

8. The electronic power supply system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power supply controller provides a voltage ID to said programmable power supplies via said power control bus.

9. The electronic power supply system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said power supply controller enables said programmable power supplies in an order compatible with said power supply requirement parameters.

10. The electronic power supply system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power supply requirement parameters comprise at least one turn-on sequencing control parameter that specifies the turn-on order of at least two of said plurality power supplies.

11. The electronic power supply system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said power supply controller enables said plurality of power supplies in accordance with said turn-on sequencing control parameter.

12. The electronic power supply system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power supply requirements comprise a voltage delta control parameter that specifies a preferred voltage difference between at least two of said pluralities of power supplies.

13. The electronic power supply system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said power supply controller provides a sequence of voltage IDs to said plurality of power supplies that correspond to voltages which differ by an amount not greater than that specified by said voltage delta control parameter.

14. The electronic power supply system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power-on requirements comprise a time delta control parameter that specifies a preferred time difference between turn-on of at least two of said pluralities of power supplies.

15. An electronic power supply system for adaptively configuring the power applied to a plurality of electronic circuits, said system comprising:

a power bus;

a plurality of programmable power supplies connected to said power bus and providing power to said power bus;

a plurality of modules connected to said power bus and receiving power from said power bus;

a power control bus connected to said plurality of programmable power supplies;

a controller coupled to said power control bus and coupled to said plurality of modules, wherein said controller communicates with said modules and determines power supply requirement parameters corresponding to each of said plurality of modules, wherein said power supply requirement parameters comprise at least one parameter selected from the group of a time delta control parameter, a voltage delta control parameter, a module identification parameter and a power-on sequence parameter; and

wherein said power supply controller programs said plurality of programmable power supplies in accordance with said power supply requirement parameters.

16. A method for an electronic power supply system to adaptively configure the power applied to a plurality of electronic circuits using a power supply controller, said method comprising:

detecting presence of at least one communication module;

determining power supply requirement parameters;

examining the power supply requirement parameters for power requirement conflicts; and

programming a plurality of power supplies to voltages in accordance with the power supply requirement parameters if no conflicts exist.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the step of monitoring a power good signal from said plurality of power supplies.

18. A method for an electronic power supply system to adaptively configure the power applied to a plurality of electronic circuits, said method comprising:

detecting presence of at least one communication module;

determining power supply requirement parameters;

examining the power supply requirement parameters by comparing module identification numbers between at least two modules for power requirement conflicts; and

programming a plurality of power supplies to voltages in accordance with the power supply requirement parameters if no conflicts exist.

19. A method for an electronic power supply system to adaptively configure the power applied to a plurality of electronic circuits, said method comprising:

detecting presence of at least one communication module;

determining power supply requirement parameters;

examining the power supply requirement parameters for power requirement conflicts; and

programming a plurality of power supplies to voltages in accordance with the power supply requirement parameters if no conflicts exist, wherein programming the plurality of power supplies comprises sending a sequence of voltage identifiers to the plurality of power supplies.

20. A method for an electronic power supply system to adaptively configure the power applied to a plurality of electronic circuits, said method comprising:

detecting presence of at least on communication module;

determining power supply requirement parameters;

examining the power supply requirement parameters for power requirement conflicts; and

programming a plurality of power supplies to voltages in accordance with the power supply requirement parameters if no conflicts exist, wherein programming the plurality of power supplies comprises incrementing voltage outputs of said plurality of power supplies according to said power supply requirement parameters.