Digitally controlling the output voltage of a plurality of voltage sources
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- providing a switch array;
providing a plurality of voltage sources connectable in a plurality of ways through said switch array;
programmably controlling the connections between said voltage sources to develop a desired output voltage;
receiving a user specified output voltage; and
automatically providing the user specified output voltage.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plurality of the voltage sources may be selectively connectable in a variety of different arrangements using a switch array whose connections are determined by a programmable controller. For example, a desired output voltage may be automatically provided by altering the connections between the voltage sources to achieve the desired voltage. A programmable controller may determine how to connect the voltage sources to achieve the desired output voltage.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
providing a switch array;
providing a plurality of voltage sources connectable in a plurality of ways through said switch array;
programmably controlling the connections between said voltage sources to develop a desired output voltage;
receiving a user specified output voltage; and
automatically providing the user specified output voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. An article comprising a medium storing instructions that, if executed, enable a processor-based system to:
-
receive a request for an output voltage from a user; and
programmably control the connections between a plurality of voltage sources to develop the requested output voltage by adjusting the connections between a plurality of voltage sources. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A voltage supply comprising:
-
a plurality of voltage sources;
a switch array to selectively connect the sources in a plurality of different ways to alter the voltage supplied by the supply;
a controller to programmably control the switch array; and
an input device to receive user specified output voltage levels, said controller to automatically provide the desired output voltage in response to a user input of a desired output voltage. - View Dependent Claims (14, 16)
-
-
15. An article comprising a medium storing instructions that, if executed, enable a processor-based system to:
-
receive a request for an output voltage;
programmably control the connections between at least two voltage sources to develop the requested output voltage;
receive information about the voltage supplied by each of the two voltage sources;
determine the amount of time that each voltage source has supplied a particular voltage;
calculate a burden on each voltage source; and
in response to the calculated burden, balance the usage of the two voltage sources.
-
Specification