Advanced method for increasing reliability of redundant current-sharing power supplies

• US 6,664,657 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Hailey, Jeffrey C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Toatley, Jr., Gregory J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Polk, Sharon A.
• Application Number:
  US10/008,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20030085622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 307/52, 307/43, 307/44, 713/340, 713/300
• US Class Current: 307/52
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for sharing a load current among a plurality of power supply systems. For each of the plurality of power supply systems an output current and at least one variable representing an operational stress factor associated with the power supply system is measured. The current output of at least one of the plurality of power supplies is adjusted as a function of the at least one measured variable that represents the operational stress factor. The apparatus for sharing a load current among a redundant power supply system includes a first power supply system coupled to a second power supply system. The apparatus also includes a balance circuit configured to receive two inputs. A first input represents a current output of the second power supply system and a second input represents the at least one measured variable associated with the first power supply system. The balance circuit is operable to provide feedback to the first power supply system in response to the received inputs.

Claims

1. A method of sharing a load current among a plurality of power supply systems, the plurality of power supply systems being located in a substantially linear alignment, the linear alignment being substantially aligned with a direction of an airflow, the method comprising:

for each of the plurality of power supply systems, measuring an output current and at least one variable representing an operational stress factor, the operational stress factor representing an operational stress of a respective power supply system;

adjusting the current output of at least one of the plurality of power supplies as a function of the at least one measured variable, the adjusting taking into account that the operational stress of a power supply system subsequent to a power supply system in the direction of the air flow is greater than the operational stress of a power supply system previous to a power supply system in the direction of the airflow.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one variable representing the operational stress factor is a temperature of each power supply system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one variable representing the operational stress factor is a power output of each power supply system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one variable representing the operational stress factor is air flowing across each power supply system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the current output comprises adjusting the current output of each of the plurality of power supplies as a function of the at least one measured variable.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the current output comprises adjusting the current output of at least two of the plurality of power supplies as a function of the at least one measured variable.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustment of the current output results in sharing the load current among the plurality of power supply systems.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjustment of the current output results in controlling the at least one measured variable to be within a predefined range of values.

9. An apparatus for sharing a load current among a plurality of power supply systems, the plurality of power supply systems being located in a substantially linear alignment, the linear alignment being substantially aligned with a direction of an airflow, the apparatus comprising:

a first sensor to measure a current output of each of the plurality of power supply systems;

a second sensor to measure at least one variable representing an operational stress factor associated with each of the plurality of power supply systems, the operational stress factor representing an operational stress of a respective power supply system;

a controller configured to receive inputs from the first and second sensor, the controller operable to adjust the current output of at least one of the plurality of power supply systems in response to the received inputs, the controller taking into account that the operational stress of a power supply system subsequent to a power supply system in the direction of the air flow is greater than the operational stress of a power supply system previous to a power supply system in the direction of the airflow.

10. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor,

a plurality of power supply systems configured to provide power to the processor and the memory, the plurality of power supply systems being located in a substantially linear alignment, the linear alignment being substantially aligned with a direction of an airflow, the plurality of power supply systems comprising;

a first sensor to measure a current output of each of the plurality of power supply systems;

a second sensor to measure at least one variable representing an operational stress factor associated with each of the plurality of power supply systems, the operational stress factor representing an operational stress of a respective power supply system; and

a controller configured to receive inputs from the first and second sensor, the controller operable to adjust the current output of at least one of the plurality of power supply systems in response to the received inputs, the controller taking into account that the operational stress of a power supply system subsequent to a power supply system in the direction of the air flow is greater than the operational stress of a power supply system previous to a power supply system in the direction of the airflow.

11. An apparatus for sharing a load current among a redundant power supply system having a first power supply system coupled to a second power supply system, the first and second power supply systems being located in a substantially linear alignment, the linear alignment being substantially aligned with a direction of an airflow such that the airflow passes the first power supply system before passing the second power supply system, the apparatus comprising:

a first input representing a current output of the second power supply system;

a second input representing at least one variable of an operational stress factor associated with the first power supply system, the operational stress factor representing an operational stress of a respective power supply system;

a balance circuit configured to receive the first and second input, the balance circuit operable to provide feedback to the first power supply system in response to the received inputs, the balance circuit taking into account that the operational stress of the first power supply system is greater than the operational stress of the second power supply system.

12. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a redundant power supply system operable to provide power to the processor and the memory, the redundant power supply comprising;

a first power supply system coupled to a second power supply system, the first and second power supply systems being located in a substantially linear alignment, the linear alignment being substantially aligned with a direction of an airflow such that the airflow passes the first power supply system before passing the second power supply system;

a first input representing a current output of the second power supply system;

a second input representing at least one variable of an operational stress factor associated with the first power supply system, the operational stress factor representing an operational stress of the first power supply system; and

a balance circuit configured to receive the first and second input, the balance circuit operable to provide feedback to the first power supply system in response to the received inputs, the balance circuit taking into account that the operational stress of the first power supply system is greater than the operational stress of the second power supply system.