Power source apparatus

• US 6,856,047 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Tetsuya, Marumo, Katsuya, Murabayashi, Haruyasu, Tsubota, Yasuhiro, Horie, Takashi, Kobori, Hideki, Ootomo, Takatoshi, Isozumi, Masashi, Ooba, Tsunetoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Rajnikant B.
• Application Number:
  US10/149,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20030058595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 307/64, 307/65, 307/150, 307/147, 307/151, 307/43, 307/80, 323/272, 323/284, 323/282, 323/268, 361/334, 361/395, 361/728, 361/380
• US Class Current: 307/150
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/102 being switching converters H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/156 with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators

Abstract

A power source apparatus with a saving in wiring, large noise immunity and an additional function is achieved by connecting AC input bus lines (Vin+), (Vin−), DC output bus lines (Vo+), (Vo−) and a current balance signal bus line (CB) for connecting first, second, third power source units 1, 2, 3 through connectors to form a module power source and connecting an additional function unit 4 for adding a predetermined additional function to the module power source using the bus lines to this module power source through a connector.

Claims

1. A power source apparatus comprising:

a module power source formed by connecting one or more power source units having bus lines, wherein the module power source is constructed so that a connector connection means is provided in the power source units and in an additional function unit for adding a predetermined additional function to the module power source for connecting the units, and so that the additional function unit is electrically connected to the module power source by the connector connection means.

2. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the bus lines are at least one of an AC input bus line for supplying an AC inputted from the outside to a power source circuit of the power source unit, a DC output bus line for outputting a DC converted by the power source circuit, a first signal bus line used in a control means for making output currents of plural power source units uniform, and a second signal bus line used for detecting a state of each the power source unit.

3. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the additional function unit has an interface with the outside.

4. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the additional function unit has a function of inputting an external AC to make a predetermined conversion, and is constructed so as to supply the AC in which the predetermined conversion is made to the power source units using the AC input bus line.

5. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the additional function unit is a rush current prevention unit having a rush current prevention function of preventing a rush current of an external commercial AC power source.

6. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the additional function unit has a function of making a predetermined conversion to a DC inputted, and is constructed so as to input the DC using the DC output bus line of the power source units and supply the DC in which the predetermined conversion is made to a load.

7. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the additional function unit is an output abnormal detection unit having means for producing a signal output or a display output of the result in the case of detecting that at least any one of plural DC outputs are abnormal.

8. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the additional function unit is a branching unit having a terminal for branching a DC output of the module power source into plural portions to connect a load, a function of disconnecting a supply line of the module power source when an output current flowing through this terminal is detected and also this detected current reaches a setting value, a function of disconnecting the supply line of the module power source when an overvoltage from the module power source is detected, a function of reporting an abnormal state of current or voltage, and a reset function capable of releasing disconnection of the supply line.

9. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the additional function unit has a function of making a predetermined conversion to an AC inputted, and inputs an AC using the AC input bus line of one power source unit and also makes a predetermined conversion to this AC and inputs the AC in which this predetermined conversion is made to the AC input bus line of the other power source unit.

10. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the additional function unit is a separator having a function of making only a connection between the AC input bus line of one power source unit and the AC input bus line of the other power source unit.

11. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the additional function unit has a function of making a predetermined conversion to a DC inputted, and inputs a DC using the DC output bus line of one power source unit and also makes a predetermined conversion to this DC and inputs the DC in which this predetermined conversion is made to the DC output bus line of the other power source unit.

12. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the additional function unit is a series connection unit having a series connection function of connecting a minus side line of the DC output bus line of one power source unit to a plus side line of the DC output bus line of the other power source unit.

13. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the additional function unit is an uninterruptible power supply unit having a DC bus line for making connection to the connector connection means and backup means for backing up the power source units of the module power source through this DC bus line.

14. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the backup means has DC supply means for supplying a DC inputted to the DC bus line to a load, charging means for making step-up and step-down conversions of the DC to charge a battery, and discharging means for supplying the DC from the battery to the load at the time of a power failure and a peak load.

15. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the backup means has DC supply means for supplying a DC inputted to the DC bus line to a load, charging means for making step-up and step-down conversions of the DC to charge a battery, DC power source supplement means for accumulating the DC in a capacitor as electrical energy, and discharging means for emitting the electrical energy from the capacitor and supplementing a DC from the battery and supplying the DC to the load at the time of a power failure.

16. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the backup means has DC supply means for supplying the DC inputted to the DC bus line to a load, charging means for making step-up and step-down conversions of the DC to charge a battery, and discharging means for making a step-down conversion of a DC from the battery and supplying the DC in which this step-down conversion is made to the load through the DC output bus line of the power source units at the time of a power failure and a peak load.

17. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the additional function unit is an output characteristic improvement unit comprising an output characteristic improvement circuit for stabilizing an output voltage of the module power source.

18. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the output characteristic improvement circuit has a step-up circuit for supplying an output voltage of the module power source from the power source unit of the output end side of the module power source and stepping up this output voltage, and a series regulator circuit for stabilizing the output voltage stepped up by this step-up circuit and outputting this stabilized output voltage as the output voltage of the module power source.

19. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the step-up circuit supplies an output voltage of the module power source through the DC output bus line of the power source unit of the output end side of the module power source.

20. The power source apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each power source unit has:

a power source circuit;

adjusting means for adjusting an output voltage from the power source circuit;

switching means for performing on-off control of an adjusting operation of the adjusting means; and

control means for setting a reference adjustment value with reference to an output voltage value associated with the power source unit in which the adjusting operation of the adjusting means is in an on control state by the switching means out of the power source units inside the module power source while off control of the adjusting operation of the adjusting means is performed by the switching means and adjusting the output voltage from the power source circuit based on this reference adjustment value.

21. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the reference adjustment value is set to an average value of output voltage values set to each power source unit inside the module power source.

22. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the reference adjustment value is set to the lowest output voltage value of output voltage values set to each power source unit inside the module power source.

23. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the reference adjustment value is set to the highest output voltage value of output voltage values set to each power source unit inside the module power source.

24. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein each power source unit has output current balance monitoring means for monitoring an output current from other power source units, and reference adjustment value detection means for detecting the reference adjustment value based on a monitor result from this output current balance monitoring means.

25. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein each power source unit has overvoltage protection means for setting an overvoltage value associated with an output voltage from the power source circuit and stopping and controlling the present output voltage when the present output voltage value exceeds the overvoltage value.

26. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein each power source unit has overvoltage protection means for setting an overvoltage value associated with an output voltage from the power source circuit and stopping and controlling the present output voltage when the present output voltage value exceeds the overvoltage value.

27. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein each power source unit has a switch for performing off control of an adjusting operation of the adjusting means by the switching means inside the power source unit connected when a normal connection between the power source units is made, and on control of the adjusting operation of the adjusting means is performed by the switching means in response to a switching manipulation of the switching means.

28. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein each power source unit has a switch for performing off control of an adjusting operation of the adjusting means by the switching means inside the power source unit connected when a normal connection between the power source units is made, and on control of the adjusting operation of the adjusting means is performed by the switching means in response to a switching manipulation of the switching means.

29. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein each power source unit has a switch for performing off control of an adjusting operation of the adjusting means by the switching means inside the power source unit connected when a normal connection between the power source units is made, and on control of the adjusting operation of the adjusting means is performed by the switching means in response to a switching manipulation of the switching means.

30. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the additional function unit has an interface with the outside.

31. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the additional function unit has a function of inputting an external AC to make a predetermined conversion, and is constructed so as to supply the AC in which the predetermined conversion is made to the power source units using the AC input bus line.

32. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein the additional function unit has a function of inputting an external AC to make a predetermined conversion, and is constructed so as to supply the AC in which the predetermined conversion is made to the power source units using the AC input bus line.

33. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the additional function unit has a function of making a predetermined conversion to a DC inputted, and is constructed so as to input the DC using the DC output bus line of the power source units and supply the DC in which the predetermined conversion is made to a load.

34. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the additional function unit is an output abnormal detection unit having means for producing a signal output or a display output of the result in the case of detecting that at least any one of plural DC outputs are abnormal.

35. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the additional function unit is an output abnormal detection unit having means for producing a signal output or a display output of the result in the case of detecting that at least any one of plural DC outputs are abnormal.

36. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the additional function unit is a branching unit having a terminal for branching a DC output of the module power source into plural portions to connect a load, a function of disconnecting a supply line of the module power source when an output current flowing through this terminal is detected and also this detected current reaches a setting value, a function of disconnecting the supply line of the module power source when an overvoltage from the module power source is detected, a function of reporting an abnormal state of current or voltage, and a reset function capable of releasing disconnection of the supply line.

37. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the additional function unit is a branching unit having a terminal for branching a DC output of the module power source into plural portions to connect a load, a function of disconnecting a supply line of the module power source when an output current flowing through this terminal is detected and also this detected current reaches a setting value, a function of disconnecting the supply line of the module power source when an overvoltage from the module power source is detected, a function of reporting an abnormal state of current or voltage, and a reset function capable of releasing disconnection of the supply line.

38. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the additional function unit has a function of making a predetermined conversion to an AC inputted, and inputs an AC using the AC input bus line of one power source unit and also makes a predetermined conversion to this AC and inputs the AC in which this predetermined conversion is made to the AC input bus line of the other power source unit.

39. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the additional function unit has a function of making a predetermined conversion to a DC inputted, and inputs a DC using the DC output bus line of one power source unit and also makes a predetermined conversion to this DC and inputs the DC in which this predetermined conversion is made to the DC output bus line of the other power source unit.

40. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the additional function unit is an uninterruptible power supply unit having a DC bus line for making connection to the connector connection means and backup means for backing up the power source units of the module power source through this DC bus line.

41. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the additional function unit is an uninterruptible power supply unit having a DC bus line for making connection to the connector connection means and backup means for backing up the power source units of the module power source through this DC bus line.

42. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the additional function unit is an output characteristic improvement unit comprising an output characteristic improvement circuit for stabilizing an output voltage of the module power source.

43. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the additional function unit is an output characteristic improvement unit comprising an output characteristic improvement circuit for stabilizing an output voltage of the module power source.

44. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein each power source unit has output current balance monitoring means for monitoring an output current from other power source units, and reference adjustment value detection means for detecting the reference adjustment value based on a monitor result from this output current balance monitoring means.

45. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein each power source unit has output current balance monitoring means for monitoring an output current from other power source units, and reference adjustment value detection means for detecting the reference adjustment value based on a monitor result from this output current balance monitoring means.

46. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein each power source unit has output current balance monitoring means for monitoring an output current from other power source units, and reference adjustment value detection means for detecting the reference adjustment value based on a monitor result from this output current balance monitoring means.

47. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein each power source unit has overvoltage protection means for setting an overvoltage value associated with an output voltage from the power source circuit and stopping and controlling the present output voltage when the present output voltage value exceeds the overvoltage value.

48. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein each power source unit has overvoltage protection means for setting an overvoltage value associated with an output voltage from the power source circuit and stopping and controlling the present output voltage when the present output voltage value exceeds the overvoltage value.

49. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein each power source unit has a switch for performing off control of an adjusting operation of the adjusting means by the switching means inside the power source unit connected when a normal connection between the power source units is made, and on control of the adjusting operation of the adjusting means is performed by the switching means in response to a switching manipulation of the switching means.

50. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein each power source unit has a switch for performing off control of an adjusting operation of the adjusting means by the switching means inside the power source unit connected when a normal connection between the power source units is made, and on control of the adjusting operation of the adjusting means is performed by the switching means in response to a switching manipulation of the switching means.

51. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein each power source unit has a switch for performing off control of an adjusting operation of the adjusting means by the switching means inside the power source unit connected when a normal connection between the power source units is made, and on control of the adjusting operation of the adjusting means is performed by the switching means in response to a switching manipulation of the switching means.

52. A power source apparatus as defined in claim 26, wherein each power source unit has a switch for performing off control of an adjusting operation of the adjusting means by the switching means inside the power source unit connected when a normal connection between the power source units is made, and on control of the adjusting operation of the adjusting means is performed by the switching means in response to a switching manipulation of the switching means.