System and method for managing fault in a power system
First Claim
1. A method for managing fault conditions in a power control system comprising a plurality of power control groups, with each said group comprising a plurality of individual point-of-load regulators each adapted to provide respective regulated voltage outputs, the method comprising:
- detecting fault conditions locally within each point-of-load regulator of each said group;
selectively communicating notifications of said fault conditions to other ones of said plurality of point-of-load regulators of said group and to other ones of said groups; and
responding to said fault conditions in a common manner by said ones of said plurality of point-of-load regulators of said group.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power control system comprises a plurality of power control groups, with each group comprising a plurality of individual point-of-load regulators each adapted to provide respective regulated voltage outputs. The point-of-load regulators may be selected for inclusion in a power control groups based on characteristics of loads supplied by the point-of-load regulators. An intermediate bus controller is coupled to each of said power control groups through a serial data bus interface common to each group and an OK status line for each respective group. A front end regulator provides an intermediate bus voltage to each of the plurality of power control groups and to the intermediate bus controller. The plurality of point-of-load regulators of each group each further comprises a respective fault manager adapted to detect fault conditions and selectively communicate notifications of the fault conditions to other ones of the plurality of point-of-load regulators of the group and to the intermediate bus controller. This way, a common response to the fault conditions is taken by the point-of-load regulators of the group and other groups. A method for managing faults in the power control system is also disclosed.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for managing fault conditions in a power control system comprising a plurality of power control groups, with each said group comprising a plurality of individual point-of-load regulators each adapted to provide respective regulated voltage outputs, the method comprising:
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detecting fault conditions locally within each point-of-load regulator of each said group; selectively communicating notifications of said fault conditions to other ones of said plurality of point-of-load regulators of said group and to other ones of said groups; and responding to said fault conditions in a common manner by said ones of said plurality of point-of-load regulators of said group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for programming a power control system including a plurality of point-of-load regulators, comprising:
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displaying at least one screen depicting a matrix including a first axis identifying each of said plurality of point-of-load regulators and a second axis identifying a plurality of virtual power control groups, said matrix further including a plurality of user selectable icons defining intersections between each of said plurality of point-of-load regulators and each of said plurality of power control groups; receiving user input selecting ones of said user selectable icons; and assigning selected ones of said plurality of point-of-load regulators to ones of said plurality of power control groups in accordance with said user input; wherein, fault conditions detected by any one of said plurality of point-of-load regulators assigned to a particular one of said plurality of power control groups are selectively propagated to other ones of said plurality of point-of-load regulators assigned to said particular one of said plurality of power control groups so that a common response to said fault conditions is taken by each one of said plurality of point-of-load regulators assigned to said particular one of said plurality of power control groups. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method for programming a power control system including a plurality of point-of-load regulators, comprising:
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displaying at least one screen depicting a plurality of potential fault conditions and selectable types of corrective actions to be taken responsive to said potential fault conditions; receiving user input to select ones of said selectable types of corrective actions; and programming at least one of said plurality of point-of-load regulators in accordance with said user input; wherein, said at least one of said plurality of point-of-load regulators performs said selected types of corrective actions in response to actual fault conditions in accordance with said programming step. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for programming a power control system, comprising:
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displaying at least one screen depicting a configuration of communication paths between a plurality of virtual power control groups, each one of said plurality of virtual power control groups having a respective plurality of point-of-load regulators assigned thereto; receiving user input to enable selected ones of said communication paths defining propagation of fault notifications from ones of said plurality of virtual power control groups to others of said plurality of virtual power control groups; and programming said plurality of point-of-load regulators of each of said plurality of virtual power control groups in accordance with said user input; wherein, said plurality of point-of-load regulators of each of said plurality of virtual power control groups propagate said fault notifications in accordance with said programming step. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification