User-configurable power architecture with hot-pluggable power modules
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A power management system for use in a power-consuming system comprising:
- a plurality of power module bays each power module bay comprising a hot-plug connector comprising a plurality of pins and configured to connect to a power module;
wherein the hot-plug connector installed in at least one of the plurality of power module bays is capable of interchangeably connecting to either an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) power module or a power supply unit (PSU) power module installed in that power module bay;
a switch configured to connect at least one pin of a first hot-plug connector of a first power module bay of the plurality of power module bays with a pin of a second hot-plug connector of a second power module bay of the plurality of power module bays based in part on whether a PSU module or UPS module is connected to either the first or second hot-plug connector; and
a power module interface that provides an electrical connection between power modules installed in the power module bays and one or more power buses in the power-consuming system.
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Abstract
A power management system for use in a power-consuming system is disclosed. The system comprises one or more power module bays each adapted to have a power module hot-pluggably installed therein, the power module comprising an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) power module and a power supply unit (PSU) power module each adapted to be installed in the one or more power module bays; and a power module interface that connects power signals generated by installed power modules with one or more power buses in the system.
56 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A power management system for use in a power-consuming system comprising:
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a plurality of power module bays each power module bay comprising a hot-plug connector comprising a plurality of pins and configured to connect to a power module;
wherein the hot-plug connector installed in at least one of the plurality of power module bays is capable of interchangeably connecting to either an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) power module or a power supply unit (PSU) power module installed in that power module bay;a switch configured to connect at least one pin of a first hot-plug connector of a first power module bay of the plurality of power module bays with a pin of a second hot-plug connector of a second power module bay of the plurality of power module bays based in part on whether a PSU module or UPS module is connected to either the first or second hot-plug connector; and a power module interface that provides an electrical connection between power modules installed in the power module bays and one or more power buses in the power-consuming system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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a plurality of power module bays comprising a bay hot-plug connector capable of interchangeably connecting to either an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) power module or a power supply unit (PSU) power module installed in one of the power module bays a hot-pluggable UPS power module removably insertable into one of the power module bays to mate with the hot-plug connector carried in the bay, the UPS power module comprising;
a converter circuit that converts DC power generated by a battery into DC power for the system;
a controller that controls the operations of the UPS power module based on whether a PSU power module installed in the plurality of power module bays is receiving AC power; and
a module hot-plug connector configured to provide an electrical interface with the bay hot-plug connector carried in the bay when the UPS power module is installed in one of the power module bays; anda switch configured to connect at least one pin of a first hot-plug connector of a first power module bay of the plurality of bays with a pin of a second hot-plug connector of a second power module bay of the plurality of bays based at least on whether a PSU module or UPS module is connected to either the first or second hot-plug connector. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) power module installed in a plurality of power module bays of a system;
- wherein there is a first hot-plug connector of a first power module bay of the plurality of bays and a second hot-plug connector of a second power module bay of the plurality of bays, the method comprising;
directing a switch to connect a pin of the first hot plug connector with a pin of the second hot-plug connector based at least on whether a power supply unit (PSU) power module or uninterruptible power supply (UPS) power module is connected to either the first or second hot-plug connector; determining whether a power signal currently delivered to the system by the PSU power module is within specification; determining whether AC power is being delivered to the PSU power module; and causing the UPS power module to generate power when the monitored power signal is not within the specification and when AC power to the PSU power module supply is interrupted. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- wherein there is a first hot-plug connector of a first power module bay of the plurality of bays and a second hot-plug connector of a second power module bay of the plurality of bays, the method comprising;
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25. A method for controlling UPS and PSU power modules installed in a plurality of power module bays of a power-consuming system, comprising;
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determining system power requirement; determining whether one of the UPS power modules or one of the PSU power modules are installed in each of the power module bays; causing the installed UPS power modules to monitor the installed PSU power modules and power buses to determine whether UPS power from the UPS power modules should be generated to meet the determined system power requirement; causing the installed PSU power modules to generate power and load share with other installed power modules of the UPS and PSU power modules that are concurrently generating power; and monitoring status signals generated by the other installed power modules to determine which of the other installed power modules are generating DC power. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification