System and method for providing redundant power to a device

• US 8,278,779 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2011
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Isler, John III, Booth, John Robert, Carter, Roy Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): RUTLAND WALLIS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/022,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20120200161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 307/64, 307/65, 700/22
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems

Abstract

A system for providing redundant power to a device includes a first power supply unit that includes a first communication module including first and second first power supply unit transmitters and first and second first power supply unit receivers and a second power supply unit that includes a second communication module coupled to the first communication module and including first and second second power supply unit transmitters and first and second second power supply unit receivers coupled, respectively, to the first and second first power supply unit transmitters. The first power supply unit transmits on both the first and second first transmitters and the second power supply is configured to provide power to the device in the event that signals are not received from both the first and second first power supply unit transmitters by the first and second second power supply unit receivers.

Claims

1. A system for providing redundant power to a device, the system comprising:

a first power supply unit, the first power supply unit including a first power module that provides power and a first communication module including first and second first power supply unit transmitters and first and second first power supply unit receivers, wherein the first power module is selectively connectable to input lines; and

a second power supply unit, the second power supply unit including a second power module selectively connectable to the input lines and that provides power and a second communication module coupled to the first communication module and including first and second second power supply unit transmitters and first and second second power supply unit receivers coupled, respectively, to the first and second first power supply unit transmitters;

wherein the first power supply unit transmits on both the first and second first transmitters and the second power supply is configured to provide power to the device in the event that signals are not received from both the first and second first power supply unit transmitters by the first and second second power supply unit receivers.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third power supply unit, the third power supply unit including a third power module selectively connectable to the input lines and that provides A.C. power and a third communication module coupled to the first communication module and the second communication module;

wherein only one of the first, second, or third power supply units is coupled to the input lines at a given time.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first power module and the second power module both include switch units that selectively couple them to the input lines.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein a one of the first power supply unit and the second power supply is designated the primary power supply unit and the switch unit of the primary power supply unit electrically couples the primary power supply unit to the input lines.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein an other of the first power supply unit and the second power supply and the switch unit thereof prevents it from being electrically coupled to the input lines.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first power module further includes:

an alternating current (A.C.) power source;

a first switch unit coupled to the input lines; and

a first set of input power lines coupled between the A.C. power source and the first switch unit.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first power module further includes:

a first control unit configured to cause the first switch unit to electrically couple or decouple the A.C. power source to the input lines based on operating conditions of the first power supply unit.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the operating conditions include one or more of:

a voltage on the input power lines, a current on the input power lines and whether the first power supply unit is a primary power supply unit.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first communication module includes at least two transmitters and at least two receivers and the second communication module includes at least two transmitters and at least two receivers.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least two transmitters of the first communication module are coupled to the at least two receivers of the second communication module.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first power supply unit is designated the primary and transmits a signal that indicates it is the primary and is operational at a given rate.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second power supply unit is configured to become the primary in the event that the first power supply unit fails to transmit the signal.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the second power supply unit is configured to become the primary in the event that the signal indicates that the first power supply unit is not operational.

14. The system of claim 1, in combination with the device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the device is one of an LVDT and an LVDR.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein signals are considered received only after being checked for signal integrity at the second power supply unit.

17. A system for providing redundant power to a device, the system comprising:

a first power supply unit, the first power supply unit including a first power module that provides power and a first communication module including first and second first power supply unit transmitters and first and second first power supply unit receivers, wherein the first power module is selectively connectable to input lines; and

a second power supply unit, the second power supply unit including a second power module selectively connectable to the input lines and that provides power and a second communication module coupled to the first communication module and including first and second second power supply unit transmitters and first and second second power supply unit receivers coupled, respectively, to the first and second first power supply unit transmitters;

wherein the first power supply unit transmits a signal to the second power supply unit indicating that the first power supply unit cannot provide power to the device and the second power supply unit is configured to provide power after receiving the signal.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the signal is received only after being checked for signal integrity at the second power supply unit.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the second communication module is coupled directly to the first communication module.