Power-supply expansion system and method thereof

• US 8,433,943 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2010
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elitegroup Computer Systems Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Elitegroup Computer Systems Company Limited
• Inventors: Lin, Chang-Pan, Chang, Shih-Chun
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAZYAD, ALYAA T
• Application Number:
  US12/826,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20110055614A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 713300-340
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence

Abstract

A power-supply expansion system includes a primary power-supply unit for providing a main power supply, a secondary power-supply unit for providing an auxiliary power supply, a power unit having a first and a second input terminal and an output terminal, and a control unit connected to the primary and the secondary power-supply unit. The control unit, based on a load value of the primary power-supply unit, selectively performs a power-supply expansion process for the secondary power-supply unit to feed the auxiliary power supply to the second input terminal. In the power-supply expansion process, the first input terminal receives the main power supply and the second input terminal receives the auxiliary power supply, and the power unit integrates the main and the auxiliary power supply into an output power supply, which is output via the output terminal. A power-supply expansion method applicable to the power-supply expansion system is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A power-supply expansion system comprising:

a primary power-supply unit providing a main power supply;

a secondary power-supply unit providing an auxiliary power supply;

a power unit comprising a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal;

the first input terminal receiving the main power supply or the auxiliary power supply, the second input terminal receiving the auxiliary power supply, the power unit integrating the main power supply and the auxiliary power supply into an output power supply, and the output power supply fed to a load terminal via the output terminal; and

a control unit being connected to the primary power-supply unit and the secondary power-supply unit; and

the control unit, based on a load value of the primary power-supply unit, selectively performing a power-supply expansion process so as to feed the auxiliary power supply to the second input terminal by the secondary power-supply unit;

an overcurrent protection unit electrically connected to the secondary power-supply unit; and

the overcurrent protection unit limiting the auxiliary power supply provided by the secondary power-supply unit to a value not exceeding a nominal current value;

a first switch being located between the overcurrent protection unit and the first input terminal, and being selectively turned on or turn off according to a switch control signal output by the control unit; and

a second switch being located between the overcurrent protection unit and the second input terminal, and being selectively turned on or turn off according to the switch control signal output by the control unit;

wherein when the control unit determines the load value reaches a first preset value, the control unit turns off the first switch and turns on the second switch to perform the power-supply expansion process;

wherein when the control unit determines the load value is smaller than a second preset value in a preset time span, the control unit turns off the second switch and turns on the first switch to stop performing the power-supply expansion process;

wherein the power-supply expansion system further comprises a charging control unit being electrically connected to the primary power-supply unit, the secondary power-supply unit and the control unit, and when the control unit determines the load value is smaller than a third preset value in the preset time span, the charging control unit controlled by a second control signal generated by the control unit to perform a charge action to the secondary power-supply unit;

wherein when the control unit determines the load value is smaller than a fourth preset value, the control unit stops performing the power-supply expansion process and supplies the auxiliary power supply via the first switch by the control unit.

2. The power-supply expansion system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a load sensing unit electrically connected to the primary power-supply unit for sensing the load value of the primary power-supply unit.

3. The power-supply expansion system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the secondary power-supply unit is a battery.

4. A power-supply expansion method applicable to a power-supply expansion system, comprising the following steps:

monitoring a plurality of feedback messages fed back from a plurality of monitoring points of the power-supply expansion system by a control unit;

determining, based on the monitored feedback messages, whether the power-supply expansion system has to simultaneously provide a main power supply to a first input terminal and an auxiliary power supply to a second input terminal by the control unit;

performing a power-supply expansion process for feeding the main power supply to the first input terminal and feeding the auxiliary power to the second input terminal, if the power-supply expansion system has to simultaneously provide a main power supply to a first input terminal and an auxiliary power supply to a second input terminal by the control unit; and

integrating the main power supply and the auxiliary power supply into an output power supply and outputting the output power supply to an output terminal;

selectively turning on or turning off a first switch according to a switch control signal output by the control unit and selectively turning on or turning off a second switch according to the switch control signal output by the control unit;

wherein the main power supply is provided by a primary power-supply unit, and the feedback messages include at least a load value of the primary power-supply unit; and

the method further comprising the step of turning off the first switch and turning on the second switch to perform the power-supply expansion process when the control unit determines the load value reaches a first preset value;

wherein when the control unit determines the load value is smaller than a second preset value in a preset time span, the control unit turns off the second switch and turns on the first switch to stop performing the power-supply expansion process;

wherein when the control unit determines the load value is smaller than a third preset value in the preset time span, the control unit generates a second control signal for controlling a charging control unit to perform a charging process; and

wherein when the control unit determines the load value is smaller than a fourth preset value, the control unit stops performing the power-supply expansion process and supplies the auxiliary power supply via the first switch by the control unit.

5. The power-supply expansion method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first preset value is 90% of a maximum power supply capacity of the main power supply.

6. The power-supply expansion method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the step of performing the power-supply expansion process when the control unit determines an available power supply capacity of a secondary power-supply unit providing the auxiliary power supply is larger than a preset available power supply capacity.

7. The power-supply expansion method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the preset available power supply capacity is 20% of a maximum power supply capacity of the secondary power-supply unit.

8. The power-supply expansion method as claimed in claim 4, wherein, when the control unit determines an available power supply capacity of a secondary power-supply unit providing the auxiliary power supply is smaller than a preset available power supply capacity, the second switch is turned off, the first switch is turned on, and the power-supply expansion process is stopped by the control unit.

9. The power-supply expansion method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the preset available power supply capacity is 20% of a maximum power supply capacity of the secondary power-supply unit.

10. The power-supply expansion method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step of generating a first control signal by the control unit for controlling a system to execute frequency reduction.

11. The power-supply expansion method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second preset value is 70% of a maximum power supply capacity of the main power supply.

12. The power-supply expansion method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the third preset value is ranged from 20% to 50% of a maximum power supply capacity of the main power supply.

13. The power-supply expansion method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fourth preset value is 3% of a maximum power supply capacity of the main power supply.