Controlling a fault-tolerant array of converters

• US 9,030,047 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2012
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Barus, Daniel J., Covi, Kevin R., Kostenko, William P., Lee, Jack P., Wendling, Peter A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US13/492,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20130329474A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 307/65
• US Class Current: 307/65
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/305 in the event of power-supply fluctuations
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence

Abstract

A redundant path power subsystem comprises a plurality of phase regulators in a multi-phase power converter. The plurality of phase regulators comprises at least N+2 phase regulators. N phases are sufficient to serve an electrical load coupled with the redundant path power subsystem. The redundant path power subsystem also comprises a plurality of power supplies, and a plurality of input and control paths between the plurality of power supplies and the plurality of phase regulators. The plurality of input and control paths comprises a plurality of multiplexing logic devices and a plurality of phase controllers. The plurality of phase controllers is operable to control the plurality of phase regulators. The plurality of multiplexing logic devices is operable to multiplex control signals from the plurality of power supplies and a microprocessor for the plurality of phase controllers.

Claims

1. A redundant path power subsystem comprising:

a plurality of phase regulators in a multi-phase power converter, wherein the plurality of phase regulators comprise at least N+2 phase regulators and wherein N phases are sufficient to serve an electrical load coupled with the redundant path power subsystem;

a plurality of power supplies;

a plurality of input and control paths between the plurality of power supplies and the plurality of phase regulators, wherein the plurality of input and control paths comprises a plurality of multiplexing logic devices and a plurality of phase controllers;

the plurality of phase controllers operable to control the plurality of phase regulators; and

the plurality of multiplexing logic devices operable to multiplex control signals from the plurality of power supplies and a microprocessor for the plurality of phase controllers.

2. The redundant path power subsystem of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power supplies are operable to detect a failure in the plurality of input and control paths.

3. The redundant path power subsystem of claim 2, wherein the plurality of power supplies are operable to track failures of the phase controllers.

4. The redundant path power subsystem of claim 2, wherein the plurality of power supplies are operable to disable a failed one of the plurality of multiplexing logic devices in response to detection of failure of the failed multiplexing logic device.

5. The redundant path power subsystem of claim 1, wherein the plurality of phase controllers and the plurality of phase regulators increase current output to accommodate a failed phase regulator or failed phase controller in accordance with the Droop current sharing method in response to detection of the failed phase regulator or failed phase controller.

6. The redundant path power subsystem of claim 1, further comprising an arbitration control between the plurality of multiplexing logic devices, the arbitration control operable to disable a failed one of the plurality of multiplexing logic devices.

7. The redundant path power subsystem of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of multiplexing logic devices comprises a fusible resistor that limits a fault current.

8. The redundant path power subsystem of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input and control paths comprises a plurality of buses coupling each of the power supplies to each of the plurality of multiple logic devices and coupling each of the plurality of multiple logic devices to each of the plurality of phase controllers.

9. The redundant path power subsystem of claim 8, wherein the plurality of buses also couple a microprocessor to each of the plurality of multiplexing logic devices.

10. The redundant path power subsystem of claim 1, wherein the plurality of phase controllers are operable to continue operating after failure of all of the plurality of multiplexing logic devices without signals from the plurality of multiplexing logic devices or the plurality of power supplies.

11. The redundant path power subsystem of claim 10, wherein the plurality of phase controllers are operable to continue controlling the plurality of phase regulators based on one of a predetermined indication of voltage and an indication of voltage last communicated from a microprocessor.

12. A system comprising:

a microprocessor;

a plurality of phase regulators in a multi-phase power converter coupled to output power to the microprocessor, wherein the plurality of phase regulators comprise at least N+2 phase regulators and wherein N phases are sufficient to serve the microprocessor;

a plurality of power supplies;

a plurality of phase controllers coupled to control output from the plurality of phase regulators to the microprocessor and to adjust the output to accommodate a failure in any one of the plurality of phase controllers and the plurality of phase regulators; and

a plurality of multiplexing logic devices coupled between the plurality of power supplies and the plurality of phase controllers and coupled between the microprocessor and the plurality of phase controllers, the plurality of multiplexing logic devices operable to send control signals received from the plurality of power supplies and the microprocessor to the plurality of phase controllers.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of power supplies are operable to detect a failure in any one of the plurality of multiplexing logic devices, the plurality of phase controllers, and the plurality of phase controllers.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of power supplies are operable to track failures of the phase controllers.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of power supplies are operable to disable a failed one of the plurality of multiplexing logic devices in response to detection of failure of the failed multiplexing logic device.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of phase controllers coupled to control output from the plurality of phase regulators comprises the plurality of phase controllers being coupled to increase current output from active ones of the plurality of phase regulators to accommodate a failed phase regulator or failed phase controller in accordance with the Droop current sharing method in response to detection of the failed phase regulator or failed phase controller.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of phase controllers are operable to continue operating after failure of all of the plurality of multiplexing logic devices, without signals from the plurality of multiplexing logic devices or the plurality of power supplies.