Modular testing of a power supply

• US 9,759,783 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2013
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fedex Supply Chain Logistics & Electronics, Inc. (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fedex Supply Chain Logistics & Electronics, Inc. (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Partee, Jimmie Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Astacio-Oquendo, Giovanni
• Application Number:
  US14/145,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20140118022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 324771, 324426-437, 324439-450, 32476201, 32476401, 320137-167, 702 57- 80
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10

Abstract

A system and method for testing a power supply. A power-end of the power supply is received in a power port of a power supply tester. Information about the power supply is received. A load is dynamically configured for the power supply in response to the information. The power supply tester is automatically activated to power the power supply in response to the power supply being received by the power supply tester and the load being configured. Performance characteristic of the power supply are measured. The performance characteristics of the power supply are displayed to the user indicating functionality of the power supply.

Claims

1. A method for testing a power supply, comprising:

receiving a power-end of the power supply in a power port of a power supply tester;

receiving an adapter-end of the power supply in an adapter port of the power supply tester, wherein receiving the adapter-end of the power supply comprises;

connecting an adapter module to the adapter-end of the power supply; and

powering the power supply from the power supply tester in response to the adapter module being connected to the adapter port of the power supply tester;

receiving information about the power supply at the power supply tester;

dynamically configuring a load for testing the power supply in response to the information;

automatically activating the power supply tester to power the power supply in response to the power supply being received by the power supply tester and the load being configured;

measuring performance characteristics of the power supply while powered; and

displaying the performance characteristics of the power supply to a user indicating functionality of the power supply.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

deactivating power to the power supply in response to a time period elapsing from when the power supply began to be powered.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information about the power supply includes a selection of an electronic device associated with the power supply, the information being received through a user interface of the power supply tester.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the power supply tester determines the load utilizing the information about the power supply and a database including load information for a plurality of electronic devices, and wherein the power supply tester determines functionality of the power supply utilizing data within the database associated with the load information.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information about the power supply is received through a scanner in communication with the power supply tester.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information about the power supply includes at least a voltage and current associated with the power supply.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is performed for a plurality of power supplies including the power supply.

8. A power supply tester for testing power supplies, comprising:

a first port operable to receive an adapter module connected to an adapter-end of a power supply;

a second port operable to receive a power-end of the power supply;

a power supply tester power supply operable to power the power supply through the second port;

an electrical measurement device operable to measure performance information for the power supply;

a display operable to display the performance information to a user; and

a third port in communication with the first port through a testing circuit, the third port operable to receive a load module selected to test the power supply.

9. The power supply tester according to claim 8,

wherein the adapter module and the load module are selected by the user in response to a power supply type,

wherein the adapter module and the load module are selected from a plurality of adapter modules and a plurality of load modules each corresponding to one or more power supplies, and

wherein the adapter module and the load module being connected to the first port and the third port, respectively, by the user.

10. The power supply tester according to claim 8, further comprising:

a switch in communication with the power supply, the switch operable to power the power supply and the testing circuit in response to the adapter module being connected to the first port.

11. The power supply tester according to claim 8, further comprising:

a timer in communication with the power supply, the timer operable to deactivate power to the power supply in response to a time period elapsing from when the power supply began to be powered or in response to detecting a potential failure in the power supply tester or the power supply.

12. The power supply tester according to claim 8, further comprising:

a safety switch in communication with the load module configured to electrically disconnect the load module from the power supply in response to exceeding a threshold.

13. The power supply tester according to claim 8, wherein the measurement device displays whether the power supply is functional or nonfunctional.

14. A power supply tester for testing power supplies, comprising:

a user interface operable to display and receive information from a user, the user interface operable to receive the information about a power supply from the user;

an adapter port operable to receive an adapter module connected to an adapter-end of the power supply;

a power port operable to receive a power-end of the power supply;

a power supply tester power supply operable to power the power supply through the power port;

a switch in communication with the power supply, the switch operable to power the power supply in response to the adapter module being connected to the power supply tester;

an electrical measurement device operable to measure performance information of the power supply during testing;

a display operable to display the performance information to the user; and

a dynamic load in communication with the adapter port and the power port, the dynamic load operable to apply a load for testing the power supply in response to the information.

15. The power supply tester according to claim 14, further comprising:

a database in communication with the user interface operable to determine the load in response to the information, wherein the measurement device displays whether the power supply is functional or nonfunctional based on the information and measurements read from the power supply by the measurement device during testing.

16. The power supply tester according to claim 14, further comprising:

a communications component operable to send test results for the power supply to an external device.

17. The power supply tester according to claim 14, further comprising:

a scanner for scanning the information directly from the power supply to configure the dynamic load.

18. The power supply tester according to claim 14, further comprising:

a timer in communication with the power supply, the timer operable to deactivate power to the power port in response to a time period elapsing from when the power supply began to be powered; and

a safety switch in communication with the dynamic load, the safety switch configured to disconnect the dynamic load from the power supply in response to exceeding a threshold, wherein the adapter module is selected by the user in response to a power supply type, the adapter module being connected to the adapter port by the user.