Apparatus, system, and method for providing power redundancy to a device designed to draw power from a single external power adapter
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a single physical enclosure that houses;
a plurality of power inputs configured to receive direct current from a plurality of external power adapters, which are external to the single physical enclosure, that convert alternating current to direct current, the plurality of external power adapters comprising a primary external power adapter and at least one backup external power adapter;
a single power output configured to provide direct current to a device that is external to the single physical enclosure and configured to draw direct current from a single external power adapter;
a switching mechanism comprising a portion of memory and a communication infrastructure that both monitor power provided via the plurality of external power adapters and continuously supply power to the device by;
detecting when the primary external power adapter is operational by detecting when direct current is received at a power input connected to the primary external power adapter;
detecting when the primary external power adapter fails by detecting when no direct current is received at the power input connected to the primary external power adapter;
supplying direct current from the primary external power adapter to the power output when the primary external power adapter is operational and supplying direct current from the backup external power adapter to the power output when the primary external power adapter fails.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus may include a plurality of power inputs configured to receive direct current from a plurality of external power adapters that convert alternating current to direct current. The plurality of external power adapters may include a primary external power adapter and at least one backup external power adapter. The apparatus may also include a power output configured to provide direct current to a device. In addition, the apparatus may include a switching mechanism that, when the primary external power adapter is operational, supplies direct current from the primary external power adapter to the power output and, when the primary external power adapter fails, supplies direct current from the backup external power adapter to the power output. Various additional apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
a single physical enclosure that houses; a plurality of power inputs configured to receive direct current from a plurality of external power adapters, which are external to the single physical enclosure, that convert alternating current to direct current, the plurality of external power adapters comprising a primary external power adapter and at least one backup external power adapter; a single power output configured to provide direct current to a device that is external to the single physical enclosure and configured to draw direct current from a single external power adapter; a switching mechanism comprising a portion of memory and a communication infrastructure that both monitor power provided via the plurality of external power adapters and continuously supply power to the device by; detecting when the primary external power adapter is operational by detecting when direct current is received at a power input connected to the primary external power adapter; detecting when the primary external power adapter fails by detecting when no direct current is received at the power input connected to the primary external power adapter; supplying direct current from the primary external power adapter to the power output when the primary external power adapter is operational and supplying direct current from the backup external power adapter to the power output when the primary external power adapter fails. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system comprising:
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a plurality of external power adapters that convert alternating current to direct current, the plurality of external power adapters comprising a primary external power adapter and at least one backup external power adapter; an apparatus comprising; a single physical enclosure, which is external to the plurality of external power adapters, that houses; a plurality of power inputs that are electrically coupled to, and draw direct current from, the plurality of external power adapters; a single power output electrically coupled to a device that is external to the single physical enclosure and configured to draw direct current from a single external power adapter; a switching mechanism comprising a portion of memory and a communication infrastructure that both monitor power provided via the plurality of external power adapters and continuously supply power to the device by; detecting when the primary external power adapter is operational by detecting when direct current is received at a power input electrically coupled to the primary external power adapter; detecting when the primary external power adapter fails by detecting when no direct current is received at the power input electrically coupled to the primary external power adapter; supplying direct current from the primary external power adapter to the power output when the primary external power adapter is operational and supplying direct current from the backup external power adapter to the power output when the primary external power adapter fails. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method comprising:
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monitoring, at a plurality of power inputs housed within a single physical enclosure, direct current provided to the plurality of inputs via a plurality of power adapters that are external to the single physical enclosure and that convert alternating current to direct current, the plurality of external power adapters comprising a primary external power adapter and at least one backup external power adapter; continuously providing power to a device that is external to the single physical enclosure and that draws direct current from a single external power adapter by; detecting when the primary external power adapter is operational by detecting when direct current is provided by the primary external power adapter; detecting when the primary external power adapter fails by detecting when no direct current is provided by the primary external power adapter; supplying direct current from the primary external power adapter to a power output that is housed within the single physical enclosure and that is electrically coupled to the external device when the primary external power adapter is operational and supplying direct current from the backup external power adapter to the power output when the primary external power adapter fails. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification