Method and arrangement for supervising power supply systems

• US 4,016,408 A
• Filed: 12/08/1975
• Issued: 04/05/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Koetzle, Gunther W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Atkinson, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US05/638,253
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 235/153 A, 235/153 AC, 235/153 AE, 235/153 R, 340/172.5, 317/9 R, 317/9 AC, 323/20, 324/73 R
• US Class Current: 714/22
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 17/04 in which the reference value is continuously or periodically swept over the range of values to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16538 in AC or DC supplies G01R19/16519 and G01R19/16528 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/12 wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is ac G05F1/625 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling a plurality of power supplies in a computer or similar complex electronic apparatus provides the steps of normalizing each power supply output according to a common nominal val ue, comparing the normalized values to a reference having values according to the normalized upper and lower limits specified for each power supply, and conducting a quantative measurement of out-of-tolerance test values. The specific upper and lower tolerance values for each normalized output are stored in digital form and the measurement of an out-of-tolerance reading is by comparison to a digital ramp extending only from the specific maximum or minimum tolerance threshold which is exceeded. The testing of plural power supplies having the same upper or lower normalized tolerance can be conducted as a group of tests against the same reference.

Claims

1. A method of supervising power supply systems supplying a plurality of supply voltages with different desired values and different acceptable extreme tolerance values, characterized in that

all actual values of the supply voltages are normalized by respective scale factors to a uniform nominal value,

that in a repeated tolerance checking cycle a variable reference value is generated which step by step passes through all acceptable extreme values, said extreme values being referred to nominal value, that

the normalized supply voltages is compared with their associated extreme values and

a respective output signal is emitted each time the normalized actual value deviates from said nominal value by more than its associated acceptable extreme value.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a further testing operation follows the checking operation during which the upward or downward exceeding of the acceptable extreme values has been detected.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that upon the appearance of an output signal indicating the upward or downward exceeding of the acceptable extreme values a further measuring operation is initiated during which the amount of the normalized actual value outside the acceptable extreme values is determined.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that during said further measuring operation the reference value is varied in small steps.

5. The method in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that during said further measuring operation the reference value is varied in a continuous staircase of steps superimposed on the normalized extreme value which has been exceeded.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that going above or below one of the acceptable extreme values, effects a switching-off of the respective supply voltage.

7. The method in accordance with claim 2 characterized in that the going above or below one of the acceptable extreme values by the same supply voltage, during at least two successive operations, effects the switching-off of the supply voltage.

8. The method in accordance with claim 3 characterized in that the result of said measuring operation is utilized in a closed control circuit which acts on a control element for altering the actual value going above or below the acceptable extreme values.

9. Power supply supervising means comprising,

a plurality of scaling circuits for normalizing respective power supply outputs to be supervised,

means applying the normalized supply voltage appearing at the output of each of said circuits to a respective input of a series of comparators, and

means connecting the other input of each comparator to a reference voltage source,

said comparator emitting an output signal each time the normalized supply voltage connected thereto exceeds applied reference voltage in a given direction, and

a circuit for evaluating the output signals emitted by the comparators.

10. Means in accordance with claim 9,

wherein to each said scaling circuit two of said comparators are connected, one of which indicates the exceeding in upward direction of the reference voltage by the normalized supply voltage connected thereto, whereas the other emits an output signal when the exceeding takes place in downward direction.

11. Means in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the evaluation circuit is connected to the power supply system for controlling the supply voltages.

12. Means in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the evaluation circuit is connected for control to the reference voltage source for exercising said reference voltage source in accordance with a value measuring search pattern.

13. Means in accordance with claim 9, characterized in that the evaluation circuit comprises a multiplex circuit connected to scan the outputs of said comparators, and

a computer receiving said outputs from said multiplexor.

14. A power system for incorporation into a data processing system comprising,

power supply means providing a plurality of controllable outputs,

scanning means for sampling said outputs in groupings of said outputs according to similar tolerances,

test means receiving sample signals from said scanning means corresponding to said outputs, said test means comprising

multiple threshold detector means for comparing said sample signals to individually predetermined tolerance digital values, said detector means providing an interrupt signal to arrest said scanning means when a sample signal exceeds the corresponding tolerance, indicating an out-of-tolerance condition,

measuring means responsive to said interrupt signal to further evaluate the relationship of the indicated out-of-tolerance sample signal and the corresponding tolerance level,

and feedback control means responsive to said measuring means for altering the operation of said supply means.

15. A system according to claim 14, further including scaling means interposed between said power supply outputs and said scanning means operative to normalize said sample signals according to a common nominal value.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein said measuring means comprises the comparison means of said threshold detector means and includes digital ramp means operative to superimpose a digital staircase upon said digital tolerance values.