Apparatus, system, and method for maximizing power system holdup time during loss of input power

• US 7,321,174 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2005
• Issued: 01/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kubo, Robert Akira, Lucas, Gregg Steven, Jones, Carl Evan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sherry; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amaya; Carlos
• Application Number:
  US11/030,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20060146461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 307/66, 307/48, 307/65
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for maximizing power system holdup time during loss of input power. An energy storage module is included to deliver energy from an output stage of a first power supply to a bus. A power loss module is included to detect loss of power transmitting capability from an input stage of the first power supply to the output stage of the first power supply. A set-point reduction module is included to reduce an output voltage of the first power supply in response to the power loss module detecting loss of power transmitting capability. An isolation module is included to prevent energy flow from the energy storage module to the bus when the output voltage of the first power supply is lower than a voltage on the bus sustained by a second power supply.

Claims

1. An apparatus to maximize power system holdup time during loss of input power, the apparatus comprising:

an energy storage module configured to deliver energy to an output stage of a first power supply, the output stage delivering energy to a bus;

a power loss module configured to detect loss of power transmitting capability from an input stage of the first power supply to the output stage of the first power supply;

a set-point reduction module configured to reduce an output voltage of the first power supply in response to the power loss module detecting loss of power transmitting capability, wherein reducing the output voltage of the first power supply comprises changing a set point of the first power supply, the set point used by the first power supply to maintain the output voltage of the first power supply at a level proportionate to the set point; and

an isolation module configured to prevent energy flow from the energy storage module to the bus when the output voltage of the first power supply is lower than a voltage on the bus sustained by a second power supply.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an energy maintenance module configured to transfer energy from the bus to the energy storage module sufficient to maintain energy in the energy storage module in response to the power loss module detecting loss of power transmitting capability.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an energy maintenance module configured to transfer energy from the second power supply to the energy storage module sufficient to maintain energy in the energy storage module in response to the power loss module detecting loss of power transmitting capability.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power loss module detects loss of input power to the input stage of the first power supply.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power loss module detects a component failure in the first power supply causing loss of power transmitting capability from the input stage to the output stage.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy storage module comprises a capacitor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the isolation module comprises an electronic device configured as a diode.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the electronic device comprises a MOSFET.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set-point reduction module comprises a current sharing circuit configured to control current sharing between the first power supply and the second power supply.

10. A system to maximize power system holdup time during loss of input power, the system comprising:

a bus;

a first power supply connected to the bus comprising

an energy storage module configured to deliver energy to an output stage of a first power supply, the output stage delivering energy to a bus;

a power loss module configured to detect loss of power transmitting capability from an input stage of the first power supply to the output stage of the first power supply;

a set-point reduction module configured to reduce an output voltage of the first power supply in response to the power loss module detecting loss of power transmitting capability, wherein reducing the output voltage of the first power supply comprises changing a set point of the first power supply, the set point used by the first power supply to maintain the output voltage of the first power supply at a level proportionate to the set point; and

an isolation module configured to prevent energy flow from the energy storage module to the bus when the output voltage of the first power supply is lower than a voltage on the bus sustained by a second power supply; and

a second power supply connected to the bus configured to sustain the voltage on the bus when the isolation module prevents energy flow from the energy storage module to the bus.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising an energy maintenance module configured to transfer energy from the bus to the energy storage module sufficient to maintain energy in the energy storage module in response to the power loss module detecting loss of power transmitting capability.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising an energy maintenance module configured to transfer energy from the second power supply to the energy storage module sufficient to maintain energy in the energy storage module in response to the power loss module detecting loss of power transmitting capability.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the energy storage module comprises a capacitor.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the isolation module comprises an electronic device configured as a diode.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the electronic device comprises a MOSFET.

16. An apparatus to maximize power system holdup time during loss of input power, the apparatus comprising:

means for delivering energy to an output stage of a first power supply, the output stage delivering energy to a bus;

means for detecting loss of power transmitting capability from an input stage of the first power supply to the output stage of the first power supply;

means for reducing an output voltage of the first power supply in response to detecting loss of power transmitting capability, wherein reducing the output voltage of the first power supply comprises changing a set point of the first power supply, the set point used by the first power supply to maintain the output voltage of the first power supply at a level proportionate to the set point; and

means for preventing energy flow from the output stage of the first power supply to the bus when the output voltage of the first power supply is lower than a voltage on the bus sustained by a second power supply.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising means for transferring energy from the bus to the first power supply sufficient to maintain energy in the first power supply in response to detecting loss of power transmitting capability.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising means for transferring energy from the second power supply to the first power supply sufficient to maintain energy in the first power supply in response to detecting loss of power transmitting capability.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein means for detecting loss of power transmitting capability further comprises means for detecting loss of input power to the input stage of the first power supply.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein means for detecting loss of power transmitting capability further comprises means for detecting a component failure in the first power supply that causes loss of power transmitting capability from the input stage to the output stage.