Sharing redundant regulator phases within a phase-redundant voltage regulator apparatus
US10566903B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 26, 2019 |
| Grant date | Feb 18, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K19/20
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A phase-redundant voltage regulator apparatus includes groups of regulator phases, each having a multi-phase controller (MPC) connected to each regulator phase. The MPC transfers, to control logic, phase fault signals and a shared current (ISHARE) phase control signal received from the regulator phases of a phase group. Spare regulator phases include output ORing devices to limit current flow into spare regulator phase outputs. Output switching devices are configured to electrically couple spare regulator phase outputs to a common regulator output. Control logic is connected to the phase groups MPC and asserts phase enable signals to, transfers ISHARE phase control signals to, and receives phase fault signals from the spare regulator phases. The control logic electrically interconnects a spare regulator phase to a phase group including a failed regulator phase in response to receiving a phase fault signal from an MPC.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.