Power supply with multiple isolated regulators and isolation mode
US5659208A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 14, 1995 |
| Grant date | Aug 19, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 14, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02M3/285
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method of operating a redundant power supply is disclosed wherein two or more converters are separately connected to a common output node through separate diodes to isolate the converters and allow the outputs to be separately tested for diagnostic purposes. The diodes are selectively bypassed by connecting drain-to-source paths of P-channel MOS field-effect transistors separately across the diodes. During the diagnostic mode of operation, a controller shuts off the MOS transistors, so the diodes are effective in isolating the converters. During the bypass mode of operation, the transistors are turned on by the controller so the diodes are bypassed and their forward voltage drop does not appear in the circuit and so power dissipation is reduced. It is noted that the P-channel MOS transistor is connected such that it's intrinsic PN-junction diode conducts in a forward direction in parallel with the isolation diode, so that isolation during the diagnostic mode is not cancelled. The controller switches from the diagnostic mode to the bypass mode after a delay allowing the diagnostics routine to complete.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.