Patent · US Expired

Redundant CPU power system

US5774736A · kind A · utility

44Cited by
3References
18Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 15, 1995
Grant dateJun 30, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 15, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F11/2015
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fault tolerant system for providing power to a multiple central processing unit computer system. Three DC-DC converters, each sized for providing power to one central processing unit, furnish power to two central processing units through two power planes. Each DC-DC converter has an output voltage level selectable through a voltage identification signal. If the voltage identification signals of the converters match, identification logic couples the power planes together. If only one converter is available to power the two central processing units, a stopclock logic circuit alternatively places the central processing units in known stopclock modes. Thus, the single converter only has to fully power one central processing unit at any one time.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.