Patent · US Expired

Powering computer systems

US6542997B1 · kind B1 · utility

12Cited by
5References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 8, 1999
Grant dateApr 1, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 8, 2019

Classification

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

Abstract

A computer system includes a chassis with a single motherboard supporting at least one processor module. A power sub-system receives three power supply units and distributes power within the computer system. Each of the three power supplies has a power rating such that two of the three power supplies are sufficient to power the computer system. The combination of such a single-motherboard-based design with a redundant three-power supply sub-system provides reliability of operation in a cost-effective manner. The power sub-system includes a power distribution board with power distribution logic operable to distribute power from the power supply units for powering the processor module. The power distribution logic is operable to interrupt power for powering the processor module when two of the power supply units fail or are not present. An alarm sub-system is provided for reporting power supply faults.

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