Autonomic control of power subsystems in a redundant power system
US6735704B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 20, 2000 |
| Grant date | May 11, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 5, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02J3/38
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A power management system and method for multiple redundant power supplies. The present invention provides management and control of N+M power supplies, where N represents the minimum number of power supplies required and where M is the number of redundant power supplies (M>1), where any one of the power supplies may be capable of supplying power to all the loads of the power subsystems. In the preferred embodiment each power subsystem includes a power supply and a controller coupled to a power bus. A communication bus is provided common to each power subsystem. During reset or power-on periods, the controllers are programmed to uniquely delay the start time of each power supply, thereby protecting against an overcurrent/overvoltage condition on the power bus during reset periods. A master controller is provided to monitor normal operating conditions of the power subsystems and communication bus. The master controller is programmed to ensure that a predetermined number of power supplies are coupled to the power bus, even in the event of total or partial communication failure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.