Method and phase redundant regulator apparatus for implementing redundancy at a phase level
US6836100B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 15, 2003 |
| Grant date | Dec 28, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 14, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05F1/618
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A plurality of regulator phases are connected in parallel between a regulator input and a regulator output, each phase including a regulator receiving an input voltage and providing an output voltage. A multi-phase controller is coupled to each of the plurality of regulator phases, where one or more phases are provided for enabling redundancy. The multi-phase controller receives a feedback output voltage and a respective detected current signal from each of the plurality of regulator phases. The multi-phase controller generates control signals to sequentially activate each of the plurality of regulator phases for predetermined periods of time to generate controlled current sharing between phases. To achieve redundancy at a phase level, each of the plurality of regulator phases includes an output ORing device to limit reverse current flow into each phase and an input protection device for providing input over current protection and output over voltage protection of each phase. A current sharing method maintains current sharing between the active phases after a failure of one or more phases with one or more phases provided for enabling redundancy.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.