Apparatus, system, and method for protecting power supply units from damage by limiting inrush current
AssigneeJuniper Networks, Inc.
InventorsSiri Subrahmanyam Vadlamani, Prakash B. Kamanuri, Jaspal S. Gill
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A disclosed apparatus may protect power supply units (PSUs) from damage by limiting inrush current. For example, an apparatus may include a PSU and a controller. In one example, the PSU may be configured to convert power from an AC input into a DC output and to provide the DC output to a computing device. In this example, the controller may be configured to limit inrush current originating from the AC input by cycling at least one switch included in the PSU until a DC bulk voltage of the PSU reaches a certain threshold. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
Claims17
An apparatus comprising:
- a power supply unit (PSU) configured to:
- convert power from an alternating current (AC) input into a direct current (DC) output;
- and
- provide the DC output to a computing device;
- and
- a controller configured to limit inrush current originating from the AC input by:
- cycling at least one switch included in the PSU until a DC bulk voltage of the PSU reaches a certain threshold;
- maintaining a first duty cycle of the at least one switch for a first plurality of cycles;
- and
- upon completion of the first plurality of cycles, applying a second duty cycle to the at least one switch for a second plurality of cycles, wherein the second duty cycle is greater than the first duty cycle.
A system comprising:
- a computing device;
- a power supply unit (PSU) configured to:
- convert power from an alternating current (AC) input into a direct current (DC) output;
- and
- provide the DC output to the computing device;
- and
- a controller configured to limit inrush current originating from the AC input by:
- cycling at least one switch included in the PSU until a DC bulk voltage of the PSU reaches a certain threshold;
- maintaining a first duty cycle of the at least one switch for a first plurality of cycles;
- and
- upon completion of the first plurality of cycles, applying a second duty cycle to the at least one switch for a second plurality of cycles, wherein the second duty cycle is greater than the first duty cycle.
A method comprising:
- detecting, by a controller, a zero-crossing of an alternating current (AC) input electrically coupled to a power supply unit (PSU) configured to provide a direct current (DC) output to a computing device;
- and
- limiting, by the controller, inrush current originating from the AC input by:
- cycling at least one switch included in the PSU until a DC bulk voltage of the PSU reaches a certain threshold;
- maintaining a first duty cycle of the at least one switch for a first plurality of cycles;
- and
- upon completion of the first plurality of cycles, applying a second duty cycle to the at least one switch for a second plurality of cycles, wherein the second duty cycle is greater than the first duty cycle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.