# US 2018/0026477 A1 · Power management system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0026477 A1 - Document ID: US20180026477A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/670,946 - Filed: 2017-08-07 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2008-09-04 - Assignees: Intel Corporation - Applicants: Intel Corporation - Inventors: Bill Carter; Brian Griffith; Viktor Vogman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180026477A1 ## CPC - H02J 9/061: {for DC powered loads} - G06F 1/26: Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A power supply system includes at least one power supply module and at least one redundant power supply module. A power supply module may include a charging resistor in parallel with an OR-ing device to keep all filter capacitors charged as long as at least one power supply module remains operational. This may avoid current spikes at turn on and may enable the redundant module to turn on without using soft start. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: controlling whether both of a first power supply and a second power supply are to output power to an output terminal by comparing a measured current to a first threshold value and a second threshold value, wherein the first power supply is an active power supply and the second power supply is a redundant power supply, and controlling whether the second power supply is to start-up using one or both of a soft start logic, and a charging capacitor in communication with the output terminal, wherein the charging capacitor is charged using the output terminal and wherein the second power supply is chargeable when disabled via the output terminal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising charging the charging capacitor of the second power supply. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling, via bypass logic, the output terminal to the charging capacitor of the second power supply. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, via failure detection logic, an internal voltage of the first power supply. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: enabling the second power supply, via the failure detection logic, in response to determining that the internal voltage of the first power supply is below a first threshold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: enabling the second power supply, via the failure detection logic, in response to determining that the internal voltage of the first power supply fails to oscillate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: disabling the second power supply, via a first comparator, when the current to the output terminal is below a first threshold. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising: enabling the second power supply, via the first comparator, when the current to the output terminal is above a second threshold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising: disabling, via a second comparator, soft start of the second power supply in response to an output voltage at the output terminal reaching a nominal level. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: controlling whether the first power supply is to start-up using one or both of a soft start logic, and a charging capacitor in communication with the output terminal, wherein the charging capacitor is charged using the output terminal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first power supply comprises: a capacitor comprising a first terminal; a resistor comprising first and second terminals; a diode, wherein the diode is coupled in parallel with the resistor and the first terminal of the capacitor is coupled to the first terminal of the resistor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second power supply comprises: a capacitor comprising a first terminal; a resistor comprising first and second terminals; a diode, wherein the diode is coupled in parallel with the resistor and the first terminal of the capacitor is coupled to the first terminal of the resistor. ### Claim 13 A method for selectively outputting power comprising: controlling, via a power distribution logic having an output terminal, whether both of a first power supply and a second power supply are to output power to the output terminal by comparing a measured current to a first threshold value and a second threshold value, wherein the first power supply is an active power supply and the second power supply is a redundant power supply, and controlling, via the power distribution logic, whether the second power supply is to start-up using one or both of a soft start logic, and a charging capacitor in communication with the output terminal, wherein the charging capacitor is charged using the output terminal and wherein the second power supply is chargeable when disabled via the output terminal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the power distribution logic is to enable the second power supply using a charging capacitor in response to voltage at the output terminal being below a threshold. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the power distribution logic is to enable the second power supply using a charging capacitor in response to voltage at the output terminal being at least a nominal level. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the power distribution logic is to disable the second power supply in response to current to the output terminal being below a first threshold. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the power distribution logic is to enable the second power supply using a charging capacitor in response to current to the output terminal being above a second threshold.