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US 4,538,073 AGranted
Modular power supply system
AssigneeConvergent Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDiab E. Freige, John J. Lockwood, Michael Ramsay, Leroy B. Keely
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power distribution system intended for use in a highly modular desk top computer system is disclosed. The invention provides a programmable modular DC power supply including a power module that produces a first fixed regulated DC voltage which is coupled from the power module to a power bus. Thereafter the first voltage is distributed to a plurality of DC-to-DC convertors, each of which is operable to change the first DC voltage to a second regulated DC voltage selected from a plurality of programmed voltage values.
Claims16
A modular programmable DC power supply for providing a designated DC output voltage to a computer system comprising:
- a power module for producing a first fixed regulated DC voltage output;
- a power bus coupled to said first DC voltage output;
- and
- at least one DC-to-DC converter module coupled to said power bus to receive said first DC voltage from said power module and operable to convert said first DC voltage to a second regulated DC voltage at an output terminal, said DC-to-DC converter module including
- an input terminal,
- programmable reference means, coupled to said input terminal and responsive to an input on said input terminal, for producing one of a plurality of reference voltage values, and
- voltage regulation means, coupled to said reference means and responsive to said reference voltage value, for selecting one of a plurality of values for said second DC voltage,
- such that said DC power supply is generic in that the value of the second voltage at the output terminal for a computer system using said DC power supply is determined by the signal provided to said input terminal by the computer system.
5 more elements
A modular programmable DC power supply for providing a designated DC output voltage to a computer system, comprising:
- at least a first and second power module, each power module producing a first regulated DC voltage output;
- at least a first and second power bus, each power bus coupled to said first DC voltage output of said first and second power modules, respectively;
- at least one DC-to-DC converter module coupled to each of said power buses to receive said first DC voltage from said power module and operable to convert said first DC voltage to a second regulated DC voltage at an output terminal, said DC-to-DC converter including
- an input terminal,
- programmable reference means, coupled to said input terminal and responsive to an input on said input terminal, for producing one of a plurality of reference voltage values, and
- voltage regulation means, coupled to said reference means and responsive to said reference voltage value, for selecting one of a plurality of values for said second DC voltage,
- such that said DC power supply is generic in that the value of the second voltage at the output terminal for a computer system using said DC power supply is determined by the signal provided to said input terminal by the computer system.
4 more elements
A modular programmable DC power supply for providing a designated DC output voltage to a computer system, comprising:
- a power module for producing a first regulated DC voltage output;
- a power bus coupled to said first DC voltage output;
- at least one DC-to-DC converter module coupled to said power bus to receive said first DC voltage from said power module and operable to convert said first DC voltage to a second regulated DC voltage at an output terminal, said DC-to-DC converter including
- an input terminal,
- programmable reference means, coupled to said input terminal and responsive to an input on said input terminal, for producing one of a plurality of reference voltage values, and
- voltage regulation means, coupled to said reference means and responsive to said reference voltage value, for controlling the value of said second DC voltage;
- and
- a computer system module printed circuit board secured to said DC-to-DC converter and including
- a power supply line coupled to said output terminal,
- a voltage select line coupled to said input terminal, and
- means, coupled to said voltage select line, for providing a signal to select a desired value of said second DC voltage;
- such that said DC power supply is generic in that the value of the second voltage at the output terminal for a computer system using said DC power supply is determined by the signal provided to said input terminal by said computer system module.
9 more elements
A modular programmable DC power supply for providing a designated DC output voltage to a system, comprising:
- a power module for producing a first regulated DC voltage output;
- a power bus coupled to said first DC voltage output;
- at least one DC-to-DC converter module coupled to said power bus to receive said first DC voltage from said power module and operable to convert said first DC voltage to a second regulated DC voltage at an output terminal, said DC-to-DC converter including
- an input terminal,
- programmable reference means, coupled to said input terminal and responsive to an input on said input terminal, for producing one of a plurality of reference voltage values,
- regulator means, coupled to said programmable reference means and responsive to said reference voltage value, for producing a control voltage,
- ramp generator means coupled to said regulator circuit and responsive to said control signal, for producing a ramped, switching signal, and
- power amplifier means, coupled to said ramp generator means and responsive to said ramped, switching signal, for generating said second DC voltage;
- over-voltage protection means, coupled to said output terminal and to said programmable reference means, for limiting the value of said second DC voltage to a value substantially proportionate to said reference voltage value;
- and
- means, coupled to said voltage regulation means, for inhibiting the generation of said second DC voltage;
- such that said DC power supply is generic in that the value of the second voltage at the output terminal for a computer system using said DC power supply is determined by the signal provided to said input terminal by the computer system.
9 more elements
A modular programmable DC power supply for providing a designated DC output voltage to a computer system, comprising:
- (a) at least a first and second power module, each power module producing a first regulated DC voltage output;
- (b) at least a first and second power bus, each power bus coupled to said first DC voltage output of said first and second power modules, respectively;
- (c) at least one DC-to-DC converter module coupled to each of said power buses to receive said first DC voltage from said power module and operable to convert said first DC voltage to a second regulated DC voltage at an output terminal, each said DC-to-DC converter including
- an input terminal,
- programmable reference means, coupled to said input terminal and responsive to an input on said input terminal, for producing one of a plurality of reference voltage values, and
- voltage regulation means, coupled to said reference means and responsive to said reference voltage value, for selecting one of a plurality of values for said second DC voltage;
- (d) a plurality of computer system modules, each requiring one of said plurality of values of said second DC voltage at a load current value and including
- a power input coupled to said output terminal of one of said DC-to-DC converters for receiving said second DC voltage, and
- selecting means, coupled to said input terminal of one of said DC-to-DC converters, for generating a signal to said input terminal operative to select said required value of said second DC voltage;
- (e) a power bus coupling said power inputs of said system modules;
- and
- (f) switching means, coupled to said power inputs and responsive to the coupling of an output terminal of a DC-to-DC converter to said power input, for terminating said power bus in one direction;
- such that said second DC voltage from each said DC-to-DC converter is provided through said power bus to each system module along said power bus up to the module immediately preceding the next system module coupled to a DC-to-DC converter.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.