Microprocessor control of parallel power supply systems
AssigneeCompaq Computer Corporation
InventorEdward R. Stanford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to a power supply module that includes an input and an output, a power converter for supplying power from the input to the output, a controller for controlling the amount of power supplied from the input to the output in response to a feedback circuit, a module current sensing circuit for sensing module output current at the output, and a microprocessor for selectively adjusting voltage in the feedback circuit in response to the module output current sensed by the module current sensing circuit.
Claims19
A parallel power supply system, comprising:
- a plurality of power supply modules, each comprising:
- an input and an output,
- a power converter for supplying power from the input to the output,
- a controller for controlling the amount of power supplied from the input to the output in response to a feedback circuit,
- a module current sensing circuit for sensing module output current at the output, and
- a microprocessor for selectively adjusting voltage in said feedback circuit in response to the module output current sensed by said module current sensing circuit;
- and
- a communication link allowing communication between the microprocessors of said plurality of power supply modules.
A method of controlling current sharing between a plurality of power supply modules in a parallel power supply system, each said power supply module having a microprocessor, comprising:
- a) determining average module output current;
- b) communicating said average module output current to said power supply modules;
- c) comparing said average module output current to module output current of each power supply module;
- and
- d) adjusting the module output current of each power supply module toward said average module output current if said module output current is not within a predetermined range from said average module output current.
A method of checking fan status in a power supply module having a fan and a microprocessor, the microprocessor being arranged to control fan speed by controlling voltage applied to the fan, and further being arranged to monitor fan speed via a tachometer output, comprising:
- applying maximum voltage to the fan to obtain maximum fan speed;
- measuring a first fan speed via the tachometer output;
- waiting for a request to check fan status;
- upon a receipt of a request to check fan status, applying maximum voltage to the fan to obtain maximum fan speed;
- measuring a second fan speed via said tachometer output;
- and
- comparing said first fan speed with said second fan speed to determine fan status.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.