US 6,694,438 B1 · System for controlling the delivery of power to DC computer components · patentgrep

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Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling the delivery of power to DC components such as computer components, microprocessors or the like. Designs of voltage regulation modules are presented which are appropriate for faster components, lower voltages, and higher currents. Embodiments are especially suited to applications which cause rapid changes in the conductance of the load, even in the sub-microsecond time domain as is common in computer applications and the like and in powering electronics equipment, especially a distributed system and especially a system wherein low voltage at high current is required. Embodiments and sub elements provide energy storage for low voltage, high current electronic loads, an ability to supply current with rapid time variation, providing extremely low inductance connections, permitting VRM's and the like to be located relatively remotely from the powered electronic load, and a steady voltage from a transformer isolated, high frequency ac to dc converter under varying load without the necessity for feedback control, among other aspects.

Claims56

Dependent claims

A DC powered computer system comprising:

a. a utility power input which supplies AC utility power having a line frequency;
b. a line voltage rectifier element which converts said AC utility power to a DC signal;
c. an inverter element responsive to said DC signal which establishes an alternating power output;
d. a frequency driver which controls said inverter element to establish a distribution frequency;
e. a supply transformer element which is responsive to said alternating power output and which establishes at least one distribution output at at least one distribution voltage;
f. a power distribution system responsive to said supply transformer element and which provides computer components power at locations electrically remote from said inverter element;
g. at least one electrically remote voltage regulation module responsive to said power distribution system comprising;
1) an alternative power input;
2) at least one voltage regulation module transformer which is responsive to said alternative power input;
3) a first switched voltage regulation module rectifier element responsive to said voltage regulation module transformer element;
4) a second switched voltage regulation module rectifier element responsive to said voltage regulation module transformer element;
5) a passive rectifier control to which said first and said second switched voltage regulation module rectifier elements are responsive;
6) a bias input to which said passive rectifier control is responsive;
7) a second harmonics trap which is responsive to said first and said second voltage regulation module rectifier elements;
and
8) a substantially non-capacitive DC output system which is responsive to said second harmonics trap;
and
h. at least one computer component responsive to said DC supply output.

15 more elements

A DC powered computer system comprising:

a. a utility power input which supplies AC utility power having a line frequency;
b. a line voltage rectifier element which converts said AC utility power to a DC signal;
c. an inverter element responsive to said DC signal which establishes an alternating power output;
d. a frequency driver which controls said inverter element to establish a distribution frequency;
e. a supply transformer element which is responsive to said alternating power output and which establishes at least one distribution output at at least one distribution voltage;
f. a power distribution system responsive to said supply transformer element and which provides computer components power at locations electrically remote from said inverter element;
g. at least one electrically remote voltage regulation module responsive to said power distribution system comprising;
1) a first voltage regulation module rectifier element;
2) a second voltage regulation module rectifier element;
3) an overlapping rectifier control system to which said first and said second voltage regulation module rectifier elements are responsive;
and
4) a DC supply output responsive to said first voltage regulation module rectifier element and said second voltage regulation module rectifier element;
and
h. at least one computer component responsive to said DC supply output.

11 more elements

A DC powered computer system comprising:

a. a utility power input which supplies AC utility power having a line frequency;
b. a line voltage rectifier element which converts said AC utility power to a DC signal;
c. an inverter element responsive to said DC signal which establishes an alternating power output;
d. a frequency driver which controls said inverter element to establish a distribution frequency;
e. a supply transformer element which is responsive to said alternating power output and which establishes at least one distribution output at at least one distribution voltage;
f. a power distribution system responsive to said supply transformer element and which provides computer components power at locations electrically remote from said inverter element;
g. at least one electrically remote voltage regulation module responsive to said power distribution system comprising:
1) at least one switched voltage regulation module rectifier element;
2) at least one passive rectifier control to which said switched voltage regulation module rectifier element is responsive;
and
3) a DC supply output responsive to said switched voltage regulation module rectifier element;
and
h. at least one computer component responsive to said DC supply output.

10 more elements

A DC powered computer system comprising:

a. a utility power input which supplies AC utility power having a line frequency;
b. a line voltage rectifier element which converts said AC utility power to a DC signal;
c. an inverter element responsive to said DC signal which establishes an alternating power output;
d. a frequency driver which controls said inverter element to establish a distribution frequency;
e. a supply transformer element which is responsive to said alternating power output and which establishes at least one distribution output at at least one distribution voltage;
f. a power distribution system responsive to said supply transformer element and which provides computer components power at locations electrically remote from said inverter element;
g. at least one electrically remote voltage regulation module responsive to said power distribution system comprising;
1) a first switched voltage regulation module rectifier element;
2) a first rectifier output inductance responsive to said first switched voltage regulation module rectifier element;
3) a second switched voltage regulation module rectifier element;
4) a second rectifier output inductance responsive to said second switched voltage regulation module rectifier element;
and
5) a DC output coupling responsive to both said first rectifier output inductance and said second rectifier output inductance;
6) a DC supply output responsive to said first switched voltage regulation module rectifier element and said second switched voltage regulation module rectifier element;
and
h. at least one computer component responsive to said DC supply output.

13 more elements

A DC powered computer system comprising:

a. a utility power input which supplies AC utility power having a line frequency;
b. a line voltage rectifier element which converts said AC utility power to a DC signal;
c. an inverter element responsive to said DC signal which establishes an alternating power output;
d. a frequency driver which controls said inverter element to establish a distribution frequency;
e. a supply transformer element which is responsive to said alternating power output and which establishes at least one distribution output at at least one distribution voltage;
f. a power distribution system responsive to said supply transformer element and which provides computer components power at locations electrically remote from said inverter element;
g. at least one electrically remote voltage regulation module responsive to said power distribution system;
h. a remote power DC supply system responsive to said electrically remote voltage regulation module and which provides computer components power at locations electrically remote from said voltage regulation module;
and
i. at least one electrically remote low voltage, high current computer component responsive to said remote power DC supply system.

7 more elements

A DC powered computer system comprising:

a. a utility power input which supplies AC utility power having a line frequency;
b. a line voltage rectifier element which converts said AC utility power to a DC signal;
c. an inverter element responsive to said DC signal which establishes an alternating power output;
d. a frequency driver which controls said inverter element to establish a distribution frequency;
e. a supply transformer element which is responsive to said alternating power output and which establishes at least one distribution output at at least one distribution voltage;
f. a power distribution system responsive to said supply transformer element and which provides computer components power at locations electrically remote from said inverter element;
g. at least one electrically remote voltage regulation module responsive to said power distribution system comprising:
1) an alternative power input;
2) at least one voltage regulation module transformer element which is responsive to said alternative power input;
3) at least one voltage regulation module rectifier element which is responsive to said voltage regulation module transformer element;
and
4) a substantially non-capacitive DC output system which is responsive to said voltage regulation module rectifier element;
and
h. at least one computer component responsive to said substantially non-capacitive DC output system.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/584,412Filed 31 May 2000 · us provisional application
Priority: 2 Jul 1999
Granted: 17 Feb 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

H02M 3/33561
Using semiconductor devices only: having more than one ouput with independent control
E02D 7/26
Methods or apparatus for placing sheet pile bulkheads, piles, mouldpipes, or other moulds: placing by using several means simultaneously
G06F 1/26
Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00: power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof
H02J 1/002
Circuit arrangements for DC mains or DC distribution networks: using intermediate DC-AC-DC conversion

Family

Application60/142,102Us provisional application · filed 2 Jul 1999
Application60/144,342Us provisional application · filed 16 Jul 1999
US 6,694,438 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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Citations

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