Information handling system featuring a power-based current limiting circuit
AssigneeDell Products L.P.
InventorsKevin Y. Chen, Nikolai V. Vyssotski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of implementing a power-based current limiting circuit in an information handling system includes providing a power supply having an output voltage operating range that can vary between a first voltage output level and a second voltage output level. The power supply output voltage is coupled to a load module via a switch. A power output of the power supply supplied to the load module is detected as a function of the load module current and the output voltage. Lastly, the switch is controlled between a first state and a second state in response to the detected power output.
Claims22
A method of implementing a power-based current limiting circuit in an information handling system, said method comprising:
- providing a power supply having an output voltage operating range that can vary between a first voltage output level and a second voltage output level;
- coupling the power supply output voltage to a load module via a switch;
- detecting a power output of the power supply supplied to the load module as a function of load module current and the output voltage;
- and
- controlling the switch between a first state and a second state in response to the detected power;
- wherein
- the detected power output occurs within one of three regions corresponding to a normal operation region, a module fault detected region, and a system shutdown overload region.
An information handling system implementing bi-directional level translation comprising:
- a power supply having an output voltage operating range that can vary between a first voltage output level and a second voltage output level;
- a switch for coupling said power supply to a load module;
- and
- a power-based current limiting circuit configured to detect a power output of the power supply supplied to the load module as a function of load module current and the output voltage, wherein said power-based current limiting circuit operates to control said switch between a first state and a second state in response to the detected power output;
- wherein
- the detected power output occurs within one of three regions corresponding to a normal operation region, a module fault detected region, and a system shutdown overload region.
A system for implementing a power-based current limiting circuit in an information handling system, comprising:
- a power supply having an output voltage operating range that can vary between a first voltage output level and a second voltage output level;
- a switch coupling the power supply output voltage to a load module;
- means for detecting a power output of the power supply supplied to the load module as a function of load module current and the output voltage, wherein said means operates to control said switch between a first state and a second state in response to the detected power output;
- and
- wherein said means for detecting includes means for amplifying a voltage drop across a current sense resistor, and producing a voltage proportional to the current consumed by the load module, means for multiplying the voltage output of the differential amplifier by the voltage available on the load module, producing a voltage proportional to power consumed by the load, means for receiving at an inverting input the multiplier output and at a non-inverting input a reference voltage input, wherein the means for receiving determines if consumed power is greater than a maximum allowed power, means for filtering out transients and preventing false tripping of the means for detecting, and a Schmitt trigger for ensuring stability, wherein the output of the Schmitt trigger controls the switch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.