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US 7,443,055 B2Granted
Systems and methods for providing redundant voltage regulation
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsKelly Jean Pracht, Jack Lavier, Samuel M. Babb
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for providing redundant voltage regulation are provided. A representative method incorporates: providing a first voltage regulator and a second voltage regulator, the second voltage regulator having output rectifiers; electrically connecting the first voltage regulator to a load such that the first voltage regulator independently powers the load; disabling the output rectifiers of the second voltage regulator; detecting a fault of the first voltage regulator; responsive to the fault, enabling the output rectifiers of the second voltage regulator such that the second voltage regulator independently powers the load.
Claims20
A system for providing redundant voltage regulation comprising:
- a first voltage regulator operative to power a load;
- a second voltage regulator operative to power the load, the second voltage regulator having output rectifiers, wherein, in a first mode of operation, the first voltage regulator communicates information to the second voltage regulator to set initial operating conditions of the second voltage regulator and the output rectifiers are disabled such that the second voltage regulator does not provide power to the load;
- and
- a fault detector operative to detect a fault of the first voltage regulator such that:
- in the first mode of operation, the fault detector enables the first voltage regulator to power the load independent of the second voltage regulator;
- in a second, transient, mode of operation responsive to a detected fault of the first voltage regulator, the fault detector enables the output rectifiers of the second voltage regulator such that the second voltage regulator and the first voltage regulator provide power to the load simultaneously;
- and
- in a third mode of operation responsive to a detected fault of the first voltage regulator, the fault detector enables electrical disconnection of the first voltage regulator such that the second voltage regulator powers the load independent of the first voltage regulator.
5 more elements
A system for providing redundant voltage regulation comprising:
- a circuit board having an embedded voltage regulator, the circuit board lacking a component, located electrically downstream of the embedded voltage regulator, for disconnecting the embedded voltage regulator from a load;
- and
- a first voltage regulator module having a first voltage regulator and a first output disconnect, the first voltage regulator module being removably attachable to the circuit board such that attachment of the first voltage regulator module to the circuit board enables electrical connection of the first voltage regulator to the load, wherein, when so attached, the first output disconnect is operative to selectively, electrically connect and disconnect the first voltage regulator from the load;
- and
- a fault detector operative to detect a fault of the first voltage regulator such that:
- when the first voltage regulator module is attached to the circuit board and in a first mode of operation, the fault detector enables the first voltage regulator to power the load independent of the embedded voltage regulator,
- when the first voltage regulator module is attached to the circuit board and in a second mode of operation responsive to a detected fault of the first voltage regulator, the first voltage regulator module and the embedded voltage regulator provide power to the load simultaneously during a transient period, and
- when the first voltage regulator module is attached to the circuit board and in a third mode of operation responsive to a detected fault of the first voltage regulator, the fault detector enables the first output disconnect to electrically disconnect the first voltage regulator from the load and enables the embedded voltage regulator to power the load independent of the first voltage regulator.
5 more elements
A method for providing redundant voltage regulation comprising:
- providing a first voltage regulator and a second voltage regulator, the second voltage regulator having output rectifiers;
- electrically connecting the first voltage regulator to a load such that the first voltage regulator independently powers the load;
- operating the second voltage regulator in a warm standby mode in which initial conditions of the second voltage regulator are set using information communicated from the first voltage regulator while the output rectifiers of the second voltage regulator are disabled;
- detecting a fault of the first voltage regulator;
- responsive to the fault, enabling the output rectifiers of the second voltage regulator such that the second voltage regulator and the first voltage regulator provide power to the load during a transient period;
- and
- thereafter, independently powering the load using the second voltage regulator.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.