# US 9,520,744 B2 · Reducing power losses in a redundant power supply system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,520,744 B2 - Document ID: US9520744B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/041,548 - Filed: 2013-09-30 - Published: 2014-01-30 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2009-06-30 - Assignees: Intel Corporation - Applicants: Intel Corporation - Inventors: Viktor Vogman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520744B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/263: {Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC (G06F1/30 takes precedence)} - H02J 9/005: {using a power saving mode (for copiers G03G15/5004)} - H02J 9/061: {for DC powered loads} - H02M 7/04: by static converters - Y02B 70/30: Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level - Y04S 20/20: End-user application control systems - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract A power supply system includes at least a first power supply module and at least one redundant power supply module. The at least one power supply module supplies power to an output terminal. The at least one redundant power supply module operates in a first state and in a second state. In the first state the second power supply module supplies power to the output terminal. In the second state the second power supply module provides standby power and operates in a burst mode (for example, such as a discontinuous conduction mode). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: two AC-to-DC (alternating current-to-direct current) power supply modules, wherein a first AC-to-DC power supply module is a master power supply and a second AC-to-DC power supply module is a standby power supply, wherein in one mode the second AC-to-DC power supply module is to deliver power to an output terminal, and in another mode the second AC-to-DC power supply module is to provide standby power and to operate in a burst mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second AC-to-DC power supply module includes an input rectifier, a power correction factor circuit coupled to an output of the input rectifier, a peak detector coupled to the output of the input rectifier, and a standby power converter coupled to an output of the peak detector. ### Claim 3 A system, comprising: two power supply modules, wherein a first power supply module is a master power supply and a second power supply module is a standby power supply, wherein in one mode the second power supply module delivers power to an output terminal, and in another mode the second power supply module is to provide standby power and to operate in a burst mode; wherein a predetermined threshold range of a current level of the system enables maximum subsystem efficiency at any given load level. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a predetermined threshold range of a power level of the system enables maximum subsystem efficiency at any given load level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the AC-to-DC power supply modules share a common load. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the efficiency of the second AC-to-DC power supply module is: Eff standby = P 0 ( P 0 + P hc ) ( Eff SBC + P PFC fixed ) . ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the efficiency of the second AC-to-DC power supply module is: Eff standby = P 0 ( P 0 + P hc ) ( Eff SBC + P PFC_fixed * D ) . ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second AC-to-DC power supply module is to transition from a standby mode to an active mode in response to a failure of the master power supply. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system is to operate in continuous conduction mode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the standby power supply is to provide output power in response to an internal voltage of the master power supply being below a threshold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the standby power supply is to provide output power only in response to an internal voltage of the master power supply being below a threshold. ### Claim 12 An apparatus comprising: two AC-to-DC (alternating current-to-direct current) power supply modules, wherein a first AC-to-DC power supply module is a master power supply and a second AC-to-DC power supply module is a standby power supply, wherein in one mode the second AC-to-DC power supply module is to deliver power to an output terminal, and in another mode the second AC-to-DC power supply module is to provide standby power and to operate in a burst mode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second AC-to-DC power supply module includes an input rectifier, a power correction factor circuit coupled to an output of the input rectifier, a peak detector coupled to the output of the input rectifier, and a standby power converter coupled to an output of the peak detector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a predetermined threshold range of a current level of the apparatus enables maximum efficiency at any given load level. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a predetermined threshold range of a power level of the apparatus enables maximum efficiency at any given load level. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the AC-to-DC power supply modules share a common load. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the efficiency of the second AC-to-DC power supply module is: Eff standby = P 0 ( P 0 + P hc ) ( Eff SBC + P PFC_fixed ) . ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the efficiency of the second AC-to-DC power supply module is: Eff standby = P 0 ( P 0 + P hc ) ( Eff SBC + P PFC_fixed * D ) . ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second AC-to-DC power supply module is to transition from a standby mode to an active mode in response to a failure of the master power supply. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the standby power supply is to provide output power in response to an internal voltage of the master power supply being below a threshold. ### Claim 21 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein each power supply module includes an AC-to-DC (alternating current-to-direct current) power supply. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the AC-to-DC power supplies share a common load.