International Business Machines Corporation

Lenovo (singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Cecil Charles Dishman

Randhir Singh Malik

Eino Alfred Lindfors

Jen-Ching Lin

Chu T Chung

Trung M Nguyen

Marc Henri Coq

Thomas S Mazzeo

William Hemena

Michael Joseph Steinmetz

Raymond Mathew Clemo

Kenneth Scea

Robert M Dunn

Benjamin J Steele, Jr

Chien Hsing Lin

Robert A DiMarco

Ted A Howard

Chu R Chung

Kelly O'Toole

Jessi Carolina Lozada Picon

Dale W Wilhite

A method for verifying correct power cord usage includes detecting, with a close-range sensor, a close-range sensor tag in a power cord near a power receptacle of a power supply of a computing device and reading cord information stored on the close-range sensor tag. The method includes determining from the cord information that the power cord is of a type that is not rated for use with the power supply and disabling startup of the power supply in response to determining that the power cord is of a type that is not rated for use with the power supply.

Utilizing close-range sensor in power supply unit to identify power cord rating/type

An interleaved transformer or a transformer and integrated set of inductors formed via a magnetic structure comprising a set of E cores and an I core inserted between the set of E cores is provided in order to address issues that occur when a structured transformer is coupled together with inductor flux. Actual inductance exhibited by the transformers is controlled by a preselected precise gap between the I core and each of the E cores. The advantage of such a structured transformer cancels out the magnetic flux in certain legs of the magnetic structure requiring less magnetic material and thus, less core losses while improving the overall efficiency of a power supply.

Interleaved transformer/inductor

An alternating current-to-direct current (AC-to-DC) power supply has a first stage providing a first DC voltage and a second stage providing a second DC voltage. The AC-to-DC power supply has a first efficiency at the first stage and a second efficiency at the second stage that is less than the first efficiency. The second DC voltage is also less than the first DC voltage. A blower is electrically connected to the first stage of the AC-to-DC power supply to receive the first DC voltage from the AC-to-DC power supply to power the blower. Electrical connection of the blower to the first stage of the AC-to-DC power supply instead of to the second stage of the AC-to-DC power supply wastes less power and is more efficient.

Electrically connecting blower to power supply stage providing higher voltage

An apparatus and system are disclosed for protecting a power distribution unit from an electrical fault. A fuse interrupts a flow of electrical current in response to the electrical current rising above a current rating of the fuse. A current sensor measures the amplitude of the electrical current and outputs a current amplitude signal. A relay interrupts the flow of electrical current in response to an OFF signal. A fault module receives the current amplitude signal and sends the OFF signal to the relay in response to the amplitude of the electrical current exceeding a threshold value. The relay, the fuse, and the threshold value are selected so that a switching time of the relay is less than an opening time of the fuse for an amplitude of the electrical current between the threshold value and a maximum fault current value, so that the relay prevents the fuse from opening.

Power distribution unit branch protection

A system includes a high-current junction, a voltage sensor, and a controller. Power connectors of two components are electrically connected at the high-current junction, where a high current passes between the two components at the high-current junction. The voltage sensor detects a voltage at the high-current junction. The controller performs a predetermined action in response to the voltage sensor detecting the voltage at the high-current junction being greater than a predetermined threshold voltage. The system may be a data center rack. The high-current junction may be the junction at which an alternating current (AC) input receives AC power from AC mains. The high-current junction may alternatively be the junction at which a power supply receives the AC power from the AC input to generate direct current (DC) power to provide to data center rack components insertable within the data center rack.

Voltage sensor for high-current junction

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for providing regulated electric power. At least two power buses transfer regulated direct current ('DC') power from at least four power supplies to an electric load. The power supplies receive electric power from one or more electric sources and convert the electric power to the regulated DC electric power. A switch is connected between each of the power buses and the electric load. Each switch connects and disconnects a power bus to the electric load and transfers the regulated DC electric power from the buses to the electric load. An output power bus connection is disposed on each of the power supplies. Each of the power buses is connected to at least two power supplies and each output power bus connection connects the corresponding power supply upon which the output power bus connection is disposed to exactly one power bus.

Apparatus, system, and method for a high efficiency redundant power architecture

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for efficiently providing bias voltages. A first switching regulator stage that includes an inductor receives an input voltage and provides as an output an intermediate regulated output voltage. A second switching regulator stage receives as input the intermediate regulated output voltage and outputs a regulated main output voltage. The second switching regulator stage includes at least one switch controller that provides one or more signals to one or more switches in the second switching regulator stage to regulate the main output voltage of the second regulator stage. A secondary bias module utilizes a secondary winding coupled with the inductor of the first regulator stage to provide a secondary bias output voltage to the switch controller of the second switching regulator stage. The secondary bias output voltage is referenced to the main output voltage of the second switching regulator stage.

Integrated bias and standby power supply circuit

An apparatus for efficient power supply operation variable input line voltages. The apparatus includes a detection module that senses the input line voltage to the power supply and determines whether it is high or low voltage. A turn module sets the turns ratio of the transformer to a first turns ratio if the input line voltage is low voltage. The turn module sets the turns ratio to a second turns ratio if the input line voltage is high. In one embodiment of the invention, a high voltage is between 180 and 250 volts, while a low voltage is between 90 and 130 volts. A primary module sets the boost voltage of the power supply's boost stage to a first voltage if the input line voltage is low, while it sets the boost voltage to a second voltage if the input line voltage is high. The first voltage may, for example, be 200 volts, and the second voltage 400 volts.

Power supply that adjusts a transformer turns ratio to operate efficiently at high and low line input

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for detecting a power system component failure. The invention includes detecting an amount of input power provided on a power supply side of a connector, where the connector is configured to connect a switching power supply to a load such that power flows from the switching power supply to the load through the connector; detecting an amount of output power provided on a load side of the connector; determining if the amount of input power detected on the power supply side of the connector is more than a predefined threshold amount greater than the amount of output power detected on the load side of the connector; and shutting down the switching power supply the amount of detected input power is more than the predefined threshold amount greater than the amount of detected output power.

Apparatus, system, and method for detecting a power system component failure

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a low cost multiple output redundant power supply. Disclosed is a power supply that includes a primary stage for regulating voltage on an internal bus. The power supply includes a first regulator stage and a second regulator stage connected to the internal bus. The first regulator stage regulates voltage on a bus configured to connect to a first system. The second regulator stage regulates voltage on a bus configured to connect to a second system. The each regulator stage continues to operate in the event the other regulator stage is not operating. A disconnecting means is connected between the primary stage and the each regulator stage for isolating the failed regulator stage from the other regulator stage and the primary stage.

Apparatus, system, and method for a low cost multiple output redundant power supply

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a power supply that is efficient in both high and low power conditions. An integrated power supply regulates current on a regulated bus to maintain a regulated bus voltage under varying load conditions. The integrated power supply includes a first power supply rated to provide full load power to the load and second power supply rated to provide power at levels below a minimum power threshold. The second power supply includes switching elements that have lower switching losses than switching elements of the first power supply. A sensing module measures power. A switching module starts up the second power supply and shuts down the first power supply if the measured power falls below the minimum power threshold, and starts up the first power supply and shuts down the second power supply if the measured power rises above the minimum power threshold.

Apparatus, system, and method for an integrated power supply efficient in high and low power conditions

Battery charge management systems for charging a battery bank including a plurality of batteries connected in series are disclosed that include: a power source having a charging port, the power source capable of providing power to each battery in the battery bank; a multiplexer connected to the battery bank, the multiplexer capable of connecting the charging port to a single battery at a time and capable of switching the connection of the charging port to each battery in the battery bank; and a microcontroller connected to the multiplexer and operatively coupled to each battery in the battery bank, the microcontroller capable of receiving discharge data and charge data for each battery in the battery bank, the microcontroller capable of instructing the multiplexer to switch the connection of the charging port with each battery in dependence upon the discharge data and the charge data for that battery.

Battery charge management system for charging a battery bank that includes a plurality of batteries

An apparatus for error checking in a power supply includes a power module that determines that the power supply is in a self-test condition. The self-test condition involves the power supply being connected to an input power source while it is disconnected from the electronic load that it normally services. A load module connects an internal test load to the power supply when the power supply is in self-test condition, and an error checking module performs error check operations on the power supply while it is connected to the test load. The apparatus also includes a notify module that actuates an indicator when the error checking module determines that there are one or more faults in the power supply. The apparatus may also include a log module for storing error messages and reports in non-volatile memory.

Apparatus, system, and method for error detection in a stand alone power supply

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for event, time, and failure state recording in a power supply. Disclosed is a power supply that receives AC voltage as an input and provides regulated DC voltage as an output; a microcontroller integrated into the power supply that regulates output voltage and monitors, records, and reports operating conditions of the power supply; and a non-volatile solid-state storage that can be repeatedly read from, written to, and erased by the microcontroller and integrated within the microcontroller such that only a single address is needed to access both the microcontroller and the solid-state storage, the solid-state storage configured to store operating data received from the microcontroller, the operating data including the recorded operating conditions of the power supply.

Apparatus, system, and method for event, time, and failure state recording mechanism in a power supply

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for an adaptive high efficiency switching power supply. The switching power supply has a regulation stage with a stage controller that operates to regulate a voltage of the regulation stage relative to a reference voltage. A power detection module detects an amount of power used by the switching power supply. A low power module determines if the power supply is operating below a minimum power capacity threshold. A stage voltage adjustment module adjusts the reference voltage from a high power reference voltage to a low power reference voltage in response to the low power module determining that the power supply is operating below the minimum power capacity threshold. The low power reference voltage causes a regulated voltage adjustment such that the switching power supply operates more efficiently below the minimum power threshold.

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Cecil Charles Dishman