Tandem Computers Incorporated

Daniel D Gunn

William P Bunton

Stephen R Bissell

David L Aldridge

David P Sonnier

David B Brown

Carl W Kagy

A power switching circuit module includes two power rails coupling independent power supplies to the input of a DC controller and test circuits to detect latent faults in power mixing devices included in the circuit.

System for switching power and scrubbing power mixing devices for faults

A power mixing apparatus for mixing current from a first and a second power rail includes a first enabling circuit to provide a first enabling signal, a second enabling circuit to provide a second enabling signal, a first inrush limiter to output a first current in response to the first enabling signal, a second inrush limiter to output a second current in response to the second enabling signal, a first open-circuiting circuit to decouple the first enabling circuit from the first inrush limiter when the first open-circuiting circuit is open-circuited, a second open-circuiting circuit to decouple the second enabling circuit from the second inrush limiter when the second open-circuiting circuit is open-circuited, a first isolation circuit to isolate the first inrush limiter from the second current, a second isolation circuit to isolate the second inrush limiter from the first current, and a direct-current converter to convert the first and the second current in response to the first enabling signal and in response to the second enabling signal.

Redundant power mixing element with fault detection for DC-to-DC

A fault-tolerant control and monitoring system for fan assemblies used in electronic equipment. The fan control and monitoring system of the present invention reduces the probability of high temperature damage due to power failure by using a power mixing circuit that provides redundant power to the fans. The system includes means for detecting faults in the power mixing circuit. The system of the present invention further includes means for measuring the exact speed of the fans, as well as means for finer control of fan speed. Physical presence of fan unit is detected without additional pin requirements.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Daniel D Gunn