Tandem Computers Incorporated

David L Aldridge

William P Bunton

Stephen R Bissell

Daniel D Gunn

William J Watson

David P Sonnier

David B Brown

Boyd E Slade

Carl W Kagy

A DC power distribution system can be configured to utilize a variable number of AC power distribution units. Installation of a converter unit in place of a PDU and resetting of associated switches permits inexpensive and rapid reconfiguration of the system without interrupting power supply to current receiving units. Techniques such as mechanical keying and sense switches minimize the possibility of human error in the reconfiguring operation.

Flexible implementation of distributed DC power

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

Growing community of inventors

Dripping Springs, TX, United States of America

David L Aldridge