International Business Machines Corporation

Jean-Francois Fauh

Denis G Roman

Jean-Marc Berthaud

Claude Gomez

Andre Lecerf

Arnault Fontebride

A method and system for improving power distribution and/or current measurement on a printed circuit board is disclosed. According to the invention, a first power plane adapted for current measurement includes a first segment to which a current source is connected and a second segment to which other devices may be connected, forming the current load. A third segment is used to measure the current between the first segment and the second segment through two vias that link two points of the third segment to, preferably, two pads of the external layer. In a preferred embodiment, vias are connected to the first segment so that current flow in the third segment is linear, to improve and simplify current determination. The resistivity between the pair of vias may be computed or estimated using calibrated currents.

Method for improving power distribution current measurement on printed circuit boards

System for improving power distribution current measurement on printed circuit boards

A system for connecting a receiver to a redundant power supply. The power supply units are connected to the receiver by means of a pair of control switches, each being connected in series between one of the power units and the receiver, and each having its intrinsic diode forwardly biased between the power unit and the receiver. A voltage comparator senses which of the power supply units is having the higher potential difference between its high and low potential terminals. The output of the comparator controls the gate of both control switches such that the control switch in series with the sensed power supply unit is conducting while the other one is off. When a reversed polarity is applied to the receiver, the receiver is protected by the intrinsic diode. When at least one of the power supplies is connected with the correct polarity, the receiver is supplied without an appreciable voltage drop and with the lowest possible power losses.

System and method for redundant power supply connection

A method for automatically determining whether power consumption devices can be powered up in a power consuming system having multiple power consumption devices to be powered up by one or several voltages among a set of voltages V , V . . . Vm. The set of voltages are provided by multiple power supplies, wherein each power supply provides at least one voltage. The power consuming system also includes a control point for controlling the power supplied to the power consumption devices. The method includes determining a set of linear inequations linking each variable P , P . . . P representing the power being consumed for each voltage, or combinations of several variables, to predetermined power limits PVC. Next, the real power value (P) requested for each voltage in order to power up each one of the first plurality of power consumption devices is determined. Subsequently, each real power value is divided by the number of power supplies (p) providing power for the associated voltage in order to determine the components of a power consumption vector (PC) for each power supply. Next, the variables P , P . . . P are replaced in the inequations by the corresponding components of the power consumption vector for each power supply (PC) in order to obtain a requested power value for each inequation. The requested power value is then compared to the predetermined power limits (PVC). The requested power value is then compared to the predetermined power limits (PVC) and the control point determines that a new power supply is requested if at least one of the requested power values is greater than the predetermined power limits.

System for automatically determining a number of power supplies are required by managing changes of the power requirements in a power consuming system

A method for automatically determining whether power consumption devices can be powered up in a power consuming system having multiple power consumption devices to be powered up by one or several voltages among a set of voltages V , V . . . Vm. The set of voltages are provided by multiple power supplies, wherein each power supply provides at least one voltage. The power consuming system also includes a control point for controlling the power supplied to the power consumption devices. The method includes determining a set of linear inequations linking each variable P , P . . . P representing the power being consumed for each voltage, or combinations of several variables, to predetermined power limits PVC. Next, the real power value (P) requested for each voltage in order to power up each one of the first plurality of power consumption devices is determined. Subsequently, each real power value is divided by the number of power supplies (p) providing power for the associated voltage in order to determine the components of a power consumption vector (PC) for each power supply. Next, the variables P , P . . . P are replaced in the inequations by the corresponding components of the power consumption vector for each power supply (PC) in order to obtain a requested power value for each inequation. The requested power value is then compared to the predetermined power limits (PVC). If the requested power values are all less than the predetermined power limits, the power consumption devices can be all powered.

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Vence, France

Jean-Francois Fauh