Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.p.

Rico Brooks

Gary Williams

Paul Anthony Wirtzberger

Shaun Lee Harris

Circuits and methods of providing power to an electric load are disclosed. The method includes the steps of, for example, generating power via at least first and second parallel power supplies, in response to the first power supply exhibiting an over-voltage, disabling a reverse current threshold on the second power supply, turning off the first power supply when the over-voltage exceeds a threshold value, and continuing to generate power via the second power supply.

System and method of providing power

A method and apparatus for distributing electrical power is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: a semiconductor switch adapted to receive input power from a DC power source, adapted to distribute power to a DC/DC module, and adapted to receive a control signal, a charge storage device in operative communication with the semiconductor switch and a return path associated with the DC power source, and a reverse current monitoring logic in operative communication with the semiconductor switch. In this embodiment, the reverse current monitoring logic is adapted to detect reverse current flowing in the semiconductor switch and, in response to detecting the reverse current, is adapted to open the semiconductor switch. Several embodiments of a method of distributing electrical power to a DC load are also provided.

Method and apparatus for distributing electrical power

In another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a power distribution system for electronic equipment, comprising a voltage bus; a plurality of power supplies coupled in parallel to the voltage bus; a plurality of diodes wherein each of the diodes is disposed between a power supply and the voltage bus to isolate the voltage bus from a low power supply voltage; a plurality of sense lines, wherein each of the sense lines is coupled to one of the plurality of power supplies; and a plurality of resistive elements, wherein each of the resistive elements is coupled to the voltage bus and to a respective sense line of the plurality of sense lines, wherein the plurality of resistive elements maintain, when a minimal load is applied to the voltage bus, the sense lines at a voltage sufficiently lower than a voltage of the voltage bus to cause the plurality of power supplies to prevent the plurality of diodes from being reversed-biased.

Growing community of inventors

McKinney, TX, United States of America

Rico Brooks