Tandem Computers Incorporated

Other

Premisenet Incorporated

Stephen R Bissell

David L Aldridge

Daniel D Gunn

William P Bunton

David P Sonnier

James Kevin McCoy

Larry A Stell

David B Brown

Carl W Kagy

A system and method for distributing power over a premises network is provided. The system comprises a power receiving module operable to be coupled to a premises network located in a user site. A power source module is operable to be coupled to the premises network and a power supply. The power source module is operable to receive electrical power from the power supply and provide electrical power over the premises network such that the power is contained within the premises network.

System and method for distributing power over a premises network

A DC/DC converter combines elements of a boost and a buck converter with synchronous switching and a single controller to provide a step-up or step-down regulator with continuous input and output currents. A boost converter composed of an inductor in series with the input, a switch to ground, and a diode to an intermediate voltage node provides an intermediate voltage that is greater than the input voltage. A buck converter composed of a switch in series with the intermediate voltage node, a diode to ground, and an inductor in series with the output provides an output voltage that is less than the intermediate voltage. The output is regulated by a single pulse width modulating controller which drives the boost switch and buck switch simultaneously. This technique provides a DC/DC converter that can operate with an input voltage greater than or less than the output voltage. Further, series inductance on both input and output nodes provides continuous input and output AC current reducing conducted noise effects. Further, the input and output inductors have equivalent volt-second characteristics allowing for the possibility to couple the input and output inductors on a single magnetic element. An isolated form of the invention is possible by replacing the buck stage with a transformer-isolated forward converter.

DC/DC converter with synchronous switching regulation

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

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Stephen R Bissell