Abstract: A system and method for detecting a circulating current in a redundant AC-DC power supply is disclosed. In one embodiment, a redundant AC-DC power supply system can include a first AC-DC power converter that is configured to generate a first DC output. A second AC-DC power converter is configured to generate a second DC output. An output circuit is configured to provide an output voltage based on at least one of the first and second DC outputs. A controller is configured to control the first and second AC-DC power converters for providing at least one of the first and second DC outputs to the output circuit, the controller being configured to detect a circulating current condition in at least one idle converter of first and second AC-DC power converters.

Abstract: A gate driver (100), a high-side MOSFET switch system (200) and a method (300) of pulse-driven switching a MOSFET employ a Miller capacitance or a Miller capacitance threshold. The gate driver (100) includes a gate discharge portion (110) to provide a first voltage for a first time period to a gate of a MOSFET (102). The first voltage is less than a turn-on threshold voltage of the MOSFET. The gate driver further includes a gate charge portion (120) to provide a second voltage for a second time period to the MOSFET gate. The second voltage is greater than the MOSFET turn-on threshold voltage. The second time period is less than a time period for a gate-source voltage of the MOSFET to exceed the Miller capacitance threshold. The method (300) of pulse-driven switching of a MOSFET includes applying (310) the first voltage for the first time period and applying (320) the second voltage for the second time period.

Abstract: Systems and methods for scaling a current signal in a power factor correction circuit are disclosed. An exemplary method may include providing a power factor correction circuit for a power supply, the power factor correction circuit having a first current sensing resistor connected on a return path to a rectified AC line. The method may also include measuring current across the first current sensing resistor. The method may also include switching on at least a second current sensing resistor in parallel with the first current sensing resistor if the measured current increases above a threshold value.

Abstract: A power regulators system and method is disclosed. In one embodiment, a power regulator system (10) is provided and includes at least one power supply (16) each configured to convert a DC rail voltage to a DC load voltage. The DC load voltage can be less than the DC rail voltage and can be provided to power at least one electronic component. The system (10) also includes a power rail regulator (12) configured to generate the DC rail voltage based on an input voltage and to regulate a magnitude of the DC rail voltage to vary between a minimum voltage magnitude and a maximum voltage magnitude and to regulate a variable magnitude of an output current. The DC rail voltage and the output current can be regulated based on load requirements associated with the at least one electronic component (18).

Abstract: A system is provided for powering electronic system modules in an equipment rack. A circuit breaker is mounted to the rack and configured to receive a rack AC power feed. An AC-DC converter module is mounted to the rack and configured to receive the rack AC power feed from the circuit breaker and to convert it to a first DC voltage at an output. A set of switching DC-DC output converters is provided. Each is disposed physically proximate to or within one of the electronic system modules and is configured to convert the first DC voltage to a second DC voltage suitable for consumption by the proximate electronic system module. A bus is configured to distribute the first DC voltage from the output to each of the switching DC-DC output converters.

Abstract: Apparatus related to power factor are provided. A power supply provides regulated power to a load or loads. The power supply is coupled to a source of alternating-current (AC) voltage. A controller monitors the AC input voltage and a current loading of the power supply. The controller determines an activation time according to the monitoring and asserts a signal prior to a next zero crossing of the input voltage. The signal causes impedance circuitry to be coupled between a pair of input nodes, resulting in a lagging power-factor. The impedance circuitry is de-coupled from at least one of the input nodes after the zero crossing.

Abstract: A redundant AC-DC power supply system and method is disclosed. A first AC-DC power converter is configured to generate a first output voltage and a first relay is configured to selectively couple and decouple the first AC-DC power converter to an output of an output circuit. A second AC-DC power converter is configured to generate a second output voltage. A second relay is configured to selectively couple and decouple the second AC-DC power converter to the output. A controller is configured to operate the first and second AC-DC power converters and the first and second relays to provide redundant sources of power for the output and to mitigate circulating current flow between the first and second AC-DC power converters.

Abstract: A power supply system and method are disclosed. The system includes a switching stage to provide an output current through an output inductor in response to a switching signal having a substantially fixed duty-cycle. The system also includes a load monitor to monitor a load of the power supply system. The system further includes a gate drive controller to generate the switching signal and to change operation of the switching stage from a normal operating mode to a light-load operating mode in response to the load being less than a predetermined threshold to substantially minimize a voltage across the output inductor in the light-load operating mode.

Abstract: A power supply system and method are disclosed. The system includes a power converter comprising a switching stage to conduct an output current in response to switching signals having a defined duty-cycle. The output current can be provided at an output of the power converter system. The system also includes a current monitor to sense a magnitude of the output current. The system further includes a gate drive controller to generate the switching signals and to control an output impedance of the switching stage based on the sensed magnitude of the output current to control the magnitude of the output current.

Abstract: A redundant power solution system, including at least a first and second input module, each configured for receiving input power, an output converter, wherein a first output line from the first input module and a second output line from the second module both feed into the output converter, and a control mechanism associated with the first and second input modules, wherein the control mechanism monitors the input power received by the first and second input modules and dynamically selects at least one of the first and second input modules to feed power into the output converter.

Abstract: A redundant power supply system includes power limit logic and plural power supplies. The power limit logic is configured to impose a first power limit threshold on the power supply system during a first time period in which one or more of the plural power supplies is being enabled, and a second power limit threshold higher than the first power limit threshold during a second time period.

Abstract: An electric energy distribution system may include plural loads configured to receive electric energy from a common feed or branch. Each of the loads may be configured to operate in at least first and second modes such that it may consume current, VA or power up to a first cap when running in its first mode and up to a second cap when running in its second mode. The first cap may be higher than the second cap. A sensor component may monitor a parameter that corresponds to an aggregate amount of electric energy being consumed by all of the plural loads from the common feed or branch. A manager component may be configured, when the parameter meets or exceeds the threshold, to select one of the loads currently running in its first mode and to cause the selected load to run in its second mode.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment is a server that includes multiple power supplies. When the server is in a standby state, one power supply is in a standby state and another power supply is in a deep sleep state.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a point-of-load (POL) power supply system can include providing a circuit board. The circuit board can include a first set of connections configured for coupling a predetermined first portion of components of a voltage regulator down (VRD) system to the circuit board and a second set of connections configured for coupling a replacement module to the circuit board. Each of the first set of connections and the second set of connections is electrically coupled with a third set of connections that is configured for coupling a second portion of components of the VRD system to the circuit board. The second portion of components of the VRD system is connected to the circuit board. The replacement module is connected onto the circuit board via the second set of connections such that the replacement module and the second portion of components of the VRD system cooperate to provide at least a portion of the POL system.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for supplying power to a load using deep-sleep-mode power supplies. Each of plural switching power supplies includes an input converter, an output converter and a standby converter. Each is configured to have its output converter connected to the load, and each is configured to operate in at least an online mode in which the input, output and standby converters are enabled for switching, and a deep sleep mode in which the input, output and standby converters are disabled from switching. A system controller is configured to place a first set of the plural switching power supplies in the online mode and a second set of the plural switching power supplies in the deep sleep mode while the load is operating and the power supplies in the first set are supplying power to the load.

Abstract: An electric power conversion system has an adaptable transformer turns ratio for improved efficiency. The transformer has multiple taps on its primary. Switching circuitry is configured to connect an energy source to the taps in at least two modes such that the transformer operates with a first primary-to-secondary turns ratio in the first mode and with a second primary-to-secondary turns ratio in the second mode. The first turns ratio is greater than the second turns ratio. Control circuitry is configured to operate the switching circuitry in the first mode when a voltage level of the energy source is above a first threshold and to operate the switching circuitry in the second mode when the voltage level is below a second threshold.

Abstract: A switching power supply includes power factor correction circuitry and a standby output converter. One or more loads may be coupled to one or more outputs of the switching power supply. The switching power supply is configured to disable the power factor correction circuitry under some load conditions and to enable the power factor correction circuitry under other load conditions. As a consequence, power that would have been drawn by the power factor correction circuitry is conserved when the power factor correction circuitry is disabled.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a circulating current in a redundant AC-DC power supply is disclosed. In one embodiment, a redundant AC-DC power supply system can include a first AC-DC power converter that is configured to generate a first DC output. A second AC-DC power converter is configured to generate a second DC output. An output circuit is configured to provide an output voltage based on at least one of the first and second DC outputs. A controller is configured to control the first and second AC-DC power converters for providing at least one of the first and second DC outputs to the output circuit, the controller being configured to detect a circulating current condition in at least one idle converter of first and second AC-DC power converters.

Abstract: A redundant AC-DC power supply system and method is disclosed. A first AC-DC power converter is configured to generate a first output voltage and a first relay is configured to selectively couple and decouple the first AC-DC power converter to an output of an output circuit. A second AC-DC power converter is configured to generate a second output voltage. A second relay is configured to selectively couple and decouple the second AC-DC power converter to the output. A controller is configured to operate the first and second AC-DC power converters and the first and second relays to provide redundant sources of power for the output and to mitigate circulating current flow between the first and second AC-DC power converters.

Abstract: A redundant power supply method is provided. The method includes communicatively coupling a load to a first source via a plurality of first power supplies and to a second source via a plurality of second power supplies. The method further includes bi-directionally communicatively coupling a controller to the plurality of first power supplies and to the plurality of second power supplies. The method includes activating a first portion of the plurality of first power supplies to supply power to the load, wherein the controller determines the number (“N”) of first power supplies activated, and activating at least one of the plurality of second power supplies to supply power to the load. The method also includes monitoring for at least one fault condition in each of the active first power supplies and in each of the active second power supplies.