Patents Represented by Attorney Kunzler Needharn Massey & Thorpe
  • Patent number: 7859132
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for safely connecting a device to a power source. The invention includes a power bus switch that operates to selectively allow operational power to flow from a power supply to a load. The operational power is independent of auxiliary power which may be separately provided to the load. A detection module determines whether an input impedance of the load is greater than a minimum impedance threshold in response to the load being connected to the power supply. A switch module causes the power bus switch to allow operational power to flow to the load in response to the detection module determining that the input impedance is greater than the minimum impedance threshold. Thus, if the load has an acceptable input impedance level, then operational power may be provided to the load without risk of failure to the power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chu R. Chung, Cecil C. Dishman, Jen-Ching Lin, Randhir S. Malik