Abstract: A method for power capping is disclosed. The power supplied to a load from a power supply is compared to a power capping limit 302. When the power drawn by the load exceeds the power capping limit, power to the load is supplied by both the power supply and an energy storage device 304.

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: Backup power supply systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary method includes providing at least one battery module having a first register with at least one battery parameter. The method also includes coupling an intelligent interface converter (IIC) between the at least one battery module and an electrical load, the IIC having a second register with at least one battery parameter. The method also includes communicating the at least one battery parameter to a user for reporting and management operations.

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 method for balancing input current with at least two parallel power supplies, including the steps of defining an input current difference tolerance, measuring input current from the at least two parallel power supplies, calculating an absolute value of the difference between the two measured input currents, and when the calculated value exceeds the tolerance, performing the subset of steps including employing an adjustment technique to calculate new operating parameters for the two power supplies, configuring the two power supplies with the new operating parameters, and repeating the steps above except for the defining step.

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: 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: A power converter (14) can include a switching system (18) to convert a direct current (DC) input voltage to an output voltage based on a switching signal having a duty-cycle. A controller (16) can set the duty-cycle of the switching signal, depending on the DC input voltage, to one of a substantially constant value, such that the output voltage follows the DC input voltage in a normal mode, and a value that varies inversely with respect to the DC input voltage, such that the output voltage is substantially constant in another 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 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: Systems and methods of an adaptive rating for a backup power supply are disclosed. An exemplary method includes measuring electrical output for a load. The method also includes determining an adaptive rating for at least one battery module of a backup power supply. The method also includes storing changing adaptive ratings for the at least one battery module over time based on the measured electrical output for the load.

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 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.

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.

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: One embodiment provides a system for controlling one or more pulse width modulated (PWM) fans. The system can include a control system configured to provide a voltage control signal corresponding to a DC output voltage for the one or more PWM fans. A variable DC voltage source is configured to supply the DC output voltage to the plurality of fans at one of at least two different DC voltages based on the voltage control signal. The DC output voltage from the variable DC voltage source is separate from a PWM control signal that is also supplied to the PWM fans.