Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for providing alternating current (“AC”) power redundancy in power supplies. A first input module is configured to receive a first AC power input waveform. A second input module is configured to receive a second AC power input waveform. A first switch and second switch are controlled by a switching logic module to select one of the AC power input waveforms for use by a power supply. If the first AC power input waveform is present, then it is selected for use. If both the first and second AC power input waveforms are present, then the first AC power input waveform is selected for use. If only the second AC power input waveform is present then it is selected for use.

Abstract: A positive temperature coefficient device is configured in parallel with a bypass switch and implemented at an input to a switching regulation stage of a switching power supply. A monitoring module determines that a voltage across the regulation switch in the switching power supply is below a predefined threshold voltage for greater than a predefined threshold time period. A control module controls operation of the bypass switch. The control module opens the bypass switch in response to the monitoring module determining that the voltage across the regulation switch is below the predefined threshold voltage for greater than the predefined threshold time period such that substantially all of the current entering the switching regulation stage passes through the PTC device. By causing substantially all of the current to pass through the PTC device, the device will enter a high impedance state thereby preventing smoke and smell from occurring.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for determining power source failure. A sampling module samples an alternating current power waveform as input to a power supply, at a sampling frequency which is a multiple of a predetermined frequency, to obtain a sampled amplitude at a known point within the predetermined period. A comparison module compares the sampled amplitude to a stored threshold amplitude to obtain a comparison result, corresponding to the known point. An accumulation module accumulates most recent comparison results. A warning module asserts an early power off warning signal if a predetermined number of the most recent comparison results each indicate that the sampled amplitude is smaller in absolute value than the stored threshold amplitude.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for providing regulated electric power. At least two power buses transfer regulated direct current (“DC”) power from at least four power supplies to an electric load. The power supplies receive electric power from one or more electric sources and convert the electric power to the regulated DC electric power. A switch is connected between each of the power buses and the electric load. Each switch connects and disconnects a power bus to the electric load and transfers the regulated DC electric power from the buses to the electric load. An output power bus connection is disposed on each of the power supplies. Each of the power buses is connected to at least two power supplies and each output power bus connection connects the corresponding power supply upon which the output power bus connection is disposed to exactly one power bus.

Abstract: An apparatus for efficient power supply operation variable input line voltages. The apparatus includes a detection module that senses the input line voltage to the power supply and determines whether it is high or low voltage. A turn module sets the turns ratio of the transformer to a first turns ratio if the input line voltage is low voltage. The turn module sets the turns ratio to a second turns ratio if the input line voltage is high. In one embodiment of the invention, a high voltage is between 180 and 250 volts, while a low voltage is between 90 and 130 volts. A primary module sets the boost voltage of the power supply's boost stage to a first voltage if the input line voltage is low, while it sets the boost voltage to a second voltage if the input line voltage is high. The first voltage may, for example, be 200 volts, and the second voltage 400 volts.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for controlling fan speed in a power supply. The apparatus measures input power to the power supply and measures the output power provided by the power supply over an interval. The apparatus determines values for the input power and output power and, using the two, determines how much power has been dissipated in the power supply. Power dissipation values are associated with particular fan speeds, and the apparatus adjusts the speed of the fan in the power supply based on how much power was dissipated during the interval. Increasing levels of power dissipation increases the fan speed, and decreasing levels of power dissipation decrease the fan speed.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for efficiently providing bias voltages. A first switching regulator stage that includes an inductor receives an input voltage and provides as an output an intermediate regulated output voltage. A second switching regulator stage receives as input the intermediate regulated output voltage and outputs a regulated main output voltage. The second switching regulator stage includes at least one switch controller that provides one or more signals to one or more switches in the second switching regulator stage to regulate the main output voltage of the second regulator stage. A secondary bias module utilizes a secondary winding coupled with the inductor of the first regulator stage to provide a secondary bias output voltage to the switch controller of the second switching regulator stage. The secondary bias output voltage is referenced to the main output voltage of the second switching regulator stage.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for fault tolerant cooling in a redundant power system. The apparatus receives power from a common power bus to power one or more power supply fans. The apparatus detects a non-functioning redundant power supply. The apparatus receives a fan control signal within a non-functioning redundant power supply. In addition, the apparatus uses the received fan control signal to synchronize a fan speed of a power supply fan within the non-functioning redundant power supply. The fan speed is synchronized with at least one fan control signal of a power supply fan within a functioning redundant power supply. Thus, the power supply fans of a non-functioning power supply continue to operate and are synchronized with power supply fans in functioning power supplies.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide power redundancy to a computer system without increasing the number of independent power supplies used. A system having N computing modules may have power redundancy using N power supplies, where each of the N power supplies are able to supply more power than required by an associated computing module, and where all but one (N?1) of the power supplies collectively can immediately supply power to any one of the computing modules when the power supply associated with that computing module fails.

Abstract: A method includes forming a winding structure from a single sheet of electrically conductive material, where the winding structure includes a winding base and multiple winding extensions extending from the winding base as a continuous piece of the electrically conductive material. The multiple winding extensions include a base portion that extends from the winding base along a first face of a fully assembled magnetic core, a wrapping portion that extends from the base portion along a second face of the fully assembled magnetic core, and a connection portion that extends from the wrapping portion along a third face of the fully assembled magnetic core, the connection portion comprising an electrical connection surface. The base portion, the wrapping portion, and the connection portion of each winding extend from the winding base such that the integrated windin structure is shaped for placement over the full assembled magnetic core in a single motion.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for providing standby power. A switching module adjusts an on-time and an off-time of one or more switches based on a feedback signal. The one or more switches are shared between a primary stage and a standby stage of a switched-mode power supply. A shutoff module interrupts electric power flowing to the primary stage in response to a standby signal having a standby state and allows electric power to flow to the primary stage in response to the standby signal having an on state. A feedback module provides the feedback signal to the switching module. The feedback module bases the feedback signal on an output of the primary stage in response to the standby signal having the on state. The feedback module bases the feedback signal on an output of the standby stage in response to the standby signal having the standby state.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for providing power balancing for power supplies. A power module measures an amount of input power for each of a plurality of switching power supplies. A conversion module converts the measured amount of input power of each power supply to a digital power measurement signal. An averaging module determines an average amount of input power per power supply based on a summation of the digital power measurement signal of each power supply. A comparison module compares the digital power measurement signal of a power supply to the determined average amount of input power per power supply. An input power adjustment module adjusts the input power of the power supply to cause the amount of input power of the power supply to be substantially equal to the determined average amount of input power per power supply.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for detecting a power system component failure. The invention includes detecting an amount of input power provided on a power supply side of a connector, where the connector is configured to connect a switching power supply to a load such that power flows from the switching power supply to the load through the connector; detecting an amount of output power provided on a load side of the connector; determining if the amount of input power detected on the power supply side of the connector is more than a predefined threshold amount greater than the amount of output power detected on the load side of the connector; and shutting down the switching power supply the amount of detected input power is more than the predefined threshold amount greater than the amount of detected output power.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a low cost multiple output redundant power supply. Disclosed is a power supply that includes a primary stage for regulating voltage on an internal bus. The power supply includes a first regulator stage and a second regulator stage connected to the internal bus. The first regulator stage regulates voltage on a bus configured to connect to a first system. The second regulator stage regulates voltage on a bus configured to connect to a second system. The each regulator stage continues to operate in the event the other regulator stage is not operating. A disconnecting means is connected between the primary stage and the each regulator stage for isolating the failed regulator stage from the other regulator stage and the primary stage.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus for providing node redundant power to a system includes a plurality of devices, with each device including a power supply. Each power supply includes a first direct current (DC) input coupled to a first input of an OR logic gate, and a second DC input representing by an alternating current (AC) input. The second DC input is coupled to a second input of the OR logic gate, and at least one DC output is coupled to an output of the OR logic gate. Each power supply also includes a backup power supply for supplying a voltage coupled to a common node. The OR logic gate provides DC voltage to the DC output to power the system from the first DC input only when voltage from the AC input is not available.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a circuit for providing redundant power includes a first channel having a first input, a first electronic circuit breaker, and a first output, a second channel having a second input, a second electronic circuit breaker, and a second output, and a first transistor coupled to the first electronic circuit breaker, the first transistor in series with a second transistor coupled to the second channel. The circuit normally operates by providing power to the first and second outputs from the first and second channels, respectively. However, if the first channel fails, the transistors switch on to allow power from the second channel to feed the first output in the first channel in addition to feeding power to the second output, and vice versa. Other embodiments and methods for providing redundant power are described as well.

Abstract: Efficient multiple power outputs are provided by receiving a primary voltage as an input to a bridge module and providing one or more secondary voltages as outputs of the bridge module. The secondary voltages are generated on the secondary side of one or more respective secondary windings of a transformer. The bridge module includes at least one primary complementary pair of switches on the primary winding side of the transformer and a secondary complementary pair of switches on the secondary side of each secondary winding of the transformer. The secondary output voltages are received from the bridge module by one or more output voltage regulation modules. Each output voltage regulation module receives one of the secondary voltages from the bridge module as an input and provides at least one regulated output voltage as an output.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for combining multiple windings on a magnetic core. An integrated winding structure has a winding base and multiple winding extensions. The multiple winding extensions and the winding base are formed from a single sheet of electrically conductive material. Each of the multiple winding extensions has a base portion that extends from the winding base, a wrapping portion that extends from the base portion, and a connection portion that extends from the wrapping portion. The connection portions and the winding base each have electrical connection surfaces. Each of the multiple winding extensions forms one or more windings on the magnetic core.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for combining multiple windings on a magnetic core. An integrated winding structure has a winding base and multiple winding extensions. The multiple winding extensions and the winding base are formed from a single sheet of electrically conductive material. Each of the multiple winding extensions has a base portion that extends from the winding base, a wrapping portion that extends from the base portion, and a connection portion that extends from the wrapping portion. The connection portions and the winding base each have electrical connection surfaces. Each of the multiple winding extensions forms one or more windings on the magnetic core.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are disclosed for protecting a power distribution unit from an electrical fault. A fuse interrupts a flow of electrical current in response to the electrical current rising above a current rating of the fuse. A current sensor measures the amplitude of the electrical current and outputs a current amplitude signal. A relay interrupts the flow of electrical current in response to an OFF signal. A fault module receives the current amplitude signal and sends the OFF signal to the relay in response to the amplitude of the electrical current exceeding a threshold value. The relay, the fuse, and the threshold value are selected so that a switching time of the relay is less than an opening time of the fuse for an amplitude of the electrical current between the threshold value and a maximum fault current value, so that the relay prevents the fuse from opening.