U.S. patent application number 12/118824 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-04 for uninterruptible power supply controller and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Robert F. Hyland, Joseph F. Prisco.
Application Number | 20080211682 12/118824 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38918652 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080211682 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hyland; Robert F. ; et
al. |
September 4, 2008 |
UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLY CONTROLLER AND METHOD
Abstract
Exemplary embodiments include an uninterruptible power supply
including: at least two inputs in operable communication with a
plurality of switches; a plurality of AND gates in operable
communication with the plurality of switches; a plurality of NOR
gates in operable communication with the plurality of switches; a
plurality of inverters in operable communication with an output of
the NOR gates; a plurality of light emitting diodes in operable
communication with the plurality of inverters and the plurality of
AND gates, the light emitting diodes operable for signaling a
condition of one of the plurality of inputs; and an output in
operable communication with the light emitting diodes, wherein each
of the inputs is connected to an uninterruptible power supply, the
uninterruptible power supply signals a condition to the
uninterruptible power supply controller, and the uninterruptible
power supply controller signals the condition to the output if the
condition is signaled by all uninterruptible power supplies
connected to the uninterruptible power supply controller.
Inventors: |
Hyland; Robert F.;
(Rochester, MN) ; Prisco; Joseph F.; (Rochester,
MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CANTOR COLBURN LLP - IBM ROCHESTER DIVISION
20 Church Street, 22nd Floor
Hartford
CT
06103
US
|
Assignee: |
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
CORPORATION
Armonk
NY
|
Family ID: |
38918652 |
Appl. No.: |
12/118824 |
Filed: |
May 12, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11428664 |
Jul 5, 2006 |
7388508 |
|
|
12118824 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
340/635 ;
307/64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02J 9/062 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
340/635 ;
307/64 |
International
Class: |
G08B 21/00 20060101
G08B021/00; H02J 9/00 20060101 H02J009/00 |
Claims
1. An uninterruptible power supply controller comprising: at least
two inputs in operable communication with a plurality of switches;
a plurality of AND gates in operable communication with the
plurality of switches; a plurality of NOR gates in operable
communication with the plurality of switches; a plurality of
inverters in operable communication with an output of the NOR
gates; a plurality of light emitting diodes in operable
communication with the plurality of inverters and the plurality of
AND gates, the light emitting diodes operable for signaling a
condition of one of the plurality of inputs; and an output in
operable communication with the light emitting diodes, wherein each
of the inputs is connected to an uninterruptible power supply, the
uninterruptible power supply signals a condition to the
uninterruptible power supply controller, and the uninterruptible
power supply controller signals the condition to the output if the
condition is signaled by all uninterruptible power supplies
connected to the uninterruptible power supply controller.
2. The uninterruptible power supply controller of claim 1, wherein
the plurality of switches are active high switches.
3. The uninterruptible power supply controller of claim 2, wherein
the output is in operable communication with a piece of information
technology equipment or data center infrastructure equipment.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/428,664, filed Jul. 5, 2006, the disclosure
of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
TRADEMARKS
[0002] IBM.RTM. is a registered trademark of International Business
Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., U.S.A. Other names used herein
may be registered trademarks, trademarks or product names of
International Business Machines Corporation or other companies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to power supply apparatus and
methods of operation thereof, and more particularly, to
uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) and methods of operation
thereof.
[0005] 2. Description of Background
[0006] UPSs are commonly used to provide conditioned and/or
auxiliary power to electronic equipment that provides critical
functions, such as computer systems, telecommunications systems and
medical equipment. Typically, UPSs can provide AC power from a
backup source, such as a battery, generator or fuel cell, in the
event that a utility power supply fails or becomes degraded.
[0007] A single UPS may be used to provide backup power to a large
number of devices, for example, servers, monitors, coffee makers,
refrigerators and the like. When the utility power is lost or
becomes degraded, the UPS may provide power to all of these devices
from the backup source. Conventional UPSs may include one or more
load segments, i.e., groups of receptacles that can be
independently controlled. Typically, power can only be removed from
devices being powered by the UPS by turning off the UPS or by
removing power from all of the devices plugged into a load segment.
Furthermore, to conserve the amount of power used from the backup
power source, devices, such as computers or servers, may be placed
in a standby mode during a power loss. For example, operating
systems running on servers may enter a reduced power state, but
some power will still be supplied to the servers from the backup
source. Thus, the devices in standby mode may still be drawing some
power from the backup source. Furthermore, once the primary power
source is restored, each of the devices placed in standby mode may
have to be awakened manually before service can be fully restored.
This can be quite time consuming if the UPS is used to provide
power to an entire office building housing hundreds of servers, all
of which were put in standby mode during the power loss.
[0008] Currently, pieces of information technology equipment (ITE)
or data center infrastructure equipment (DCIE) are able to
communicate with multiple UPSs. However, the communication between
the ITE or DCIE and the UPSs implement an OR condition rather than
an AND condition. The OR condition means the ITE or DCIE is
notified if one UPS signals a condition and reacts to it regardless
of the status on the second UPS. What is needed is a system that
allows the ITE or DCIE to communicate with two UPSs and requires
both UPSs to signal a condition before alerting the ITE or
DCIE.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Exemplary embodiments include an uninterruptible power
supply including: at least two inputs in operable communication
with a plurality of switches; a plurality of AND gates in operable
communication with the plurality of switches; a plurality of NOR
gates in operable communication with the plurality of switches; a
plurality of inverters in operable communication with an output of
the NOR gates; a plurality of light emitting diodes in operable
communication with the plurality of inverters and the plurality of
AND gates, the light emitting diodes operable for signaling a
condition of one of the plurality of inputs; and an output in
operable communication with the light emitting diodes, wherein each
of the inputs is connected to an uninterruptible power supply, the
uninterruptible power supply signals a condition to the
uninterruptible power supply controller, and the uninterruptible
power supply controller signals the condition to the output if the
condition is signaled by all uninterruptible power supplies
connected to the uninterruptible power supply controller.
[0010] Exemplary embodiments also include a method for
uninterruptible power supply control including: receiving a signal
indicative of a condition from a first uninterruptible power
supply; determining if the signaled condition is present in a
second uninterruptible power supply; and signaling the condition to
a piece of information technology equipment or data center
infrastructure equipment if the condition is present in both the
first and second uninterruptible power supplies.
[0011] System and computer program products corresponding to the
above-summarized methods are also described and claimed herein.
[0012] Additional features and advantages are realized through the
techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects
of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered
a part of the claimed invention. For a better understanding of the
invention with advantages and features, refer to the description
and to the drawings.
TECHNICAL EFFECTS
[0013] As a result of the summarized invention, technically we have
achieved a solution, which determines what allows the ITE or DCIE
to communicate with two UPSs and require both UPSs to signal a
condition before alerting the ITE or DCIE.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is
particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at
the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other
objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent
from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a UPS hardware interface in accordance
with exemplary embodiments;
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a dual line cord
uninterruptible power supply control system in accordance with
exemplary embodiments;
[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates a circuit diagram for an uninterruptible
power supply controller in accordance with exemplary embodiments;
and
[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates a truth table corresponding to the
circuit diagram for the uninterruptible power supply controller
depicted in FIG. 3.
[0019] The detailed description explains the preferred embodiments
of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of
example with reference to the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The present invention and the various features and
advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with
reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following
description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in
the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Descriptions of
well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as
to not unnecessarily obscure the present invention in detail. The
examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an
understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and
to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the
invention. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as
limiting the scope of the invention.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, a UPS hardware interface in accordance
with exemplary embodiments is depicted generally as 10. The UPS
hardware interface 10 includes a plurality of communication pins
12. The communication pins 12 may be used for carrier detection and
to communicate that the UPSs battery is low. The communication pins
12 can also be used for receiving data, transmitting data, and
signaling that the ITE or DCIE is ready to receive or transmit
data. Furthermore, one of the communication pins 12 may connect to
a signal ground pin, one of the communication pins 12 may be a data
set ready pin used to signal a bypass of the UPS, and one the
communication pins 12 may be used to signal a utility fail of the
UPS.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a dual line cord
uninterruptible power supply control system in accordance with
exemplary embodiments is generally depicted as 100. The system 100
includes an uninterruptible power supply controller 102, an ITE 104
or a DCIE 106, and two or more UPSs 108. The uninterruptible power
supply controller 102 is in electrical communication with the ITE
104, the DCIE 106, and the UPSs 108. The uninterruptible power
supply controller 102 communicates with the UPSs 108 and upon the
detection of a condition, such as a power failure, in both UPSs 108
the uninterruptible power supply controller 102 would notify the
ITE 104 and the DCIE of the detected condition.
[0023] In exemplary embodiments, the uninterruptible power supply
controller 102 is designed to accept up to four communication lines
from different UPSs and supports up to two pieces of ITE or DCIE.
Another version of the uninterruptible power supply controller 102
would accept two communication lines from two independent UPSs and
support six pieces of ITE or DCIE that are receiving output power
from the UPSs. Using the uninterruptible power supply controller
102, dual line cord ITE or DCIE can be connected to two separate
UPSs to ensure that the ITE or DCIE is only notified of a condition
if both UPSs signal the same condition.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 3, a circuit diagram of an
uninterruptible power supply controller in accordance with
exemplary embodiments is referred to generally as 200. The
uninterruptible power supply controller 200 includes at least two
inputs 202, one or more outputs 204, a plurality of AND gates 206,
a plurality of inverters 208, a plurality of NOR gates 210, a
plurality of light emitting diodes 212, a ground 214, and a
plurality of switches 216. The inputs 202 may include a plurality
of communications lines, as illustrated the inputs 202 include four
communications lines. The communications lines of the inputs 202
are connected to the switches 216 which selectively connect the
inputs to either the AND gate 206 or the NOR gates 210 based upon
the state of the switch 216. In one embodiment, the switches 216
can be set for an active high or an active low. The output of the
NOR gate 210 is connected to the inverter 208. The light emitting
diodes 212 are connected to the output of the inverter 208, the AND
gate 206, and the ground 214 via a switch 216, which acts as a
bypass switch. In one embodiment, the ground 214 and the bypass
switch 216 are designed to work independently of the rest of the
logic in the circuit. The outputs 204 are connected to the light
emitting diodes 212.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 4, a truth table corresponding to the
circuit diagram for the uninterruptible power supply controller 200
is generally depicted as 300. As shown, the uninterruptible power
supply controller 200 will only signal a condition if that
condition is detected in both the first and the second UPS. In the
case that a condition is sensed in only one of the two UPSs the ITE
or DCIE is not notified.
[0026] As one example, one or more aspects of the present invention
can be included in an article of manufacture (e.g., one or more
computer program products) having, for instance, computer usable
media. The media has embodied therein, for instance, computer
readable program code means for providing and facilitating the
capabilities of the present invention. The article of manufacture
can be included as a part of a computer system or sold
separately.
[0027] Additionally, at least one program storage device readable
by a machine, tangibly embodying at least one program of
instructions executable by the machine to perform the capabilities
of the present invention can be provided.
[0028] The flow diagrams depicted herein are just examples. There
may be many variations to these diagrams or the steps (or
operations) described therein without departing from the spirit of
the invention. For instance, the steps may be performed in a
differing order, or steps may be added, deleted or modified. All of
these variations are considered a part of the claimed
invention.
[0029] While the preferred embodiment to the invention has been
described, it will be understood that those skilled in the art,
both now and in the future, may make various improvements and
enhancements which fall within the scope of the claims which
follow. These claims should be construed to maintain the proper
protection for the invention first described.
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