A power supply circuit, its monitoring method, and a server

Abstract

The present invention discloses a power supply circuit, a monitoring method thereof, and a server, relating to the technical field of servers. The number and the first protection threshold of at least one first protection component arranged on each power supply branch can be adjusted according to the power supply requirements of the loads mounted on the power supply nodes connected to the power supply branches, so as to differentially match the dynamic load requirements of each power supply branch, solve the technical problem of false disconnection and missed disconnection of the protection component, ensure accurate triggering of the protection action under different load states, achieve the technical effect of reducing false disconnection and missed disconnection, and improve the operation safety and reliability of the server.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of servers, and particularly to a power supply circuit, a monitoring method thereof, and a server. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of technologies such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence, the computing power demand of servers has increased exponentially. The integration of high-power-consuming devices such as multi-core CPUs (Central Processing Units), GPU (Graphics Processing Units) clusters, and acceleration cards has greatly increased the power input of a single server. Therefore, the server system adopts a multi-way independent power supply architecture to support the voltage and current requirements of different loads. To achieve protection when the circuit current is abnormal, a one-time fuse or a mechanical circuit breaker is added as a protection component in the power supply branch. However, such devices have a fixed protection threshold and cannot be dynamically adjusted according to the real-time power consumption of the load, thus there is a risk of overprotection or underprotection. In addition, after the fuse operates, it needs to be replaced manually, which seriously affects the continuous operation of high-availability servers.

[0003] Therefore, how to provide a solution to the above technical problems is an issue that those skilled in the art need to solve currently. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a power supply circuit, a monitoring method thereof, and a server to at least solve the technical problem of misbreaking and missing breaking of protection components with fixed protection thresholds in related technologies.

[0005] The present invention provides a power supply circuit, including:

[0006] Multiple power supply branches, the first end of the power supply branch is connected to the power supply output end of the power supply, and the second end of the power supply branch is connected to the corresponding power node;

[0007] At least one first protection component, the first protection component is connected in series on the power supply branch, the first protection component is configured to detect the power supply parameters of the power supply branch where it is located and disconnect in response to a first signal; the number and the first protection threshold of the first protection components on the power supply branch are determined based on the power supply requirements of the load mounted on the power node connected to the power supply branch;

[0008] A control component, connected to at least one of the first protection components on at least one of the power supply branches, the control component is configured to output the first signal when the power supply parameters detected by the first protection component reach the first protection threshold corresponding to the first protection component.

[0009] The present invention also provides a method for monitoring a power supply circuit, which is applied to the power supply circuit as described above. The power supply circuit includes multiple power supply branches, and the method for monitoring the power supply circuit includes:

[0010] Obtaining the power supply parameters of the power supply branch detected by at least one first protection component connected in series on the power supply branch;

[0011] When the power supply parameters detected by the first protection component reach the first protection threshold corresponding to the first protection component, controlling the first protection component whose power supply parameters reach the first protection threshold to disconnect.

[0012] The present invention also provides a server, which includes at least one power supply and the power supply circuit as described above connected to the power supply.

[0013] Through the present invention, since the number and the first protection threshold of at least one first protection component provided on each power supply branch can be adjusted according to the power supply requirements of the loads mounted on the power supply nodes connected to the power supply branch, the power supply branches can be differentially matched to dynamic load requirements, solving the technical problems of false disconnection and missed disconnection of the protection components, ensuring accurate triggering of protection actions under different load states, achieving the technical effects of reducing false disconnection and missed disconnection, and improving the operation safety and reliability of the server. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings required for use in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and those of ordinary skill in the art can also obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative efforts.

[0015] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of the first power supply circuit provided by the embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of a detection module provided by the embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 3 It is a schematic structural diagram of the second power supply circuit provided by the embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 4 It is a schematic structural diagram of the third power supply circuit provided by the embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 5 It is a flowchart of a method for monitoring a power supply circuit provided by the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0020] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

[0021] It should be noted that in the description of the present invention, the terms "include", "comprise" or any other variant thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device including a series of elements not only includes those elements but also includes other elements not expressly listed, or further includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. The terms "first", "second", etc. in the present invention are used to distinguish similar objects and are not used to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0022] In order to enable those skilled in the art of this technology to better understand the solution of the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0023] In the first aspect, please refer to Figure 1 , the present invention provides a power supply circuit, including:

[0024] Multiple power supply branches 1, the first end of the power supply branch 1 is connected to the power supply output end of the power supply, and the second end of the power supply branch 1 is connected to the corresponding power node;

[0025] At least one first protection component 2, the first protection component 2 is connected in series on the power supply branch 1, and the first protection component 2 is configured to detect the power supply parameters of the power supply branch 1 where it is located and disconnect in response to the first signal; the number and the first protection threshold of the first protection components 2 on the power supply branch 1 are determined based on the power supply requirements of the loads mounted on the power nodes connected to the power supply branch 1;

[0026] A control component 3, connected to at least one first protection component 2 on at least one power supply branch 1, and the control component 3 is configured to output a first signal when the power supply parameters detected by the first protection component 2 reach the first protection threshold corresponding to the first protection component 2.

[0027] In this embodiment, the server includes a power supply. The power supply output end of the power supply is connected to different power nodes (such as Figure 1 the first power node G1 and the second power node G2 in Figure 1Eight loads are shown, namely the first load z1 and the second load z2 mounted under the first power node G1, and the third load z3, the fourth load z4, the fifth load z5, the sixth load z6, the seventh load z7, and the eighth load z8 mounted under the second power node G2.

[0028] Each power supply branch 1 includes at least one first protection component 2. The first protection component 2 has its corresponding first protection threshold. The number of first protection components 2 provided on each power supply branch 1 and the magnitude of the first protection threshold are both determined based on the power supply requirements of the loads mounted on the power node connected to the rear end of the power supply branch 1, so that different branches can flexibly configure protection components according to their load characteristics (such as power magnitude, current demand, etc.) to achieve differential protection. Exemplarily, for a load with a large power demand, the number of protection components can be increased or the threshold can be adjusted to ensure that power is not cut off due to misoperation of the protection component under high load; while for a load with a small power demand, the protection threshold can be appropriately reduced to improve the sensitivity of protection. The first protection component 2 is used to detect the power supply parameters on its own power supply branch 1 and transmit the power supply parameters to the control component 3. When the control component 3 determines that the power supply parameters on the power supply branch 1 reach the first protection threshold corresponding to the first protection component 2, it triggers a protection action and outputs a first signal. The first protection component 2 disconnects the power supply branch 1 under the drive of the first signal, thereby disconnecting the power supply of the power node at the rear end of the power supply branch 1. The control component 3 is connected to at least one first protection component 2 on at least one power supply branch 1. When the first protection component 2 detects that the power supply parameters reach its corresponding first protection threshold, the control component 3 will output a first signal to trigger a protection action.

[0029] The protection components in the related art often adopt fixed thresholds and configurations, and are prone to misdisconnection (disconnecting when it should not be disconnected) or missed disconnection (not disconnecting when it should be disconnected) when the load changes. Through differential configuration, this solution makes the protection action more accurate, thereby effectively reducing the occurrence of misdisconnection and missed disconnection. Through precise protection actions, the power supply circuit can cut off the power supply in a timely manner when the load is abnormal (such as short circuit, overload, etc.), preventing the expansion of the fault, thereby improving the operation safety and reliability of devices such as servers. It can be understood that a server usually needs to supply power to multiple modules with different powers and functions at the same time. Through the differential protection mechanism of this embodiment, it can be ensured that each module can obtain precise protection under its respective load conditions, thus ensuring the stable operation of the server.

[0030] In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of first protection components 2 are provided on the power supply branch 1, and the plurality of first protection components 2 are connected in parallel.

[0031] In this embodiment, multiple first protection components 2 are connected in parallel on the same power supply branch 1. The multiple first protection components 2 share the current and voltage of the power supply branch 1, but each protection component can independently detect the power supply parameters and trigger a protection action. When the power supply parameters (such as current, voltage, etc.) of the power supply branch 1 change, each parallel-connected first protection component 2 will independently detect the parameter. If the parameter detected by a certain protection component reaches its set first protection threshold, the control component 3 will output a first signal to drive the first protection component connected in parallel in the power supply branch 1 to disconnect the power supply branch 1. Further, the multiple parallel-connected first protection components 2 can simultaneously detect the power supply parameters of the power supply branch 1, increasing the redundancy of detection. Even if one of the protection components fails or makes a misjudgment, the other protection components can still work normally and trigger a protection action, thereby improving the reliability of the entire power supply circuit.

[0032] In this embodiment, different protection thresholds can be set for each parallel-connected first protection component 2, so as to achieve multi-level protection of the power supply branch 1. For example, a first protection component 2 with a low threshold can be set to detect minor abnormalities, while a first protection component 2 with a high threshold can be set to handle serious faults, so that the trigger conditions of the protection action can be controlled more precisely. The parallel-connected first protection components 2 can be flexibly configured according to the load characteristics connected to the power supply branch 1. For complex loads (such as devices with various different power requirements), multiple protection components can be set to handle different types of abnormalities respectively, so as to better adapt to dynamic load requirements.

[0033] In addition, if a large current surge occurs, the multiple parallel-connected first protection components 2 can share the current together. Each first protection component 2 will share a part of the current according to its own characteristics (such as resistance, conduction ability, etc.), thereby reducing the burden on a single component. The multiple parallel-connected first protection components 2 can simultaneously detect the abnormalities of the power supply branch 1. Once a certain component detects a large current surge and triggers a protection action, the control component 3 can quickly output a signal to cut off the power supply branch 1. This multi-point detection mechanism can shorten the response time, cut off the power supply faster, and prevent the large current surge from causing serious damage to the circuit.

[0034] As an alternative embodiment, on the basis of the parallel protection components, some protection elements (such as inductors, resistors or positive temperature coefficient resistors) can also be connected in series to further limit the current. These elements can provide additional impedance during a large current surge to slow down the rising speed of the current. Exemplarily, for example, a series inductor can effectively suppress the rapid change of the current, thereby reducing the pressure on the parallel protection components caused by the large current surge.

[0035] In an exemplary embodiment, at least one redundant protection component is included in the plurality of first protection components 2 connected in parallel. The first protection threshold of the redundant protection component is greater than that of the main protection component, and the main protection component is the first protection component 2 among the plurality of first protection components 2 connected in parallel except the redundant protection component.

[0036] In this embodiment, a redundant protection component is introduced. Taking a power supply branch 1 as an example, the plurality of first protection components 2 on the power supply branch 1 include a main protection component and a redundant protection component. The main protection component is the main protection element on the power supply branch 1, and its first protection threshold is set according to normal operating conditions and load requirements, and is used to trigger a protection action and cut off the power supply branch 1 in conventional abnormal situations (such as slight overcurrent, overvoltage, etc.). The first protection threshold of the redundant protection component is higher than that of the main protection component, which means that it will not trigger a protection action under normal circumstances. Its main function is to serve as a backup and provide additional protection when the main protection component fails or is unable to handle extreme abnormal situations (such as large current surges, severe short circuits, etc.). The main protection component and the redundant protection component together constitute a dual protection mechanism. The main protection component is responsible for handling common abnormal situations, while the redundant protection component provides additional protection in extreme situations, ensuring that the power supply branch 1 is protected under various abnormal situations. Even if the main protection component fails to trigger a protection action due to a fault or misjudgment, the redundant protection component can still play a role and avoid equipment damage or safety accidents caused by protection failure.

[0037] The high protection threshold of the redundant protection component enables it to withstand a greater current surge. In the case of a large current surge, the main protection component may be damaged or unable to respond in time due to excessive current. At this time, the redundant protection component can trigger a protection action and cut off the power supply branch 1, thereby protecting the circuit. The main protection component and the redundant protection component connected in parallel can share the current together, reducing the burden on a single component. The high-threshold design of the redundant protection component enables it to absorb more energy during a large current surge, thereby enhancing the impact resistance of the entire power supply branch 1.

[0038] In an exemplary embodiment, the first protection component 2 includes:

[0039] A detection module disposed on the power supply branch 1, with the first end connected to the power supply output end of the power supply, and the sampling output end connected to the control component 3. The detection module is configured to detect the power supply parameters of the power supply branch 1 where it is located;

[0040] A switch module disposed on the power supply branch 1, with the first end connected to the second end of the detection module, the second end connected to the corresponding power node, and the control end connected to the control component 3. The switch module is configured to disconnect in response to the first signal.

[0041] In this embodiment, the first protection component 2 includes a switch module and a detection module. The switch module and the detection module adopt a split design scheme. The switch module and the detection module are connected in series in the power supply branch 1. Specifically, the first end of the switch module is connected to the second end of the detection module, the second end is connected to the corresponding power supply node, and the control end of the switch module is connected to the control component 3. The detection module is arranged on the power supply branch 1. The first end of the detection module is connected to the power supply output end of the power supply, and the sampling output end of the detection module is connected to the control component 3, which is used to detect the power supply parameters (such as voltage, current, temperature, etc.) on the power supply branch 1 where it is located in real time, and feedback the power supply parameters to the control component 3, which can be specifically transmitted to the control component 3 through analog signals or digital communication (such as ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) conversion). Based on the power supply parameters monitored by the detection module, the control component 3 determines whether the power supply parameters meet the abnormal protection conditions. If so, a first signal is sent to the switch module on the power supply branch 1 where the detection module is located. After receiving the first signal, the switch module disconnects, thereby cutting off the power supply branch 1 and stopping the power supply to the load on the power supply branch 1, while other branches operate normally. The switch module can specifically select an electronic fuse (efuse). These components have the characteristics of high voltage resistance and fast response, and can quickly cut off the power supply branch 1 to prevent the expansion of faults.

[0042] In this embodiment, the detection module and the switch module are independently configured to avoid interference between the monitoring and execution functions, ensure that only the faulty branch is cut off, and the non-faulty part is not affected. The modular design allows separate replacement of the detection or switch components, reducing the maintenance cost. When adding a new branch, only the module combination needs to be copied, and there is no need to reconstruct the entire system. The detection signal and the first signal are separated (such as using optoelectronic isolation technology) to reduce the interference of electromagnetic noise in the power supply circuit on the control logic.

[0043] In an exemplary embodiment, the detection module includes at least one sampling resistor. The first end of at least one sampling resistor is connected to the power supply output end of the power supply, and the second end of at least one sampling resistor is connected to the control component 3.

[0044] In this embodiment, the detection module includes at least one sampling resistor. The first end of the sampling resistor is connected to the power supply output end of the power supply, and the second end is connected to the control component 3. The current of the power supply branch 1 is detected through the sampling resistor. Specifically, the voltage drop across the sampling resistor is proportional to the current passing through the resistor. By detecting this voltage drop, the current of the power supply branch 1 can be calculated. The selection of the sampling resistor needs to be determined according to the current range and accuracy requirements of the power supply branch 1 to ensure the accuracy of the detection.

[0045] In an exemplary embodiment, refer to Figure 2, the detection module includes a conductor segment on the board connecting the power input terminal and the power output terminal, and measuring points provided at both ends of the conductor segment. The measuring points are connected to the control component 3. The power input terminal is connected to the output end of the power supply, and the power output terminal is connected to the corresponding load. Both the load and the control component 3 are provided on the board.

[0046] In this embodiment, in addition to the method of selecting an external sampling resistor to implement the sampling of power supply parameters, the detection module can also reserve a conductor segment with a preset impedance in the board (which can be copper foil traces on a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) or a dedicated metal strip) to implement the function of the sampling resistor. One end of the conductor segment is connected to the power input terminal on the board, and the other end of the conductor segment is connected to the power output terminal on the board. The power input terminal is connected to the power supply output end of the power supply, and the power output terminal is connected to the corresponding load on the board. Measuring points are provided at both ends of the conductor segment, and the measuring points are respectively connected to the control component 3 through connection lines. Specifically, the measuring points are respectively connected to the differential input ports of the control component 3 through connection lines to eliminate the lead resistance error. The control component 3 can obtain the voltage drop at both ends of the conductor segment to achieve the sampling of the power supply parameters on the power supply branch 1. According to the target detection accuracy and current range, the inherent impedance is calculated by adjusting the length L, width W, and material (such as the resistivity of copper foil) of the conductor segment. The size of the conductor segment can be set according to actual engineering needs to meet the sampling accuracy requirements and path loss requirements. This embodiment does not make specific limitations here.

[0047] Among them, the board with the reserved conductor segment is the board on which the load and the switch module are arranged. By reserving a conductor segment with a preset impedance in the board, the occupation of the board area by discrete devices can be reduced, which is suitable for high-density board design (such as server power supply boards). The conductor segment is integrally formed with the board, avoiding problems such as desoldering or poor contact of discrete resistors caused by vibration and temperature change. The parasitic parameters (inductance, capacitance) are controllable, which is beneficial to signal integrity in high-frequency scenarios. Because no additional sampling resistor is required, and the detection module can be flexibly arranged on the board to adapt to different circuit design and layout requirements.

[0048] In an exemplary embodiment, the conductor segment is composed of at least one conductive layer on the board.

[0049] In this embodiment, the conductor segment can be composed of one conductive layer on the board or multiple conductive layers. The conductive layer can specifically be a copper layer or other conductive material layer on the board. Copper and other conductive materials have excellent electrical conductivity, which can ensure the efficient transmission of current in the conductor segment and reduce energy loss. The conductor segment can also be regarded as a current transmission channel. The side spacing on both sides of the channel is the width W, and the channel can preferably be a parallel channel. A rectangular conductor segment can be specifically selected. The width of the rectangular conductor segment is consistent on the path, ensuring the standardization of the impedance parameters of the conductor segment.

[0050] In an exemplary embodiment, the conductor segment is a multi-layer structure composed of multiple interconnected conductive layers, and a plurality of interconnected vias are provided on both the power input terminal and the power output terminal.

[0051] In this embodiment, when the conductor segment is composed of multiple interconnected conductive layers, by providing a plurality of interconnected vias on the power input terminal and the power output terminal, the interconnected vias are vertical channels connecting different conductive layers, allowing current to flow between different layers. By reasonably designing the number and distribution of the vias, it is possible to ensure the balanced distribution of current between the layers, avoiding overheating or damage caused by excessive current in a certain layer. It can be understood that the multi-layer structure can arrange more circuits in a limited space, improving the integration and density of the circuit, helping to reduce interference and crosstalk in signal transmission, and improving signal integrity.

[0052] The number of interconnected vias is usually determined according to the current demand of the circuit. For example, if the circuit needs to pass a current of 30A, then the number of vias is usually designed to be 30 or more to ensure uniform current distribution. The number of interconnected vias can also be appropriately reduced, but it is necessary to ensure that it does not affect the balanced current distribution and the performance of the circuit. The arrangement of the vias can be dense or dispersed, depending on the design requirements of the circuit and the process capabilities of the PCB manufacturer.

[0053] In an exemplary embodiment, the conductive layers constituting the conductor segment and the power input terminal and the power output terminal are arranged on different layers of the board, and the conductive layers constituting the conductor segment are connected to the power input terminal and the power output terminal through vias; or, the conductive layers constituting the conductor segment and the power input terminal and the power output terminal are arranged on the same layer of the board.

[0054] In this embodiment, the power input terminal and the power output terminal can specifically be the power input copper foil and the power output copper foil on the board. In this embodiment, the layout design of the conductor segment, the power input terminal, and the power output terminal has a certain degree of flexibility, and there are mainly the following two situations:

[0055] The conductor segment and the power terminals are arranged in a layered layout, that is, the conductive layers constituting the conductor segment and the power input terminal and the power output terminal are arranged on different layers of the board. In this case, the conductive layers constituting the conductor segment are connected to the power input terminal and the power output terminal through vias. As a common connection method in PCB board design, vias can achieve electrical connections between different layers, ensuring that current can be smoothly transmitted from the power input terminal to the conductor segment, then from the conductor segment to the power output terminal, and then connected to the corresponding load. This layered layout method is beneficial to optimizing the space utilization rate of the board. Especially in the design of high-density boards, it can effectively relieve the wiring pressure on the same layer and provide more space for the layout of other components and circuits.

[0056] The conductor segment and the power supply terminals are arranged on the same layer. The conductive layer that forms the conductor segment, the power input terminal, and the power output terminal are disposed on the same layer of the board. At this time, the power input terminal and the power output terminal can specifically be the power input copper foil and the power output copper foil on the board. The copper foil of the conductor segment and the power input / output copper foil can be arranged on the same layer or on different layers. When the copper foil of the conductor segment is multi-layered, one layer can be arranged on the same layer as the power input / output copper foil. This same-layer layout method can simplify the manufacturing process of the board in some cases, reduce the number of vias used, and lower the potential reliability problems and manufacturing costs caused by vias. At the same time, the same-layer layout also facilitates wiring optimization and debugging during the design stage, and can more intuitively observe and adjust the connection relationship between the conductor segment and the power supply terminals, ensuring the efficiency and stability of the current transmission path.

[0057] In an exemplary embodiment, the conductor segment includes a first side and a second side of equal length. The measurement points include a first measurement point provided on the first side and a second measurement point provided on the second side. The first measurement point is connected to a first detection line, and the second measurement point is connected to a second detection line. The first detection line and the second detection line are connected to the control component 3 in the form of a differential pair; the first detection line and the second detection line are arranged on different layers of the board from the conductor segment.

[0058] In this embodiment, the conductor segment includes a first side and a second side of equal length. The measurement points include a first measurement point provided on the first side (such as Figure 2 the bridgehead measurement point in Figure 2 ) and a second measurement point provided on the second side (such as

[0059] The first detection line and the second detection line are on different layers of the board card from the conductor segment, which can effectively utilize the vertical space of the board card and avoid wiring conflicts between the conductor segment and the detection line on the same layer. Especially in the design of high-density board cards, this layered layout provides more flexibility for the arrangement of other components and circuits, contributing to the realization of complex circuit designs and compact device layouts. It can be understood that a relatively large working current flows through the conductor segment, while the detection line transmits weak signals for detection. Laying the two separately can significantly reduce the mutual inductance effect of the current change in the conductor segment on the detection line signal, reduce noise interference, and thus improve the accuracy of current detection. In addition, the layered layout also helps to reduce the mutual interference between detection lines and ensure the transmission quality of differential signals. Moreover, during the manufacturing process, the layered layout is conducive to optimizing the manufacturing process of the PCB. The functional partitioning of different layers is clear, which can improve production efficiency and the yield rate. At the same time, reducing the direct contact between the detection line and the large-current conductor segment reduces the risk of manufacturing defects or electrical failures during use, improving the overall reliability of the board card.

[0060] In one exemplary embodiment, among the multiple power supply branches 1, there is a target power supply branch with a risk of failure in its sub-path.

[0061] Referring to Figure 3 , the power supply circuit further includes:

[0062] At least one second protection component F, which is connected in series on the sub-path with a risk of failure in the target power supply branch. The second protection component F is configured to disconnect when the power supply parameter of the sub-path where it is located reaches its corresponding second protection threshold.

[0063] In this embodiment, the power supply branch 1 with a risk of failure in its sub-path is determined as the target power supply branch, and the second protection component F is connected in series on the target power supply branch. When the power supply parameter (such as current) of the sub-path with a risk of failure reaches the second protection threshold corresponding to the second protection component F, the second protection component F will disconnect, cutting off the power supply of this sub-path. The protection threshold of the second protection component F is usually lower than that of the first protection component 2 (efuse), so that it can more sensitively detect smaller fault currents.

[0064] It can be understood that the low protection threshold of the second protection component F enables it to more sensitively detect smaller fault currents, thus triggering the protection action faster and reducing the impact of the fault on the circuit. By adding the second protection component F on the sub-path with a risk of failure, only the faulty sub-path is cut off, without affecting the normal operation of the entire circuit, thereby narrowing the scope of the fault impact. The first protection component 2 (efuse) and the second protection component F (additional fuse or efsue) together constitute a multi-level protection mechanism, providing more comprehensive protection.

[0065] In a specific application, considering that different power rails need to supply power in sequence when the server is powered on, the S0 timing branch usually has a relatively large load power consumption. By adding a second protection component F to the fault risk sub - circuit, the high - load branch can be effectively protected to avoid power failure of the entire branch due to local faults.

[0066] In an exemplary embodiment, the fault risk sub - circuit includes a sub - circuit with a plug - and - unplug load on the power supply branch 1 and / or a sub - circuit with more than a preset number of capacitors.

[0067] Considering that plug - and - unplug loads (such as pluggable modules or devices) may cause instantaneous changes in current or voltage when inserted or removed, thus increasing the fault risk. For example, plug - and - unplug operations may cause short - circuits, over - currents, or over - voltages. Based on this, this embodiment determines the sub - circuit with a plug - and - unplug load on the power supply branch 1 as the fault risk sub - circuit. Since instantaneous short - circuits or over - currents may occur when plugging and unplugging loads. By adding a second protection component F to these sub - circuits, the power supply of this sub - circuit can be quickly cut off when a fault occurs, preventing the fault from spreading to the entire power supply branch 1. Considering that capacitors may have a large impact on the circuit during charging and discharging. If the number of capacitors in a sub - circuit exceeds a preset value, it may cause large current surges or voltage fluctuations in the circuit during startup or load changes, thus increasing the fault risk. Based on this, this embodiment determines the sub - circuit with more than a preset number of capacitors on the power supply branch 1 as the fault risk sub - circuit. Since a large number of capacitors may have a large impact on the circuit during charging and discharging, resulting in instantaneous changes in current or voltage. By adding a second protection component F to these sub - circuits, abnormal conditions can be detected more sensitively and the power supply can be cut off in time to protect the circuit.

[0068] The protection threshold of the second protection component F is usually lower than that of the first protection component 2, so as to more sensitively detect smaller fault currents. For example, for the sub - circuit with a plug - and - unplug load, a lower over - current protection threshold can be set; for the sub - circuit with a large number of capacitors, a lower over - voltage protection threshold can be set.

[0069] In an exemplary embodiment, the second protection component F includes a fuse.

[0070] In this embodiment, the fuse is a simple and effective over - current protection device. When the current passing through the fuse exceeds its rated value, the fuse wire inside the fuse will quickly melt and cut off the circuit. This cutting process is physical. Once the current exceeds the threshold, the fuse will act immediately to ensure that the circuit is reliably cut off in the case of over - current. Compared with some electronic protection devices (such as efuse), the operation of the fuse is mainly based on the physical melting principle and is not affected by electromagnetic interference or signal noise, so it is more reliable in a complex electromagnetic environment.

[0071] Using a fuse as the second protection component F has the advantages of low cost, high reliability, good thermal stability, and strong fault isolation ability. It can effectively handle overcurrent and short - circuit problems in the fault - risk sub - circuit, reduce the damage of faults to the entire system, and improve the reliability and safety of the power supply circuit. In practical applications, the fuse can be used in combination with electronic protection devices (such as efuse) to form a multi - level protection mechanism, further enhancing the protection ability of the system.

[0072] In an exemplary embodiment, the first protection component 2 includes an electronic fuse. The first end of the electronic fuse is connected to the power supply output end of the power supply, the second end of the electronic fuse is connected to the corresponding power node, and both the control end and the sampling end of the electronic fuse are connected to the control component 3. An internal sampling resistor and a switching tube are integrated in the electronic fuse. The first end of the sampling resistor is connected to the first end of the electronic fuse, the second end of the sampling resistor is connected to the first end of the switching tube, the second end of the switching tube is connected to the second end of the electronic fuse, the control end of the switching tube is connected to the control end of the electronic fuse, and the sampling end of the electronic fuse is configured to output the voltage signal across the sampling resistor; the power supply parameters of the power supply branch 1 include the voltage signal.

[0073] In this embodiment, a monolithic integrated electronic fuse can be selected. The sampling resistor and the switching tube are integrated in the electronic fuse, that is, the sampling resistor and the switching tube in this embodiment are of an integrated design. The sampling end of the electronic fuse outputs the voltage signal across the sampling resistor, and this signal is used to monitor the current passing through the electronic fuse. When the current exceeds the preset value, the control component 3 triggers the switching tube to disconnect through the control end, thereby cutting off the current and protecting the circuit. This embodiment can reduce the use of precision resistors and controllers and reduce the area occupied by components on the board.

[0074] In an exemplary embodiment, referring to Figure 4 as shown, the number of power supply branches 1 is greater than 2. Figure 4 The power nodes include the first power node G1, the second power node G2, the third power node G3... the nth power node Gn, Figure 4 8 loads are shown, which are the first load z1 and the second load z2 mounted under the first power node G1, the third load z3 and the fourth load z4 mounted under the second power node G2, the fifth load z5 and the sixth load z6 mounted under the third power node G3, and the seventh load z7 and the eighth load z8 mounted under the nth power node Gn.

[0075] In this embodiment, multiple power supply branches 1 can be divided according to different loads. The number of power supply branches 1 is greater than 2. Each power supply branch 1 is independently provided with an efuse protection device. The abnormal protection current threshold of each power supply branch 1 will decrease, enabling independent protection against branch faults. When a fault occurs in the circuit, each sub-branch can achieve a relatively sensitive and fast protection action due to the small protection threshold.

[0076] In an exemplary embodiment, among multiple power supply branches 1, at least two power supply branches 1 have different power-on timings.

[0077] In this embodiment, since the server needs different power rail timings to boot, for example, at least two different timings, S5 timing (second timing) and S0 (first timing) timing, the power supply circuit is at least divided into two power supply branches 1. As Figure 4 shown, for the power supply nodes, mainly S0 and S5 timings are divided. The first power supply node G1 is at timing S5, and the remaining power supply nodes are at timing S0. Generally, the S5 timing is for hardware timing control, and the timing S0 is for the control component 3 to send timing commands. In each power supply branch 1, the current-carrying capacity and abnormal current protection threshold of the electronic fuse are determined according to the load size mounted on the subsequent power supply node.

[0078] In an exemplary embodiment, the control component 3 is further configured to sequentially output a second signal to the first protection components 2 on N power supply branches 1 based on the power-on timings of the N power supply branches 1; N is less than or equal to the total number of power supply branches 1;

[0079] The first protection component 2 is further configured to conduct in response to the second signal.

[0080] In this embodiment, the power-on timings of the power supply branches 1 are different. The second signal is sequentially output to the first protection components 2 on the N power supply branches 1 according to different power-on timings to control the power-on of each power supply branch 1 in sequence, improving the power-on safety.

[0081] In an exemplary embodiment, the power-on timing includes a first timing and a second timing, and the load power consumption corresponding to the first timing is greater than the load power consumption corresponding to the second timing;

[0082] The number of first protection components 2 on the power supply branch 1 corresponding to the first timing is greater than the number of first protection components 2 on the power supply branch 1 corresponding to the second timing.

[0083] It can be understood that the load power consumption of the general timing S5 is small and is usually used for power supply to low-power devices or modules. Since the load power consumption is small, usually only one first protection component 2 is required to meet the power supply demand. A single switch component can simplify the circuit design and reduce costs. Using at least one first protection component 2, the load power consumption of the timing S0 is large and is usually used for power supply to high-power devices or modules. Since the load power consumption is large, more switch components are required to meet the power supply demand. For example, multiple first protection components 2 may be required to be used in parallel or in series to provide sufficient current capacity and redundant protection. Multiple switch components can disperse the current, reduce the burden on a single component, and improve the reliability and safety of the system.

[0084] By configuring different numbers of switch components according to the load power consumption in different power-on timings (the first timing and the second timing), the power supply circuit can better adapt to different load requirements, improve the reliability of the system, and optimize costs.

[0085] In an exemplary embodiment, the power supply circuit further includes:

[0086] A first filter energy storage component, with the first end connected to the power supply output end of the power supply and the second end connected to the first protection component 2 on the corresponding power supply branch 1. The filter energy storage component is configured to filter and store the output voltage of the power supply; the first filter energy storage component includes a plurality of electrolytic capacitors connected in parallel;

[0087] A second filter energy storage component, with the first end connected to the first protection component 2 and the second end connected to the corresponding load.

[0088] In this embodiment, to achieve power supply stability, electrolytic capacitor filter energy storage components can be added before or after the first protection component 2, including a plurality of electrolytic capacitors connected in parallel / series. It can be understood that the electrolytic capacitors in the first filter energy storage component can filter the output voltage of the power supply, reducing the ripple and noise in the voltage. The equivalent series resistance of the electrolytic capacitor is relatively low, which can effectively filter high-frequency noise. The electrolytic capacitor has a large capacitance value and can store electrical energy in a short time. When the output voltage of the power supply fluctuates briefly, the electrolytic capacitor can release the stored electrical energy to maintain the voltage stability of the power supply branch 1. On the basis of the first filter energy storage component, the second filter energy storage component can further filter the voltage ripple and noise in the power supply branch 1, ensure that the voltage at the load end is more stable, and provide local energy storage for the load. When there is a transient current change at the load end, the second filter energy storage component can respond quickly and provide the required electrical energy to avoid voltage drop.

[0089] The first filtering energy storage component and the second filtering energy storage component work together to effectively reduce the ripple and noise in the output voltage of the power supply, improving the voltage stability. When there is a short-term fluctuation in the output voltage of the power supply, the filtering energy storage component can release the stored electrical energy to maintain the voltage stability of the power supply branch 1, thereby improving the anti-interference ability of the system.

[0090] In a second aspect, please refer to Figure 5 , the present invention also provides a power supply circuit monitoring method, which is applied to the power supply circuit as described above. The power supply circuit includes multiple power supply branches. The power supply circuit monitoring method includes:

[0091] S101: Obtain the power supply parameters of the power supply branch detected by at least one first protection component connected in series on the power supply branch;

[0092] S102: When the power supply parameters detected by the first protection component reach the first protection threshold corresponding to the first protection component, control the first protection component whose power supply parameters reach the first protection threshold to disconnect.

[0093] In a third aspect, the present invention also provides a server, which includes at least one power supply and a power supply circuit as described above connected to the power supply.

[0094] A power supply circuit includes:

[0095] Multiple power supply branches, the first end of the power supply branch is connected to the power supply output end of the power supply, and the second end of the power supply branch is connected to the corresponding power node;

[0096] At least one first protection component, the first protection component is connected in series on the power supply branch. The first protection component is configured to detect the power supply parameters of its own power supply branch and disconnect in response to the first signal; the number and the first protection threshold of the first protection components on the power supply branch are determined based on the power supply requirements of the loads mounted on the power node connected to the power supply branch;

[0097] A control component, which is connected to at least one first protection component on at least one power supply branch. The control component is configured to output a first signal when the power supply parameters detected by the first protection component reach the first protection threshold corresponding to the first protection component.

[0098] In an exemplary embodiment, there are multiple first protection components on the power supply branch, and the multiple first protection components are connected in parallel.

[0099] In an exemplary embodiment, at least one redundant protection component is included among the multiple parallel first protection components. The first protection threshold of the redundant protection component is greater than the first protection threshold of the main protection component. The main protection component is the first protection component other than the redundant protection component among the multiple parallel first protection components.

[0100] In an exemplary embodiment, the first protection component includes:

[0101] A detection module disposed on the power supply branch, with its first end connected to the power output end of the power supply, and the sampling output end connected to the control component. The detection module is configured to detect the power supply parameters of the power supply branch where it is located.

[0102] A switch module disposed on the power supply branch, with its first end connected to the second end of the detection module, the second end connected to the corresponding power node, and the control end connected to the control component. The switch module is configured to disconnect in response to the first signal.

[0103] In an exemplary embodiment, the detection module includes at least one sampling resistor. The first end of at least one sampling resistor is connected to the power output end of the power supply, and the second end of at least one sampling resistor is connected to the control component.

[0104] In an exemplary embodiment, the detection module includes a conductor segment on the board connecting the power input terminal and the power output terminal, and measuring points provided at both ends of the conductor segment. The measuring points are connected to the control component. The power input terminal is connected to the output end of the power supply, and the power output terminal is connected to the corresponding load. Both the load and the control component are disposed on the board.

[0105] In an exemplary embodiment, the switch module includes a switching tube. The first end of the switching tube is connected to the second end of the detection module, the second end of the switching tube is connected to the corresponding power node, and the control end of the switching tube is connected to the control component. The switching tube is configured to disconnect in response to the first signal.

[0106] In an exemplary embodiment, among the multiple power supply branches, there is a target power supply branch with a sub - circuit at risk of failure.

[0107] The power supply circuit further includes:

[0108] At least one second protection component, which is connected in series on the sub - circuit at risk of failure of the target power supply branch. The second protection component is configured to disconnect when the power supply parameters of the sub - circuit at risk of failure where it is located reach its corresponding second protection threshold.

[0109] In an exemplary embodiment, the sub - circuit at risk of failure includes a sub - circuit on the power supply branch where a plug - in load is provided and / or a sub - circuit with a capacitance greater than a preset number.

[0110] In an exemplary embodiment, the second protection component includes a fuse.

[0111] In an exemplary embodiment, the first protection component includes an electronic fuse. The first end of the electronic fuse is connected to the power supply output terminal of the power supply, the second end of the electronic fuse is connected to the corresponding power node, and both the control end and the sampling end of the electronic fuse are connected to the control component. A sampling resistor and a switching tube are integrated inside the electronic fuse. The first end of the sampling resistor is connected to the first end of the electronic fuse, the second end of the sampling resistor is connected to the first end of the switching tube, the second end of the switching tube is connected to the second end of the electronic fuse, and the control end of the switching tube is connected to the control end of the electronic fuse. The sampling end of the electronic fuse is configured to output the voltage signal across the sampling resistor; the power supply parameters of the power supply branch include the voltage signal.

[0112] In an exemplary embodiment, the number of power supply branches is greater than 2.

[0113] In an exemplary embodiment, among multiple power supply branches, at least two power supply branches have different power-on timings.

[0114] In an exemplary embodiment, the control component is further configured to sequentially output a second signal to the first protection components on N power supply branches based on the power-on timings of the N power supply branches; N is less than or equal to the total number of power supply branches;

[0115] The first protection component is further configured to conduct in response to the second signal.

[0116] In an exemplary embodiment, the power-on timing includes a first timing and a second timing, and the load power consumption corresponding to the first timing is greater than the load power consumption corresponding to the second timing;

[0117] The number of first protection components on the power supply branch corresponding to the first timing is greater than the number of first protection components on the power supply branch corresponding to the second timing.

[0118] In an exemplary embodiment, the power supply circuit further includes:

[0119] A first filter energy storage component, with the first end connected to the power supply output terminal of the power supply and the second end connected to the first protection component on the corresponding power supply branch. The filter energy storage component is configured to filter and store the output voltage of the power supply.

[0120] In an exemplary embodiment, the first filter energy storage component includes multiple parallel electrolytic capacitors.

[0121] In an exemplary embodiment, the power supply circuit further includes:

[0122] A second filter energy storage component, with the first end connected to the first protection component and the second end connected to the corresponding load.

[0123] Those skilled in the art may further realize that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented by electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. To clearly illustrate the interchangeability of hardware and software, the components and steps of each example have been generally described according to functions in the above description. Whether these functions are executed in a hardware or software manner depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to exceed the scope of the present invention.

[0124] The above has introduced in detail a power supply circuit, its monitoring method, and a server provided by the present invention. Specific examples are used herein to elaborate on the principles and implementation manners of the present invention. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method and its core idea of the present invention. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art in this technical field, without departing from the principle of the present invention, several improvements and modifications can be made to the present invention, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A power supply circuit, characterized in that, Comprising: Multiple power supply branches, the first end of the power supply branch is connected to the power supply output end of the power supply, and the second end of the power supply branch is connected to the corresponding power supply node; Multiple first protection components connected in parallel, the first protection components are connected in series on the power supply branch, and the first protection components are configured to detect the power supply parameters of the power supply branch where they are located and disconnect in response to a first signal; the number of the first protection components on the power supply branch and the first protection threshold corresponding to each first protection component are determined based on the power supply requirements of the load mounted on the power supply node connected to the power supply branch, the power supply requirements include power magnitude requirements and current requirements, and the first protection thresholds corresponding to the multiple first protection components connected in parallel are different; A control component, connected to at least one of the first protection components on at least one of the power supply branches, and the control component is configured to, for each power supply branch, when the power supply parameters detected by any one of the first protection components on the power supply branch reach the first protection threshold corresponding to the first protection component, output the first signal to all the first protection components in the power supply branch, so that the power supply branch is disconnected.

2. The power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein At least one redundant protection component is included in the multiple first protection components connected in parallel, the first protection threshold of the redundant protection component is greater than the first protection threshold of the main protection component, and the main protection component is the first protection component other than the redundant protection component among the multiple first protection components connected in parallel.

3. The power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein The first protection component includes: A detection module provided on the power supply branch, the first end is connected to the power supply output end of the power supply, and the sampling output end is connected to the control component, and the detection module is configured to detect the power supply parameters of the power supply branch where it is located; A switch module provided on the power supply branch, the first end is connected to the second end of the detection module, the second end is connected to the corresponding power supply node, and the control end is connected to the control component, and the switch module is configured to disconnect in response to the first signal.

4. The power supply circuit according to claim 3, wherein The detection module includes at least one sampling resistor, the first end of at least one sampling resistor is connected to the power supply output end of the power supply, and the second end of at least one sampling resistor is connected to the control component.

5. The power supply circuit according to claim 3, wherein The detection module includes a conductor segment on the board connecting the power input terminal and the power output terminal, and measuring points provided at both ends of the conductor segment, the measuring points are connected to the control component, the power input terminal is connected to the output end of the power supply, the power output terminal is connected to the corresponding load, and both the load and the control component are provided on the board.

6. The power supply circuit according to claim 3, wherein The switch module includes a switching tube, the first end of the switching tube is connected to the second end of the detection module, the second end of the switching tube is connected to the corresponding power supply node, the control end of the switching tube is connected to the control component, and the switching tube is configured to disconnect in response to the first signal.

7. The power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein, Among the multiple power supply branches, there is a target power supply branch with a risk of failure; The power supply circuit further includes: At least one second protection component, which is connected in series on a fault risk sub-path of the target power supply branch, and the second protection component is configured to disconnect when the power supply parameters of the fault risk sub-path where it is located reach the corresponding second protection threshold of itself.

8. The power supply circuit according to claim 7, wherein The fault risk sub-path includes a sub-path on the power supply branch where a pluggable load is provided and / or a sub-path where there are more than a preset number of capacitors.

9. The power supply circuit according to claim 7, wherein The second protection component includes a fuse.

10. The power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein The first protection component includes an electronic fuse. The first end of the electronic fuse is connected to the power supply output end of the power supply, the second end of the electronic fuse is connected to the corresponding power supply node, the control end and the sampling end of the electronic fuse are both connected to the control component. A sampling resistor and a switching tube are integrated inside the electronic fuse. The first end of the sampling resistor is connected to the first end of the electronic fuse, the second end of the sampling resistor is connected to the first end of the switching tube, the second end of the switching tube is connected to the second end of the electronic fuse, the control end of the switching tube is connected to the control end of the electronic fuse, and the sampling end of the electronic fuse is configured to output the voltage signal across the sampling resistor; the power supply parameters of the power supply branch where it is located include the voltage signal.

11. The power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein The number of the power supply branches is greater than 2.

12. The power supply circuit according to claim 1, wherein Among multiple power supply branches, at least two of them have different power-on timings.

13. The power supply circuit according to claim 12, characterized in that The control component is further configured to sequentially output a second signal to the first protection components on N power supply branches based on the power-on timings of the N power supply branches; N is less than or equal to the total number of the power supply branches; The first protection component is further configured to conduct in response to the second signal.

14. The power supply circuit according to claim 12, characterized in that, The power-on timing includes a first timing and a second timing, and the load power consumption corresponding to the first timing is greater than the load power consumption corresponding to the second timing; The number of the first protection components on the power supply branch corresponding to the first timing is greater than the number of the first protection components on the power supply branch corresponding to the second timing.

15. The power supply circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power supply circuit further includes: A first filter energy storage component, with the first end connected to the power supply output end of the power supply and the second end connected to the first protection component on the corresponding power supply branch. The first filter energy storage component is configured to filter and store the output voltage of the power supply.

16. The power supply circuit according to claim 15, characterized in that, The first filter energy storage component includes a plurality of electrolytic capacitors connected in parallel.

17. The power supply circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power supply circuit further includes: A second filter energy storage component, with the first end connected to the first protection component and the second end connected to the corresponding load.

18. A power supply circuit monitoring method, characterized in that, Applied to the power supply circuit according to any one of claims 1-17, the power supply circuit includes multiple power supply branches, and the power supply circuit monitoring method includes: Obtaining the power supply parameters of the power supply branch detected by at least one first protection component connected in series on the power supply branch; When the power supply parameters detected by the first protection component reach the first protection threshold corresponding to the first protection component, controlling the first protection component whose power supply parameters reach the first protection threshold to disconnect.

19. A server, characterized in that, Including at least one power supply and the power supply circuit according to any one of claims 1-17 connected to the power supply.

Images