Backup Power Circuit with Diode Isolation for SSD Reliability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing backup power circuits for SSDs fail when one capacitor is short-circuited, affecting the entire circuit and leading to data loss due to the parallel connection of capacitors.

Innovation Solution

A backup power circuit with N branches connected in parallel, each including a capacitor and a unilateral conductive element, such as diodes, that isolates short-circuited branches, ensuring other branches remain functional and maintain power supply.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If capacitors are connected in parallel to increase backup power capacity, then the backup power effect is improved, but the reliability deteriorates because a single short-circuit causes entire circuit failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackup power effectVSAvoidcircuit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The backup power circuit is segmented into N independent backup power branches connected in parallel. Each branch contains its own capacitor and unilateral conductive element, creating isolated functional units. This segmentation allows the circuit to maintain backup power capability even when individual branches fail, resolving the contradiction between improving backup power effect and maintaining circuit simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A unilateral conductive element (diode) is introduced as an intermediary component in each backup power branch. This diode acts as a protective mediator that prevents short-circuit propagation between branches while maintaining normal parallel operation. The intermediary element enables the circuit to achieve both high backup power capacity and fault isolation without significant structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If capacitors are connected in parallel to provide sufficient backup power, then the energy storage capacity is improved, but the system reliability worsens due to cascading failure risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy storage capacityVSAvoidsystem reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The energy storage system is divided into N independent energy storage units (capacitors) organized in separate branches. Each unit can independently store and release energy, and the segmentation prevents a single unit's failure from affecting others. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining high total energy storage capacity while eliminating cascading failure risks through structural independence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The unilateral conductive element serves as an intermediary that enables safe parallel connection of multiple energy storage units. It allows current flow in the normal charging/discharging direction while blocking reverse current that would cause short-circuit propagation. This mediator enables the system to achieve high energy storage capacity with maintained reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If a simple parallel connection of capacitors is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates when short-circuit occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit structureVSAvoidbackup power function
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The circuit is segmented into independent branches with clear functional separation. Each branch is a self-contained unit with its own capacitor and protective diode, making the overall structure systematically simple despite the added redundancy. This segmentation maintains manageable device complexity while dramatically improving reliability through fault isolation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The unilateral conductive element is added as a minimal intermediary component that provides disproportionate reliability improvement. This simple diode component prevents catastrophic failure modes without significantly increasing overall circuit complexity, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and functional reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Prevents data loss by isolating short-circuited branches, ensuring the backup power circuit continues to function effectively even if some branches fail, thereby enhancing the backup power effect.

Implementation Method 1

the unilateral conductive element allows a current to flow into the input end of the backup power branch array and flow out from the output end of the backup power branch array

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiode unilateral conduction: Diode

Implementation Method 2

each backup power branch includes a capacitor component and a unilateral conductive element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP3428776B1Backup power circuit and electrical device
Publication Date: 2020.12.30 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3428776B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3428776B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3428776B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention discloses a backup power circuit and an electrical device, and belongs to the field of backup power technologies. An output end of the backup power circuit is electrically connected to an input end of a power supply circuit of the electrical device, and an output end of the power supply circuit is electrically connected to an input end of the electrical device. An input end of the backup power circuit is connected between the output end of the power supply circuit and the input end of the electrical device. The backup power circuit includes a backup power branch array including N backup power branches that are mutually connected in parallel; and each backup power branch include a capacitor component and a unilateral conductive element, where the unilateral conductive element is configured to cut off a current path between capacitor components in the N backup power branches that are mutually connected in parallel. The backup power branch array including the N backup power branches that are mutually connected in parallel is disposed, so that when some backup power branches are short-circuited, it can be ensured that backup power functions of other backup power branches are not affected, and backup power effects of the backup power branches are improved.