Dying Gasp Power Apparatus with Selective Rail Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power supply systems for dying gasp events require larger backup capacitor banks due to continuous power consumption in non-critical rails during shutdown, leading to inefficiencies and increased size requirements.
Innovation Solution
A power apparatus with a voltage monitor and blocking/passing components that selectively channel energy from the main power supply to charge input capacitors during normal operation and discharge them to critical power supplies during a power failure, disabling non-critical power rails to minimize consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a large capacitor bank is used for energy storage to maintain power during shutdown, then the system can keep running for the required period, but the size and cost of the power supply apparatus increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply apparatus is divided into multiple power rails, with critical power rails (carrying firmware and dying gasp signals) separated from non-critical power rails. During shutdown, only critical rails remain active while non-critical rails are disabled, allowing the capacitor bank to be sized for minimal essential power rather than total system power.
Solution Approach 2:
Different quality levels of power supply are applied to different parts of the system: critical components receive continuous regulated power during shutdown, while non-critical components are completely powered down. This selective power distribution optimizes energy usage and reduces capacitor requirements.
2Reliability
If non-critical power rails are kept active during shutdown to maintain system functionality, then more functions remain operational, but power consumption increases and depletes backup power faster
Solution Approach 1:
The power distribution system is segmented into critical and non-critical rails. The critical rails (carrying firmware clock signals and dying gasp indicators) are maintained during shutdown, while non-critical rails are disabled. This segmentation allows the system to maintain essential functionality with minimal power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of maintaining full system functionality during shutdown, the system applies partial action by keeping only the minimum necessary functions operational. This partial power supply to critical rails alone is sufficient to communicate power outage status and maintain firmware timing, while avoiding the excessive power consumption of keeping all rails active.
3Measurement precision
If all power rails are kept in regulation during shutdown, then complete system monitoring is maintained, but the backup capacitor bank must be sized significantly larger to account for continuous power losses
Solution Approach 1:
Power monitoring and regulation are segmented to apply only to critical power rails during shutdown. The voltage monitor continues to regulate critical rails to ensure accurate power outage detection and firmware timing, while non-critical rails are allowed to discharge without regulation, minimizing energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
Different levels of power quality and regulation are applied locally to different rails: critical rails receive regulated power with precise voltage monitoring to maintain measurement accuracy, while non-critical rails receive no regulation during shutdown, accepting higher power loss to reduce overall energy consumption.
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
This solution reduces power consumption and minimizes the size of the backup capacitor bank, optimizing energy use and reducing the footprint of devices like IoT devices and mobile phones.
Implementation Method 1
at least one first input capacitor to smooth voltage ripples and store energy
Implementation Method 2
at least one first blocking and passing component which is configured to selectively channel energy from the main power supply to charge the at least one first input capacitor
Implementation Method 3
a voltage monitor configured to monitor a voltage provided by the main power supply to the power apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a power apparatus, includes at least one first and second power supply to receive power from a main power supply, the at least one first power supply including at least one first input capacitor to smooth voltage ripples, a voltage monitor to monitor voltage provided by the main power supply, and cause enablement and/or disablement of at least one part of the at least one first power supply according to the voltage provided by the main power supply, and at least one first blocking and passing component configured to selectively channel energy from the main power supply to charge the at least one first input capacitor during a time when the at least one part is enabled, and channel energy from the at least one first input capacitor to the at least one second power supply during a time when the at least one part is disabled.