Multiport Power Sourcing Device Fault Handling via Watchdog Timers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for fault identification and handling in multiport power sourcing devices are prone to human errors, are time-consuming, and inefficient, often requiring manual intervention, which can render the entire device unusable until faults are fully rectified.
Innovation Solution
An automated system and method that uses a coordinated pair of master and slave ports with request-response communication over a shared interface, employing watchdog timers and role change staggered timers to detect and handle faults, allowing for automatic fault detection and redistribution of power to maintain device usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual fault identification and handling is used in multiport power sourcing devices, then the device can be operated with simple structure, but the fault identification process is time-consuming and prone to human errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic fault detection and handling through self-diagnosis mechanisms. The master port autonomously identifies faults in slave ports using watchdog timers and role change staggered timers, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The system performs self-testing and self-reporting of fault conditions, allowing rapid and accurate fault identification without human involvement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with electronic automated detection systems. Watchdog timers and role change staggered timers electronically monitor system status and automatically detect faults, substituting the manual visual inspection process with electronic sensing and automated diagnosis.
2Ease of operation
If manual fault handling is implemented, then the device structure remains simple, but the entire device becomes unusable until faults are fully rectified
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the multiport power sourcing device into independent functional segments (master port and slave ports). When a fault is detected in one slave port, only that specific port is isolated or reset, while other ports continue to operate normally. This segmentation allows partial device usability during fault conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements preemptive fault handling mechanisms including watchdog timers and role change staggered timers that detect and respond to faults before they propagate throughout the entire system. By having predetermined fault response protocols in place, the system can quickly contain and handle faults without rendering the entire device unusable.
3Reliability
If automated fault detection systems are added to improve reliability, then fault identification becomes faster and more accurate, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The master port and slave ports are designed with multi-functionality, serving both power distribution and fault detection functions. The same communication interface and control logic are used for normal operation and fault diagnosis, eliminating the need for separate dedicated fault detection hardware and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where slave ports report their status to the master port through the existing communication interface. The master port receives feedback signals from watchdog timers and role change staggered timers, enabling automated fault detection without requiring complex additional sensing systems.
Data Source
AI summary
System and method for fault identification and fault handling in MPSD are provided. The system includes: a multi-port power sourcing device including multiple ports, a master is configured to: send a slave discovery request to multiple slave ports, receive a slave discovery response from the multiple slave ports; reset the watchdog timer in the multiple ports by sending watchdog refresh instruction periodically; each of the multiple ports experience watchdog timer timeout upon failing to receive the watchdog refresh instruction, generate their corresponding port reset upon watchdog timer timeout, to resolve one or more faults associated with the corresponding port; the multiple ports include a role change staggered timer which is triggered upon the corresponding watchdog timer timeout, and reset upon receiving the watchdog refresh instruction from master; the slave ports for which role change staggered timer times out first, changes the role to start functioning as the new master port.