Cold Sparing PCI Bus VIO Voltage Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cold sparing methods are incompatible with PCI buses that require VIO clamping diodes, as powering off the entire board causes I/O lines to be tristated, preventing data exchange and increasing power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method where the VIO voltage of a PCI or similar bus remains on while the rest of the cold spare board is powered off, using a cold sparing controller to selectively provide and isolate operating voltages, ensuring the VIO clamping diodes do not short the PCI bus to ground, allowing for cold sparing configurations without sacrificing over-voltage protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the entire board is powered off for cold sparing, then power consumption is reduced, but the VIO clamping diodes short the PCI bus to ground and data exchange is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply is segmented into two independent parts: VIO power and other operating voltages. The cold sparing controller selectively supplies VIO power to the PCI interface while isolating other voltages from the rest of the board, enabling partial powering that maintains data exchange capability while reducing overall power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the board have different power states: the PCI interface receives VIO power to maintain functionality, while the rest of the board remains unpowered for cold sparing. This local differentiation allows the system to achieve both low power consumption and reliable data exchange
2Temperature
If the entire board is powered off for cold sparing, then heat generation is reduced, but the VIO clamping diodes cause the PCI bus to be clamped to ground
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply is divided into VIO power and other operating voltages. By supplying only VIO power to the PCI interface while isolating other voltages, the system maintains over-voltage protection capability without the need to power the entire board, thus reducing heat generation
Solution Approach 2:
The VIO power is provided locally to the PCI interface where it is needed for over-voltage protection, while the rest of the board remains unpowered. This localized power supply maintains protection functionality while minimizing heat generation across the system
3Object-affected harmful factors
If VIO clamping diodes are used for over-voltage protection, then protection against voltage overshoot is provided, but the diodes clamp the bus to ground when VIO power is off
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply is segmented into VIO power and other operating voltages. The cold sparing controller provides VIO power only to the PCI interface, allowing the clamping diodes to function for over-voltage protection without requiring power to the entire board, thus maintaining protection while reducing power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The cold sparing controller acts as an intermediary that manages the power supply relationship between the VIO power source and the PCI interface. It ensures VIO power is available to maintain clamping diode functionality for over-voltage protection while isolating other board components from power supply
Data Source
AI summary
Power supply voltage of a PCI or a similar communication bus interface is separated from one or more other power supply voltages on a backplane, on boards insertable into the backplane, and on the bus interface components of the boards. The power supply of the bus interface (VIO) is provided to cold spare boards inserted into the backplane, while the other voltages are not provided to the cold spare boards. Availability of the VIO on the cold spare boards prevents the VIO clamping diodes on the PCI I/O lines from grounding the PCI bus. Cold spare capability is thus provided to systems with PCI and similar communication buses.