Power Supply Unit Controlled Shutdown Sequence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current power supply units for electronic devices, particularly microprocessors, face challenges in reliably maintaining a predetermined turnoff sequence during shutdown processes, especially in environments with sudden voltage drops, which can lead to damage from voltage crossings.
Innovation Solution
A power supply unit with a power management section that actively decreases secondary voltages to a predetermined safety level in a controlled manner, allowing for simultaneous shutdown without safety time intervals and ensuring the predefined turnoff sequence is maintained, using mechanisms like pull-down means, DC-DC-converters, and feedback control to prevent voltage crossings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If secondary voltages are simply turned off during shutdown, then the shutdown process is simple, but voltage crossings may occur causing damage to electronic circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by actively pulling down secondary voltages to a predetermined safety level before complete shutdown. This pre-action ensures that voltages are in a safe state before the shutdown process completes, preventing voltage crossings that could damage electronic circuits while maintaining a controlled and reliable shutdown sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by monitoring the actual voltage levels during shutdown and adjusting the pull-down process accordingly. The power management section controls the decrease of secondary voltages based on feedback about their current state, ensuring that the turnoff sequence is maintained and voltages do not cross, thereby protecting electronic circuits without requiring overly complex control mechanisms.
2Reliability
If safety time intervals are provided between subsequent voltage turnoff processes, then voltage crossings are prevented, but the shutdown process takes a long period of time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies continuity of useful action by actively and continuously pulling down secondary voltages during the shutdown process rather than simply disconnecting them. This continuous control ensures that voltages decrease in a managed sequence without crossing, eliminating the need for conservative safety time intervals and significantly reducing shutdown duration while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements rushing through the shutdown process by actively controlling the voltage decrease to occur rapidly and continuously. Instead of using slow, sequential turnoff with safety intervals, the system quickly pulls down voltages to the safety level while maintaining proper sequencing, thereby minimizing shutdown time without compromising protection against voltage crossings.
3Productivity
If secondary voltages are actively decreased to safety level in controlled manner, then shutdown speed is increased, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the voltage levels to decrease to a predetermined safety level during shutdown. This parameter-based approach allows for rapid and controlled voltage reduction without requiring complex control logic, as the system simply manages the voltage parameter to stay above the safety threshold while decreasing, thereby increasing shutdown speed without excessive complexity.
4Reliability
If predetermined turnoff sequence is strictly maintained, then electronic circuits are protected, but the shutdown process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the power supply unit to automatically manage its own shutdown process. The power management section autonomously controls the decrease of secondary voltages to the safety level and maintains the proper turnoff sequence without requiring external intervention or complex coordination, thereby protecting electronic circuits while keeping the shutdown process simple to operate.
Data Source
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AI summary
A power supply unit for an electronic device includes an input section comprising input terminals connectable to a primary power source, an output section comprising output terminals connectable to the electronic device and outputting at least two secondary voltages having different nominal voltage levels, and a power management section. The power management section is configured to perform a shutdown process upon existence of a shutdown criterion, wherein the emergency shutdown process comprises decreasing each of the secondary voltages down to a predetermined safety level in a controlled manner.