Power Supply Control Apparatus Voltage Adjustment Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional power supply control systems face challenges in suppressing decreases in conversion efficiency while being prepared to respond quickly to issues with power supply devices, as turning off a power supply device leads to inefficiencies and taking time to turn it back on.

Innovation Solution

A power supply control apparatus determines a power supply scheme based on the load rate and conversion efficiency, switching between Active-Active and Active-Standby modes by adjusting voltage settings to optimize power distribution among multiple power supply devices, ensuring efficient operation and quick response to failures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If power supply devices are turned off to suppress decreases in conversion efficiency, then energy efficiency is improved, but response time to failures deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconversion efficiencyVSAvoidresponse time to failures
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by keeping a standby power supply device in an on state before failure occurs. This standby device remains ready to immediately take over if the active power supply device fails, thus preparing in advance to avoid response delays while still allowing the active device to operate at optimal efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of power supply devices based on real-time conditions. It switches between active and standby states, and between different load distribution modes (N+M, 1+1), adapting the configuration to balance conversion efficiency and response time requirements according to current system needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If power supply devices operate in redundant state, then reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial redundancy by operating N power supply devices actively and keeping M devices in standby state, where M is less than or equal to N. This provides sufficient reliability coverage without the excessive energy consumption of full redundancy, allowing the system to operate with optimal balance between reliability and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters by dynamically adjusting load distribution ratios and switching between different redundancy modes (N+M mode, 1+1 mode) based on system conditions. This allows optimization of the balance between reliability and energy consumption by adapting parameters rather than maintaining fixed redundant operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If load is distributed among multiple power supply devices, then conversion efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconversion efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by assigning different roles (active or standby) to different power supply devices based on their current state and system needs. Each device operates in a specific mode optimized for its function, with active devices handling load at efficient operating points while standby devices remain ready, creating localized optimization throughout the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system achieves universality by designing power supply devices that can function in multiple roles - they can switch between active and standby states, and can operate in different redundancy configurations. This multi-functionality allows the same hardware to adapt to different operational requirements without increasing physical complexity, managing control complexity through software/firmware logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9965025B2Power supply control apparatus and computer product
Publication Date: 2018.05.08 FUJITSU LTD

AI summary

A power supply control apparatus includes a control circuit configured to obtain a value of power consumed by a specified device to which plural power supply devices supply power and further configured to determine based on the obtained power value and a predetermined value obtained from power conversion efficiency of each power supply device among the plural power supply devices, a scheme of supplying power to the specified device to be any one among a first scheme in which the plural power supply devices supply power and a second scheme in which among a first power supply device and a second power supply device included in the plural power supply devices, voltage of power supplied by the first power supply device is made lower than that of power supplied by the second power supply device, whereby the second power supply device supplies power.