Shared Redundant Power Supply Controller for Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing redundant power supply configurations for electronic devices are costly due to the unnecessary duplication of redundant power supplies, as power supply failures are uncommon, leading to excessive expenditure on redundant units that often go unused.
Innovation Solution
A cost-efficient redundant power supply configuration where a single redundant power supply is shared among multiple electronic devices through a daisy-chain configuration, utilizing a power adapter with a controller that updates a redundant power supply identification signal to manage power distribution and ensure uninterrupted operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate redundant power supply is provided for each electronic device, then reliability is improved, but cost increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple redundant power supply units are merged into a single shared redundant power supply that serves multiple electronic devices. The controller detects primary power supply failures and activates the shared redundant power supply to maintain operation of affected devices, thereby reducing the total number of redundant power supplies from N (one per device) to one centralized unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared redundant power supply is designed to serve multiple electronic devices simultaneously. The controller intelligently manages power distribution to any device experiencing primary power supply failure, making the single redundant power supply universal in its ability to back up multiple different devices rather than being dedicated to a single device.
2Quantity of substance
If redundant power supplies are shared among multiple devices, then cost is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors the operational status of primary power supplies through feedback signals. When a primary power supply failure is detected, the controller automatically activates the shared redundant power supply and manages power distribution to affected devices. This closed-loop feedback mechanism simplifies the management complexity by providing automated detection and response rather than requiring manual intervention or complex manual switching arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the shared redundant power supply and multiple electronic devices. It manages the complexity of power distribution by centrally coordinating which devices receive power from the redundant supply based on failure detection, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture compared to having multiple independent redundant supplies or complex manual switching systems.
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a power adapter for sharing redundant power comprises a primary power input; a redundant power input; a redundant power supply identification signal (RPS ID) input; and a controller coupled to the RPS ID input. The controller is to direct power from the primary power input to an electronic device; direct power from the redundant power input to the electronic device, to another power adapter, or both; modify an RPS ID from the RPS ID input in response to directing power from the redundant power input to the electronic device; and output the modified RPS ID to the another power adapter.