Time-Sharing Control for Parallel Power Supply Circuits

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Solution Overview

Problem

In communication networks, achieving fair power supply across multiple power sourcing equipment is challenging due to voltage differences and inefficiencies in current sharing, leading to increased costs and reduced conversion efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A control apparatus and method that includes a monitoring module to detect and compare circuit data, a time-sharing control module to adjust power supply times, and voltage-adjustable DC-DC modules to equalize output voltages, ensuring fair distribution and reducing the number of DC-DC modules needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If multiple power sourcing equipment are used to supply power to the same electrical load, then the power supply capacity is improved, but the fairness of power supply cannot be realized due to voltage differences and unequal power supply times

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply capacityVSAvoidfairness of power supply
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control apparatus monitors the output power of each power sourcing equipment and adjusts their power supply times accordingly. The monitoring module detects circuit data from each power supply line, and the time-sharing control module uses this feedback to allocate power supply time fairly, ensuring that equipment providing more power receives proportionally more supply time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the power supply time allocation based on real-time power output conditions. The time-sharing control module continuously modifies the operating schedule of each power sourcing equipment according to their actual power contribution, making the power supply arrangement flexible and adaptive rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If voltage compensation is performed on each input port to achieve current sharing, then the current sharing is improved, but the voltage compensation range is limited and conversion efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent sharingVSAvoidconversion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuously compensating voltages on all input ports, the system uses periodic time-sharing operation where each power sourcing equipment operates in alternating time slots. This periodic activation eliminates the need for continuous voltage compensation, reducing energy loss while maintaining current sharing through temporal separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the voltage compensation function from the power supply lines and replaces it with time-sharing control. By removing the continuous voltage compensation mechanism and substituting it with temporal allocation, the system achieves current sharing without the associated energy losses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If each power supply line corresponds to one DC-DC voltage converter to achieve current sharing, then the current sharing is improved, but the number of DC-DC voltage converters increases and cost is greatly increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent sharingVSAvoidnumber of DC-DC voltage converters
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the functions of multiple DC-DC voltage converters into a single time-sharing control module. Instead of having separate converters for each power supply line, one control module manages multiple power sourcing equipment by allocating their operating time slots, thereby reducing the number of required converters while maintaining current sharing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The time-sharing control module serves multiple power sourcing equipment simultaneously by functioning as a universal controller. This single module can manage any number of power supply lines by dynamically assigning time slots, making it multi-functional and replacing what would otherwise require multiple dedicated converters.

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

4Power

If linear voltage conversion and voltage division are used to compensate for voltage difference, then the voltage compensation is achieved, but the voltage compensation range is limited and the pressure difference loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage compensationVSAvoidpressure difference loss
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic time-sharing operation to eliminate the need for continuous linear voltage conversion. By alternating the operation of different power sourcing equipment in discrete time slots, the system achieves voltage compensation through temporal separation rather than continuous linear conversion, thereby expanding the compensation range and reducing energy loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach achieves fair power supply, increases voltage compensation range, improves conversion efficiency, lowers system heat consumption, and reduces costs, while adapting to wider application scenarios.

Implementation Method 1

passes through a direct current/direct current (DC/DC) converter to be output to the electrical load

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDC-DC conversion:

Data Source

PatentEP3240228B1Control device and method for supplying power in a communications network
Publication Date: 2020.09.02 ZTE CORP
  • EP3240228B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3240228B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3240228B1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

A control apparatus and control method for power supply of a communication network are provided. The method includes: detecting circuit data of each power supply circuit, comparing the circuit data of the each power supply circuit to get an average value, and analyzing output circuit data that the each power supply circuit should have; adjusting an output voltage of each power supply circuit according to the output circuit data that each power supply circuit should have; and connecting output voltages of all the power supply circuits in parallel and supplying power to a next stage electrical load.