IE922950A1 - Safety device for computers with uninterrupted power feed - Google Patents

Abstract

Safety device for computers with uninterrupted power feed; including a line failure detector G-1,B that, at the input and output of the uninterrupted power system G-1,A sends orders to an intake checker and parallel converter in series G-4,B and D fed by G-4,A, that in turn attacks the auxiliary series intake G-2,B of the main data processing system G-2, according to which the computer sends to the module G-4 commands that are accepted and transmitted in parallel by a module G-4,C to the stop/go control of the system apparatuses G-1,C optimizing the apparatuses connected to the uninterrupted power feed and also protecting the procedures running, and files in use, so that the process is stopped and then continued once the power line and autonomy of the batteries is restored. The device can be incorporated in the general data processing system or installed as a separate element in or physically outside the same, and allows connection/disconnection through G-1,D with a remote control programming clock. The device is applicable to data processing systems that demand a high degree of working reliability.

Description

SAFETY DEVICE FOR COMPUTERS WITH UNINTERRUPTED POWER FEED The invention relates to a safety device for computers with uninterrupted power feed, having a circuit to detect failures in the power line which are transmitted to the mainframe computer for interpretation and action to optimize the uninterrupted power feed and for minimum affect on the process being run.

Computers today use uninterrupted power systems (U.P.S.) and are fed through these.

They are storage systems for energy obtained from the electricity line, which is passed to the computer at the same time but through a group of generator-batteries, so that an instantaneous break in the line (micro-shutdowns) or a prolonged interruption are not perceived by the computer, not only in its feed as such, but also in the quality of the voltage and wave uniformity, which may have an important effect on the system processing. - 2 These U.P.S. systems are usually expensive and resolve the problem of power failures very well, but prolonged failures require large battery capacity, which means a greater investment and considerable volume and weight.

The line breakdowns resolved by known U.P.S. systems are for not more than 15 minutes service and in many cases do not give the user sufficient notice of the problem that he is about to face. Even with a warning, the user has not much time to save the most important part of his process. Furthermore, in order to avoid unpleasant surprises, the user must be permanently vigilant against breakdowns in the line in order to take immediate action, and cannot leave the computer running outside office hours because of the risk of a break in the power line.

All these problems are resolved either by having a very extensive U.P.S., with the inconveniences mentioned, or by using the device of the invention.

Thanks to this device it is possible to warn the different terminals in the system of the presence of a power break, a process that is running can be automatically stopped at the most appropriate moment, the system can be stopped automatically at a pre-selected moment, the processes that have not been finished can be cancelled, closing the files affected by these processes, the power from the U.P.S. can be disconnected if the U.P.S. breaks down, the system can be started up automatically, and the system can be shut down and disconnected automatically when unattended processes running outside normal working hours are finished.

The device consists of a circuit that detects a breakdown in the power line feed to the U.P.S. system (uninterrupted power system). On detecting a failure, an instruction is generated in the device which warns the mainframe computer of the anomaly and at the same time activates warning mechanisms to the various users of the mainframe system to cancel running processes and close the files in the - 3 required time, according to a specified autonomy considered in the specific design of the device.

If the whole system has been appropriately protected, the 5 U.P.S. is automatically disconnected allowing off-loading of the batteries, essential to save the process and files without excessive drainage which could damage them.

Once the power is recovered, the system starts up automatically through instructions generated by the above-mentioned detectors which, to do this, carry out a check on the charge in the batteries to ensure that they have sufficient autonomy.

The device also allows activation or stopping using a programmed clock or by remote control.

The device of the invention is designed so that it can be incorporated into any data processing system with a known U.P.S., as an additional external unit, or included when manufacturing the computer-U.P.S. system and forming an integral part of the same.

The advantages for data processing are such that future systems will have this incorporated, since the circuitry to be added has a cost, when mass produced, that is lower than that for an extensive U.P.S. system.

In order to better understand not only the construction but also the use of the device of the invention, reference is made below to a practical embodiment, this being merely exemplary and in no way limiting the invention, as shown in the accompanying drawing which is a block diagram of an embodiment of the device connected to a computer supplied by a U.P.S.

The drawing is divided into four main groups G-l to G-4, which are in turn divided into sections or modules, described below. •Ε 922950 - 4 In group G-l, section A represents the U.P.S. or classical uninterrupted power supply system used in all data processing systems, which is connected to the electrical network R.

In section B the device of the invention includes a module having at least 8 outputs, without voltage, which send out signals to indicate the state of the system, alarms when these are not already included in the equipment.

The most important signals that can be handled are: Switchover to a direct power line, equipment connected, imminent disconnection, failure of the DC/AC converter of the U.P.S., emergency, and any others that may be required.

The versatility of the system allows it to be connected to more sophisticated line analyzer systems whose outlets will activate the above-mentioned outlets while remaining totally independent of the system.

Continuing with G-l, section C includes a module with at least inputs for power-free opening or closing, which allow the connection or disconnection of data processing elements such as: terminals, printers, etc., connected to the U.P.S., allowing the stored energy to be optimized. The connections and disconnections are controlled from the mainframe computer.

The connection-disconnection signals may be handled from outside, and it is not necessary, as also in section B, to have internal management of the U.P.S. for their installation, since they remain independent of the system.

Continuing with G-l, section D represents the layout of the automatic connection-disconnection using a radio programme or manually by remote control point. - 5 G-2 represents the data processing system in which A is the main C.P.U., C represents the specific software for the system and B the auxiliary series channel to be used to communicate between the data processing system and the device of the invention.

G-4 represents the converter module of the device, which can be broken down into the following sections: A represents the power source itself, receiving voltage at the 10 outlet of the U.P.S. used in the overall data processing system. Thus it is connected externally. In this block, the voltages which feed the device are generated.

B represents the module which receives the at least 8 15 voltage-free signals from section B of G-l. These are passed through a galvanic insulator (optocoupler) and an interference filter which also avoids feedback from the relays in G-l (B), followed by a SCHMITT trigger which forms the signals with perfectly defined sides in order to be able to address the bi-directional buffer at the entry to the 8 bit binary converter and series outlet.

C represents the unit which emits power-free outputs to the C unit of G-l, formed by a bi-directional buffer connected to the converter outlet allowing the optocoupler to be excited as a second stage, with a Darlington which actuates the outlet relays.

D contains a generator with a crystal at the frequency of 19.2 KMz required to receive and transmit series/parallei data followed by the control logic formed by NAND gates in the SCHMITT trigger, which control the synchronizing access sides to the local oscillator.

The converter converts the signals received in parallel to series which, by means of appropriate software (G-2), are interpreted by the computer to make decisions, with the result being transmitted to the SERIES position towards the converter, obtaining a parallel outlet - 6 with at least 8 states or combinations of connection-disconnection.

E. In this block, the communications characteristics between the computer and the bi-directional converter are established. The selection is made using hardware which, with conventional adaptors, is compatible with all current communications systems.

The different relationships are carried out by activating mini-switches installed on the printed circuit board, which have ON/OFF states equivalent to 1/0. The most common selections would be: 1. Selection of transmission speed. 2. Parity mode : none, even, odd. 3. Data bits. 4. Stop bits.

F complements E and serves as an adaptor for voltage and impedance levels for the reception/transmission signals from the computer to the converter and vice versa.

The G-4 group is also totally external and autonomous from the U.P.S., thus giving a compact unit without intermediate connections, with the inputs being merely a simple SERIAL input to the data processing system.

Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention and the manner of putting it into practice, it should be noted that the layouts above indicated and represented in the accompanying drawings may be modified in detail provided that the fundamental principle is not altered.

Claims (6)

1. Safety device for computers with uninterrupted power feed, characterized in that it has a detector for failures in the power line 5 connected to the intake and outlet of the uninterrupted power feed, formed within a first module with at least eight voltage-free outlets which indicate the situation, with this module connected to other second and third modules serving as adaptor and converter to valid levels and forms for the data processing system used, whose signals 10 made in response to those received from the first module through the data processing system are introduced into another fourth module for outlet emissions, which in turn forms other voltage-free outlets which are conducted to another fifth module to issue connection and disconnection instructions to elements forming the data processing 15 system, with this last module having elements for manual activation which change the programme and the connection and disconnection actions, with the system having means for effective control by a clock programmed according to a schedule and/or remote control. 20

2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the power line failure detector is substituted by an electrical line analyzer whose outlet is connected to the second adaptor module for data processing levels. 25

3. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the connection between the power line failure detection modules and the connection with the data processing system of the mainframe computer is made using the opening and closing of parallel circuits free from electrical power.

4. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that a connection is made between the different modules and the mainframe data processing system and the uninterrupted power supply system to the external outlets or external access of both systems. - 8

5. Device according to Claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the parallel connections between the different modules of the device are converted into series, and also the series outlets are converted to parallel so that the different modules can function.

6. A safety device for a computer supply as defined in Claim 1, substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawing.