JP2000099166A - Method and device for controlling power source in information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To unnecessitate complicated voltage regulation work by making a power source control unit provided in a system automatically perform the output voltage regulation of a power unit and automatically perform the output voltage regulation even in a redundant power supply system to all the power units when system configuration is changed. SOLUTION: The output voltage of the power unit is automatically regulated by constituting the device so as to supply a reference voltage to a power unit 11 from a power source control unit 12 in the system and controlling this reference voltage while measuring a voltage at a prescribed part of the system. In the redundant power supply system, the same reference voltage is supplied from the power source control unit to all the parallelly connected power units, and at the same time, the output voltages of all the power units are regulated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power supply control method and apparatus in an information processing system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A general information processing system uses a switching power supply shown in FIG. Although the switching power supply has a slightly different configuration depending on the system, the switching circuit 41, the reference voltage generation circuit 42, and the output voltage control circuit 4
3, and an output voltage detection circuit 44. The power supply unit 4 compares the reference voltage generated by the reference voltage generation circuit 42 with the output voltage detected by the output voltage detection circuit 44 by the output voltage control circuit 43, and
In step 3, the switching circuit 41 is controlled so that the output voltage matches the reference voltage. The reference voltage generation circuit 42 can generally adjust the reference voltage using a variable resistor or the like.

Normally, in an information processing system in which the system configuration hardly changes, the power supply unit alone may be used with the output voltage adjusted, but the power supply unit adjusted for the system cannot be used. In an information processing system where the case or configuration may vary significantly, use the power supply unit after adjusting the output voltage of the power supply unit with the variable resistance of the power supply unit while measuring the voltage of a predetermined part of the system while mounted on the system I do.
When the system configuration is changed, the above-described adjustment is performed again according to the changed content.

In an information processing system requiring reliability, a plurality of power supply units are connected in parallel, and even if one power supply unit fails, another power supply unit continues to supply necessary power to the system. A redundant power supply configuration may be adopted. FIG. 5 shows the configuration.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration of an information processing system employing an n + 1 power supply redundancy system. Power supply units 1 to n + 1
(51 to 52) are all the same, and function units 1 to i for realizing original functions as an information processing system.
(53-54) is supplied with DC power. Functional unit 5
The required currents of 3 to 54 can be obtained by providing n + 1 power supply units at places where n power supply units can supply them.
Even if one of the devices 1 to 52 fails, the remaining n devices can supply the necessary current and the operation of the system can be continued.

The adjustment of the DC voltage is performed within any one of the functional units, or from the power supply units 51 to 52.
The power supply units 51 to 52 are adjusted while measuring the DC voltage somewhere in the DC supply line to the power supply units 3 to 54. When adjusting the voltage of one power supply unit 51,
The output levels of the other power supply units 52 are reduced so that the output voltage of the power supply unit 51 can be measured at the measurement point. As a method for lowering the output level of the power supply unit 52, a switch is provided in the reference voltage generation circuit of each of the power supply units 51 to 52, and the switch is set so that the output level becomes low by setting the switch. The switch of the power supply unit may be set to a low output level.
In this way, the variable resistance and the like of the target power supply unit are adjusted while measuring the output voltage. This is performed for all of the n + 1 power supply units 51 to 52.

[0007]

In the prior art described above, the output voltage of the power supply unit is adjusted by a variable resistor or the like of the power supply unit while measuring the voltage of a predetermined portion of the system in a state of being mounted on the system. When the system configuration is changed, there is a possibility that the voltage drop changes due to a change in the load, so the above adjustment according to the change is performed again.
Therefore, a readjustment operation occurs every time the system configuration is changed, which is very troublesome.

In an information processing system having a plurality of power supply units connected in parallel, such as a redundant power supply system, for each power supply unit, the voltage at a measurement point is not affected by the output voltage of another power supply unit. The output voltage was adjusted while performing operations such as lowering the voltage level of other power supply units only during the adjustment. In this case, the maintenance person is forced to perform a complicated voltage adjustment operation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a reference voltage to a power supply unit from a power supply control unit in a system, and controls the output voltage of the power supply unit by controlling the reference voltage. In the information processing system, the power supply control unit automatically adjusts the output voltage of the power supply unit while measuring the voltage of a predetermined portion of the system, thereby eliminating the need for complicated voltage adjustment work. It is an object of the present invention to provide a power supply control method and device in the above.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a power supply control method and apparatus in an information processing system capable of supplying the same reference voltage from a power supply control unit to all power supplies and simultaneously adjusting output voltages of all power supply units. Also aim.

[0011]

A power supply control device in an information processing system according to the present invention comprises: a power supply unit for supplying a DC output of a voltage level corresponding to a reference voltage supplied from a power supply control unit to a functional unit; And a power supply unit that measures a DC voltage level supplied to the functional unit from a power supply unit and maintains an appropriate DC voltage level according to the system configuration. And a unit. The power control unit is
A voltage detection circuit for measuring a DC voltage level supplied from the power supply unit to the functional unit, and a DC voltage level detected by the voltage detection circuit generating an appropriate DC voltage level according to a system configuration; It consists of a reference voltage generating circuit to be supplied.

Further, in an information processing system in which a plurality of power supply units are connected in parallel and a necessary power is supplied to a functional unit executing a function as the information processing system, a DC supply is received from any of the power supply units.
A plurality of functional units that perform functions as an information processing system, and a power control unit that measures a DC voltage level supplied to each functional unit from the power supply unit and maintains an appropriate DC voltage level according to the system configuration. It is also characterized by having.

A power supply control method in an information processing system according to the present invention is directed to an information processing system that supplies a DC power output of a voltage level that matches a reference voltage supplied from the outside to the system and realizes the original function of the system. Measuring the DC power supply voltage level value at a predetermined point in the system, and lowering the reference voltage when the measured voltage is higher than the appropriate voltage, and raising the reference voltage when the measured voltage is lower than the appropriate voltage, thereby configuring each information processing system. The DC power supply voltage level supplied to the functional circuit is maintained at an appropriate voltage. Also, in an information processing system that connects a plurality of power supply units in parallel and supplies necessary power to a functional unit that performs a function as an information processing system, receives a DC supply from any of the power supply units,
It is also characterized in that a DC voltage level supplied to a plurality of functional units that execute a function as an information processing system is measured, and an appropriate DC voltage level is maintained according to the system configuration.

Thus, regardless of the fluctuation of the voltage drop to the point where power is supplied from the power supply unit,
The power supply voltage at the point where the power is supplied can be kept constant, and the need for readjustment can be eliminated even when the system configuration is changed. Further, even in a redundant configuration in which a plurality of power supply units are connected in parallel, the trouble of individually adjusting the plurality of power supply units is eliminated.

[0015]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an information processing system to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a power supply unit;
DC of the voltage level corresponding to the reference voltage supplied from
The output is supplied to a plurality of (i) functional units 13. The functional unit 13 is a logic that realizes the original function of the information processing system by receiving DC supply from the power supply unit 11.

The power supply control unit 12 includes the voltage detection circuit 1
21 and a reference voltage generation circuit 122 for supplying a reference voltage to the power supply unit 11. As the supplied reference voltage level, a DC voltage level supplied from the power supply unit 11 to the functional unit 12 is measured, and the DC voltage level is controlled so as to be an appropriate level. The voltage detection circuit 121 measures a DC voltage level supplied from the power supply unit 11 to the i function units 12 and supplies the DC voltage level to the reference voltage generation circuit 122.
The reference voltage generation circuit 122 generates a reference voltage to be supplied to the power supply unit 11. The generated reference voltage level is controlled so that the DC voltage level measured by the voltage detection circuit 121 becomes an appropriate value. FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the power supply unit 11 in FIG.

The power supply unit 11 includes the switching circuit 1
11, an output voltage control circuit 112, and an output voltage detection circuit 113. The switching circuit 111 outputs a voltage level according to a control signal from the output voltage control circuit 112. The output voltage detection circuit 113 measures the DC output voltage level of the power supply unit 11 and transmits the measured DC output voltage level to the output voltage control circuit 112. The output voltage control circuit 112 compares the output voltage notified by the output voltage detection circuit 113 with the reference voltage input, and controls the switching circuit 111 so as to have the same voltage level.

The operation of the information processing system having the above-described configuration when the DC voltage level of the system is lowered due to a change in the system configuration will be described. At this time, the voltage detection circuit 121 of the power supply control unit 12 detects the DC voltage level and transmits it to the reference voltage generation circuit 122. The reference voltage generation circuit 122 detects that this voltage is lower than the proper voltage, and raises the reference voltage reference output voltage output level. This reference voltage is input to the power supply unit 11, and the output voltage control circuit 112 in the power supply unit 11
Controls the switching circuit 111 so that the output level of the power supply unit 11 matches the reference voltage. As a result, the DC output from the power supply unit 11 rises in accordance with the reference voltage input, and the DC voltage level of the information processing system rises. The power supply control unit 12 increases the reference voltage until a proper level is obtained while observing the DC voltage level.

As described above, even when the voltage fluctuates due to a change in the system configuration or the like, the voltage is automatically adjusted without performing a complicated readjustment operation. In addition, this can be dealt with without any problem even when the system is in operation.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of an information processing system using a redundant power supply according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 31 is a plurality of power supply units, and 31-1 to 31n + 1 are power supply control units 32.
A DC output having a voltage level corresponding to the supplied reference voltage is supplied to the functional unit 33. The i function units 33 are connected to the respective power supply units 31 (31-1 to 31-n +
It is a logic that realizes the original function of the information processing system by receiving the DC supply from 1).

The power supply control unit 32 includes a voltage detection circuit 3
21 and a reference voltage generation circuit 322, and supplies a reference voltage to the power supply unit 31. As the reference voltage level to be supplied, the DC voltage level supplied from the power supply unit 31 (31-1 to 31-n + 1) to the i function units 33 is measured, and the level is controlled so as to be an appropriate level. The voltage detection circuit 321 includes a power supply unit (31-1 to 31n).
From +1), the DC voltage level supplied to the i function units 32 is measured and supplied to the reference voltage generation circuit 322. The reference voltage generation circuit 322 includes a power supply unit (31-
1 to 31n + 1). The generated reference voltage level is controlled so that the DC voltage level measured by the voltage detection circuit 321 becomes an appropriate value.

The configuration of the power supply unit 31 used in the above-described information processing system is the same as that shown in FIG. 2. Specifically, a DC output such as a diode or a FET is wired-ORed in a block indicated by a dotted line in FIG. The mechanism for entering. Since the logic of this part is not directly related to the present invention, the description is omitted.

The operation of the information processing system having the above-described configuration when the DC voltage level of the system decreases due to a change in the system configuration will be described. At this time, the voltage detection circuit 321 of the power supply control unit 32 detects the DC voltage level and transmits it to the reference voltage generation circuit 322. The reference voltage generation circuit 322 detects that this voltage is lower than the appropriate voltage, and raises the reference voltage reference output voltage output level. This reference voltage is supplied to the power supply unit 31 (31
−1 to 31n + 1), and the output voltage control circuit in each power supply unit 31 controls the switching circuit 111 so that the output level of the power supply unit matches the reference voltage. This allows D from the power supply unit
The C output rises in accordance with the reference voltage input, and the DC voltage level of the information processing system rises. Since all the power supply units 31 adjust the DC output to the same reference voltage, there is no variation between the power supply units. Power control unit 32
Raises the reference voltage to a point where the DC voltage level reaches an appropriate level while observing the DC voltage level.

As described above, even when the voltage fluctuates due to a change in the system configuration or the like, the voltage is automatically adjusted without performing a complicated readjustment operation. In addition, this can be dealt with without any problem even when the system is in operation.

[0026]

As described above, the present invention measures the voltage at a location independent of the power supply unit in the information processing system and controls the output of the power supply unit through control of the reference voltage based on the result. Thus, the power supply voltage at the point where the power is supplied can be kept constant irrespective of the fluctuation in the voltage drop to the point where the power is supplied from the power supply unit. When the system configuration is changed, readjustment can be omitted. Further, even when this is applied to an information processing system employing a redundant configuration in which power supply units are connected in parallel, it is not necessary to individually adjust a plurality of power supply units. As a result, the load on personnel during maintenance can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a power supply unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a power supply unit in a conventional information processing system;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional information processing system employing an n + 1 power supply redundancy system;

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 31 power supply unit, 12, 31 power supply control unit, 13, 33 functional unit, 111 switching circuit, 112 output voltage control circuit, 113 output voltage detection circuit, 121 voltage detection circuit, 122 reference Voltage generation circuit

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G06F 1/28 G06F 1/00 333D F term (reference) 5B011 DB01 DB02 EA01 GG03 5H410 BB04 CC03 DD02 DD05 EA38 EB04 EB40 FF03 FF25 GG01 5H430 BB09 BB11 BB20 EE09 FF01 FF13 GG01

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A power supply unit for supplying a DC output of a voltage level corresponding to a reference voltage supplied from a power supply control unit to a functional unit, and a function of receiving a DC supply from the power supply unit and executing a function as an information processing system Unit and D supplied from the power supply unit to the functional unit.
Measure the C voltage level and determine the appropriate D
A power supply control device for an information processing system, comprising: a power supply control unit that maintains a C voltage level. 2. The power supply unit controls a switching circuit, an output voltage detection circuit, an output voltage detected by the output voltage detection circuit and a reference voltage input, and controls the switching circuit to have the same voltage level. 2. The power supply control device in an information processing system according to claim 1, comprising an output voltage control circuit that performs the operation. 3. The power supply control unit includes: a voltage detection circuit that measures a DC voltage level supplied from the power supply unit to a functional unit;
2. The power supply control device according to claim 1, further comprising a reference voltage generation circuit that generates an appropriate DC voltage level according to a voltage level and a system configuration and supplies the DC voltage level to the power supply unit. 4. An information processing system in which a plurality of power supply units are connected in parallel to supply necessary power to a functional unit executing a function as an information processing system, wherein the power supply unit receives a DC supply from one of the power supply units, A plurality of functional units that perform functions as an information processing system, and a power control unit that measures a DC voltage level supplied to each functional unit from the power supply unit and maintains an appropriate DC voltage level according to the system configuration. A power supply control device in an information processing system, comprising: 5. An information processing system that supplies a DC power output having a voltage level that matches a reference voltage supplied from the outside to a system and realizes an original function of the system, the DC power supply voltage at a predetermined location in the system. By measuring the level value, the reference voltage is lowered when the measured voltage is higher than the appropriate voltage, and the reference voltage is raised when the measured voltage is lower than the appropriate voltage, thereby reducing the DC power supply voltage level supplied to each functional circuit constituting the information processing system. A power supply control method in an information processing system, wherein the power supply is maintained at an appropriate voltage. 6. An information processing system in which a plurality of power supply units are connected in parallel to supply necessary power to a functional unit executing a function as an information processing system, wherein the power supply unit receives a DC supply from one of the power supply units, A power supply control method in an information processing system, comprising: measuring a DC voltage level supplied to a plurality of functional units executing a function as an information processing system, and maintaining an appropriate DC voltage level according to a system configuration.