JP2009232520A - Multiple power source device, power supply method used in the device, and power supply control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multiple power source device that can reduce the power capacity of an individual power supply unit as much as possible and can optimize the constitution of the power supply unit corresponding to a load condition. <P>SOLUTION: The multiple power source device is equipped with two power supply systems for supplying electric power from an A power supply 1 and a B power supply 2 to individual loads (an A load 6a and B load 6b), and with a C power supply 3 as a booster power supply for supplying auxiliary power to the A load 6a or the B load 6b. The C power supply 3 is connected in parallel with the A power supply 1 and the B power supply 2 individually through switches 4a, 4b. The output voltage of the C power supply 3 is varied by a request signal from a power supply condition monitoring circuit 7 of a device system 5, and the C power supply 3 is connected in parallel with the power supply (the A power supply 1 or the B power supply 2) system related to the C power supply 3 through the selected switch. Thereby, when the A load 6a becomes overloaded, for example, a rated power is supplied from the A power supply 1 to the A load 6a and auxiliary power is supplied from the C power supply 3 to the A load 6a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a multi-power supply apparatus that individually supplies power to a plurality of load systems, a power supply method used in the apparatus, and a power supply control program, and in particular, for each system load of an information processing apparatus such as a computer. The present invention relates to a multi-power supply apparatus that individually supplies power at a corresponding voltage, a power supply method used in the apparatus, and a power supply control program.

  A system of an information processing apparatus such as a computer (hereinafter referred to as an apparatus system) is composed of a plurality of loads, and each load operates at a necessary voltage. Therefore, power is individually supplied to each load at a voltage required for each load in the apparatus system by a multi-power supply apparatus including a plurality of power supply systems. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a general multi-power supply apparatus used in an apparatus system or the like. As shown in FIG. 5, the device system 25 is operated by a power supply unit in which the A load 26a and the B load 26b are independent of each other. Therefore, two power supply units (A1 power supply 21a1 and A2 power supply 21a2) are connected to the A load 26a in parallel redundancy. Two power supply units (B1 power supply 22b1 and B2 power supply 22b2) are connected to the B load 26b in parallel redundancy. At this time, the two power supply units of the A system (A1 power supply 21a1 and A2 power supply 21a2) output the voltage (for example, DC12V) required by the A load 26a, and the two power supply units of the B system (B1 power supply 22b1 and The B2 power supply 22b2) outputs a voltage (for example, DC 24V) required by the B load 26b.

  That is, the voltage required by each system load (A load 26a and B load 26b) and each power supply unit (A1 power supply 21a1 and A2 power supply 21a2, B1 power supply 22b1 and B2 power supply 22b2) are configured in pairs. The capacity of each power supply unit is determined by the maximum current of each load. For example, when two power supply units (A1 power supply 21a1 and A2 power supply 21a2) are operating in a parallel redundant system, each of the A1 power supply 21a1 and the A2 power supply 21a2 uses the maximum current of the A load 26a as the rated capacity. Therefore, in the parallel redundant system, the two power supply units (for example, the A1 power supply 21a1 and the A2 power supply 21a2) of each system are each operated with a capacity that is half of the rated capacity.

  In other words, the maximum capacity of each power supply unit is determined in accordance with the maximum current even when the maximum current flows only in a short period and in a specific mode (for example, in the transient state at the moment the load is applied). There is a need to. In other words, when a multi-output power supply is configured by a plurality of power supply units in the device system 25, the maximum load current value required by each load (A load 26a and B load 26b) is assumed, and each power supply unit is assumed. ((A1 power supply 21a1 and A2 power supply 21a2 and B1 power supply 22b1 and B2 power supply 22b2) are determined. Therefore, a considerably large capacity is required for a normal current when the load is operating in a rated state. As a result, the capacity of the multi-power supply device that supplies power to the device system increases, which increases the mounting space of the entire device system and increases costs. In other words, since the power supply configuration has an excessive supply capacity for normal load current, the size of the multi-power supply device can be reduced. It has become an obstacle to cost.

  In order to avoid the risk of equipment systems that require high reliability from failing to operate normally as a system that cannot operate normally when the voltage of any one power system becomes abnormal. In general, each power supply unit has a backup redundant configuration. However, even when a plurality of power supply units are connected in parallel, the capacity of each power supply unit must be large enough to support the maximum load current. Don't be. That is, since each backup redundant power supply is provided in parallel on the output side of each power supply unit, the apparatus system may be further increased in scale and cost. Also, in the device system, when the load voltage value or capacity changes, it is difficult to change the configuration of the multi-power supply device once set up, and lacks flexibility to cope with the change of the power supply unit . Usually, when such a power supply unit is changed, it is often a significant design change accompanied by a change in the printed circuit board of the multi-power supply apparatus.

  Therefore, in order to solve the problem that the capacity of the power supply unit becomes large, the maximum capacity of the DC-DC converter (power supply unit) of each power supply system in the multi-power supply apparatus composed of a plurality of power supply units is set during normal load operation. There is disclosed a multi-power supply apparatus in which the rated capacity is set to ON, and a switch is turned on during overload operation to connect a battery in parallel to a DC-DC converter, and power is supplied from the battery (for example, Patent Document 1). reference). According to this technique, since the capacity of the DC-DC converter may be the current capacity during normal operation, the capacity of each power supply unit can be kept relatively small.

Also, a spare voltage variable power supply unit is provided separately from a plurality of power supply units that output different voltages, and this voltage variable power supply unit is individually connected in parallel to a plurality of power supply units having different voltages via respective switches. A technique of the power supply system as described above is also disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 2). According to this technology, when any one of a plurality of power supply units fails, the corresponding switch is immediately turned ON and the voltage variable power supply unit is connected to the failed power supply system, and the voltage variable The same voltage as that of the failed power supply unit is supplied from the power supply unit to the load of the same system. In this way, even if any of the plurality of power supply units fails, the voltage variable power supply unit can immediately replace the failed power supply unit by raising the same voltage as the failed power supply unit. That is, each of the plurality of power supply units and the voltage variable power supply unit is not a parallel redundant system, but an uninterruptible power supply system can be constructed using the voltage variable power supply unit as a backup power supply.
JP 2004-222404 A JP-A-11-265224

  However, in the technique of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, when the rated power is supplied from the DC-DC converter to the load, the auxiliary power can be supplied from the battery when the load is overloaded. Although it can be suppressed to a low level, depending on the state of charge of the battery, it may not be possible to supply auxiliary power sufficient to cope with an overload. In other words, auxiliary power cannot be supplied from the battery unless the state of charge of the battery is constantly monitored and the battery voltage is always kept higher than the output voltage of the DC-DC converter. For this reason, a monitoring device or the like for monitoring the state of charge of the battery is required, and there is a risk that the cost of the multi power supply device will increase. Further, since the battery voltage is a substantially constant voltage, when the output voltages of the DC-DC converters are different, it is not possible to cope with supplying auxiliary power to all the DC-DC converters. Further, in the configuration of the multi-power supply apparatus, the configuration of the power supply unit (DC-DC converter) cannot be flexibly changed according to the load state.

  Further, according to the technique of Patent Document 2, the voltage variable power supply unit is a backup power supply that is replaced when each of the plurality of power supply units breaks down. Each capacity of the power supply unit must be a capacity that can supply the maximum current of the load including an excessive time. Therefore, in this technique, the capacity of each power supply unit cannot be made smaller than the instantaneous maximum capacity required by the load. That is, the power supply capacity of each power supply unit becomes large with respect to the rated load, and the capacity utilization rate of each power supply unit is extremely poor. Furthermore, even in this multi-power supply system, the configuration of the power supply unit cannot be flexibly constructed according to the load state.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, a multi-power supply apparatus that can reduce the power capacity of an individual power supply unit as much as possible, and can optimize the configuration of the power supply unit according to the load state, An object is to provide a power supply method and a power supply control program used in the apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a first configuration of the present invention relates to a multi-power supply apparatus that supplies power from a plurality of power supply units to a corresponding load by a power supply system independent from each other. A booster power supply that is connected in parallel with a specific power supply unit selected according to the state of the load and supplies auxiliary power having the same voltage level as the voltage level of the specific power supply unit to the load. It is a feature.

  A second configuration of the present invention relates to a power supply method for supplying power from a plurality of power supply units constituting a multi-power supply apparatus to a corresponding load by a power system independent of each other, and from the plurality of power supply units to the load The specific power supply unit is selected according to the state of the power supply, the selected specific power supply unit and the booster power supply are connected in parallel, and auxiliary power having the same voltage level as the voltage level of the specific power supply unit is supplied to the booster power supply. It is characterized by being supplied to a load.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the output voltage of the booster power supply and the supply route to the load can be freely controlled according to the request from the device system side serving as a load, so that each power supply unit has a minimum power supply capacity. Thus, a multi-power supply device can be configured. Therefore, the apparatus system can be reduced in size and cost. Further, when a backup redundant system is constructed with a conventional multi-power supply apparatus, it is necessary to provide an individual backup redundant power supply on the output side of each power supply unit. However, in the multi-power supply apparatus of the present invention, the backup power supply (that is, the booster power supply) can freely change the output voltage and the supply route to the load, so that a common backup power supply ( Booster power supply) can be configured. Therefore, a multi-output backup redundant system can be constructed with a minimum capacity and the number of power supply units. As a result, the cost of the multi-power supply apparatus and the apparatus system can be reduced, and the reliability can be improved.

  The multi-power supply device according to the present invention includes a plurality of power supply systems that supply power to individual loads from a plurality of power supply units, and includes a backup power supply unit as a booster power supply separately from the plurality of power supply units. The booster power source) and the plurality of power supply units are individually connected in parallel by switches. Then, the output voltage of the standby power supply unit is varied by a request signal from the device system as a load, and the standby power supply unit is connected in parallel to the power supply system of the corresponding power supply unit by a switch selected by the request signal. With such a configuration, it is possible to select a route to a corresponding load according to the load state, and to connect the standby power supply unit in parallel with any one of the plurality of power supply units. In other words, the standby power supply unit can be connected in parallel to the power supply system of the corresponding power supply unit according to the current capacity of each load. Thereby, each capacity | capacitance of a some power supply unit can be restrained to the rated capacity of each load, and it becomes possible to change the structure of a power supply unit flexibly (flexibly) according to a load state. In addition, the configuration of the power supply unit in the multi-power supply apparatus can be optimized and the reliability of the apparatus system can be improved.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is a multi-power supply apparatus that supplies power from a plurality of power supply units to a corresponding load by mutually independent power supply systems, and monitors the load status and transmits monitoring information Select connection means for selecting a specific power supply unit from a plurality of power supply units based on the monitoring information transmitted from the monitoring means, and connecting a booster power supply for supplying auxiliary power to the load in parallel with the specific power supply unit, and monitoring Voltage control means for matching the voltage level of the booster power supply with the voltage level of the specific power supply unit selected by the selective connection means based on the monitoring information transmitted from the means.
According to such a configuration, for example, when the multi-power supply apparatus is configured by two power supply units and power is individually supplied to the two loads of the apparatus system such as the information processing system, the actual operation state In, almost no operation mode in which the two loads simultaneously become the maximum load current occurs. Therefore, the capacity of each power supply unit is determined based on the load current used in the steady state, and a minimum booster power supply is prepared for a specific mode (for example, startup) where the load current is insufficient. Mount the same number of switches as the number of systems used in the equipment system at the output stage of each power supply unit. Then, based on the monitoring information from the device system, set the output voltage of the booster power supply to the required voltage, and turn on the switch of the system of the power supply unit that becomes the overload current, and the auxiliary power from the booster power supply to the corresponding load Supply. This makes it possible to supply necessary power to each load, and the booster power supply can also function as a backup redundant power supply.

Embodiment 1

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a multi-power supply apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In each embodiment described below, the same structural elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. Further, this multi-power supply apparatus has a two-output power supply configuration with two power supply units for the sake of simplicity of explanation, but a multi-output power supply configuration can be made with more power supply units.

  First, the configuration of the multi-power supply apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described. This multi-power supply apparatus basically has a two-system power supply configuration with two power supply units of an A power supply 1 and a B power supply 2. That is, the A power supply 1 is configured by two power supply systems, that is, an A system that supplies power to the A load 6 a of the apparatus system 5 and a B power supply 2 that supplies power to the B load 6 b of the apparatus system 5. . Further, the C power source 3 which is a standby power source unit becomes a booster power source. When the switch 4a is turned on, the A power source 1 and the C power source 3 (booster power source) are connected in parallel, and when the switch 4b is turned on, the B power source 1 and C The power supply 3 (booster power supply) is configured to be connected in parallel.

  Further, a power supply state monitoring circuit (monitoring means) 7 for monitoring the load states of the A load 6a and the B load 6b is installed in the apparatus system 5, and the monitoring information of the power supply state monitoring circuit 7 is sent to the control circuit 10. It is configured to be sent. Further, based on the monitoring information received from the power supply state monitoring circuit 7, the control circuit 10 sends control signals (first control signal and first control signal) to the driver circuit 9 and the output voltage adjustment terminal (voltage control means) 11 of the C power supply 3. 2 control signals). Then, the driver circuit 9 turns on / off the switches (selection connection means) 4a and 4b based on the first control signal received from the control circuit 10, and the C power source 3 is connected to the output voltage adjustment terminal (voltage control means). 11 is configured to change its own output voltage on the basis of the second control signal input to 11.

  The function of each component will be described in more detail. The A power source 1 and the B power source 2 are means for supplying default power (rated power) required by the A load 6a and the B load 6b of the device system 5. The C power source 3 serving as a booster power source is a unit that performs booster (auxiliary power supply) of each output power of the A power source 1 and the B power source 2, and is a unit that supplies power to a corresponding power system as a backup redundant power source is there. The output voltage adjustment terminal 11 of the C power supply 3 is a voltage control terminal that arbitrarily sets the output voltage of the C power supply 3 according to the level of the second control signal from the control circuit 10.

  The voltage detection circuit 8 is means for detecting whether or not the output voltage of the C power supply 3 has reached a required voltage level. The power supply state monitoring circuit 7 is a monitoring unit that monitors necessary voltage / current and power supply abnormality in each operation mode in the A load 6a and the B load 6b in the apparatus system 5. The control circuit 10 receives the monitoring information from the power supply state monitoring circuit 7 of the A load 6a and the B load 6b in the device system 5, and generates necessary control signals (first control signal and second control signal). , Means for transmitting the second control signal to the output voltage adjustment terminal 11 of the C power source 3 and transmitting the first control signal to the driver circuit 9.

  The driver circuit 9 receives the voltage level signal from the voltage detection circuit 8 and the first control signal from the control circuit 10, selects the switch 4a or the switch 4b, transmits a selection signal, and transmits the selection signal. Is a selection means for determining whether to connect to the A system or the B system. The switches 4 a and 4 b are selection connection means for selecting a load route (A system or B system) to which the output of the C power supply 3 is connected based on a selection signal from the driver circuit 9.

  Next, the operation of the multi power supply device shown in FIG. 1 will be described. In this multi-power supply apparatus, it is assumed that there is no operation mode in which the A load 6a and the B load 6b of the apparatus system 5 are simultaneously the maximum load. Further, the C power supply 3 can arbitrarily adjust the output voltage to match the voltage level with the A power supply 1 or the C power supply 3, and the A power supply 1 and the C power supply 3 and the B power supply 2 and the C power supply 3 are respectively in parallel. It is possible to perform redundant operation. Further, since such power supply units (A power supply 1, B power supply 2, and C power supply 3) are power supply units that are widely marketed as modules, descriptions of individual power supply circuit systems are omitted. The switches 4a and 4b can be configured by mechanical switches such as relays, but are mainly assumed to be semiconductor switches.

  The A power source 1 or the B power source 2 automatically sets the output voltage of the C power source 3 according to the load state of each load (A load 6a or B load 6b), and passes through each switch (switch 4a or switch 4b). The C power supply 3 is connected in parallel. For example, when the power supply state monitoring circuit 7 detects that the A load 6a is in an overload state and the A power supply 1 alone cannot supply the load current to the A load 6a, the control circuit 10 adjusts the output voltage. A second control signal is transmitted to the terminal 11 to set the output voltage of the C power supply 3 to the same voltage as the output voltage of the A power supply 1. Then, the switch 4a is turned on by a selection signal from the driver circuit 9 to connect the C power source 3 and the A power source 1 in parallel, and the auxiliary power is supplied to the A load 6a using the C power source 3 as a booster power source.

  Similarly, when the B load 6b is overloaded, the C power source 3 becomes a booster power source, and the B power source 2 and the C power source 3 are connected in parallel via the switch 4b. Auxiliary power is supplied to the B load 6a. Even when either the A power supply 1 or the B power supply 2 is abnormally stopped, the output voltage of the power supply unit that has failed the output voltage of the C power supply 3 based on the monitoring information of the power supply state monitoring circuit 7 as described above. The C power supply 3 is connected to the power supply system that has stopped abnormally via the corresponding switch. As a result, the C power supply 3 becomes a backup redundant power supply and can continue to supply power to the load of the failed power supply system.

  In this way, the output voltage of the C power source 3 is freely changed according to the load state of the A load 6a or the B load 6b, and the C power source 3 is used as a booster power source via the corresponding switch (switch 4a or switch 4b). Auxiliary power is supplied to the corresponding load (A load 6a or B load 6b), and when the A load 6a or B load 6b fails, the C power supply 3 can be used as a backup redundant power supply. With such a circuit configuration, a multi-power supply device can be configured with a power supply unit having a minimum capacity, so that the multi-power supply device can be reduced in cost and size. Further, when the C power source 3 is used as a backup redundant power source, reliability can be improved at low cost.

  Next, the operation of the multi-power supply apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the multi-power supply apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this flowchart, the operation when the A load 6a shifts to an overload operation mode from a certain current operation mode will be described.

  First, the power supply state monitoring circuit 7 grasps the load state of each load (A load 6a and B load 6b) in the device system 5, and the A load 6a is overloaded. It is determined that it is necessary to increase the supply current to (step S1). Next, a command signal (monitoring information) for making the C power source 3 a booster power source for the A power source 1 is transmitted from the power state monitoring circuit 7 to the control circuit 10 (step S2). Then, the control circuit 10 receives the command signal and transmits a control signal (second control signal) for setting the output voltage of the C power supply 3 to a desired voltage to the output voltage adjustment terminal 11 of the C power supply 3. At the same time, a control signal (first control signal) for selecting the switch 4a or the switch 4b is transmitted to the driver circuit 9 (step S3).

  As a result, the C power supply 3 is changed to a required output voltage based on the control signal (second control signal) input to the output voltage adjustment terminal 11 (step S4). Further, any one switch (switch 4a or switch 4b) is selected by the control signal (first control signal = selection signal) of the driver circuit 9 (step S5). However, at this time, it is unclear whether or not the output voltage of the C power source 3 has risen to a desired voltage, so that the switch 4 selected for protection against each load (A load 6a and B load 6b). Is not turned on yet.

  Next, the voltage detection circuit 8 detects the output voltage of the C power source 3, and confirms that the output voltage has risen to a desired voltage (step S6). Further, it is confirmed that the switches (switch 4a or switch 4b) are not simultaneously turned on by a command signal (monitoring information) from the power supply state monitoring circuit 7 to the control circuit 10 (step S7). After confirming the voltage in step S6 and confirming that the switch is turned off in step S7, the driver circuit 9 turns on the switch (switch 4a or switch 4b) selected in step S5 (step S9).

  Thus, the C power supply 3 is connected in parallel with the A power supply 1 and functions as a booster power supply (step S10). Thereafter, when the load current of the A load 6a decreases and the power supply state monitoring circuit 7 determines that the booster power supply is unnecessary (step S11), the control circuit 10 receives the command signal (monitoring) from the power supply state monitoring circuit 7 On the basis of the information), all the switches ((switch 4a and switch 4b) are turned OFF, the C power supply 3 is set in the standby state, and the next command signal from the power supply state monitoring circuit 7 is waited (step S12).

  Even when the B load 6b is overloaded, the C power source 3 can be used as a booster power source for the B power source 2 in the above-described procedure. Furthermore, even when either the A power supply 1 or the B power supply 2 that supplies the rated current (default value) to the A load 6a and the B load 6b is stopped for some reason, the power supply state monitoring circuit 7 controls the monitoring information. By transmitting to the circuit 10, the C power supply 3 can function as a backup redundant power supply in the same procedure as steps S3 to S9 in FIG.

Embodiment 2

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a multi-power supply apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 2 differs from that of FIG. 1 only in that a switch (opening / closing means) 12 is provided on the input side of the C power supply 3 (between the input line Vin and the input terminal of the C power supply 3). is there. By providing such a switch 12, the switch 12 is turned off in an operation mode that does not require the C power source 3, and the switch 12 is turned on only in an operation mode that requires the C power source 3. That is, when the C power source 3 is connected as a booster power source in parallel to the A power source 1 or the B power source 2, the switch 12 is turned on, and the C power source 3 is not connected in parallel to either the A power source 1 or the B power source 2 At that time, the switch 12 is turned OFF. As a result, the standby power of the C power supply 3 can be made zero in the operation mode in which the C power supply 3 is not required, so that further energy saving of the multi-power supply apparatus can be realized.

Embodiment 3

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a multi-power supply apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the multi-power supply apparatus of the third embodiment, the same type of power supply 13 (that is, the same voltage and capacity) is used in all power supply systems. Furthermore, the same number of switches 14 as the number of loads (A load 6a, B load 6b, and C load 6c) to be used are mounted on the output side of each power source 13. Note that the functions of the voltage state monitoring circuit 7a, voltage detection circuit 8a, driver circuit 9a, control circuit 10a, and output voltage adjustment terminal 11a in the monitoring / control system are the same as in FIG. 1, but the number of signals is different from that in FIG. Since they are different, a suffix a is added to each symbol.

  With such a configuration, an arbitrary power source 13 is freely selected by any one of the switches 14 according to the request of each load (A load 6a, B load 6b, and C load 6c) of the apparatus system 5a, and each power source 13 Can be set to any voltage value. For example, when the currents of the A load 6a, the B load 6b, and the C load 6c are small, only the switches 14 of the uppermost power supply system shown in the figure are turned ON, and the corresponding load (A load) 6a, B load 6b, and C load 6c) at a desired voltage.

  Further, when the current of each load (A load 6a, B load 6b, and C load 6c) further increases, each switch 14 of the second-stage power supply system in the figure is turned ON, and the second-stage power supply 13 is turned on. Auxiliary power is supplied to the corresponding loads (A load 6a, B load 6b, and C load 6c). Hereinafter, each time the current of each load (A load 6a, B load 6b, and C load 6c) increases, each switch 14 of the third stage power supply system and each switch 14 of the fourth stage power supply system are turned on. The power is sequentially turned on, and the auxiliary power is additionally supplied to the corresponding load using the third-stage power supply 13 and the fourth-stage power supply 13 as the booster power supply sequentially.

  Further, when electric power is supplied from the uppermost power source 13 to each load (A load 6a, B load 6b, and C load 6c), the current of only the A load 6a increases, and the B load 6b and the C load 6c. In the second stage power supply system, only the switch 14 of the system of the A load 6a is turned ON, and auxiliary power is supplied only to the A load 6a using the second stage power supply 13 as a booster power supply. Similar to the case described in the first embodiment, such control is performed by monitoring information of the device system 5a by the voltage state monitoring circuit 7a, the voltage detection circuit 8a, the driver circuit 9a, the control circuit 10a, and the output. This is realized by the control function of the voltage adjustment terminal 11a.

  In this way, the multi-power supply apparatus flexibly responds by changing the power supply capacity and output voltage of each power supply unit according to the load state of the apparatus system, and easily configures a backup redundant system for each power supply unit. be able to. As a result, it is possible to optimize the configuration of the power supply unit in the multi-power supply apparatus, and to improve the reliability by reducing the cost of the multi-power supply apparatus and configuring an inexpensive backup redundant system. In addition, it is easy to shorten the power supply design used in the device system and cope with specification changes. Further, as shown in the second embodiment of FIG. 2, the switch 12 is provided between the input terminal of the C power supply 3 (booster power supply) and the input power supply line (Vin), thereby realizing energy saving of the power supply. can do.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and there are design changes and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  The multi-power supply apparatus of the present invention can be effectively used for information processing apparatuses and various electronic devices that require multiple output voltages.

1 is a configuration diagram of a multi-power supply apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the multi power supply device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the multi power supply device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of operation | movement of the multi power supply device which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the general multi-power-supply apparatus used for an apparatus system etc.

Explanation of symbols

1 A power supply 2 B power supply 3 C power supply (booster power supply)
4a, 4b, 12, 14 Switch 5, 5a Device system 6a A load 6b B load 6c C load 7, 7a Power supply state monitoring device 8, 8a Voltage detection circuit 9, 9a Driver circuit 10, 10a Control circuit 11, 11a Voltage control Terminal 13 Power supply

Claims (15)

A multi-power supply device that supplies power from a plurality of power supply units to a corresponding load by independent power supply systems,
A booster power source connected in parallel with a specific power supply unit selected according to the state of the load from the plurality of power supply units, and supplying auxiliary power having the same voltage level as the voltage level of the specific power supply unit to the load A multi-power supply device comprising: A multi-power supply device that supplies power from a plurality of power supply units to a corresponding load by independent power supply systems,
A booster power supply for supplying auxiliary power to the load;
Monitoring means for monitoring the state of the load and transmitting monitoring information;
Select connection means for selecting a specific power supply unit from the plurality of power supply units based on the monitoring information transmitted from the monitoring means, and connecting the booster power supply in parallel to the specific power supply unit;
Voltage control means for matching the voltage level of the booster power supply with the voltage level of the specific power supply unit selected by the selective connection means based on the monitoring information transmitted from the monitoring means. Multi power supply. A control circuit for generating a first control signal and a second control signal based on the monitoring information received from the monitoring means;
The control circuit transmits the first control signal for connecting the booster power supply in parallel to the specific power supply unit to the selective connection means, and the voltage level of the booster power supply is selected by the selective connection means. 3. The multi-power supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second control signal for matching the voltage level of the specific power supply unit is transmitted to the voltage control means.   4. A voltage detection circuit for determining whether or not a voltage level of the booster power supply matches a voltage level of a specific power supply unit selected by the selective connection means. Multi power supply.   The load state monitored by the monitoring means is a voltage / current supplied from the specific power supply unit to a corresponding load and a normal / abnormal state of the power supply unit. Or the multi-power supply apparatus of 4.   6. An opening / closing means for connecting / blocking an input terminal of the booster power supply to / from an input line depending on whether or not the booster power supply is connected in parallel to the specific power supply unit. The multi-power supply apparatus according to any one of the above.   When the booster power supply is connected in parallel to the specific power supply unit, the switching means causes the input terminal of the booster power supply to be connected to the input line, and the booster power supply is not connected in parallel to the specific power supply unit. 7. The multi-power supply apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an input terminal of the booster power supply is cut off from the input line.   The multi-power supply apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the booster power supply is operated in parallel redundancy with the specific power supply unit.   3. The multi-power supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the selective connection unit sequentially connects the plurality of power supply units in parallel as the booster power supply according to a load state monitored by the monitoring unit. A power supply method for supplying power from a plurality of power supply units constituting a multi-power supply apparatus to a corresponding load by independent power supply systems,
A specific power supply unit is selected from the plurality of power supply units according to the state of the load, the selected specific power supply unit and a booster power supply are connected in parallel, and the voltage level of the specific power supply unit is connected to the booster power supply. A power supply method used in a multi-power supply apparatus, wherein auxiliary power having the same voltage level as that of the power supply is supplied to the load. A power supply method for supplying power from a plurality of power supply units constituting a multi-power supply apparatus to a corresponding load by independent power supply systems,
A first step of monitoring the load status and transmitting monitoring information;
A second step of selecting a specific power supply unit from the plurality of power supply units based on the monitoring information;
A third step of matching the output voltage of the booster power supply for supplying auxiliary power to the load with the output voltage of the specific power supply unit based on the monitoring information;
A fourth step of connecting the booster power supply in parallel to the specific power supply unit;
A power supply method for use in a multi-power supply apparatus.   The monitoring information monitored in the first step includes a voltage and a current supplied from the specific power supply unit to the load, and a normal / abnormal state of the specific power supply unit. The power supply method used for the multi-power supply apparatus of 11.   In the third step, it is determined whether the output voltage of the booster power supply matches the output voltage of the specific power supply unit, and when both voltages match, the process proceeds to the fourth step. 13. The power supply method used for the multi-power supply apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when the two voltages do not match, the process is not shifted to the fourth step.   14. The method of supplying power to a multi-power supply apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a fifth step of shutting off an input terminal of the booster power source from an input line when the step is not shifted to the fourth step.   A power supply control program for causing a computer to execute a power supply method using the multi-power supply apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 13.

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