JP6285123B2 - Power supply monitoring apparatus, power supply apparatus, information processing system, and power supply monitoring method - Google Patents

Description

      The present invention relates to a power supply monitoring technique, and more particularly to a power supply voltage monitoring technique.

      Various related techniques relating to power supply monitoring are known.

      For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a power supply device. First, the power supply device includes a circuit voltage detection unit that detects a power supply voltage applied to an IC (Integrated Circuit) circuit unit by a monitored voltage from the power supply device. Second, the power supply device adjusts the monitored voltage based on the detection result of the power supply voltage and the detection result of the ambient temperature of the IC circuit unit.

      In such a device, when the circuit voltage detection unit fails, there is a problem that the device operates based on an incorrect detection result of the power supply voltage.

      A technique for solving such problems is described in Patent Document 2. In the DC-DC (Direct Current-Direct Current) converter system described in Patent Document 2, when the primary voltage drops abnormally, the abnormality of the connector that connects the battery and the DC-DC converter is detected. It is determined whether the primary voltage sensor to be detected is abnormal. The DC-DC converter system controls the DC-DC converter according to the determination result.

      The overall control unit of the DC-DC converter system performs the above-described determination based on the first lower limit voltage value and the second lower limit voltage threshold value lower than the first lower limit voltage value. First, the overall control unit determines the abnormality of the connector when a predetermined time has elapsed since the primary voltage became equal to or lower than the first lower limit voltage value. Second, the overall control unit determines the abnormality of the primary voltage sensor when a predetermined time elapses after the primary voltage becomes equal to or lower than the second lower limit voltage value.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-323019 JP 2010-161898 A

      However, the technique described in the above-mentioned prior art document has a problem that it may not be possible to correctly distinguish between an abnormality in the power supply system and an abnormality in the power monitoring system.

      The reason is that, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 2, if a failure occurs in the power supply system (here, the connector) such that the primary voltage is equal to or lower than the second lower limit voltage value, the oversight is performed. This is because the controller determines the abnormality of the primary voltage sensor.

      For example, a plurality of DC-DC converters (voltage converters) are mounted on a computer system including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory. The DC-DC converter converts an output voltage from a DC (Direct Current) power source supplied to the computer system into a power source voltage determined by specifications of the CPU, memory, and the like.

      When the DC-DC converter breaks down, the voltage supplied to the CPU or memory exceeds the power supply voltage, and the CPU or memory may malfunction. Therefore, in such a computer system, the power supply voltage supplied from the DC-DC converter to the CPU or memory is measured with a voltage sensor so that such a malfunction does not occur, and the monitoring means measures with the voltage sensor. The measured voltage value is monitored.

      Here, when the voltage sensor fails, the monitoring means detects the incorrect voltage value. Therefore, when the monitoring means detects that the voltage value acquired from the voltage sensor is abnormal, the monitoring means compares it with two types of voltage thresholds to determine whether the DC-DC converter is faulty or not. Determine if it is a failure. Here, the two types of voltage threshold values are a first voltage threshold value indicating a range in which the CPU, the memory, and the like can operate, and a second voltage threshold value indicating that the voltage sensor is operating normally.

      However, when the failed DC-DC converter outputs a power supply voltage that deviates from the second voltage threshold, the monitoring means erroneously determines that the voltage sensor is defective.

      An object of the present invention is to provide a power supply monitoring device, a power supply device, an information processing system, and a power supply monitoring method that can solve the above-described problems.

The power monitoring device of the present invention includes a first threshold value indicating a lower limit value of a normal range of a monitored voltage applied to the output line by the monitored device, a second threshold value lower than the first threshold value, and the output line. Determination means for outputting predetermined information based on the voltage value of the voltage, and minimum voltage guarantee means for applying a voltage that is greater than or equal to the second threshold and less than the first threshold to the output line. .

Power monitoring method of the present invention, less than the first threshold value A on the first lower than the threshold of the second threshold Ne以 indicating the lower limit of the normal range of the monitored voltage monitored device added to the output line A power supply monitoring device having a minimum voltage guarantee means for applying a voltage to the output line is provided with predetermined information based on the voltage value of the voltage applied to the output line, the first threshold value, and the second threshold value. Is output.

      The present invention has an effect that it is possible to correctly distinguish between an abnormality in the power supply system and an abnormality in the power monitoring system.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a power supply monitoring apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an internal configuration of the power monitoring apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a computer that realizes the determination output unit according to the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a power supply device including a power supply monitoring device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system including a power supply monitoring device according to the second embodiment. 6, Oite the second embodiment, when a failure occurs in the voltage sensor, the voltage sensor output is a diagram for explaining a change in voltage value of the voltage of the output line. Figure 7 is Oite, when a failure occurs in the DC-DC converter in the second embodiment, the voltage sensor output is a diagram for explaining a change in voltage value of the voltage of the output line. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing system including a power monitoring device according to related technology. Figure 9 is Oite to the related art, when a failure occurs in the voltage sensor is a diagram for explaining a change in the voltage value output from the voltage sensor. Figure 10 is Oite to the related art, when a failure occurs in the DC-DC converter is a diagram for explaining a change in the voltage value output from the voltage sensor.

      Embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment described in each drawing and specification, the same reference numerals are given to the same components, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.

<<<< first embodiment >>>>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power supply monitoring apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

      As shown in FIG. 1, the power supply monitoring apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a determination unit 110 and a minimum voltage guarantee unit 120.

=== Determining Unit 110 ===
Judging unit 110, the voltage value of the voltage of the output line the monitored device (not shown) is a target for outputting the monitored voltage 820, the abnormal low voltage threshold indicating the lower limit of the normal range of the monitored voltage 820 ( Based on the first threshold value) and a sensor failure threshold value (second threshold value) lower than the abnormal low voltage threshold value, a determination result (also referred to as predetermined information) 860 is output.

      The monitored voltage 820 may be any number of one or more. Each monitored voltage 820 may be a voltage having an arbitrary rating. In other words, each of a plurality of monitored voltages 820 having the same rating and a monitored voltage 820 having a different rating may be output from the plurality of monitored devices and input to the power supply monitoring device 100.

      The abnormal low voltage threshold value may be a value corresponding to each monitored voltage 820. In other words, the abnormal low voltage threshold values of the monitored voltages 820 having the same rating may be different or the same. Further, the abnormal low voltage threshold values of the monitored voltages 820 having different ratings may be the same or different. The abnormal low voltage threshold may be a value obtained in advance empirically or theoretically.

Voltage of the output line is input to determine tough 110 via a minimum voltage protection unit 120.

For example, the determination unit 110 determines that the monitored device is abnormal when the voltage value of the voltage of the output line is less than the abnormal low voltage threshold and not less than the sensor failure threshold (first voltage range). In addition, when the voltage value of the voltage of the output line is less than the sensor failure threshold value (second voltage range), the determination unit 110 determines that the determination unit 110 itself is abnormal.

That is, the sensor failure threshold value is a threshold value for determining an abnormality of a monitoring circuit (not shown) in which the determination unit 110 monitors each of the output line voltages . The sensor failure threshold value may be a value corresponding to each of the monitoring circuits. The sensor failure threshold value may be a value obtained in advance empirically or theoretically.

      The determination result 860 is a shutdown signal or notification to the operator.

      When it is determined that the monitored device is abnormal, the determination unit 110, for example, indicates that it is necessary to stop the device that is supplied with power from the monitored device determined to be abnormal. (Shutdown signal) is output to the device. In the same case, the determination unit 110 outputs a message to the operator indicating that it is necessary to stop the device supplied with power from the monitored device determined to be abnormal. Also good.

      When it is determined that the abnormality is in the determination unit 110 itself, the determination unit 110 may output a message indicating the abnormality in the determination unit 110 itself to the operator.

=== Minimum Voltage Guarantee 120 ===
When the monitored voltage 820 is less than the sensor failure threshold, the minimum voltage guarantee unit 120 raises the voltage of the output line to a value that is greater than or equal to the sensor failure threshold and less than the abnormal low voltage threshold. In other words, the minimum voltage guarantee unit 120 is input to the determination unit 110 even if the monitored voltage 820 output from the monitored device is a value within the second voltage range indicating the abnormality of the determination unit 110 itself. The voltage of the output line to be adjusted is adjusted so as to be a value within the first voltage range indicating the abnormality of the monitored device.

      The effect in the present embodiment described above is that the abnormality of the power supply system (for example, the monitored device) and the abnormality of the power monitoring system (for example, the determination unit 110) can be correctly separated.

The reason is that the minimum voltage guarantee unit 120 raises the voltage of the output line to a value that is greater than or equal to the sensor failure threshold and less than the abnormal low voltage threshold, and the determination unit 110 is based on the voltage value of the voltage of the output line. This is because the abnormal part is determined.

<<< Second Embodiment >>>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, the description overlapping with the above description is omitted as long as the description of the present embodiment is not obscured.

      FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a power supply monitoring apparatus 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

      As shown in FIG. 2, the power monitoring apparatus 200 in this embodiment includes a determination unit 210 and a minimum voltage guarantee unit 220.

=== Minimum Voltage Guarantee 220 ===
The minimum voltage guarantee unit 220 includes a pull-up resistor 221, a pull-up resistor 222, and a DC-DC converter 223. The function of the minimum voltage guarantee unit 220 is equivalent to that of the minimum voltage guarantee unit 120 shown in FIG.

=== Pull-up resistor 221 ===
The pull-up resistor 221 is generally called a resistance element. The pull-up resistor 221 is mounted between the DC-DC converter 223 and the output line 231 from which the monitored voltage 821 is output.

      When the monitored voltage 821 is less than the sensor failure threshold, the pull-up resistor 221 has a resistance value at which the voltage on the output line 231 is at least the sensor failure threshold and less than the abnormal low voltage threshold. . The resistance value is a resistance value at which the voltage on the output line 231 is equal to or lower than the abnormal high voltage threshold (third threshold) when the monitored voltage 821 is the maximum value in the normal range. Here, the abnormal high voltage threshold indicates a voltage value at which the operation in the information processing system may not be normally executed when the voltage on the output line 231 becomes equal to or higher than the abnormal high voltage threshold.

      In other words, the voltage output from the pull-up resistor 221 increases the voltage on the output line 231 so that it is at least equal to or higher than the sensor failure threshold.

=== Pull-up resistor 222 ===
The pull-up resistor 222 is generally called a resistance element. The pull-up resistor 222 is mounted between the DC-DC converter 223 and the output line 232 from which the monitored voltage 822 is output.

      Pull-up resistor 222 has a resistance value at which the voltage on output line 232 is at least equal to or greater than the sensor failure threshold and less than the abnormal low voltage threshold when monitored voltage 822 is less than the sensor failure threshold. . The resistance value is a resistance value at which the voltage on the output line 232 is equal to or lower than the abnormal high voltage threshold (third threshold) when the monitored voltage 822 is the maximum value in the normal range. Here, the abnormal high voltage threshold indicates a voltage value at which the operation in the information processing system may not be normally executed when the voltage on the output line 232 becomes equal to or higher than the abnormal high voltage threshold.

      In other words, the voltage output from the pull-up resistor 222 raises the voltage on the output line 232 so as to be at least equal to or higher than the sensor failure threshold.

=== DC-DC Converter 223 ===
The DC-DC converter 223 is also called security voltage output means. The DC-DC converter 223 outputs a voltage to the output line 231 and the output line 232 via the pull-up resistor 221 and the pull-up resistor 222, respectively.

=== Determining Unit 210 ===
The determination unit 210 includes a voltage sensor 211, a voltage sensor 212, and a determination output unit 213. The function of the determination unit 210 is substantially the same as that of the determination unit 110 shown in FIG.

=== Voltage sensor 211 ===
Voltage sensor 211, the voltage on the output line 231 is input. The voltage sensor 211 converts the input voltage of the output line 231 into, for example, a voltage value indicated by a numerical value in millivolts, and outputs the voltage value to the determination output unit 213.

=== Voltage sensor 212 ===
The voltage on the output line 232 is input to the voltage sensor 212. The voltage sensor 212 converts the input voltage of the output line 232 , for example, a voltage value indicated by a numerical value in millivolt units, and outputs the voltage value to the determination output unit 213.

=== Decision Output Unit 213 ===
The determination output unit 213 outputs a determination result 860 to the outside based on the voltage value, the abnormal low voltage threshold value, and the sensor failure threshold value.

For example, the determination unit 210 determines that the DC-DC converter 401 (monitored device) is abnormal when the voltage value of the voltage of the output line 231 is less than the abnormal low voltage threshold and greater than or equal to the sensor failure threshold. The determination unit 210 determines that the voltage sensor 211 (the determination unit 110 itself) is abnormal when the voltage value of the voltage of the output line 231 is less than the sensor failure threshold.

For example, the determination unit 210 determines that the DC-DC converter 402 (monitored device) is abnormal when the voltage value of the voltage of the output line 232 is less than the abnormal low voltage threshold and greater than or equal to the sensor failure threshold. Further, when the voltage value of the voltage of the output line 232 is less than the sensor failure threshold value, the determination unit 210 determines that the voltage sensor 212 (determination unit 110 itself) is abnormal.

      The determination output unit 213 may be realized by a computer.

      FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a computer 700 that implements the determination output unit 213 according to the present embodiment.

      As illustrated in FIG. 3, the computer 700 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 701, a storage unit 702, a storage device 703, an input unit 704, an output unit 705, and a communication unit 706. Furthermore, the computer 700 includes a recording medium (or storage medium) 707 supplied from the outside. The recording medium 707 may be a non-volatile recording medium that stores information non-temporarily.

      The CPU 701 controls the overall operation of the computer 700 by operating an operating system (not shown). The CPU 701 reads a program and data from a recording medium 707 mounted on the storage device 703, for example, and writes the read program and data to the storage unit 702.

      The CPU 701 executes various processes as the determination output unit 213 shown in FIG. 2 according to the read program and based on the read data.

      Note that the CPU 701 may download a program and data to the storage unit 702 from an external computer (not shown) connected to a communication network (not shown).

      The storage unit 702 stores programs and data. The storage unit 702 may store the abnormal low voltage threshold or the sensor failure threshold.

      The storage device 703 is, for example, an optical disk, a flexible disk, a magnetic optical disk, an external hard disk, and a semiconductor memory, and includes a recording medium 707. The storage device 703 (recording medium 707) stores the program in a computer-readable manner. The storage device 703 may store data. The storage device 703 may store the abnormal low voltage threshold and the sensor failure threshold.

      The input unit 704 is realized by, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, a built-in key button, and the like, and is used for an input operation. The input unit 704 is not limited to a mouse, a keyboard, and a built-in key button, and may be a touch panel, for example.

      The output unit 705 is realized by a display, for example, and is used for confirming the output.

      The communication unit 706 implements an interface with the outside.

      As described above, the determination output unit 213 illustrated in FIG. 2 is realized by the computer 700 having the hardware configuration illustrated in FIG. However, the means for realizing each unit included in the computer 700 is not limited to the above. In other words, the computer 700 may be realized by one physically coupled device, or may be realized by two or more physically separated devices connected by wire or wirelessly and by a plurality of these devices. .

      A recording medium 707 in which the above-described program code is recorded may be supplied to the computer 700, and the CPU 701 may read and execute the program code stored in the recording medium 707. Alternatively, the CPU 701 may store the code of the program stored in the recording medium 707 in the storage unit 702, the storage device 703, or both. That is, the present embodiment includes an embodiment of a recording medium 707 that stores a program (software) executed by the computer 700 (CPU 701) temporarily or non-temporarily. A storage medium that stores information non-temporarily is also referred to as a non-volatile storage medium.

      The above is the description of the computer 700 that implements the determination output unit 213 in the present embodiment.

      FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a power supply device including the power supply monitoring device 200. As shown in FIG. 4, the power supply device includes a power supply monitoring device 200, a DC-DC converter 401, and a DC-DC converter 402. Note that means for supplying direct current power to the DC-DC converter 401 and the DC-DC converter 402 is not shown.

=== DC-DC Converter 401 ===
The DC-DC converter 401 outputs power supplied to the CPU 501 to the output line 231. In other words, the DC-DC converter 401 outputs the monitored voltage 821 to the output line 231.

=== DC-DC Converter 402 ===
The DC-DC converter 402 outputs the power supplied to the memory 502 to the output line 232. In other words, the DC-DC converter 402 outputs the monitored voltage 822 to the output line 232.

      FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an information processing system including the power supply device. As shown in FIG. 5, the information processing system includes a power supply monitoring device 200, a DC-DC converter 401, a DC-DC converter 402, a CPU 501, and a memory 502. The information processing system may include an arbitrary unit other than that shown in FIG.

=== CPU 501 ===
The CPU 501 is the main processor of the information processing system.

=== Memory 502 ===
A memory 502 is a main memory of the information processing system.

      Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

6 and 7 are diagrams for explaining changes in the voltage value of the voltage of the output line output from the voltage sensor 212 when the voltage sensor 212 and the DC-DC converter 402 fail.

In the graph shown in FIG. 6, the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents voltage [v (volt)]. In addition, the voltage value [v] of the voltage of the output line output from the voltage sensor 212 that is input to the determination unit 210 is indicated by a solid line, and the monitored voltage 822 output from the DC-DC converter 402 is indicated by a dotted line. Note that the solid line and the dotted line do not strictly indicate the values of these voltages, but indicate changes in those voltages. That is, between the time “t0” and the time “t2”, the dotted line of the monitored voltage 822 and the dotted line of the voltage value of the voltage of the output line output from the voltage sensor 212 are described separately in the vertical direction. However, it may actually overlap. Further, after the time “t2”, the voltage value of the output line output from the voltage sensor 212 is “0 [v]” apart from the voltage value “0 [v]”. It may be.

      In the graph shown in FIG. 6, the abnormal low voltage threshold 842 indicates the lower limit value of the voltage at which the memory 502 can operate.

      In the graph shown in FIG. 6, the sensor failure threshold 852 is a voltage threshold for the determination output unit 213 to determine whether or not the voltage sensor 212 has failed. The determination output unit 213 determines that the voltage sensor 212 has failed when the voltage value output from the voltage sensor 212 is equal to or less than the sensor failure threshold value 852. Here, it is assumed that the sensor failure threshold 852 is set to a voltage value output from the pull-up resistor 222 of the minimum voltage guarantee unit 220 shown in FIG. In other words, the pull-up resistor 222 outputs a voltage of the sensor failure threshold value 852.

As described above, the determination output unit 213 determines that the DC-DC converter 402 is in failure when the voltage value acquired from the voltage sensor 212 is equal to or greater than the sensor failure threshold 852 and less than the abnormal low voltage threshold 842. . Similarly, when the voltage value is less than the sensor failure threshold 852, the determination output unit 213 determines that the voltage sensor 212 has failed.

Referring to FIG. 6, the voltage value of the voltage of the output line output from the voltage sensor 212 is normal from time “t0” to immediately before time “t2”. Therefore, the voltage value acquired from the voltage sensor 212 by the determination output unit 213 from the time “t0” to immediately before the time “t2” is a normal value.

Next, at time “t2”, a failure of the voltage sensor 212 occurs, and the voltage value of the voltage of the output line output from the voltage sensor 212 becomes “0 [v]”. Accordingly, the voltage value acquired from the voltage sensor 212 by the determination output unit 213 also changes to “0 [v]”.

      Accordingly, the determination output unit 213 determines that the voltage sensor 212 has failed because the voltage value is smaller than the sensor failure threshold value 852 immediately after the time “t2”.

Referring to FIG. 7, the voltage of the output line is normal from time “t0” to immediately before “t2”. Therefore, the voltage value acquired from the voltage sensor 212 by the determination output unit 213 from the time “t0” to immediately before the time “t2” is a normal value.

Next, at time “t2”, a failure of the DC-DC converter 402 occurs, and the monitored voltage 822 becomes “0 [v]”. On the other hand, the voltage of the output line becomes a voltage value of at least the sensor failure threshold value 852 or more due to the output voltage from the pull-up resistor 222. Therefore, the voltage value acquired from the voltage sensor 212 by the determination output unit 213 is a voltage value equal to or higher than the sensor failure threshold 852.

      Therefore, immediately after the time “t2”, the determination output unit 213 determines that the DC-DC converter 402 has failed because the voltage value is not less than the sensor failure threshold value 852 and less than the abnormal low voltage threshold value 842.

      The above is the description of the operation of the present embodiment.

      Next, for comparison with the present embodiment, related technology will be described.

      FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system including a power monitoring apparatus 900 according to related technology.

      The information processing system illustrated in FIG. 8 includes a power supply monitoring device 900, a DC-DC converter 401, a DC-DC converter 402, a CPU 501 and a memory 502.

      The power monitoring apparatus 900 includes a voltage sensor 911, a voltage sensor 912, and a determination output unit 913.

      Each of the voltage sensor 911, the voltage sensor 912, and the determination output unit 913 has functions equivalent to the voltage sensor 211, the voltage sensor 212, and the determination output unit 213 illustrated in FIG.

      FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a change in the voltage value output from the voltage sensor 912 (hereinafter referred to as “voltage value Vout”) when the failure of the voltage sensor 912 occurs. The voltage value Vout is a voltage value on the output line 232 shown in FIG.

      Referring to FIG. 9, the voltage value Vout is normal from time “t0” to immediately before time “t2”. Therefore, the voltage value acquired by the determination output unit 913 from the voltage sensor 912 from the time “t0” to immediately before the time “t2” is a normal value.

      Next, at time “t2”, a failure of the voltage sensor 912 occurs, and the voltage value Vout becomes “0 [v]”. Accordingly, the voltage value acquired from the voltage sensor 912 by the determination output unit 913 also changes to “0 [v]”.

      Therefore, immediately after the time “t2”, the determination output unit 913 determines that the voltage sensor 912 has failed because the voltage value is smaller than the sensor failure threshold 852.

      FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a change in the voltage value Vout when a failure occurs in the DC-DC converter 402.

      Referring to FIG. 10, the voltage value Vout is normal from time “t0” to immediately before “t2”. Therefore, the voltage value acquired by the determination output unit 913 from the voltage sensor 912 from the time “t0” to immediately before the time “t2” is a normal value.

      Next, at time “t2”, a failure of the DC-DC converter 402 occurs, and the voltage value Vout becomes “0 [v]”. Accordingly, the voltage value acquired from the voltage sensor 912 by the determination output unit 913 also changes to “0 [v]”.

      Therefore, immediately after the time “t2”, the determination output unit 913 determines that the voltage sensor 912 has failed because the voltage value is smaller than the sensor failure threshold 852. That is, the determination output unit 913 erroneously determines that the voltage sensor 912 is faulty even though the DC-DC converter 402 is actually faulty.

      This completes the explanation of the related technology.

In the above description of this embodiment, the power supply monitoring unit 200 is inputted to two output lines 23 1 及 beauty output lines 23 2, the output line to be input to the power supply monitoring apparatus 200, there any number It's okay. The power monitoring apparatus 200 may include a pull-up resistor and a voltage sensor corresponding to each of the input output lines .

      In other words, there may be any number of DC-DC converters that output monitored voltages. For example, the DC-DC converter is a DC-DC converter for units other than the CPU 501 and the memory 502. The DC-DC converter is a DC-DC converter for a CPU, a memory, and other units that require a plurality of DC power supplies.

      For example, the DC-DC converter 223 of the minimum voltage guarantee unit 220 is supplied with DC power from a supply unit (not shown) that supplies DC power to the DC-DC converter 401 and the DC-DC converter 402. In this case, when the DC power is not supplied from the supply means, the minimum voltage guarantee unit 220 also does not output a security voltage to the output line 231 and the output line 232. It is determined that the sensor 212 has failed. Then, the determination unit 210 collects failures of both the voltage sensor 211 and the voltage sensor 212 and outputs the determination result 860.

      Further, the DC-DC converter 223 of the minimum voltage guarantee unit 220 is a second supply unit (not shown) different from the first supply unit (not shown) that supplies DC power to the DC-DC converter 401 and the DC-DC converter 402. DC power may be supplied from (not shown). In this case, even if DC power is not supplied from the first supply means, the minimum voltage guarantee unit 220 outputs a security voltage to the output line 231 and the output line 232, so the determination unit 210 -It is determined that the DC converter 401 and the DC-DC converter 402 are faulty. Then, the determination unit 210 summarizes failures of both the DC-DC converter 401 and the DC-DC converter 402 and outputs the determination result 860 as a determination result.

      The first effect of the present embodiment described above is that, as in the first embodiment, the failure of each of the DC-DC converter 401 and the DC-DC converter 402 and the failure of each of the voltage sensor 211 and the voltage sensor 212 are This is a point that makes it possible to make a correct determination.

This is because the following configuration is included. That is, first, a security voltage is output from the pull-up resistor 221 and the pull-up resistor 222 of the minimum voltage guarantee unit 220, and the voltage of the output line 231 and the voltage of the output line 232 are equal to or higher than the sensor failure threshold. The value is raised to a value less than the abnormal low voltage threshold. Second, the determination unit 210 determines an abnormal location based on the voltage value of the output line 231 and the voltage value of the output line 232 .

      The second effect of the present embodiment described above is that a determination result 860 indicating a failure of the first supply unit can be output.

      The reason is that the determination unit 210 collects failures of both the voltage sensor 211 and the voltage sensor 212 or collects failures of both the DC-DC converter 401 and the DC-DC converter 402 and outputs the determination result 860. It was because it did so.

      Each component described in each of the above embodiments does not necessarily have to be individually independent. For example, each component may be realized as a module with a plurality of components. In addition, each component may be realized by a plurality of modules. Each component may be configured such that a certain component is a part of another component. Each component may be configured such that a part of a certain component overlaps a part of another component.

      In the embodiments described above, each component and a module that realizes each component may be realized as hardware as necessary. Moreover, each component and the module which implement | achieves each component may be implement | achieved by a computer and a program. Each component and a module that realizes each component may be realized by mixing hardware modules, computers, and programs.

      Furthermore, in each embodiment described above, a plurality of operations are not limited to being executed at different timings. For example, another operation may occur during the execution of a certain operation, or the execution timing of a certain operation and another operation may partially or entirely overlap.

      Further, in each of the embodiments described above, it is described that a certain operation becomes a trigger for another operation, but the description does not limit all relationships between the certain operation and other operations. For this reason, when each embodiment is implemented, the relationship between the plurality of operations can be changed within a range that does not hinder the contents. The specific description of each operation of each component does not limit each operation of each component. For this reason, each specific operation | movement of each component may be changed in the range which does not cause trouble with respect to a functional, performance, and other characteristic in implementing each embodiment.

      As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated with reference to each embodiment and an Example, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment and Example. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (9)

Based on the first threshold value indicating the lower limit value of the normal range of the monitored voltage applied to the output line by the monitored device, the second threshold value lower than the first threshold value, and the voltage value of the voltage of the output line. Determining means for outputting predetermined information ;
Minimum voltage ensuring means for applying a voltage that is greater than or equal to the second threshold and less than the first threshold to the output line ;
Including power supply monitoring device. The minimum voltage guarantee means includes a security voltage output means and a resistance element,
The monitored device, in addition to the monitored voltage to the output line,
The security voltage output unit, a DC voltage is applied, is connected through the resistance element to the output line,
The determination means is connected to said output line, applying a voltage of the output line al is,
The resistance element has a resistance value at which the voltage of the output line is equal to or lower than a third threshold value when the monitored voltage is a maximum value in a normal range, and the monitored voltage is less than the second threshold value. The power supply monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resistance value is such that a voltage of the output line is equal to or higher than the second threshold and lower than the first threshold. The determination unit determines that the monitored device is abnormal when the voltage value of the voltage of the output line is in a range from less than the first threshold value to more than the second threshold value . The power supply monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the voltage value is equal to or less than the second threshold, the determination unit itself determines that the abnormality is present. When the determination unit determines that the monitored device is abnormal, the predetermined information indicates that it is necessary to stop a device that is supplied with power from the monitored device determined to be abnormal. 4. The power monitoring apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a signal is output. 5. The power monitoring apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the determination unit outputs information indicating the abnormality of the determination unit itself as the predetermined information when it is determined that the determination unit itself is abnormal. . The determination unit outputs, as the predetermined information, one of information indicating abnormality of the plurality of monitored devices and information indicating abnormality of a plurality of parts in the determination unit. The power supply monitoring device according to any one of 1 to 5.   An information processing device including the power supply monitoring device according to claim 1.   A power supply apparatus including the power supply monitoring apparatus according to claim 1. Min adding first lower than the threshold value of a on the second threshold Ne以 said first voltage lower than the threshold indicating the lower limit of the normal range of the monitored voltage monitored device added to the output line to said output line power monitoring device having a voltage protection means,
A power supply monitoring method for outputting predetermined information based on a voltage value of a voltage applied to the output line, the first threshold value, and the second threshold value.

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