JPH1092096A - Power unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten total starting time with a smaller power capacity by providing a microcomputer having the functions to judge the margin of a power source and control the power supply to a plurality of devices based on the result of the judgement in a power unit provided only with one power source for the plural devices. SOLUTION: After turning on a power source 5, a control microcomputer 1 is operated to transmit starting commands to HDD magnetic storage devices 3(1) to 3(n) at a certain interval one by one via signal lines 2. The devices 3(1) to 3(n), which receive the commands, receive prescribed power through power lines 4. Each device consumes a 1.2A current during a 5 second starting time and then, consumes 0.4A steady state current. Moreover, the consumed current of all devices is monitored by an ammeter 6, the monitored value is converted into a digital value by an A/D converter 7 and transmitted to the microcomputer 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power supply, and more particularly, to a power supply having a plurality of HDD magnetic storage devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a large number of HDD (hard disk drive) magnetic storage devices have a common power supply and the current at the time of starting each HDD magnetic storage device is large,
Insufficient capacity of the prepared power source has occurred, or the capacity of the power source has been excessive in a steady state. In particular, in a device using a large number of DC motors, for example, an HDD magnetic storage device, there has been a problem when the motor drive current immediately after turning on the power is significantly larger than the power supply current in a steady state.

In order to solve such a problem, there is a technique in which n devices are sequentially activated one by one at a predetermined time without turning on the power at once. However, such a technique requires an extremely long time as the number of devices increases, so that the total startup time is calculated as n × 1 startup times per unit.

[0004] For example, in an HDD magnetic storage device, the operating current is 0.4 A, but for 2 seconds immediately after startup, it is 1.2 A.
A starting current flows. Consider five disk array devices of this HDD magnetic storage device. When these five units are started simultaneously, a current of 6 A is required. However, when one unit is started at intervals of 2 seconds, the maximum required current is 2.8 A, and five HDD magnetic storages are started 10 seconds after the start of the device. The device can also be started.

[0005] Here, if the device has a large n, there is a margin of power supply capacity such that a plurality of devices can be started simultaneously at the beginning of power-on.

Referring to the characteristic diagram of FIG. 7 showing the current consumption of this type of conventional HDD magnetic storage device, a current consumption value [A] with respect to an elapsed time [second] from the start is shown. The current consumption increases rapidly from the start (0 seconds), and
It flows up to about 2A, but after about 5 seconds, the current consumption is about 0,2A.
It becomes smaller by 4A. The current consumption during the elapsed time A from 0 seconds to 5 seconds is about three times the time B in the steady state.

FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the current consumption [A] and the elapsed time [sec] after the start of the startup when 20 HDD magnetic storage devices having such characteristics are provided.

In FIG. 8, after a predetermined time difference, 1
Since the power is turned on one by one, the current consumption gradually increases until the number of units becomes 20. However, it takes about 1 minute and 30 seconds or more for the whole number to stand by.

Referring to FIG. 9 showing a conventional configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-16163, a DC motor 52 for rotating a rotating body 51 provided with a magnetic disk medium is driven by a drive circuit 53. Receive rotational drive control.
Similarly, the rotating body 54 obtains a rotational force from a DC motor 55 that is driven and controlled by a driving circuit 56. The two DC motors 52 and 55 are both supplied with DC power from a driving power source 57 via driving circuits 53 and 56, respectively.

The drive control circuit 58 includes an activation signal 61 for instructing activation of the rotating body 51 from an operating means or a terminal control device (not shown), an activation signal 62 for the rotating body 54, and a DC motor 52 from the driving circuit 53. The drive completion signals 64 and 66 from the drive circuit 56 are input as drive completion signals 64 and 66, and drive start signals 63 and 65 are sent to the drive circuits 53 and 56 based on these input signal information. I do.

A driving power supply 57 is connected to the driving circuits 53 and 56 and supplies a driving current 67. Upon receiving the drive signal 63 from the drive control circuit 58, the drive circuit 53 drives the DC motor 52 to rotate the rotating body 51. Upon detecting that the rotating body 51 has entered the steady rotation state, the drive rotation 53 outputs a start completion signal 64 to the drive control circuit 5.
8 Similarly, the drive signal 5
6 drives the DC motor 55 to rotate the rotating body 54,
When it is detected that the rotating body 54 has entered a steady rotation state,
An activation completion signal 66 is transmitted.

However, in such a configuration, there is a disadvantage that the power supply of the subsequent circuits cannot be turned on unless the start completion signals 64 and 66 are received. Especially,
If there is an abnormality in the motor of a certain device, the startup completion signals 64 and 66 may not be transmitted because the device does not have typical time-current characteristics.

As another conventional example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-109457 discloses an information processing device that drives an external storage device and a plurality of (disk drive devices). By employing a configuration in which the start timings of a plurality of drives are set to a predetermined time and each drive is sequentially started, the drive current flowing at the time of startup as a whole of the plurality of drives is set to a value that is not so different from that of one drive, and the power supply unit of the device is The current capacity is reduced to reduce costs.

[0014]

However, since a predetermined current value flowing through the power supply is not detected but only a predetermined time, it is difficult to set an appropriate time difference without waste, and it is difficult to set a power supply line. Even if an abnormal current flows, it cannot be detected at all, and the power supply line through which the abnormal current flows cannot be specified.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a power supply device capable of shortening the total start-up time, eliminating excessive power supply capacity, and effectively using the power supply capacity.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a power supply device which can reliably start up a plurality of devices at the same time as a power-on operation, and can arbitrarily set an appropriate current consumption and a time difference.

[0017]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a power supply device according to the present invention includes a power supply device having only one power supply for supplying a power supply current or voltage to a plurality of devices. A determination means for determining whether there is a margin by comparing the value with the actual current consumption, and when the determination means determines that there is a margin, immediately supplies the power supply current or voltage to the device, And control means for controlling to supply the power supply current or voltage after waiting for a predetermined time when it is determined that there is no room.

Here, if the plurality of devices determine that the current at the time of startup is larger than the current in the steady state and that there is room, the power supply current or voltage is supplied to the plurality of devices. Supply. The determination means and the control means are microcomputers, and the detection means detects the power supply current or voltage, and converts the value detected by the detection means into a digital value and inputs the digital value to the microcomputer. An A / D converter is provided, and the waiting time for the predetermined time is registered in the microcomputer in advance.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of a power supply device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the power supply device of the present invention includes n first, second,
..., The (n−1) th, the nth HDD magnetic storage device 3
(1), 3 (2), 3 (3), ..., 3 (n-1),
3 (n), an ammeter 6 for detecting power supply currents of all devices, a power supply 5 for supplying the power supply current (or voltage) via a power supply line 4, and a control microcomputer 1
And a start instruction specified by the computer 1
And an A / D converter 7 for converting a current value measured by the ammeter 6 into a digital value and transmitting the digital value to the computer 1.

Here, since the ammeter 6 constantly measures the current value flowing through the power supply line 4 and inputs the current value to the computer 1, the current value can always be grasped, and the current value predicted in the future is calculated in advance. I can guess.

First to n-th HDD magnetic storage devices 3 (1)
To (n) have the characteristics shown in FIG.

When the capacity of the power supply 5 is insufficient, the computer 1 controls so as to temporarily delay the activation. This is possible with a control program to the computer 1.

If there is enough power, the power of the second and third HDD magnetic storage devices is turned on.
The time delay of 1 second to 3 seconds at this time is determined by the judgment time of the computer 1, the A / D converter 7, and the like. The time delay of 1 second to 3 seconds is effective for absorbing a large current that temporarily flows at the time of startup, such as a spike current, a surge current, and an inrush current.

FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the elapsed time [sec] and the total current consumption [A] when a total of 20 power supplies are turned on based on the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the power supply 5 is turned on continuously from the first to the fourteenth units one by one. However, the fifteenth and sixteenth units are likely to exceed a predetermined current value, After a standby time of, for example, 3 seconds, the power is turned on.

FIG. 2 shows characteristics when 20 HDD magnetic storage devices are provided as a starting current circuit.
Also, for simplicity of description, the HDD magnetic storage device 3
As shown in FIG. 7, the standard of (1) to 3 (n) is as follows: the starting current is 1.2 A (during period A), the steady current is 0.4 A (during period B), It is assumed that the time of the period A until the user settles down to 5 seconds. The power supply capacity is a minimum of 8.8 A required to start a total of 20 HDD magnetic storage devices, that is, 19 (units) × 0.4 (A) +1.
(Table) x 1.2 (A).

After the power supply 5 is turned on, the control microcomputer 1 operates, and the HDD magnetic storage devices 3 (1) to 3 (3)
In response to (n), a start command is transmitted one by one through the signal line 2 at regular intervals. The HDD magnetic storage devices 3 (1) to 3 (n) that have received the start command receive a predetermined current from the power supply 5 through the power supply line 4, and each of the HDD magnetic storage devices 3 (1) to 3 (n) has a current of 1.2 A for only the start time of 5 seconds. Is consumed, and then 0.4 A of the steady current is consumed. In addition, all the HDDs
The current consumption of the magnetic storage device is grasped, and this value is converted into a digital value by the A / D converter 7 and sent to the control microcomputer 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a sequence performed by one control microcomputer of FIG. In FIG. 3, first, in step S1, only one power supply 5 is turned on, and the initial number “1” of the number n of HDD magnetic storage devices is set.
Is assigned. Next, after turning on the power of the n-th HDD magnetic storage device in step S2, the number of the HDD magnetic storage device to be turned on next time is set in step S3. That is, n = n + 1. Subsequently, it is confirmed whether all the power supplies of the total of 20 HDD magnetic storage devices have been turned on (step S4). If not all the power supplies have been turned on, the process proceeds to step S5. In step S5, the process waits for the next step S6 for one second. Here, the reason for leaving a time of one second is that first, a large inrush current with a large starting current is generated for several hundred milliseconds at the initial stage of turning on the power supply 5, but this is to prevent a plurality of such inrush currents from being generated at the same time. Second, the response speed of the ammeter 6 and the A / D converter 7 in FIG.
Since the processing speed of the computer 1 is slow, the ammeter 6
It is necessary to wait until the instruction is stabilized. Here, for the sake of simplicity, the time interval is assumed to be 1 second. Next, the value of the ammeter 6 in step S6 is a margin for turning on the power of one HDD magnetic storage device, that is, 8.8 (A) -1.2 (A) = 7.6 (A).
Make sure you have the following: If there is enough time, the process returns to step S2 to turn on the power supply 5 of the next HDD magnetic storage device. If there is no room, the process returns to step S5, waits for one second, and checks again whether there is room. Finally, after the power of the twentieth HDD magnetic storage device 3 (n) is turned on in the process of step S2, n becomes 21 in step S3, passes through step S4, and ends the sequence of FIG. .

Here, although not shown in step S6, if an abnormal current is flowing, there is no further shift to the next step processing, and the predetermined alarm sound or the alarm lamp is turned on. The device through which the abnormal current flows can be specified. Although this point is not shown in step S16 of FIG. 5 described later, it has a similar function.

FIG. 2 shows the transition characteristics of the current consumption of each of a total of 20 devices with respect to time, and is not delayed at timings of 12 seconds, 15 seconds, 17 seconds, 26 seconds, and 27 seconds indicated by a total of five crosses. In this case, the consumption current exceeds the supply current of the power supply, so that the startup of a specific HDD magnetic storage device is delayed. The 13th to 16th vehicles and the 1st
It is the ninth and so on.

For example, a starting current of 1.2 A and an operating current of 0.1 A are used.
Consider a disk array device using 20 magnetic storage devices of 4A and a startup time of 2 seconds. In this device, it takes 2 × 20 = 40 seconds or more from the start to the completion of the calculation, and this time increases proportionately as the number of HDD magnetic storage devices increases. Therefore, in the initial stage of start-up when the power supply has a margin, the start-up time of the entire apparatus can be shortened by starting up several units at the same time within the range of the current capacity or at short intervals.

In the embodiment of the present invention, an unused supplyable current of the power supply is used to shorten the startup time of the power supply device. Therefore, the start interval of the HDD magnetic storage devices 3 (1) to 3 (n) is changed from, for example, 2 seconds to 1 second. However, if the intervals are all one second, the current that can be supplied will be exceeded when the last two or three units are started up. In addition, a plurality of HDD magnetic storage devices are simultaneously activated up to the maximum current capacity. In the above power supply device, at the time of device startup, the startup of seven HDD magnetic storage devices is performed at 8.8 A / 1.2 A = 7 + α. After 2 seconds, 7
The remaining HDD magnetic storage devices are powered on at the same time, with the remaining operating current being subtracted. Thereafter, the remaining HDD magnetic storage devices are simultaneously activated within the allowable range of the power supply every two seconds. With these controls, the start-up time of 40 seconds is improved to 24 seconds when starting at 1-second intervals, and to 14 seconds when starting a plurality of units simultaneously.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the circuits are sequentially activated at intervals shorter than the activation time of the circuit, and when the power supply capacity of the device is exceeded, wait until the power supply capacity has a margin, and then program in advance. Alternatively, by controlling the activation of the next circuit when a sufficient power supply capacity is provided by monitoring current consumption or the like, the start-up time can be shortened without increasing the capacity of the power supply of the apparatus. That is, the devices are sequentially activated within the limit range of the capacity of the power supply 5 to reduce the activation time of the entire device.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of devices in which the current consumption for a certain period immediately after turning on the power based on the start signal is several times the current that is constantly consumed in a steady state. In the power supply device, a power supply for supplying a current to each of the devices in common, a current consumption measuring unit for measuring a total current consumption of each of the circuits, and a start signal individually transmitted to each of the circuits, A microcomputer for controlling the activation signal so that the measured value of the consumed current does not exceed the rated value of the power supply, and the start signal is shorter than that of the conventional method without increasing the capacity of the power supply. There is an effect that the entire apparatus can be operated in a short time. still,
The effect increases as the number of circuits to be activated increases and the activation time increases.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a power supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the second embodiment of the power supply device of the present invention does not include the ammeter 6 and the A / D converter 7 as compared with the first embodiment described above, and instead employs a control microcomputer. In one sequence, the start timing of the HDD magnetic storage device is incorporated in advance.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation sequence executed by the control microcomputer 1 of FIG. In FIG. 5, first, the power is turned on in step S10, and in the next step S11, the initial value 1 of the number n of HDD magnetic storage devices and the initial value 0 of the time T are substituted. Next, in step S12, the power of the n-th HDD magnetic storage device is turned on, and in step S13, the number of the HDD magnetic storage device to be turned on next time is set as n = n + 1. Subsequently, the next process is waited for one second in step S14. The reason why the time is left for one second is that an inrush current larger than the starting current is generated for several milliseconds at the initial stage of turning on the power supply, so that a plurality of such inrush currents are not generated at the same time. Next, after the time T is advanced by one second in step S15, it is determined in step S16 whether the value of T is a value in the table. The values in this table indicate that the elapsed time is 24,2
5, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, or 1
2,15,17,19,20,22,24,25,2
6, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32 [seconds]. This time is a time during which the power must be turned on after waiting for a predetermined time, and the power must not be turned on one after another.

If the HDD magnetic storage device is started at this time, the value exceeds the allowable amount of the power supply 5. The values in this table are experimentally obtained in the above-described first embodiment, or the next HDD magnetic storage device is started every second and the time exceeding the allowable current of the power supply 5 is set as the value. Here, when the value corresponds to the value in this table, the process returns to step S14 and waits for another one second. If it is not in this table, the process proceeds to step S17, where it is checked whether all HDD magnetic storage devices have been started. If not (n ≦ 21), the process returns to step S12 and the next HD
Activate the D magnetic storage device. If all HDD magnetic storage devices have been activated, the sequence ends (n> 21).

FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram showing a state in which a total of 30 HDD magnetic storage devices are powered on based on the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the power supply 5 is turned on one by one from the first to the twenty-second units.
The power supply 5 is turned on after a predetermined time from the 24th and 24th units. That is the total of five crosses. This is related to the set value of the maximum current consumption, that is, the maximum capacity of the power supply 5,
is important. That is, the values in the above-described table change according to the maximum current consumption, and can be set arbitrarily.

The above-described second embodiment of the present invention will be described only with respect to differences from the above-described first embodiment of the present invention.
Common points are not described.

According to the present invention, the HDD magnetic storage device is
Although the number is limited to 0 or 30 units, the present invention is not limited to this. Any number can be set, and the maximum current consumption is limited to about 9.0 A and about 12.5 A. However, the present invention is not limited to this value, and can be set to any value as appropriate.

Further, according to the present invention, the description has been given of the case where the present invention is limited to the HDD magnetic storage device. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

[0041]

As described above, according to the power supply device of the present invention, since the control microcomputer is used, the delay time, the set current and the like can be arbitrarily set and the automatic control can be performed. It can be activated in a short time with a power supply having a capacity of.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a power supply device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram showing a state of power-on time and current consumption of a total of 20 HDD magnetic storage devices in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a power supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram showing a state of power-on time and current consumption of a total of 30 HDD magnetic storage devices in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram showing a relationship between current consumption and elapsed time of a conventional HDD magnetic storage device.

FIG. 8 is a characteristic diagram showing a conventional relationship between current consumption and elapsed time after start of startup.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional magnetic disk drive.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control microcomputer 2 Signal line 3A, 3B, 3C, ..., 3S, 3T HDD magnetic storage device 4 Power supply line 5, 57 Power supply 6 Ammeter 7 A / D converter 51, 54 Rotating body 52, 55 Motor 53, 56 Drive circuit 58 Drive control circuit

Claims (6)

[Claims] In a power supply device having only one power supply for supplying a power supply current or voltage to a plurality of devices, it is determined whether or not there is a margin by comparing the capacitance value of the power supply with the actual current consumption. Judgment means, if the judgment means judges that there is room, immediately supply the power supply current or voltage to the device, if it is judged that there is no room, after waiting for a predetermined time the power supply current or A power supply device comprising: control means for controlling so as to supply a voltage. 2. The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of devices has a current at a start-up time larger than a current at a steady state. 3. The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the power supply current or voltage is supplied to the plurality of devices when it is determined that there is enough room. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining means and the control means are micro-controllers.
The power supply according to claim 1, which is a computer. 5. A detection means for detecting the power supply current or voltage, and an A / D which converts a value detected by the detection means into a digital value and inputs the digital value to the microcomputer.
The power supply device according to claim 4, further comprising a converter. 6. The power supply device according to claim 4, wherein the waiting time for the predetermined time is registered in the microcomputer in advance.