초록 ▼

A modular power supply system in which a plurality of power supply modules connected in parallel to a load contribute equal currents, even if one or more of the power supply modules fails. A first order fault tolerant modular power supply system includes three power supply modules (38, 40 and 42) co

A modular power supply system in which a plurality of power supply modules connected in parallel to a load contribute equal currents, even if one or more of the power supply modules fails. A first order fault tolerant modular power supply system includes three power supply modules (38, 40 and 42) connected in parallel to a load (32). The output current from each of the power supply modules is separately compared to the output current from one of the other power supply modules in a loop arrangement, using three control circuits (64, 66 and 68). A signal indicative of the current contributed by each pair of the power supply modules is input to the control circuit, producing a differential output signal used as a reference to control the output current from each of the power supply modules. Failure of any one of the modules does not affect the ability of the system to continue to supply substantially equal currents from the remaining two operating modules, so long as the total rated capacity of the power supply modules continuing to operate is not exceeded. Second and third order fault tolerant modular power supply systems (400 and 500) are also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

A fault tolerant modular power system comprising: (a) a plurality of power supplies, each having an output connected in parallel to supply current to a load, and each having the same nominal output voltage; (b) current monitoring means associated with each of the power supplies, for monitoring a con

A fault tolerant modular power system comprising: (a) a plurality of power supplies, each having an output connected in parallel to supply current to a load, and each having the same nominal output voltage; (b) current monitoring means associated with each of the power supplies, for monitoring a condition indicative of the magnitude of the current output by each, and operative to produce a signal corresponding to the magnitude of said current; and (c) comparator means, connected to the current monitoring means and responsive to the signals said current monitoring means produce, for determining the difference between the current supplied by each power supply and at least one other power supply in the system that serves as a first order reference power supply, each power supply having a different first order reference power supply thereby producing a plurality of differential signals corresponding to said differences, each differential signal serving as a reference signal to control the output current of one of the power supplies causing the power supplies to have substantially equal output voltages and equal output currents.