IP Library Granted Patent US 7,889,472
Granted Patent B1
US 7,889,472 · App. 11/553,937 · Granted Feb 15, 2011

Dual voltage hot swap module power control

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,889,472
App. No.
11/553,937
Granted
Feb 15, 2011
Kind
B1
Abstract

A module hot swap circuit includes a low voltage-drop rectifier adapted to receive either positive or negative voltages of different absolute values. The rectifier is coupled to a power manager that provides dual startup/shutdown voltage thresholds and inrush current limiting. A detector prevents reverse current flow allowing the module to hold up during input voltage drop-outs.

Claims (31)

1. A hot swap circuit comprising:

a rectifier adapted to receive either positive or negative voltages of the same or different absolute values;

a controller that reduces the voltage drop of the rectifier, and

provides dual startup/shutdown voltage thresholds and inrush current limiting;

a voltage divider network coupled to the controller to set different startup/shutdown voltage thresholds as a function of different polarity voltages received at the rectifier; and

a detector that detects reverse current flow and shuts off the rectifier.

2. The hot swap circuit of claim 1 wherein the rectifier comprises a power MOSFET bridge.

3. The hot swap circuit of claim 2 wherein the bridge is adapted to receive input voltages of approximately 24 volts and −48 volts.

4. The hot swap circuit of claim 3 wherein the rectifier is adapted to receive input voltages of approximately 24 volts and −48 volts.

5. The hot swap circuit of claim 2 wherein the detector shuts off the FET bridge as a function of detected reverse current flow.

6. The hot swap circuit of claim 5 wherein the detector includes a sense resistor and comparator coupled to a first pair of FETs in the bridge.

7. The hot swap circuit of claim 6 wherein the controller includes an inrush FET coupled to the sense resistor, senses current through the sense resistor and adjusts gate drive on the inrush FET to control the inrush current to allow startup of a down stream DC-DC converter.

8. The hot swap circuit of claim 5 wherein the controller is coupled to the first pair of FETs in the bridge and turns on a different one of the FETs in response to the different input voltage levels.

9. A hot swap circuit for a telecommunications module, the hot swap circuit comprising:

means for reducing a voltage drop of a rectifier;

means for receiving either positive or negative voltages of the same or different absolute values and rectifying such received voltages;

means for providing dual startup/shutdown voltage thresholds and inrush current limiting; and

means for detecting reverse current flow and shutting off the rectifier means for setting the voltage thresholds as a function of different polarity voltages received at the receiver.

10. The hot swap circuit of claim 9 wherein the rectifier comprises a power MOSFET bridge.

11. The hot swap circuit of claim 10 wherein the MOSFET bridge is adapted to receive input voltages of approximately 24 volts and −48 volts.

12. The hot swap circuit of claim 10 wherein the means for detecting shuts off the MOSFET bridge as a function of detected reverse current flow.

13. The hot swap circuit of claim 12 wherein the means for detecting includes a sense resistor and comparator coupled to a first pair of FETs in the MOSFET bridge.

14. The hot swap circuit of claim 13 wherein the means for providing inrush limiting includes an inrush FET, senses current through the sense resistor and adjusts gate drive on the inrush FET to control the inrush current to allow startup of a down stream DC-DC converter.

15. A method of hot swapping a telecommunication module, the method comprising:

receiving either positive or negative voltages of the same or different absolute values and rectifying such received voltages using a rectifier;

providing dual startup/shutdown voltage thresholds and inrush current limiting as a function of different polarity voltages received;

reducing the voltage drop through the rectifier; and

detecting reverse current flow and blocking it by shutting off the rectifier.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein receiving either positive or negative voltages of the same or different absolute values and rectifying such received voltages is provided by a FET bridge adapted to receive input voltages of approximately 24 volts and −48 volts.

17. The method claim 16 wherein the FET bridge is shut off as a function of detected reverse current flow.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein current flow is detected by an inrush FET that senses current through a sense resistor and adjusts gate drive on the inrush FET to control the inrush current to allow startup of a down stream DC-DC converter.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2012
From: ROCKSTAR BIDCO, LP
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 028696/0238 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2011
From: NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED
To: ROCKSTAR BIDCO, LP
Reel/Frame 027164/0356 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 27, 2006
From: NORMAN, CHARLES E.
To: NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 018448/0475 →