Granted Patent B2

US 7,960,862 · App. 12/288,509 · Granted Jun 14, 2011

Abstract

Claims (55)

1. A method for high-reliability power switching, the method comprising:

transferring possession of a token to first control logic controlling a first triode for alternating current (TRIAC), the first TRIAC operably coupled to a first power source;

applying a voltage to a gate of the first TRIAC according to the possession of the token;

detecting a violation of a power source parameter;

transferring possession of the token to second control logic controlling a second TRIAC, the second TRIAC operably coupled to a second power source;

removing the voltage from the gate of the first TRIAC; and

applying a voltage to a gate of the second TRIAC.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transferring possession of a token to first control logic controlling a first TRIAC operably coupled to a first power source further comprises:

incrementing a first counter associated with the first control logic.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transferring possession of the token to second control logic controlling a second TRIAC, the second TRIAC operably coupled to a second power source further comprises:

incrementing a second counter associated with the second control logic.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a power source parameter.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

selecting a power source according to the power source parameter.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

querying the first control logic regarding possession of the token; and

querying the second control logic regarding possession of the token.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the querying the first control logic regarding possession of the token further comprises:

querying the first control logic regarding a first counter.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the querying the second control logic regarding possession of the token further comprises:

querying the second control logic regarding a second counter.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

applying a voltage to a gate of either the first TRIAC or the second TRIAC according to possession of the token.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the applying a voltage to a gate of either the first TRIAC or the second TRIAC according to possession of the token further comprises:

applying a voltage to a gate of either the first TRIAC or the second TRIAC according to a first counter value associated with the first controller logic and a second counter value associated with the second controller logic.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

requesting a confirmation of possession of the token from at least one of the first control logic and the second control logic; and

providing a confirmation of possession of the token by at least one of the first control logic and the second control logic.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

requesting a confirmation of possession of the token from at least one of the first control logic and the second control logic; and

removing a voltage from the gate of a TRIAC according to an unanswered request for a confirmation of possession of the token by the at least one of the first control logic and the second control logic.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

providing a notification of an unanswered request for a confirmation of possession of the token by the first control logic or the second control logic.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

detecting a violation with a power parameter by at least one of the first power source and the second power source.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

providing a notification of violation with a power parameter by at least one of the first power source and the second power source.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

transferring possession of the token to functional control logic; and

applying a voltage to the gate of a TRIAC associated with the functional control logic.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a notification of a transfer of possession of the token.

18. A system for high-reliability power switching, the system comprising:

means for transferring possession of a token to first control logic controlling a first triode for alternating current (TRIAC), the TRIAC operably coupled to a first power source;

means for applying a voltage to a gate of the first TRIAC according to the possession of the token;

means for detecting a violation of a power source parameter;

means for transferring possession of the token to second control logic controlling a second TRIAC, the second TRIAC operably coupled to a second power source;

means for removing the voltage from the gate of the first TRIAC; and

means for applying a voltage to a gate of the second TRIAC.

19. A system for high-reliability power switching, the system comprising:

first controller logic controlling a first triode for alternating current (TRIAC), the TRIAC operably coupled to a first power source, the first controller logic including a first token counter;

second controller logic controlling a second TRIAC, the second TRIAC operably coupled to a second power source, the second controller logic including a second token counter; and

master control logic operably coupled to a user interface, the first controller logic and the second controller,

wherein the first controller logic and the second controller logic are configured for applying a voltage to either a gate of the first TRIAC or a gate of the second TRIAC according to a comparison between the first token counter and the second token counter.

Assignments (14)