N-Way Power Supply Over Current Protection
A method and apparatus for managing over current protection in a power supply unit is disclosed. One aspect of certain embodiments includes comparing for each conductor of a plurality of conductors the current flowing through the particular conductor with over current protection limit associated with that particular conductor.
1 . A method of managing over current protection in a power supply unit for use with a computer, the method comprising:
for each of N voltage supply conductors of a plurality of conductors of the power supply unit, measuring, using a first mechanism, an individual current flowing through the individual N voltage supply conductors,
wherein:
the individual currents corresponding to the N individual conductors are from a single first voltage output source of one or more voltage sources of the power supply unit;
each individual conductor is associated with an over current protection limit that is independent of the over current protection limits of the other conductors; and
N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2;
for each of the N voltage supply conductors of the power supply unit, comparing, using a second mechanism, the measured individual current flowing through the individual conductor with the associated over current protection limit corresponding to that individual conductor; and
if any of the measured individual currents exceeds its associated over current protection limit, then disabling the single first voltage output source either directly or indirectly.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first mechanism includes N current detectors that are connected in series with the N voltage supply conductors, each current detector being associated with one conductor and for measuring an individual current flowing through its associated conductor.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
for each of M voltage supply conductors of the plurality of conductors of the power supply unit, measuring, using the first mechanism, an individual current flowing through the individual M voltage supply conductors,
wherein:
the individual currents corresponding to the M individual conductors are from a single second voltage output source of one or more voltage sources of the power supply unit;
each of the individual M voltage supply conductors is associated with an over current protection limit that is independent of the over current protection limits of the other conductors; and
M is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1;
for each of the M voltage supply conductors of the power supply unit, comparing, using a second mechanism, the measured individual current flowing through the individual conductor with the associated over current protection limit corresponding to that individual conductor; and
if any of the measured individual currents exceeds its associated over current protection limit, then disabling the single second voltage output source either directly or indirectly.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first mechanism includes M current detectors that are connected in series with the M voltage supply conductors, each current detector being associated with one conductor and for measuring an individual current flowing through its associated conductor.
5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein after being measured by the first mechanism, at least one conductor of the M voltage supply conductors is split into two or more conductors for use at an output connector of the power supply unit.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising setting each over current protection limit independently from the other over current protection limits associated with the other conductors.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first mechanism and the second mechanism are implemented in one device.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first mechanism and the second mechanism are implemented in separate devices.
9 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising setting each over current protection limit independently from the other over current protection limits associated with the other conductors.
10 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first mechanism and the second mechanism are implemented in one device.
11 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first mechanism and the second mechanism are implemented in separate devices.
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising using a microcontroller for one or more of a set consisting of:
programming an individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the N voltage supply conductors, wherein each individual over current protection limit is programmed independently of the other over current protection limits;
measuring the individual current flowing through the individual N voltage supply conductors;
comparing the measured individual current flowing through the individual conductor with the associated over current protection limit corresponding to that individual conductor; and
disabling the single first voltage output source either directly or indirectly.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising using a Digital Signal Processing chip for one or more of a set consisting of:
programming an individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the N voltage supply conductors, wherein each individual over current protection limit is programmed independently of the other over current protection limits;
measuring the individual current flowing through the individual N voltage supply conductors;
comparing the measured individual current flowing through the individual conductor with the associated over current protection limit corresponding to that individual conductor; and
disabling the single first voltage output source either directly or indirectly.
14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising using an analog control circuit for one or more of a set consisting of:
programming an individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the N voltage supply conductors, wherein each individual over current protection limit is programmed independently of the other over current protection limits;
measuring the individual current flowing through the individual N voltage supply conductors;
comparing the measured individual current flowing through the individual conductor with the associated over current protection limit corresponding to that individual conductor; and
disabling the single first voltage output source either directly or indirectly
15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising using a plurality of potentiometers for programming an individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the N voltage supply conductors, wherein each individual over current protection limit is programmed independently of the other over current protection limits.
16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the microcontroller is associated with a user interface for allowing a user to program the individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the N voltage supply conductors.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the Digital Signal Processing is associated with a user interface for allowing a user to program the individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the N voltage supply conductors.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the analog control circuit is associated with a user interface for allowing a user to program the individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the N voltage supply conductors.
19 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising using a microcontroller for one or more of a set consisting of:
programming an individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the M voltage supply conductors, wherein each individual over current protection limit is programmed independently of the other over current protection limits;
measuring the individual current flowing through the individual M voltage supply conductors;
comparing the measured individual current flowing through the individual conductor with the associated over current protection limit corresponding to that individual conductor; and
disabling the single second voltage output source either directly or indirectly.
20 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising using a Digital Signal Processing chip for one or more of a set consisting of:
programming an individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the M conductors, wherein each individual over current protection limit is programmed independently of the other over current protection limits;
measuring the individual current flowing through the individual M voltage supply conductors;
comparing the measured individual current flowing through the individual conductor with the associated over current protection limit corresponding to that individual conductor; and
disabling the single second voltage output source either directly or indirectly.
21 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising using an analog control circuit for one or more of a set consisting of:
programming an individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the M voltage supply conductors, wherein each individual over current protection limit is programmed independently of the other over current protection limits;
measuring the individual current flowing through the individual M voltage supply conductors;
comparing the measured individual current flowing through the individual conductor with the associated over current protection limit corresponding to that individual conductor; and
disabling the single second voltage output source either directly or indirectly.
22 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising using a plurality of potentiometers for programming an individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the M voltage supply conductors, wherein each individual over current protection limit is programmed independently of the other over current protection limits.
23 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the microcontroller is associated with a user interface for allowing a user to program the individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the M voltage supply conductors.
24 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the Digital Signal Processing is associated with a user interface for allowing a user to program the individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the M voltage supply conductors.
25 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the analog control circuit is associated with a user interface for allowing a user to program the individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the M voltage supply conductors.
26 . A method of managing over current protection in a power supply unit for use with a computer, the method comprising:
for each of M voltage supply conductors of a plurality of conductors of the power supply unit, measuring, using a first mechanism, an individual current flowing through the individual M voltage supply conductors,
wherein:
the individual currents corresponding to the M individual conductors are from a single first voltage output source of one or more voltage sources of the power supply unit;
each individual conductor is associated with an over current protection limit that is independent of the over current protection limits of the other conductors; and
M is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1;
for each of the M voltage supply conductors of the power supply unit, comparing, using a second mechanism, the measured individual current flowing through the individual conductor with the associated over current protection limit corresponding to that individual conductor;
if any of the measured individual currents exceeds its associated over current protection limit, then disabling the single first voltage output source either directly or indirectly; and
wherein after being measured by the first mechanism, at least one conductor of the M voltage supply conductors is split into two or more conductors for use at an output connector of the power supply unit.
27 . Method of claim 26 , wherein the first mechanism includes M current detectors that are connected in series with the M voltage supply conductors, each current detector being associated with one conductor and for measuring an individual current flowing through its associated conductor.
28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the output connector of the power supply unit is an output modular connector.
29 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising setting each over current protection limit independently from the other over current protection limits associated with the other conductors.
30 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the first mechanism and the second mechanism are implemented in one device.
31 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the first mechanism and the second mechanism are implemented in separate devices.
32 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising using a microcontroller for one or more of a set consisting of:
programming an individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the M voltage supply conductors, wherein each individual over current protection limit is programmed independently of the other over current protection limits;
measuring the individual current flowing through the individual M voltage supply conductors;
comparing the measured individual current flowing through the individual conductor with the associated over current protection limit corresponding to that individual conductor; and
disabling the single first voltage output source either directly or indirectly.
33 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising using a Digital Signal Processing chip for one or more of a set consisting of:
programming an individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the M voltage supply conductors, wherein each individual over current protection limit is programmed independently of the other over current protection limits;
measuring the individual current flowing through the individual M voltage supply conductors;
comparing the measured individual current flowing through the individual conductor with the associated over current protection limit corresponding to that individual conductor; and
disabling the single first voltage output source either directly or indirectly.
34 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising using an analog control circuit for one or more of a set consisting of:
programming an individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the M voltage supply conductors, wherein each individual over current protection limit is programmed independently of the other over current protection limits;
measuring the individual current flowing through the individual M voltage supply conductors;
comparing the measured individual current flowing through the individual conductor with the associated over current protection limit corresponding to that individual conductor; and
disabling the single first voltage output source either directly or indirectly.
35 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising using a plurality of potentiometers for programming an individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the M voltage supply conductors, wherein each individual over current protection limit is programmed independently of the other over current protection limits.
36 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the microcontroller is associated with a user interface for allowing a user to program the individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the M voltage supply conductors.
37 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the Digital Signal Processing is associated with a user interface for allowing a user to program the individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the M voltage supply conductors.
38 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the analog control circuit is associated with a user interface for allowing a user to program the individual over current protection limit corresponding to each of the M voltage supply conductors.