System and method for extending power supply unit holdup time
A system and method is directed to charging and discharging an energy-tank capacitor of a power supply unit (PSU) in a computing system. The PSU has a forward converter, a buck converter, a switch box, and an option box. The forward converter has a transformer. A primary winding of the transformer is coupled to an input of the PSU, while a secondary winding of the transformer is coupled to an output of the PSU. Two or more components of the forward converter are shared with the buck converter to support the functionality of the buck converter when it is enabled. The switch box has a power switch and a controller switch connected to the forward converter. The energy stored on the energy-tank capacitor is capable of supporting power consumption of the server system during a hold-up time, when an input power to the PSU is interrupted.
1. A power supply unit (PSU), comprising:
a forward converter comprising a transformer, a first primary-side transistor connected to a primary winding of the transformer, a second secondary-side transistor connected to a secondary winding of the transformer, a forward controller, and a plurality of shared components including a first secondary-side transistor, an inductor, and an output capacitor;
a buck converter comprising a power transistor, a buck controller, and the plurality of shared components including the first secondary-side transistor, the inductor, and the output capacitor;
a switch box comprising a power switch and a controller switch connected to the forward controller; and
an option box comprising a switch, or a low power boost converter, and a secondary energy tank capacitor connected to the switch box;
wherein a primary winding of the transformer is coupled to an input of the PSU, while a secondary winding of the transformer is coupled to an output of the PSU,
wherein the controller switch is configured to
determine whether an input voltage of the PSU operates normally, and
disenable the buck converter in response to determining that the input voltage to the PSU is in a normal condition.
2. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the controller switch is further configured to enable the buck converter in response to determining that the input voltage to the PSU is interrupted.
3. The computing system of claim 2 , wherein the controller switch is further configured to discharge a secondary energy-tank capacitor to the output of the PSU via a discharging path.
4. The computing system of claim 3 , wherein the discharging path comprises the buck converter in an enabled state.
5. The computing system of claim 4 , wherein the enabled buck converter is configured to convert the secondary energy-tank capacitor to an output voltage of the PSU.
6. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the controller switch is further configured to charge the energy-tank capacitor via a charging path, including the option box comprising the switch, or the low power boost converter, and the secondary energy tank capacitor connected to the switch box.
7. The computing system of claim 1 , wherein the power transistor is a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET).
8. A method for charging and discharging an energy tank of a power supply unit (PSU), comprising:
monitoring an input voltage of the PSU, the PSU comprising a forward converter that comprises a transformer, a buck converter, and a switch box that comprises a controller switch and a power transistor coupled to an option box that comprises a secondary energy-tank capacitor;
determining, via the controller switch, whether an input voltage of the PSU operates normally;
disenabling, via the controller switch, the buck converter in response to determining that the input voltage to the PSU is in a normal condition;
in an event that the input voltage is in an abnormal condition, enabling the buck converter coupled to the secondary energy-tank; and
discharging the secondary energy-tank capacitor to an output of the PSU via a discharging path.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the discharging path includes the buck converter.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the buck converter in an enabled state is configured to convert a high voltage of the secondary energy-tank capacitor to a low output voltage of the PSU.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the forward converter further comprises a first primary-side transistor connected to a primary winding of the transformer, a second secondary-side transistor connected to a secondary winding of the transformer, a forward controller, and a plurality of shared components including a first secondary-side transistor, an inductor, and an output capacitor.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the buck converter comprises a power transistor, a buck controller, and the plurality of shared components including the first secondary-side transistor, the inductor, and the output capacitor.
13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
if the input voltage of the PSU operates normally, charging the secondary energy-tank capacitor via a charging path of the option box.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the charging path of option box includes a power switch or a low power boost converter.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:
monitoring an input voltage of a power supply unit (PSU), the PSU comprising a forward converter that comprises a transformer, a buck converter, a switch box, and an option box that comprises a controller switch and a secondary energy-tank capacitor coupled to an auxiliary or external supply;
determining, via the controller switch, whether an input voltage of the PSU operates normally;
disenabling, via the controller switch, the buck converter in response to determining that the input voltage to the PSU is in a normal condition;
in an event that the input voltage is an abnormal condition, enabling the buck converter coupled to the secondary energy-tank; and
discharging the secondary energy-tank capacitor to an output of the PSU via a discharging path including the buck converter.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the buck converter in an enabled state is configured to convert the high voltage of the secondary energy-tank capacitor to a low output voltage of the PSU.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the forward converter further comprises a first primary-side transistor connected to a primary winding of the transformer, a second secondary-side transistor connected to a secondary winding of the transformer, a forward controller, and a plurality of shared components including a first secondary-side transistor, an inductor, and an output capacitor; and wherein the buck converter comprises a power transistor, a buck controller, and the plurality of shared components including the first secondary-side transistor, the inductor, and the output capacitor.