IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,726,044
Granted Patent B2
US 12,726,044 · App. 18/529,728 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Sustainable power shifting in the presence of an uninterruptible power supply

Inventors: Luke L. Jenkins (Poughkeepsie, NY); John S. Werner (Fishkill, NY); Arkadiy O. Tsfasman (Wappingers Falls, NY); John Torok (Poughkeepsie, NY)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
H02J9/068H02J3/0012H02J9/007H02J9/062H02J13/12H02J13/14H02J13/333H02J2105/425
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,726,044
App. No.
18/529,728
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed embodiments provide methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing intelligent power shifting in an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) system for enhanced system efficiency. Disclosed embodiments implement intelligent power shifting to decrease UPS power consumption during normal system operation in the presence of a main power signal, increasing system efficiency, while providing redundancy in the absence or a disruption of the main power signal. Power shifting is based on an intelligent algorithm for controlling current through power supply units (PSUs) of the UPS system to shift a substantial portion of the main power signal through PSUs that are connected to power distribution units (PDU) not powered through the UPS, reducing power consumption by the UPS.

Claims (29)

1 . A method comprising:

providing an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) to use for a load;

determining a first subset of power supply units (PSUs) that are coupled to a first Power Distribution Unit (PDU) powered through the UPS, and a second subset of PSUs that are coupled to a second PDU not powered through the UPS; and

conditioned upon a presence of a main power signal, shifting a predefined amount of the main power signal to the second subset of PSUs by providing a voltage control signal to operatively control the second subset of PSUs for power shifting and incrementally adjusting the voltage control signal for shifting the predefined amount.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

conditioned upon an absence or a disruption of the main power signal, the second subset of PSUs are automatically powered through the second PDU by the UPS.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) further comprises monitoring at least one of a magnitude, frequency, phase, and shape of one or more one system input signals; and comparing a measured signal to the main power signal.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprises configuring a UPS detector for monitoring one or more one system signals from the first PDU and the second PDU.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the first subset of PSUs and the second subset of PSUs further comprises measuring current using respective current sensors coupled to output ports of the first PDU and output ports of the second PDU to identify a respective redundant power path through the first subset of PSUs and through the second subset of PSUs not powered through the UPS.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein shifting the predefined amount of the main power signal to the second subset of PSUs coupled to the second PDU not powered by the UPS further comprises shifting a selected percentage value of the main power signal to the second subset of PSUs, wherein the selected percentage value is provided in a range between 60% and 100% of the main power signal.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the selected percentage value is based on a minimum amount of the main power signal in the presence of the main power signal to enable at least one of: load powering operation by the UPS upon an absence or a disruption of the main power signal, or recovery by the UPS following an absence or a disruption of the main power signal.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein conditioned upon the presence of the main power signal, shifting the predefined amount of the main power signal to the second subset of PSUs further comprises providing a power shifting control module for applying and incrementally adjusting the voltage control signal to the second subset of PSUs for load shifting by the second subset of PSUs.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein shifting the predefined amount of the main power signal to the second subset of PSUs coupled to the second PDU not powered by the UPS decreases UPS power consumption during system operation in the presence of the main power signal, increasing system efficiency.

10 . A system, comprising one or more computer processors; and a memory containing a program which when executed by the one or more computer processors performs an operation, the operation comprising:

providing an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) to use for a load;

determining a first subset of power supply units (PSUs) that are coupled to a first Power Distribution Unit (PDU) powered through the UPS, and a second subset of PSUs that are coupled to a second PDU not powered through the UPS; and

conditioned upon a presence of a main power signal, shifting a predefined amount of the main power signal to the second subset of PSUs by providing a voltage control signal to operatively control the second subset of PSUs for power shifting and incrementally adjusting the voltage control signal for shifting the predefined amount.

11 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising:

conditioned upon an absence or a disruption of the main power signal, the second subset of PSUs are automatically powered through the second PDU by the UPS.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein providing an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) further comprises monitoring at least one of a magnitude, frequency, phase, and shape of one or more one system input signals; and comparing a measured signal to the main power signal.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein shifting the predefined amount of the main power signal to the second subset of PSUs coupled to the second PDU not powered by the UPS further comprises shifting a selected percentage value of the main power signal to the second subset of PSUs, wherein the selected percentage value is provided in a range between 60% and 100% of the main power signal.

14 . A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied therewith, the computer-readable program code executable by one or more computer processors to perform an operation comprising:

providing an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) to use for a load;

determining a first subset of power supply units (PSUs) that are coupled to a first Power Distribution Unit (PDU) powered through the UPS, and a second subset of PSUs that are coupled to a second PDU not powered through the UPS; and

conditioned upon a presence of a main power signal, shifting a predefined amount of the main power signal to the second subset of PSUs by providing a voltage control signal to operatively control the second subset of PSUs for power shifting and incrementally adjusting the voltage control signal for shifting the predefined amount.

15 . The computer program product of claim 14 , further comprising:

conditioned upon an absence or a disruption of the main power signal, the second subset of PSUs are automatically powered through the second PDU by the UPS.

16 . The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein providing an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) further comprises monitoring at least one of a magnitude, frequency, phase, and shape of one or more one system input signals; and comparing a measured signal to the main power signal.

17 . The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein shifting the predefined amount of the main power signal to the second subset of PSUs coupled to the second PDU not powered by the UPS further comprises shifting a selected percentage value of the main power signal to the second subset of PSUs, wherein the selected percentage value is provided in a range between 60% and 100% of the main power signal.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2023
From: JENKINS, LUKE L.; WERNER, JOHN S.; TSFASMAN, ARKADIY O.; TOROK, JOHN
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065769/0862 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250183705A1 · Jun 5, 2025
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