Patent US4951171A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4951171A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Power supply monitoring circuitry for computer system
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1989-05-11
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Granted: 1990-08-21
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Expires: 2009-05-11
Abstract
Abstract A computer system having a power supply monitoring arrangement employs a number of comparators for detecting whether or not various supply voltages produced by the power supply for use in the computer are above or below a reference level, or whether an overcurrent condition exists. These detected conditions are used to determine whether or not the power supply should be shut down, or during power-up to determine whether the initialization routine can be started by the CPU. Delays are included to prevent an undervoltage condition from indicating shut down of the power supply during power-up.
Inventors
- 👤 Thanh T. Tran
- 👤 Richard E. Walker
- 👤 Richard A. Faulk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:28
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/0703; G06F11/0751; G06F11/0754; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/30; H; H02; H02J; H02J9/00; H02J9/04; H02J9/06; H02J9/061
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of operating a computer comprising the steps of: (a) generating in a power supply at least one supply voltage for use in said computer; (b) monitoring said supply voltage and producing a first signal if said supply voltage is below a selected value; (c) detecting an overvoltage condition of said supply voltage; (d) detecting an overcurrent condition which persists for longer than a selected time for said supply voltage; (e) shutting off said power suply if either said overvoltage condition or said overcurrent condition is detected; and (f) preventing said computer from being reset until said first signal has not been present for a selected time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of operating a computer comprising the steps of: (a) generating in a power supply at least one supply voltage for use in said computer; (b) monitoring said supply voltage and producing a first signal if said supply voltage is below a selected value; (c) detecting an overvoltage condition of said supply voltage; (d) detecting an overcurrent condition which persists for longer than a selected time for said supply voltage; (e) shutting off said power suply if either said overvoltage condition or said overcurrent condition is detected; and (f) preventing said computer from being reset until said first signal has not been present for a selected time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said power supply generates a plurality of supply voltages use in said computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 2 including the step of shutting off said power supply if said first signal is present after a selected time from applying power to said power supply.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of monitoring includes monitoring a plurality of supply voltages produced by said power supply.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of generating a separate voltage for use as a voltage supply in said steps of monitoring and detecting.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
A computer having a power supply monitor, comprising: (a) a power supply generating at least one supply voltage for use in said computer; (b) means for monitoring said supply voltage and producing a first signal if said supply voltage is below a selected value; (c) means for detecting an overvoltage condition of said supply voltage; (d) means for detecting an overcurrent condition which persists for longer than a selected time for said supply voltage; (e) means for shutting off said power supply if either said overvoltage condition or said overcurrent condition is detected; (f) said computer having a reset input responsive to said first signal to inhibit the computer from reset until said first signal has not been present for a selected time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
123 words
A computer having a power supply monitor, comprising: (a) a power supply generating at least one supply voltage for use in said computer; (b) means for monitoring said supply voltage and producing a first signal if said supply voltage is below a selected value; (c) means for detecting an overvoltage condition of said supply voltage; (d) means for detecting an overcurrent condition which persists for longer than a selected time for said supply voltage; (e) means for shutting off said power supply if either said overvoltage condition or said overcurrent condition is detected; (f) said computer having a reset input responsive to said first signal to inhibit the computer from reset until said first signal has not been present for a selected time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 6 wherein said power supply generates a plurality of supply voltages use in said computer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 7 including means for shutting off said power supply if said first signal is present after a selected time from applying power to said power supply.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 8 wherein said means for monitoring monitors all of said supply voltages.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
182 words
A circuit for monitoring a power supply for a computer or the like, the power supply producing a plurality of supply voltages, comprising: (a) a plurality of undervoltage detectors, each one of said undervoltage detectors being responsive to a separate one of said plurality of supply voltages and producing an output indicating whether one of said supply voltages is above or below a selected reference level; (b) means responsive to all of said outputs from all of said plurality of undervoltage detectors to produce a first signal when all of said supply voltages are above the selected reference level; (c) at least one overvoltage detector responsive to one of said plurality of supply voltages and producing an overvoltage indication if said one of the supply voltages exceeds a selected value; (d) a current detector responsive to current flow in a conductor for one of said supply voltages and producing an overcurrent indication if excess current flow is detected; (e) and means for negating said first signal and for generating a second signal upon occurrence of said overvoltage indication or said overcurrent indication.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
182 words
A circuit for monitoring a power supply for a computer or the like, the power supply producing a plurality of supply voltages, comprising: (a) a plurality of undervoltage detectors, each one of said undervoltage detectors being responsive to a separate one of said plurality of supply voltages and producing an output indicating whether one of said supply voltages is above or below a selected reference level; (b) means responsive to all of said outputs from all of said plurality of undervoltage detectors to produce a first signal when all of said supply voltages are above the selected reference level; (c) at least one overvoltage detector responsive to one of said plurality of supply voltages and producing an overvoltage indication if said one of the supply voltages exceeds a selected value; (d) a current detector responsive to current flow in a conductor for one of said supply voltages and producing an overcurrent indication if excess current flow is detected; (e) and means for negating said first signal and for generating a second signal upon occurrence of said overvoltage indication or said overcurrent indication.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A circuit according to claim 10 wherein said undervoltage detectors and said overvoltage detector compare said supply voltages to references voltage generated from a voltage supply separate from said supply voltages.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A circuit according to claim 10 wherein said supply voltages include both positive voltages and negative voltages.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A circuit according to claim 10 wherein said overcurrent indication is produced only if excess current is detected for longer than a selected time period.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A circuit according to claim 10 wherein said first signal is produced only if said undervoltage detectors produce said output for longer than a selected time period.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of monitoring a power supply for a computer or the like, the power supply producing a plurality of supply voltages, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting undervoltage for each one of said plurality of supply voltages and producing a first signal indicating whether or not all of said supply voltages are above selected reference levels; (b) detecting overvoltage for at least one of said supply voltages, (c) detecting overcurrent for at least one of said supply voltages, (d) producing a second signal when said overvoltage or said overcurrent is detected or when said first signal indicates undervoltage occurring after a selected time folowing power-up, and (e) shutting down said power supply to prevent said computer from operating in response to said second signal.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of monitoring a power supply for a computer or the like, the power supply producing a plurality of supply voltages, comprising the steps of: (a) detecting undervoltage for each one of said plurality of supply voltages and producing a first signal indicating whether or not all of said supply voltages are above selected reference levels; (b) detecting overvoltage for at least one of said supply voltages, (c) detecting overcurrent for at least one of said supply voltages, (d) producing a second signal when said overvoltage or said overcurrent is detected or when said first signal indicates undervoltage occurring after a selected time folowing power-up, and (e) shutting down said power supply to prevent said computer from operating in response to said second signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 15 wherein said steps of detecting undervoltage and overvoltage include comparing said supply voltages to reference voltages generated from a voltage supply separate from said supply voltages.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 15 including the step of resetting said computer only in response to the level of said first signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 15 including the step of shutting down said power supply in response to said second signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 15 wherein said step of detecting overcurrent includes delaying an output indicating overcurrent for a selected time period.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 15 including the step of generating a delayed signal in producing said first signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-08-20 | 1994-02-19 | 1994-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-20 | 1998-02-19 | 1998-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-20 | 2002-02-19 | 2002-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |