Power supply system

Claim 2

A power supply system comprising: a first power source having a first terminal of a first polarity to be connected to a first terminal of a given load, and a second terminal of a second polarity to be connected to a second terminal of said given load via a switching element, said switching element connecting said second terminal of said first power source with said second terminal of said given load when said first power source is active; a second power source having a first terminal of the second polarity to be connected to said second terminal of said first power source via a rectifying element, and a second terminal of the first polarity to be connected to said second terminal of said given load; and a first resistance element connected between said first and second terminals of said first power source; wherein said rectifying element allows an electric current to substantially flow along one direction according to said second and first polarities of said first and second terminals of said second power source though said given load, said first resistance element and said rectifying element when said second power source is instead active.

Claim 3

The power supply system, according to claim 1, wherein: said first power source includes a step-up transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, and a rectifying element, a direct-current voltage source of the first polarity and a switching element being connected to said primary winding, said switching element alternately enabling and disabling an electric current flowing through said primary winding and thus causing an alternate-current voltage to appear across said secondary winding, said rectifying element allowing an electric current to substantially flow through said secondary winding along a direction such that the first and second polarities appear at said first and second terminals respectively; and said second power source includes a step-up transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, and a rectifying element, a direct-current voltage source of the first polarity and a switching element being connected to said primary winding, said switching element alternately enabling and disabling an electric current flowing through said primary winding and thus causing an alternating-current voltage to appear across said secondary winding, said rectifying element allowing an electric current to substantially flow through said secondary winding along a direction such that the second and first polarities appear at said first and second terminals respectively.

Claim 4

The power supply system, according to claim 1, further comprising: a second resistance element inserted between said switching means and said second terminal of said given load, a voltage at a connection point between said switching element and second resistance element being used for detecting an electric current flowing through said second resistance element so as to detect an output power of said first power source; and third and fourth resistance elements connected in series between said first and second terminal of said second power source, a voltage at a connection point between said third and fourth resistance elements being used for detecting an output voltage appearing between said first and second terminals of said second power source so as to detect an output power of said second power source.

Claim 5

The power supply system according to claim 1, wherein: said given load includes discharge means for performing of discharge between said first terminal and a third terminal of said given load; and said third terminal of said given load is connected to said first terminal of said second power source.

Claim 6

The power supply system according to 1, further comprising a second resistance element inserted between said second terminal of said second power source and said second terminal of said given load, a voltage at a connection point between said second terminal of said second power source and said second resistance element being used for detecting an electric current flowing through said second resistance element so as to detect output powers of said first and second power sources respectively.

Claim 7

The power supply system according to 1, further comprising a second resistance element inserted between said second terminal of said second power source and said second terminal of said given load, a voltage at a connection point between said second terminal of said second power source and said second resistance element being used for detecting an electric current flowing through said second resistance element so as to detect output powers of said first and second power sources respectively.

Claim 8

The power supply system, according to claim 3, further comprising a Zener breakdown element in parallel with said second resistance element, said Zener breakdown element preventing a voltage at the connection point between said switching element and said second resistance element from excessively increasing.

Claim 9

The power supply system according to claim 3, further comprising a rectifying element inserted between said second terminal of said first power source and said first resistance element, said rectifying element allowing an electric current to substantially flow through said first resistance element along a direction according to said first and second polarities of said first and second terminals of said first power source.

Claim 10

The power supply system according to claim 5, further comprising: correction means for correcting output power of said first power source using a value of the detected electric current flowing through said second resistance element; and terminating means for terminating activation of said second power source when an abnormal situation occurrence is determined using the value of the detected electric current flowing through said second resistance element.