US6624535B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digitally controlling the output voltage of a plurality of voltage sources
Assignee: Cavium International
•
Filing: 2001-02-17
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Granted: 2003-09-23
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Expires: 2021-02-17
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of the voltage sources may be selectively connectable in a variety of different arrangements using a switch array whose connections are determined by a programmable controller. For example, a desired output voltage may be automatically provided by altering the connections between the voltage sources to achieve the desired voltage. A programmable controller may determine how to connect the voltage sources to achieve the desired output voltage.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael W. Morrow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:42
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/50; H02J7/575
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
51 words
A method comprising: providing a switch array; providing a plurality of voltage sources connectable in a plurality of ways through said switch array; programmably controlling the connections between said voltage sources to develop a desired output voltage; receiving a user specified output voltage; and automatically providing the user specified output voltage.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
51 words
A method comprising: providing a switch array; providing a plurality of voltage sources connectable in a plurality of ways through said switch array; programmably controlling the connections between said voltage sources to develop a desired output voltage; receiving a user specified output voltage; and automatically providing the user specified output voltage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 including determining the output voltage and using said determined output voltage to check the output voltages developed by said voltage sources.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 including receiving information about the actual output voltage, determining whether the actual output voltage corresponds to a desired output voltage and automatically changing the connections between the voltage sources to cause the actual output voltage to be closer to the desired output voltage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 including automatically correcting the output voltage if an incorrect output voltage is produced.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 including automatically balancing the load among the voltage sources.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 including receiving information about the voltage supplied by each voltage source, determining the amount of time that each source has supplied that particular voltage, calculating a burden on each source, and in response to the calculated burden, balancing the usage of the voltage sources.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
An article comprising a medium storing instructions that, if executed, enable a processor-based system to: receive a request for an output voltage from a user; and programmably control the connections between a plurality of voltage sources to develop the requested output voltage by adjusting the connections between a plurality of voltage sources.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
An article comprising a medium storing instructions that, if executed, enable a processor-based system to: receive a request for an output voltage from a user; and programmably control the connections between a plurality of voltage sources to develop the requested output voltage by adjusting the connections between a plurality of voltage sources.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The article of claim 7 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to determine the output voltage generated and use the generated output voltage to check the output voltages developed by each of the plurality of voltage sources.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The article of claim 7 further storing instructions enable the processor-based system to receive information about an actual output voltage, determine whether the actual output voltage corresponds to a desired output voltage, and automatically change the connections between voltage sources to cause the actual output voltage to be closer to the desired output voltage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The article of claim 7 further storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to automatically correct the output voltage upon detection of an incorrect output voltage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The article claim 7 further storing instructions that enable a processor-based system to automatically balance the load among the plurality of voltage sources.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
The article of claim 7 further storing instructions that enable the processor-based system to receive information about the voltage supplied by each of the plurality of voltage sources, determine the amount of time that each voltage source has supplied a particular voltage, calculate a burden on each voltage source, and in response to the calculated burden, balance the usage of the voltage sources.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
70 words
A voltage supply comprising: a plurality of voltage sources; a switch array to selectively connect the sources in a plurality of different ways to alter the voltage supplied by the supply; a controller to programmably control the switch array; and an input device to receive user specified output voltage levels, said controller to automatically provide the desired output voltage in response to a user input of a desired output voltage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
A voltage supply comprising: a plurality of voltage sources; a switch array to selectively connect the sources in a plurality of different ways to alter the voltage supplied by the supply; a controller to programmably control the switch array; and an input device to receive user specified output voltage levels, said controller to automatically provide the desired output voltage in response to a user input of a desired output voltage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
75 words
The supply of claim 13 including a storage, said controller coupled to said storage, said storage storing instructions that enable the controller to receive information about the voltage supplied by at least two different sources, determine the amount of time that each of the two sources is supplied as particular voltage, calculate a burden on each of the two sources, and in response to the calculated burden, balance the usage among the two voltage sources.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
87 words
An article comprising a medium storing instructions that, if executed, enable a processor-based system to: receive a request for an output voltage; programmably control the connections between at least two voltage sources to develop the requested output voltage; receive information about the voltage supplied by each of the two voltage sources; determine the amount of time that each voltage source has supplied a particular voltage; calculate a burden on each voltage source; and in response to the calculated burden, balance the usage of the two voltage sources.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
87 words
An article comprising a medium storing instructions that, if executed, enable a processor-based system to: receive a request for an output voltage; programmably control the connections between at least two voltage sources to develop the requested output voltage; receive information about the voltage supplied by each of the two voltage sources; determine the amount of time that each voltage source has supplied a particular voltage; calculate a burden on each voltage source; and in response to the calculated burden, balance the usage of the two voltage sources.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The article of claim 13 further storing instructions that, if executed, enable the processor-based system to automatically provide a user specified output voltage by adjusting the connections between a plurality of voltage sources.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-09-22 | 2007-03-24 | 2007-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-09-22 | 2011-03-24 | 2011-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-09-22 | 2015-03-24 | 2015-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |