Patent ID: 7298167
Filing Date: 2007-11-20
Classification: G01R,H02J

Abstract:
1. A system for detecting a fault in a power supply having at least one power supply unit and a redundant power supply unit, such system comprising: a printed circuit board; a common voltage bus disposed on the printed circuit board; a plurality of diodes disposed on the printed circuit board having first electrodes connected to the common voltage supply bus and each of such diodes having second electrodes connected to a corresponding one of the at least one power supply unit and the redundant power supply unit, such plurality of diodes being connected to the common bus in a logic OR configuration; a controller, disposed on the printed circuit board fed by a voltage at the second electrode of a corresponding one of the plurality of diodes and a reference voltage for determining whether the voltage at the second electrode of the corresponding one of the plurality of diodes is at a proper predetermined voltage relative to the reference voltage; wherein: the second electrodes of the plurality of diodes are connected to first terminals of the printed circuit board and wherein the first terminals are fed a first voltage produced by the corresponding one of the at least one power supply unit and the redundant power supply unit; wherein the printed circuit board has a second terminal fed by a second voltage produced by the one of the at least one power supply unit and the redundant power supply unit; wherein the system includes: a voltage to voltage converter disposed on the printed circuit, such converter being connected between the second terminal and the controller, said converter producing a second reference voltage for the controller; and wherein: the controller compares the voltage at the second electrode of a corresponding one of the plurality of diodes with the first-mentioned reference voltage and in the event that such comparison indicates a fault condition, the controller compares the first-mentioned reference voltage with the second reference voltage.