Patent ID: 6904541
Filing Date: 2005-06-07
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An electronic system, comprising: critical circuitry; non-critical circuitry having a first section and a second section; and a power sub-system having a first power assembly, a second power assembly, and a set of connections which is configured to connect the first and second power assemblies to the critical circuitry and the non-critical circuitry such that, when the first and second power assemblies operate to power the critical and non-critical circuitry through the set of connections, (i) a failure of only the second power assembly results in the first power assembly continuing to power the critical circuitry and the first section of the non-critical circuitry, and (ii) a failure of only the first power assembly results in the second power assembly continuing to power the critical circuitry and the second section of the non-critical circuitry, wherein X and Y are integers greater than 0; wherein the first power assembly includes multiple first power supplies that perform a normal operating procedure to provide power to the critical circuitry and to the first section of the non-critical circuitry when up to X first power supplies fail, and an error handling procedure to discontinue providing power to the critical circuitry and to the first section of the non-critical circuitry when more than X first power supplies fail; and wherein the second power assembly includes multiple second power supplies that perform a normal operating procedure to provide power to the critical circuitry and to the second section of the non-critical circuitry when up to Y second power supplies fail, and an error handling procedure to discontinue providing power to the critical circuitry and to the first section of the non-critical circuitry when more than Y second power supplies fail.