JPH10262348A - Power controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power controller for controlling power to be supplied to an information processor which makes it possible to evade the loss of the data of the information processor caused by power interruption. SOLUTION: This is a third power controller 50 which supplies power, and is fitted with means 62, 63 for obtaining current values in use, a means 42 which inquires of an upper second power controller 40 and obtains a marginal current value of its own apparatus, a means 61 for judging the marginal level of its own apparatus from the above-mentioned current value under use and the marginal current value, and a means 64 which performs or interrupts power supply to a low-order apparatus, in accordance with the margin level obtained from the above-mentioned current value in use and the marginal current value.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power supply control device for controlling power supplied to an information processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, personal computers (hereinafter, referred to as personal computers).
Many information processing devices such as a personal computer), a disk device, and a laser printer are arranged in an office or the like and are used by many people.

In these information processing apparatuses, when the power of a certain device is turned on, the power supply capacity of the entire office becomes insufficient. If the power is suddenly cut off while the power is turned on, the device fails, the data is destroyed, or the like.
Since a trouble such as a loss of various set values occurs, a sudden power-off is greatly disliked.

However, in reality, for example, a laser printer consumes a large amount of power during a printing operation, and various types of devices operate in a power-saving manner (for example, the power is cut off except for devices that require constant standby, or In standby mode, etc.), the fluctuation of power consumption increases, and there is always a danger that the breaker of the power supply is suddenly shut off.

[0005] Therefore, there is a strong demand for providing a power supply control device having a margin value of a current flowing through a power supply line and having a function of giving a warning to a user in advance. In a conventional power supply control device, when a current of a certain amount or more flows through the breaker that supplies power to the information processing device, the breaker supplies power to the subordinates to protect the power supply transformer and to prevent a power line fire. Is shut off.

[0006] As shown in FIG. 10, an alternating current (AC) supplied from a power supply line 10 is supplied to a power supply control device 90 by a direct current (D).
C), an auxiliary circuit including an AC / DC conversion circuit 91 for converting to DC, a storage battery 92 for DC charging, a DC / AC conversion circuit 93 for DC / AC conversion, and a power-off detection circuit for detecting an AC interruption of the power supply line 10. 94 and a switching circuit for switching between the power supply line 10 and the spare circuit under the control of the power-off detection circuit 94.
Be prepared to have 95.

When the power supply line 10 is suddenly cut off, the power supply from the storage battery 92 prevents the power supply line 10 from being suddenly cut off to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer for a certain period of time. In practice, such a power supply control device 90
Insufficient capacity and the high cost of the power supply control device 90 make it used only for a limited number of servers and the like, and are used for printers that consume large amounts of power and many personal computers. There is no reality.

[0008]

Therefore, when the power supply to the information processing apparatus is cut off, for example, in a magnetic disk drive, a head crash or a loss of data due to a cut-off before data storage is not completed occurs. There was a problem in that a technician was called out to repair the data, requiring many man-hours to repair the data, and if that was not possible, the lost data had to be re-entered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a power supply control device capable of avoiding loss of data of an information processing device due to power cutoff.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a third power supply control device 50 for supplying power as shown in FIG. 6, for example, for obtaining a current value during use. 62, 63, means 42 for inquiring the upper second power supply control device 40 to obtain a margin current value of the own device, and a margin level of the own device from the current value in use and the margin current value. It is configured to include a determination unit 61 and a unit 64 for turning on / off the power supply to a lower-level device in accordance with the current value in use and the margin level obtained from the margin current value.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration and function of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a power supply network using the power supply control device of the present invention. In this example, one first power control device and one second
Power control device and one third power control device,
This is an example in which a power supply source is connected in tandem with a parent, child, and grandchild.

Examples of other power supply networks using the power supply control device of the present invention include: (1) One or more third power supply control devices connected in tandem to a power supply source. (2) One or a plurality of second power control devices and one or a plurality of third power control devices connected in tandem to a power supply source in a parent-child relationship. (3) One first power supply control device and one or more second power control devices
, And one or more third power control devices are connected in tandem to a power supply source in a parent, child, and grandchild relationship. And so on. Hereinafter, description will be made based on the configuration of FIG. [Power supply network] In FIG. 1, 1A is a transmission line, 2A is a factory, 3A and 3B are buildings in the factory 2A, 4A and 4B are floors of the building 3A, and 20 is a substation facility. It is. Also 10 ~
13 is a power supply line, and 21 to 23 are communication lines.

Reference numerals 30, 40, and 50 denote a first power control device, a second power control device, and a third power control device of the present invention. Reference numeral 100 denotes a lower-level device that becomes the final end, such as a personal computer.

As shown in the figure, one first power supply control device 30 is connected from a substation facility 20 serving as a power supply source provided in a factory 2A to, for example, a power receiving port of a floor 4A of a building 3A, The power supply line 11 and the communication line 21 are drawn from the device 30. Then, a margin current value is transmitted from the communication line 21 to the second power supply control device 40.

One second power supply control device 40 is connected in tandem with the power supply line 11 and communication line 21 from the first power supply control device 30 as a parent device. Power line
Pull out 12 and communication line 22. And, from the communication line 22 to the third
The surplus current value is transmitted to the power supply control device 50 of FIG.

A third power supply control device 50 is connected in tandem with the power supply line 12 and the communication line 22 extending from the second power supply control device 40 as a child device, and the third power supply control device is connected to the third power supply control device. Pull out the power line 13 and the communication line 23 from 50.

Then, a desired lower-level device 100, for example, a personal computer, is connected to the end of the power line 13 and the communication line 23 from the third power control device 50 at the last stage, which is a grandchild device, and the user of the device 100 The communication device 23 notifies a margin current value via the communication line 23, or turns off the power of the device 100.

As described above, the first power supply control device 30, the second power supply control device 40, and the third power supply control device 50 are connected in cascade, so that the abnormality of the power supply lines 10 to 13 can be communicated. By providing a marginal current value from the line 21 to the communication line 23, the user of the device receiving the power supply can understand it immediately, and can quickly take action when there is an abnormality in the power line 10 to the power line 13. Become.

In FIG. 1, for easy understanding,
Although the power lines 11, 12, and 13 and the communication lines 21, 22, and 23 are described separately, the communication lines 21, 22, and 23 may be shared with the power lines 11, 12, and 13. Of course, a local area network (LAN) may be used for 22, 23.

More specifically, when the communication lines 21, 22, and 23 are dedicated lines, the communication line 23 requires a control device for information transmitted and received, but the description is omitted here. Hereinafter, the respective configurations and functions of the first power supply control device 30, the second power supply control device 40, and the third power supply control device 50 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. [First Power Control Device] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the first power control device of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation flow of the first control circuit shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, a first power supply control device 30, which is a parent device, includes a first control circuit 31, a measurement circuit 32, a digital conversion circuit 33, an allowable current value setting circuit 34, and an allowable current value storage circuit. 35 and a communication circuit 36.

In the following description, FIG. 2 is used in combination with FIG.
The operation of 36 is performed. The first control circuit 31 and each of the circuits 32 to 36 are always energized.

The power supply line 10 connects between the substation equipment 20 as a power supply source and the first power supply control device 30.
The power supply line 11 connects the first power supply control device 30 and a second power supply control device 40 connected under the first power supply control device 30.

The measuring circuit 32 measures a current value (current value in use) to be supplied to the second power control device 40 under the first power control device 30, and obtains a voltage value corresponding to the magnitude of the current value. And outputs it to the digital conversion circuit 33. That is, the value of the flowing current is converted into a level signal and output to the digital conversion circuit 33.

The digital conversion circuit 33 converts the level signal from the measurement circuit 32 into a digital value, and upon request from the first control circuit 31, immediately converts the converted digital value to the first control circuit 31. Output.

The allowable current value setting circuit 34 is a circuit for setting the maximum usable current value (allowable current value) in the power supply line 11 by a user using, for example, a rotary switch. The set allowable current value is stored in the allowable current value storage circuit 35.
Is output to

The permissible current value storage circuit 35 takes in and stores the permissible current value from the permissible current value setting circuit 34, and upon request from the first control circuit 31, immediately sets the set first power supply control device. It is sent to the first control circuit 31 as an allowable current value of 30.

The communication circuit 36 connects the first power supply control device 30 to the second power supply control device 40 connected via the power supply line 11 with a communication line.
Connected at 21. A message from the second power supply control device 40 to the first power supply control device 30 asking for a margin current value is transmitted via a communication line.
When the communication message is sent via the communication line 21, the communication circuit 36 notifies the first control circuit 31 that the inquiry message has arrived.

Further, when the first control circuit 31 instructs to notify the surplus current value of the first power supply control device 30 as a response message to the inquiry message, the communication circuit 36 uses the surplus current value as the second message. 1 from the control circuit 31 and the communication line
The second power supply control device 40 that has been inquired via 21 is notified.

As described above, the first control circuit 31
Is connected to the digital conversion circuit 33, the permissible current value storage circuit 35, and the communication circuit 36, and starts operation upon notification from the communication circuit 36, and uses information of each circuit 33, 35, 36. Or an operation instruction is given to each of the circuits 33, 35, and 36.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, a first control circuit 31 will be described.
Will be described. In FIG. 3, for example, (S3
S in (0) indicates each processing step. The first control circuit 31 starts operating at the same time as power-on (S
30). Step “S”
31) In the message, the communication circuit 36 sent a message inquiring about the message.
(YES) or not come (NO).

If the notification is received (YES), the next step (S
Go to 32). If not (NO), the process returns to step (S31) and waits for the notification. If the notification is received (YES), the allowable current value is read from the allowable current value storage circuit 35 (S32), the current value in use is read from the digital conversion circuit 33 (S33), and the difference value (the allowable current value− The current value during use is calculated (S34), and a margin current value is obtained.

This margin current value is set in the communication circuit 36,
The communication circuit 36 is instructed to send the surplus current value to the second power supply control device 40 that has inquired. (S35) [Second power supply control device 40] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the second power supply control device of the present invention, and FIG. 5 shows an operation flow of the second control circuit shown in FIG. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, a second power supply control device 40, which is a slave device, comprises a second control circuit 41 and a communication circuit 42, a measurement circuit 32 shown in FIG.
33 and a communication circuit 36.

The operation of the second control circuit 41 and the circuits 32, 33, 36 and 42 connected thereto will now be described. Note that the description of the circuit overlapping with FIG. 2 will be simplified. The second control circuit 41 and the circuits 32, 33, 36, 42 are always energized.

The digital conversion circuit 33 converts the level signal from the measurement circuit 32 into a digital value, and outputs the converted digital value to the second control circuit 41 immediately upon request from the second control circuit 41. I do.

The communication circuit 36 is connected to the third
Are connected by a communication line 22 to the power supply control device 50,
When an inquiry message for the margin current value of the third power supply control device 50 arrives via the communication line 22, the second control circuit 41 is notified that an inquiry message has arrived from the third power supply control device 50.

Further, when instructed by the second control circuit 41 to notify a response message to the inquiry message, the communication circuit 36 receives the marginal current value of the second power supply control device 40 from the second control circuit 41. Then, the third power supply control device 50 that has inquired of the margin current value via the communication line 22 is notified.

In the communication circuit 42, when the second control circuit 41 instructs the power supply system to inquire of the upper first power supply control device 30 about the marginal current value, the first power supply control device 30 Notify the message of value inquiry.

When a surplus current value for the inquiry comes from the first power supply control device 30, the communication circuit 42 notifies the second control circuit 41 of the surplus current value of the first power supply control device 30. As described above, the second control circuit 41 is connected to the digital conversion circuit 33, the communication circuit 36, and the communication circuit 42, and starts operating upon notification from the communication circuit 36, , 36, and 42, and gives an operation instruction to each of the circuits 33, 36, and 42.

Next, referring to FIG. 5, the second control circuit 41
Will be described. The second control circuit 41 starts the operation at the same time when the power is turned on (S50). In the first step of "Is an inquiry received?" (S51), a notification that an inquiry message has been received from the communication circuit 36 (YES) or not (N).
O) is determined.

If the determination is NO, the process returns to step (S51) and waits for a notification. If the notification has been received (YES), the second control circuit 41 instructs the communication circuit 42 to inquire about the marginal current value of the first power supply control device 30 (S52).

After giving the instruction of the inquiry, a response is waited for in a step of "Is a surplus current value?" (S53).
If the notification has been received (YES), go to the next step (S54).
If not (NO), return to step (S53),
Wait for the notification.

Next, in accordance with an instruction from the second control circuit 41, the margin current value of the first power supply control device 30 is read from the communication circuit 42 (S54), and the current value in use is read from the digital conversion circuit 33 (S54). (S55), a difference value (margin current value-current value in use) is calculated, and a (new) margin current value of the second power supply control device 40 is obtained (S56).

The new margin current value is stored in the second control circuit
The instruction is set in the communication circuit 36 in accordance with the instruction 41, and the communication circuit 36 is instructed to transmit the marginal current value to the third power supply control device 50 that has inquired about it. (S57) [One Embodiment of Third Power Supply Control Device 50] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the third power supply control device according to the present invention. The following is an example of the configuration in the case of not. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation flow of the third control circuit shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, a third power supply control device 50 of one embodiment, which is a grandchild device, comprises a third control circuit 61, a used current value setting circuit 62, a used current value storage circuit 63, a power supply switching circuit.
64 and the display circuit 65, and the communication circuit 42 shown in FIG.
It consists of.

Hereinafter, the third control circuit 61 and the circuits 62, 63, 42, 64 and 65 connected thereto will be described. The third control circuit 61 and the circuits 62, 63, 42, 64, 65 are always energized.

The use current value setting circuit 62 is a circuit for presetting the use current of the lower device flowing through the power supply line 13, and a signal indicating this set current is output to the use current value storage circuit 63. In the used current value storage circuit 63, the used current value setting circuit 62
The third control circuit 61 outputs the stored value to the third control circuit 61 immediately upon receiving a request from the third control circuit 61.

In the communication circuit 42, when the third control circuit 61 instructs the power supply system to inquire the upper second power supply control device 40 about the margin current value, the communication circuit 42 transmits the surplus current value inquiry message to the communication line. A notification is made to the second power supply control device 40 via 22.

When a marginal current value as a response message comes from the second power supply control device 40, the communication circuit 42 sets the third control circuit 61
Is notified of the margin current value. The third control circuit 61 generates ON / OFF request and display request signals for the power supply line 13 based on the margin current value.

The power supply switching circuit 64 receives an ON / OFF request for the power supply line 13 from the third control circuit 61, and supplies or disconnects power to the power supply line 13. In the display circuit 65, the third
The display request is received from the control circuit 61 of the above, and that is displayed.

As described above, the third control circuit 61
Is the used current value storage circuit 63, communication circuit 42, power supply switching circuit
It is connected to the display circuit 65 and the display circuit 65, and operates upon a power-on instruction, inquires a marginal current value from the upper second power supply control device 40, and terminates the process by supplying power to the lower-level device.

Next, referring to FIG. 7, a third control circuit 61 will be described.
Will be described. The third control circuit 61 starts the operation at the same time when the power is turned on (S70), and instructs the communication circuit 42 to execute the second control circuit 61.
About the marginal current value of the power supply control device 40 of S7 (S7
1).

The first "Is the surplus current value?" (Y
ES) (NO) (S72) is determined by whether or not the notification of the response message has been received from the communication circuit 42. When the notification has been received, the process proceeds to the next step (S73). If the notification has not been received, the process returns to step (S72) and waits for the notification.

Next, from the communication circuit 42 to the second power supply controller 40
(S73), and the used current value storage circuit
The current value in use is read from 63 (S74), and the difference value (the margin current value-the current value in use) is calculated (S75).

If the operation result of step (S75) is positive,
The power supply switching circuit 64 is instructed to turn on the power (S76), and the display circuit is turned on.
65 is instructed to turn on the power (S77), and the processing is terminated (S77).
E). If the calculation result in step (S75) is negative, the power supply switching circuit 64 is instructed to turn off the power (S78), and the display circuit 65 is instructed to turn off the power (S79), and then the step (S71).
And wait until the power can be turned on. [Another embodiment of the third power supply control device 50] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of the configuration of the third power supply control device of the present invention. An example of the configuration in the case of is shown. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an operation flow of the third control circuit shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, a third power supply control device 50, which is a grandchild device of another embodiment, includes a fourth control circuit 81, a measurement circuit 32, a digital conversion circuit 33, and a communication circuit 3.
6. It is composed of the communication circuit 42 and the display circuit 65.

Although the display circuit 65 is used here, a speaker, a lamp, or the like, that is, an informing means may be used. Next, the fourth control circuit 81 and each of the circuits 3
2,33,36,42,65 will be described.

The fourth control circuit 81 and each of the circuits 32, 33,
36, 42, 65 are always energized. The power line 12 is the upper second
Between the power supply control device 40 and the third power supply control device 50. The power supply line 13 connects the third power supply control device 50 to lower-level devices under the third power supply control device 50.

The measuring circuit 32 measures a current (current in use) supplied to a lower device under the third power supply control device 50, and outputs a level signal of a voltage value corresponding to the magnitude of the current value. This level signal is output to the digital conversion circuit 33. That is, the current value is converted into a level signal and output to the digital conversion circuit 33.

The digital conversion circuit 33 converts the level signal from the measurement circuit 32 into a digital value, and outputs the converted digital value to the fourth control circuit 81 immediately upon request from the fourth control circuit 81. I do.

The communication circuit 42 is controlled by the fourth control circuit 81
When the power supply system is instructed to inquire of the upper-level second power supply control device 40 about the margin current value, the inquiry message of the margin current value is notified to the second power supply control device 40 via the communication line 22. .

When a marginal current value as a response message comes from the second power supply control device 40 via the communication line 22, the communication circuit 42
Notifies the fourth control circuit 81 of the margin current value. The communication circuit 36 is connected by a communication line 23 to a lower device connected by the power supply line 13 from the third power supply control device 50.

When an inquiry message for a margin current value comes from a lower device, the fourth control circuit 81 is notified that the inquiry message has arrived. Further, when instructed by the fourth control circuit 81 to send a margin current value as a response message, the communication circuit 36 receives the margin current value from the fourth control circuit 81, and
The surplus current value is notified to the inferior device inquired via the communication line 23.

The display circuit 65 receives a request from the fourth control circuit 81 and displays a message to that effect. As described above, the fourth control circuit 81 is connected to the digital conversion circuit 33, the communication circuit 36, the communication circuit 42, and the display circuit 65.
The margin current value is inquired to 40, and the process is terminated by supplying power to the lower-level device.

Next, referring to FIG. 9, a fourth control circuit 81 will be described.
Will be described. The fourth control circuit 81 starts the operation at the same time when the power is turned on (S90), and instructs the communication circuit 42 to inquire about the marginal current value of the second power supply control device 40 (S9).
1).

The first "Is the surplus current value?" (Y
The determination of whether or not (ES) does not come (NO) (S92) is made based on whether or not the notification of the inquiry message has come from the communication circuit 42. When the notification is received, go to the next step (S93). If the notification has not been received, it waits for the notification to be received in step (S92).

Next, from the communication circuit 42 to the second power supply controller 40
(S93), read the marginal current value of
The current value in use is read from 33 (S94), and the ratio ((surplus current value-current value in use) / surplus current value) is calculated (S95).

If the ratio is equal to or less than 10%, the fourth control circuit 81 instructs the communication circuit 36 to send a power saving operation command to a lower-level device (S96), and instructs the display circuit 65 to send it. The power operation is displayed (S97), and the process returns to step (S91).

The power-saving operation command includes, for example, a command to turn off the power of a device other than a device that always requires standby, or a command to set the device to a standby mode. On the other hand, if the ratio is a value of 10% or more, the fourth control circuit 81 instructs the communication circuit 36 to send a normal operation command to a lower device (S98), and displays the normal operation display on the display circuit 65. (S99), and returns to step (S91).

[0071]

As apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, before the breaker shuts off the power supply, it is notified that the surplus current is insufficient, and the breaker shifts to the power saving mode.
This makes it possible to suppress new power-on, and has the effect of suppressing power-off by the breaker.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a power supply network using a power supply control device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a first power supply control device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation flow of a first control circuit shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a second power supply control device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation flow of a second control circuit shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a third power supply control device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation flow of a third control circuit shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the third power supply control device of the present invention.

9 is a diagram showing an operation flow of a fourth control circuit shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional power supply control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 to 13 power supply line 21 to 23 communication line 30 first power supply control device 31 first control circuit 32 measurement circuit 33 digital conversion circuit 34 allowable current value setting circuit 35 allowable current value storage circuit 36, 42 communication circuit 40 second Power control device 41 second control circuit 50 third power control device 61 third control circuit 62 used current value setting circuit 63 used current value storage circuit 64 power supply switching circuit 65 display circuit 81 fourth control circuit 100 Equipment

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Satoru Ueyama No. 35, Saho, Shato-cho, Kato-gun, Hyogo (No address) Inside Fujitsu Peripheral Machinery Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Seiichi Kamon 35, Saho-sha, Kato-gun, Hyogo No. (No address) Inside Fujitsu Peripheral Equipment Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A power supply control device for supplying power, comprising: means for obtaining a current value in use; means for inquiring a higher-level power supply control device to obtain a marginal current value of its own device; Means for determining a margin level of the own apparatus from the current value of the current value and the margin current value, and turning on power supply to a lower device in accordance with the margin value obtained from the current value in use and the margin current value・
A power supply control device, comprising: means for performing disconnection.