Power control network for multiple digital modules

Claim 2

In a system of interconnected modules which include at least one processor module, at least one I/O module, and at least one memory module, and wherein each module includes internal power control switching means and internal power supply means, a power control network for controlling the power status of any selected module, said power control network comprising: (a) master logic power unit means for sensing the power status of each of said modules and for transmitting control instructions for regulating the on/off power status of a selected module, or modules, or all of said modules; (b) slave logic power unit means for receiving said control instructions and for regulating the power status of each of said modules, said slave logic power unit means including: (bl) a plurality of slave logic units each of which is connected to said master logic unit means and wherein each of said modules is provided with an individual slave unit residing therein; (b2) said power control switching means operating under control instructions from said master unit, via said slave unit, for switching the power on or off in the module in which said slave unit resides.

Claim 3

The power control network of claim 1, wherein each of said slave logic units includes: (a) means to sense the power status of the said internal power supply means residing in the same module as the said slave logic unit.

Claim 4

The power control network of claim 1, wherein said power control switching means can cause said internal power supply means to be increased or decreased by a fixed percent amount.

Claim 5

The power control network of claim 1, wherein said master logic power unit means includes: (a) master microprocessor means for executing program instructions for powering up or powering down the said internal power supply means in any selected module; (b) memory means connected to said master microprocessor means for program storage and data buffering; (c) interface means, connected to said microprocessor means, for providing data transfers to/from each of said slave logic units; (d) time-of-day means for providing time signals to said master microprocessor means to enable unattended system power up and halt-load, and to record the time of any unit failure.

Claim 6

The power control network of claim 4, wherein said master microprocessor means further includes: (a) means to transmit instructions to a slave logic unit for increasing/decreasing voltage values by a fixed amount.

Claim 7

The power control network of claim 1, wherein each of said slave logic units includes: (a) slave microprocessor means for receiving and executing instructions from said master power logic unit and for transmitting power status information data to said master logic unit; (b) address switch means for setting up a unique address to identify each power slave logic unit, said switch means connected to said slave microprocessor means; (c) communication transfer circuitry for transferring instructions and data between said slave microprocessor means and said master logic units; (d) interface circuitry for connecting said slave microprocessor means to said power control switching means in said modules in order to control the on/off condition of power in said each of said modules.

Claim 8

The power control network of claim 6, wherein said slave microprocessor means includes: (a) means for executing instructions for raising/lowering the voltage of said internal power supply means.

Claim 9

The power control network of claim 7, wherein each of said slave logic units include: (a) memory clock select circuitry connected to receive clock signals from said slave microprocessor means and to transmit a clock select signal to said memory module.

Claim 10

In a computer network interconnecting a plurality of digital modules, a network power control system comprising, in combination: (a) said plurality of digital modules including: (al) a processor module; (a2) an I/O module; (a3) a memory module; and wherein each of said modules include: (i) a slave logic power unit connected to a master logic power unit and providing control signals to a power control switching means; (ii) an internal power supply means for providing AC and DC power for said module, said internal power supply means operating under control of said power control switching means; (iii) said power control switching means connected to receive said control signals from said slave logic unit to cause said internal power supply means to power-up or power-down; (iv) operator control switch means for enabling or disabling said slave logic unit from controlling said power switching means; (b) said master power logic unit being connected to transmit control instructions to each of said slave logic units, said master power logic unit including: (bl) master processor means for transmitting/receiving instructions and data to/from each of said slave logic units.

Claim 11

In a computer network interconnecting a plurality of digital modules, a network power control system comprising, in combination: (a) said plurality of digital modules including: (al) a processor module; (a2) an I/O module; (a3) a memory module; and wherein each of said modules include: (i) a slave logic power unit connected to a master logic power unit and providing control signals to a power control switching means; (ii) an internal power supply means for providing AC and DC power for said module, said internal power supply means operating under control of said power control switching means; (iii) said power control switching means connected to receive said control signals from said slave logic unit to cause said internal power supply means to power-up or power-down; (iv) operator control switch means for enabling or disabling said slave logic unit from controlling said power switching means; (b) said master power logic unit being connected to transmit control instructions to each of said slave logic units, said master power logic unit including: (bl) master processor means for transmitting/receiving instructions and data to/from each of said slave logic units.

Claim 12

In a system of interconnected modules which include at least one processor module, at least one I/O module, and at least one memory module, a power control network for controlling the power status of any selected module, said power control network comprising: (a) a network master power logic unit having output connections to a plurality of slave power logic units wherein at least one slave logic unit is located in each of said processor modules, said I/O module and said memory module units, and wherein; (b) each of said plurality of power slave logic units include: (bl) slave microprocessor means for receiving and executing instructions from said master logic unit and for transmitting power status data to said master power logic unit; (b2) address switch means for setting up a unique address to identify each slave power logic unit, said address switch means connected to said slave microprocessor means; (b3) memory clock select circuitry connected to said memory module to select which processor module will supply clock select signals to said memory module; (b4) interface circuitry for connecting said slave microprocessor means to an associated power control switching means in each of said modules in order to control the conditions of power in each of said modules; (b5) communication transfer circuitry for transferring instructions and data between said slave microprocessor means and said master power logic unit; (c) a plurality of power control switching means in each of said modules, wherein each power control switching means includes: (cl) means to receive instructions from its slave logic unit for setting up a power-on or power-off status condition in the particular module wherein said power control switching means resides; (d) a plurality of power supplies, each one of which is located in each module and the power status of which is controlled by said power control switching means.

Claim 13

In a system of interconnected modules which include at least one processor module, at least one I/O module, and at least one memory module, a power control network for controlling the power status of any selected module, said power control network comprising: (a) a network master power logic unit having output connections to a plurality of slave power logic units wherein at least one slave logic unit is located in each of said processor modules, said I/O module and said memory module units, and wherein; (b) each of said plurality of power slave logic units include: (bl) slave microprocessor means for receiving and executing instructions from said master logic unit and for transmitting power status data to said master power logic unit; (b2) address switch means for setting up a unique address to identify each slave power logic unit, said address switch means connected to said slave microprocessor means; (b3) memory clock select circuitry connected to said memory module to select which processor module will supply clock select signals to said memory module; (b4) interface circuitry for connecting said slave microprocessor means to an associated power control switching means in each of said modules in order to control the conditions of power in each of said modules; (b5) communication transfer circuitry for transferring instructions and data between said slave microprocessor means and said master power logic unit; (c) a plurality of power control switching means in each of said modules, wherein each power control switching means includes: (cl) means to receive instructions from its slave logic unit for setting up a power-on or power-off status condition in the particular module wherein said power control switching means resides; (d) a plurality of power supplies, each one of which is located in each module and the power status of which is controlled by said power control switching means.

Claim 14

The power control network of claim 10, wherein each said power control switching means further includes: (a) means to receive "margin" instructions from its slave logic unit to increase/ decrease the power voltage status of a power supply by a fixed percentage amount.

Claim 15

In a computer network interconnecting a plurality of digital modules, wherein a first group of digital modules include internal power supply means while a second group of modules depend for their power on power connections to said first group of modules, a network power control system comprising, in combination: (a) a first group of modules including a processor module, an I/O module, a memory module, each of said modules including: (al) internal power supply means; (a2) internal power control switching means to control the power status of said internal power supply means; (a3) operator control switch means to provide control instructions to said internal control switching means; (a4) a slave power logic unit to control said internal power control switching . means according to instruction signals from a master logic power unit means; (b) a second group of modules having power connection means to any one or more of said first group of modules, each of said second group of modules including: (bl) power control switching means for switching power-up or power-down in the module, said switching means connected to receive control signals from a slave logic unit; (b2) a slave logic unit connected for receiving instruction signals from said master logic power unit means; (c) said master logic power unit means having connection means to each of said slave logic units, and including: (cl) master processor means for executing power control instruction signals to each of said slave logic units and for receiving power status data from each of said slave units.

Claim 16

In a computer network interconnecting a plurality of digital modules, wherein a first group of digital modules include internal power supply means while a second group of modules depend for their power on power connections to said first group of modules, a network power control system comprising, in combination: (a) a first group of modules including a processor module, an I/O module, a memory module, each of said modules including: (al) internal power supply means; (a2) internal power control switching means to control the power status of said internal power supply means; (a3) operator control switch means to provide control instructions to said internal control switching means; (a4) a slave power logic unit to control said internal power control switching . means according to instruction signals from a master logic power unit means; (b) a second group of modules having power connection means to any one or more of said first group of modules, each of said second group of modules including: (bl) power control switching means for switching power-up or power-down in the module, said switching means connected to receive control signals from a slave logic unit; (b2) a slave logic unit connected for receiving instruction signals from said master logic power unit means; (c) said master logic power unit means having connection means to each of said slave logic units, and including: (cl) master processor means for executing power control instruction signals to each of said slave logic units and for receiving power status data from each of said slave units.

Claim 17

The power control system of claim 12, wherein said first group of modules includes: (a) a peripheral-unit module having a peripheral slave logic unit connected to said master logic power unit means.