Apparatus and method for selectively coupling a system with a first power supply or a second power supply

Abstract

An apparatus for selectively coupling a system with a first power supply or a second power supply includes: (a) a first switch for effecting a first coupling of the system with the first power supply; (b) a second switch for effecting a second coupling of the system with the second power supply; (c) a first switch control unit coupled for controlling the first switch; (d) a second switch control unit coupled for controlling the second switch; (e) a connection director unit coupled with the first and second switch control units for providing control signals to effect the first and second coupling; at least one of the first and second coupling being effected as an initial coupling establishing a generally time-dependent increasing current between the system and one power supply and a continuing coupling establishing a substantially constant operating current between the system and the one power supply.

1 . An apparatus for selecting a power supply in a dual supply system; the apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a connection director unit; said connection director unit presenting a plurality of actuating signals;    (b) a first switching unit coupled with said connection director unit, coupled with a first power supply and coupled with said system; said first switching unit generating a first indicating signal to indicate whether said first switch is closed;    (c) a second switching unit coupled with said connection director unit, coupled with a second power supply and coupled with said system; said second switching unit generating a second indicating signal to indicate whether said second switch is closed;    (d) said first switching unit being coupled with said second switching unit; said first switching unit responding to a first signal combination of said second indicating signal and at least one first actuating signal of said plurality of actuating signals for effecting a first coupling between said system and said first power supply; and    (e) said second switching unit being coupled with said first switching unit; said second switching unit responding to a second signal combination of said first indicating signal and at least one second actuating signal of said plurality of actuating signals for effecting a second coupling between said system and a second power supply; said at least one second actuating signal including an initiating signal and an operating signal; said second switching unit responding to said initiating signal to establish a generally time-dependent increasing current between said system and said second power supply; said second switching unit responding to said operating signal to establish a substantially constant operating current between said system and said second power supply.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus for selecting a power supply in a dual supply system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first switching unit responds to said second predetermined signal combination to interrupt said first coupling and wherein said second switching unit responds to said first predetermined signal combination to interrupt said second coupling.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus for selecting a power supply in a dual supply system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first switching unit includes a break-before-make circuit; said break-before-make circuit ensuring that said first switching unit interrupts said first coupling before said second switching unit effects said second coupling when said connection director unit presents said second predetermined signal combination.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus for selecting a power supply in a dual supply system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first switching unit includes a timer unit coupled for receiving said at least one first actuating signal; said timer unit operating to assure said substantially constant operating current between said system and said second power supply occurs no more than a predetermined time interval after said connection director unit presents said second predetermined signal combination.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus for selecting a power supply in a dual supply system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said first switching unit includes a break-before-make circuit; said break-before-make circuit ensuring that said first switching unit interrupts said first coupling before said second switching unit effects said second coupling when said connection director unit presents said second predetermined signal combination.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus for selecting a power supply in a dual supply system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said first switching unit includes a timer unit coupled for receiving said at least one first actuating signal; said timer unit operating to assure said substantially constant operating current between said system and said second power supply occurs no more than a predetermined time interval after said connection director unit presents said second predetermined signal combination.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for selecting a power supply in a dual supply system as recited in  claim 3  wherein said first switching unit includes a timer unit coupled for receiving said at least one first actuating signal; said timer unit operating to assure said substantially constant operating current between said system and said second power supply occurs no more than a predetermined time interval after said connection director unit presents said second predetermined signal combination.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus for selectively coupling a system with a first power supply or a second power supply; the apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a first switch for switchingly effecting a first coupling of said system with said first power supply;    (b) a second switch for switchingly effecting a second coupling of said system with said second power supply;    (c) a first switch control unit coupled with said first switch for controlling said first switch;    (d) a second switch control unit coupled with said second switch for controlling said second switch;    (e) a connection director unit coupled with said first switch control unit and coupled with said second switch control unit; said connection director unit providing a first plurality of control signals to effect said first coupling; said connection director unit providing a second plurality of control signals to effect said second coupling; at least one of said first coupling and said second coupling being effected as an initial coupling and a subsequent continuing coupling; said initial coupling establishing a generally time-dependent increasing current between said system and one power supply of said first power supply and said second power supply; said continuity coupling establishing a substantially constant operating current between said system and said one power supply.    
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for selectively coupling a system with a first power supply or a second power supply as recited in  claim 8  wherein said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit cooperate to interrupt said coupling of said system with one power supply of said first power supply and said second power supply when the other power supply of said first power supply and said second power supply is coupled with said system.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for selectively coupling a system with a first power supply or a second power supply as recited in  claim 8  wherein at least one switch control unit of said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit includes a break-before-make circuit coupled with the other switch control unit of said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit; said break-before-make circuit ensuring that at least one of said first switch and said second switch interrupts said first coupling before effecting said second coupling and interrupts said second coupling before effecting said first coupling.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for selectively coupling a system with a first power supply or a second power supply as recited in  claim 8  wherein at least one switch control unit of said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit includes a timer unit coupled with the other switch control unit of said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit; said timer unit operating to ensure said continuity coupling is effected by said other switch control unit no more than a predetermined time interval after said initial coupling is established by said other switch control unit.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus for selectively coupling a system with a first power supply or a second power supply as recited in  claim 8  wherein at least one switch control unit of said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit includes a break-before-make circuit coupled with the other switch control unit of said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit; said break-before-make circuit ensuring that at least one of said first switch and said second switch interrupts said first coupling before effecting said second coupling and interrupts said second coupling before effecting said first coupling.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for selectively coupling a system with a first power supply or a second power supply as recited in  claim 9  wherein at least one switch control unit of said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit includes a timer unit coupled with the other switch control unit of said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit; said timer unit operating to ensure said continuity coupling is effected by said other switch control unit no more than a predetermined time interval after said initial coupling is established by said other switch control unit.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for selectively coupling a system with a first power supply or a second power supply as recited in  claim 10  wherein at least one switch control unit of said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit includes a timer unit coupled with the other switch control unit of said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit; said timer unit operating to ensure said continuity coupling is effected by said other switch control unit no more than a predetermined time interval after said initial coupling is established by said other switch control unit.  
   
   
       15 . A method for selectively coupling a system with a first power supply or a second power supply; the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) in no particular order: 
 (1) providing a first switch connected for switchingly effecting a first coupling of said system with said first power supply;  
 (2) providing a second switch connected for switchingly effecting a second coupling of said system with said second power supply;  
 (3) providing a first switch control unit coupled with said first switch for controlling said first switch;  
 (4) providing a second switch control unit coupled with said second switch for controlling said second switch; and  
 (5) providing a connection director unit coupled with said first switch control unit and coupled with said second switch control unit;  
   (b) operating said connection director unit to provide a first plurality of control signals and to provide a second plurality of control signals;    (c) operating said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit to respond to said first plurality of control signals and said second plurality of control signals to selectively effect said first coupling and said second coupling; and    (d) effecting at least one of said first coupling and said second coupling as an initial coupling and a subsequent continuing coupling; said initial coupling establishing a generally time-dependent increasing current between said system and one power supply of said first power supply and said second power supply; said continuing coupling establishing a substantially constant operating current between said system and said one power supply.    
   
   
       16 . A method for selectively coupling a system with a first power supply or a second power supply as recited in  claim 15  wherein said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit cooperate to interrupt said coupling of said system with one power supply of said first power supply and said second power supply when the other power supply of said first power supply and said second power supply is coupled with said system.  
   
   
       17 . A method for selectively coupling a system with a first power supply or a second power supply as recited in  claim 15  wherein at least one switch control unit of said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit includes a break-before-make circuit coupled with the other switch control unit of said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit; said break-before-make circuit ensuring that at least one of said first switch and said second switch interrupts said first coupling before effecting said second coupling and interrupts said second coupling before effecting said first coupling.  
   
   
       18 . A method for selectively coupling a system with a first power supply or a second power supply as recited in  claim 15  wherein at least one switch control unit of said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit includes a timer unit coupled with the other switch control unit of said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit; said timer unit operating to ensure said continuity coupling is effected by said other switch control unit no more than a predetermined time interval after said initial coupling is established by said other switch control unit.  
   
   
       19 . A method for selectively coupling a system with a first power supply or a second power supply as recited in  claim 15  wherein at least one switch control unit of said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit includes a break-before-make circuit coupled with the other switch control unit of said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit; said break-before-make circuit ensuring that at least one of said first switch and said second switch interrupts said first coupling before effecting said second coupling and interrupts said second coupling before effecting said first coupling.  
   
   
       20 . A method for selectively coupling a system with a first power supply or a second power supply as recited in  claim 16  wherein at least one switch control unit of said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit includes a timer unit coupled with the other switch control unit of said first switch control unit and said second switch control unit; said timer unit operating to ensure said continuity coupling is effected by said other switch control unit no more than a predetermined time interval after said initial coupling is established by said other switch control unit.