Importance

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Abstract

A power supply system for powering a plurality of loads. The system includes a plurality of energizeable power supply circuits each associated with one of the loads for supplying power thereto in response to a power supply circuit control signal. An actuable power sharing arrangement is connected to all of the power supply circuits to facilitate sharing of power among the power supply circuits in response to a power sharing control signal. In addition, a control circuit generates the power supply control signals to individually controlling energization of each of the power supply circuits and the power sharing control signal to maintain the power sharing arrangement in an actuated condition when the power supply circuit control signals are controlling all of the power supply circuits to be energized, and otherwise maintaining the power sharing arrangement in a de-actuated condition. Thus, while the control circuit is generating the power supply control signals to control all of the power supply circuits to be energized the power sharing arrangement is sharing power among the power supply circuits to ensure continuous availability of power to all of the loads in the event one of the power supply circuits should fail. On the other hand, while the control circuit generates the power supply control signal to de-energize one of the power supply circuits, to generate the power sharing control signal so as to de-actuate the power sharing arrangement to disable it from sharing power among the power supply circuits.

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First Claim