Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090070611 | Managing Computer Power Consumption In A Data Center - Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for managing computer power consumption in a data center. Embodiments include monitoring aggregate power consumption of a plurality of computers in the data center, each of the computers being supplied power individually from a shared circuit in the data center; determining whether the aggregate power consumption exceeds a predetermined maximum threshold; if the aggregate power consumption exceeds the predetermined maximum threshold, selecting a number of computers for throttling in dependence upon priority; and throttling-down the selected computers, reducing the aggregate power consumption to a level below the predetermined maximum threshold. Some embodiments may also include determining whether the aggregate power consumption is below a predetermined minimum threshold; if the aggregate power consumption is below the predetermined minimum threshold, selecting a number of computers for throttling in dependence upon priority; and throttling-up the selected computers, increasing the aggregate power consumption to a level above the predetermined minimum threshold. | 03-12-2009 |
20090091186 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTIPLE SENSE POINT VOLTAGE REGULATION - The present invention is a system and method for sensing the voltage at multiple sense points. The present invention acquires optimal feedback from a plurality of sources including those integrated on the same motherboard, for populated or unpopulated connectors and for adapter cards plugged into the connectors, for the purpose of controlling the voltage regulator output. The voltage regulator, connected to a logic system, provides voltage to those connectors needing the voltage. | 04-09-2009 |
20090132842 | Managing Computer Power Consumption In A Computer Equipment Rack - Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for managing power consumption of computing devices in a computer equipment rack. Embodiments include monitoring aggregate power consumption of a plurality of computing devices in the computer equipment rack; determining whether the aggregate power consumption exceeds a predetermined maximum threshold; if the aggregate power consumption exceeds the predetermined maximum threshold, selecting a number of computing devices for throttling in dependence upon priority; and throttling-down the selected computing devices computing devices, reducing the aggregate power consumption to a level below the predetermined maximum threshold. Some embodiments may also include determining whether the aggregate power consumption is below a predetermined minimum threshold; if the aggregate power consumption is below the predetermined minimum threshold, selecting a number of computing devices computing devices computing devices for throttling in dependence upon priority; and throttling-up the selected computing devices, increasing the aggregate power consumption to a level above the predetermined minimum threshold. | 05-21-2009 |
20090167087 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR A HIGH VOLTAGE, HIGH FREQUENCY REDUNDANT BUS POWER SYSTEM - An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for redundant power supplies. A regulator module receives a first power waveform from a first power supply module and a second power waveform from a second power supply module and provides power to a low voltage, regulated output bus. The power waveforms include high voltage, high frequency, chopped power waveforms. The regulator module includes an interleaved power supply stage that receives the power waveforms as pulse-width modulated power signals and converts the first and second power waveforms to the low voltage, regulated voltage on the output bus. The regulator module includes a feedback module that receives a voltage feedback signal from the output bus, adjusts a duty cycle based on the feedback signal, and transmits a drive signal based on the duty cycle to the power supply modules which use the drive signals to generate the first and second power waveforms. | 07-02-2009 |
20110157934 | SELECTIVE ENABLEMENT OF POWER SUPPLY SECTIONS FOR IMPROVING EFFICIENCY - Systems and methods are disclosed for maximizing the efficiency of a power supply according to the value of a load to be powered. One embodiment provides a power supply system including a first and second stage. The first stage has at least one AC to DC conversion section for converting an AC input to DC at an upper DC voltage value. The second stage has at least one DC to DC regulation section for converting at least a portion of the DC at the upper DC voltage value to DC at a lower DC voltage value and supplying the lower DC voltage value to a DC output. One or both of the first and second stages includes more than one section operating in parallel. A controller selectively enables a selected combination of the AC to DC conversion sections and the DC to DC regulation sections according to an expected or actual value of the load. | 06-30-2011 |
20130171843 | BUS BAR FOR POWER DISTRIBUTION ON A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD - A bus bar distributes power to a plurality of electronic components supported on a printed circuit board. One embodiment of the bus bar comprises a plurality of compressible contact pads made from an electronically conductive polymer, spaced along the bus bar for contacting conductive contacts that are coupled to a power domain or individual electronic component. The pads may be secured to the bus bar and the conductive traces using an electronically conductive epoxy adhesive. Rivets may then be used to secure the bus bar to the printed circuit board and compress the pads, which conform to the printed circuit board to make a reliable electrical connection with the conductive traces. The bus bar further comprises a plurality of current sense points disposed adjacent to the pads for measuring the amount of current provided to each power domain. | 07-04-2013 |
20130229830 | Operating A DC-DC Converter - Operating a DC-DC converter that includes: a directly coupled inductor with a first and second coil element, the first and second coil element coupled to an output filter and a load; and power-switching phases, including: a first power-switching phase that includes a high-side and low-side switch, where the high-side switch is configured, when activated, to couple a voltage source to the first coil element and the low-side switch is configured, when activated, to couple the first coil element to a ground voltage; and a second power-switching phase that includes a high-side and low-side switch, where the high-side switch is configured, when activated, to couple the voltage source to the second coil element and the low-side switch is configured, when activated, to couple the second coil element to the ground voltage; and the switches are activated alternatively with no two switches are activated at the same time. | 09-05-2013 |
20130229831 | Operating A DC-DC Converter - Operating a DC-DC converter on a chip that includes: micro-power-switching phases and magnetic material, each phase including: a high-side and low-side switch with control inputs for activating the switch, and an output node; where: the output node of each phase extrudes through the magnetic material to form, in each phase, a torodial inductor with a single loop coil, and to form, for the plurality of phases, a directly coupled inductor; the output node of each micro-power-switching phase is coupled to a filter and a load; each high-side switch is configured, when activated, to couple a voltage source to the phase's single loop coil; and the low-side switch of each phase is configured, when activated, to couple the phase's single loop coil to a ground voltage and the switches are alternatively activated where no two switches of any phase are activated at the same time. | 09-05-2013 |
20130250632 | SINGLE STAGE POWER CONVERSION UNIT WITH CIRCUIT TO SMOOTH AND HOLDUP DC OUTPUT VOLTAGE - A circuit arrangement includes a transformer, having primary windings and secondary windings, and a high voltage capacitor. A first switching circuit couples the high voltage capacitor to the primary windings. A first controller is operatively coupled to the switching circuit. A second switching circuit couples the secondary windings to an output port. A second controller is operatively coupled to the secondary windings. A high voltage generator is provided to charge the high voltage capacitor. | 09-26-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080209239 | Managing Voltage Supply in Multiple Linked Systems - In a data processing system having elements grouped into a plurality of power domains, each one of which has at least one processing element and at least two power supplies, power domains are interconnnected by sensing and switching circuitry which senses the conditions of power supply and demand in and among the domains and switches from one domain to power supplies in another domain in the event of failure in the first domain. | 08-28-2008 |
20090158057 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERCHANGEABLY POWERING SINGLE OR MULTIPLE MOTHERBOARDS - In one embodiment, a single electrical power supply is used to interchangeably power either a single motherboard or dual motherboards. Switchable output power and individual sequencing may be provided to each motherboard using FETs, such that the power supply may respond to the sequencing of each motherboard as if it were dedicated to that motherboard. In a two motherboard system, power to the first motherboard is reduced by removing some output voltages from the first motherboard. Fault circuitry may also be provided so that a power related fault on one domain does not affect operation of the other motherboard. | 06-18-2009 |
20090256512 | PLURALITY OF CONFIGURABLE INDEPENDENT COMPUTE NODES SHARING A FAN ASSEMBLY - A system comprising a chassis that includes a plurality of modules and a fan assembly disposed in a distal end of the chassis for drawing air in parallel pathways through the plurality of modules. At least one of the modules is a compute module having a thermal sensor disposed to sense the temperature of air flowing across a processor mounted on a motherboard. The system further comprises a fan controller receiving output from the thermal sensor, wherein the fan controller operates the fan assembly to cool the plurality of modules and maintain the thermal sensor output within an operating temperature range. The fan controller controls the fan speed according to predetermined thermal profile settings associated with one of the compute modules received in the chassis. For example, the predetermined thermal profile settings may include a minimum fan speed, a maximum fan speed, and control loop feedback settings. | 10-15-2009 |
20090265564 | System Power Capping Using Information Received From The Installed Power Supply - A computer system comprising a motherboard and a power supply having an associated power management bus controller with memory storing the power capacity of the associated power supply. A power circuit provides power from the power supply to the motherboard, wherein the motherboard has a processor and a baseboard management controller. The system further comprises a power management bus providing communication between the baseboard management controller and the power management bus controller associated with the selected power supply, wherein the power management bus controller provides the stored power capacity to the baseboard management controller. This allows the baseboard management controller to limit operation of the processor to control the amount of power consumed from exceeding the power capacity of the selected power supply. The power capacity of the power supply may be sent to the baseboard management controller in response to booting the motherboard. | 10-22-2009 |
20110075447 | SINGLE STAGE POWER CONVERSION UNIT WITH CIRCUIT TO SMOOTH AND HOLDUP DC OUTPUT VOLTAGE - The Power Conversion Unit includes a single stage rectifier circuit that generates a DC voltage which is stored on a first capacitor. A circuit arrangement connected to the first capacitor monitors the DC voltage at the capacitor and other predefined signals to generate signals for smoothing ripples associated with the DC voltage and maintains the DC voltage at a predefined level for a predefined time interval. The holdup and smoothing voltages are generated by developing and storing a high voltage on a second capacitor. A switching device connected to the second capacitor causes energy to flow from the second capacitor into the primary winding of a transformer whose secondary winding are switched to deposit the energy stored in said transformer onto the first capacitor. A circuit for charging the second capacitor is also provided. | 03-31-2011 |