Intelligent power module for highly available compact PCI board

• US 20020112191A1
• Filed: 02/15/2001
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Hwang, David S., Pelissier, Gerald R.
• Application Number:
  US09/784,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20020112191A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C

Abstract

An intelligent power module includes a power supply, control circuitry controlling whether power is delivered by the power supply and a controller that determines a status of the power supply and instructs the control circuitry to control whether power is delivered by the power supply based on the status of the power supply. A method of intelligently supplying power includes determining a state of a power supply and selectively turning on the power supply based on the state of the power supply. An intelligent power delivery system includes a backplane, a system management controller residing on the backplane, and a power module operatively coupled to the backplane. The system management controller monitors a state of the power module prior to powering on the power module. An apparatus for intelligently supplying power includes means for delivering power, means for determining a state of the power delivery means, and means for controlling whether the power delivery means delivers power based on the state of the power delivery means determined. A computer includes a power supply, control circuitry controlling whether power is delivered by the power supply, and a controller that determines a status of the power supply and instructs the control circuitry to control whether power is delivered by the power supply based on the status of the power supply.

Claims

1. An intelligent power module comprising:

a power supply;

control circuitry controlling whether power is delivered by the power supply; and

a controller that determines a status of the power supply and instructs the control circuitry to control whether power is delivered by the power supply based on the status of the power supply.

2. The intelligent power module of claim 1 further comprising:

failsafe circuitry controlling access to the power supply,

wherein the failsafe circuitry disables access to the power supply upon component failure.

3. The intelligent power module of claim 1 wherein the controller is a system management controller.

4. The intelligent power of claim 3, wherein the system management controller is external to the power module, the power module further comprising:

an interface for allowing the system management controller to operatively connect to the power supply.

5. The intelligent power module of claim 4 wherein the interface is an I²C interface.

6. A method of intelligently supplying power comprising:

determining a state of a power supply; and

selectively turning on the power supply based on the state of the power supply.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

disabling access to the power supply upon component failure.

8. The method of claim 6, comprising:

interfacing with an external controller; and

selectively turning on the power supply based on instructions from the external controller.

9. An intelligent power delivery system comprising:

a backplane;

a system management controller residing on the backplane; and

a power module operatively coupled to the backplane,

wherein the system management controller monitors a state of the power module prior to powering on the power module.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the power module is in compliance with CompactPCI requirements.

11. An apparatus for intelligently supplying power comprising:

means for delivering power;

means for determining a state of the power delivery means; and

means for controlling whether the power delivery means delivers power based on the state of the power delivery means determined.

12. A computer comprising:

a power supply;

control circuitry controlling whether power is delivered by the power supply; and

a controller that determines a status of the power supply and instructs the control circuitry to control whether power is delivered by the power supply based on the status of the power supply.