Power consumption control for information handling system

• US 20060271804A1
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Alperin, Joshua N., Nunn, Susan A.
• Application Number:
  US11/140,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20060271804A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0201 Thermal arrangements, e.g. for cooling, heating or preventing overheating
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10151 Sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/163 Monitoring a manufacturing process
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/165 Stabilizing, e.g. temperature stabilization
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for controlling delivery of electrical power to a circuit board in an information handling system. A power management system is operable to detect an expansion circuit board that is operably coupled to a main system board of an information handling system. The power management subsystem detects the status of a cooling system associated with the expansion circuit board and is operable to control the amount of power delivered to the expansion circuit board based on the status of the cooling system.

Claims

9. An information handling system comprising:

a central processing unit operable to process information;

a main system circuit board comprising at least one connector for coupling said main system circuit board to an expansion circuit board;

an expansion circuit board operably connected to said information handling system by said connector; and

a power management system operable to;

detect said expansion circuit board coupled to a main system board in said information handling system;

receive information from said expansion circuit board regarding the power consumption of said expansion circuit board; and

detect the status of a cooling system associated with said expansion circuit board;

wherein said power management subsystem controls the power consumption of said expansion circuit board based on the status of said cooling system.

1. A method for managing power utilization in an information handling system, the method comprising:

detecting an expansion circuit board operably coupled to a main system board in said information handling system;

receiving information relating to the power consumption of said expansion circuit board;

detecting the status of a cooling system associated with said expansion circuit board; and

controlling the power consumption of said expansion circuit board based on the status of said cooling system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said cooling system is mounted on said expansion circuit board.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said cooling system is mounted on a housing containing said information handling system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said expansion circuit board is coupled to said main system board by a connection complying with the PCI-Express parameters.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said expansion circuit board is operable to provide information regarding power consumption to a power management subsystem of said information handling system.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said power consumption is set to a first state upon detecting that said cooling system is operating.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said power consumption is set to a second state upon detecting that said cooling system is not operating.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said second state of power consumption is lower than said first state.

10. The information handling system of claim 9, wherein said cooling system is mounted on said expansion circuit board.

11. The information handling system of claim 9, wherein said cooling system is mounted on a housing containing said information handling system.

12. The information handling system of claim 9, wherein said expansion circuit board is coupled to said main system board by a connection complying with the PCI-Express parameters.

13. The information handling system of claim 12, wherein said expansion circuit board is operable to provide information regarding power consumption to a power management subsystem of said information handling system.

14. The information handling system of claim 12, wherein said power consumption is set to a first state upon detecting that said cooling system is operating.

15. The information handling system of claim 14, wherein said power consumption is set to a second state upon detecting that said cooling system is not operating.

16. The information handling system of claim 15, wherein said second state of power consumption is lower than said first state.

17. A system for managing power utilization in an information handling system, the method comprising:

means for detecting an expansion circuit board operably coupled to a main system board in said information handling system;

means for receiving information relating to the power consumption of said expansion circuit board;

means for detecting the status of a cooling system associated with said expansion circuit board; and

means for controlling the power consumption of said expansion circuit board based on the status of said cooling system.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said power consumption is set to a first state upon detecting that said cooling system is operating.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said power consumption is set to a second state upon detecting that said cooling system is not operating.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said second state of power consumption is lower than said first state.

17-1. The system of claim 16, wherein said expansion circuit board is coupled to said main system board by a connection complying with the PCI-Express parameters.