In Situ Verification of Capacitive Power Support
First Claim
1. A computer program product comprising a computer recordable medium having a computer readable program recorded thereon, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computing device, causes the computing device to:
- charge a super capacitor to a first voltage level by setting a voltage regulator output to the first voltage level, wherein the voltage regulator provides power to a memory system;
set the voltage regulator output to a second voltage level such that the memory system continues to operate at the second voltage level;
monitor and record voltage and current discharge values at the super capacitor at regular intervals until a test period expires;
calculate a capacitance of the super capacitor based on the recorded voltage and current discharge values; and
determine whether the capacitance of the super capacitor will support hardening of cache data from a volatile memory to a non-volatile memory in the memory system in response to a power event.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanism for in situ verification of capacitive power support is provided. A memory system uses a super capacitor to support a voltage rail when input power is lost or interrupted. The voltage discharge curve is a function of load and capacitance of the component. By stepping the regulated power supply to a lower output within the voltage range and recording voltage and current draw at the super capacitor as it discharges to the new regulator output voltage, the super capacitor holdup capability can be tested.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer program product comprising a computer recordable medium having a computer readable program recorded thereon, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computing device, causes the computing device to:
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charge a super capacitor to a first voltage level by setting a voltage regulator output to the first voltage level, wherein the voltage regulator provides power to a memory system; set the voltage regulator output to a second voltage level such that the memory system continues to operate at the second voltage level; monitor and record voltage and current discharge values at the super capacitor at regular intervals until a test period expires; calculate a capacitance of the super capacitor based on the recorded voltage and current discharge values; and determine whether the capacitance of the super capacitor will support hardening of cache data from a volatile memory to a non-volatile memory in the memory system in response to a power event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method, in a data processing system, for in situ verification of capacitive power support, the method comprising:
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charging a super capacitor to a first voltage level by setting a voltage regulator output to the first voltage level, wherein the voltage regulator provides power to a memory system; setting voltage regulator output to a second voltage level such that the memory system continues to operate at the second voltage level; monitoring and recording voltage and current discharge values at the super capacitor at regular intervals until a test period expires; calculating a capacitance of the super capacitor based on the recorded voltage and current discharge values; and determining whether the capacitance of the super capacitor will support hardening of cache data from a volatile memory to a non-volatile memory in response to a power event. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A memory system comprising:
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a controller, wherein the controller is configured to detect a power event from a voltage regulator that provides power to a storage controller and the memory system; a volatile memory; and a non-volatile memory, wherein the non-volatile memory is used to harden cache data from the volatile memory for a storage controller responsive to the power event; wherein the controller is configured to charge a super capacitor to a first voltage level by setting a voltage regulator output to the first voltage level, set the voltage regulator output to a second voltage level such that the memory system continues to operate at the second voltage level, monitor and record voltage and current discharge values at the super capacitor at regular intervals until a test period expires, calculate a capacitance of the super capacitor based on the recorded voltage and current discharge values, and determine whether the capacitance of the super capacitor will support hardening of cache data from a volatile memory to a non-volatile memory in response to a power event. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification