System and Method for Adjusting Information Handling System Over Current Protection

• US 20100106983A1
• Filed: 10/29/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Kasprzak, Keith, Little, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,065,539 B2
• 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 AC-to-DC adapter provides power to information handling systems at different power levels based on the power rating of the information handling system. An adapter manager sets a first lower level at an over current protection circuit unless the information handling system sends identification information that indicates the information handling system is rated to accept a second higher power level, such as by sending a low signal pulse through a serial communication line. While the identification information is present and external power is applied to the adapter, the adapter manager sets a second higher level at an over current protection circuit to allow output of a second higher power level.

Claims

1. An information handling system comprising:

plural electronic components that cooperate to process information;

a power subsystem operable to provide power to the electrical components;

a power adapter operable to convert power from alternating current to direct current and to provide the direct current power to the power subsystem;

a power manager associated with the power subsystem and operable to communicate identification information to the power adapter;

an over current protection circuit associated with the power adapter and operable to limit power output from the power adapter to a high power level or a low power level; and

an adapter manager interfaced with the power manager and the over current protection circuit, the adapter manager operable to receive the identification information from the power manager and to apply the identification information to set the over current protection circuit to either the high power level or the low power level.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the high level comprises greater than 240 Watts.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the adapter manager is further operable to maintain the low power level if the power adapter lacks an interface with the information handling system.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the identification information to set the high power level comprises a low signal pulse signal.

5. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the identification information comprises a pulsed signal.

6. The information handling system of claim 5 wherein the adapter manager is further operable to distinguish the low signal pulse from serial communication signals.

7. A method for powering an information handling system with an AC-to-DC adapter, the method comprising:

setting the AC-to-DC adapter to output up to a first power level;

receiving at the AC-to-DC adapter identification information sent from the information handling system;

determining at the AC-to-DC adapter that the identification information authorizes output at a second power level that is greater than the first power level; and

setting the AC-to-DC adapter to output up to the second power level.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the first power level is associated with powering a first class of information handling systems and the second power level is associated with powering a second class of information handling system.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the second power level comprises greater than 240 Watts.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

requiring an connection between an information handling system and the AC-to-DC adapter before setting the AC-to-DC adapter to output up to the second power level.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein setting the AC-to-DC adapter to output up to the second power level further comprises increasing the setpoint of an over current protection circuit from the first power level to the second power level.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the identification information to authorize power at the second power level comprises a low signal pulse signal.

13. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

detecting at the AC-to-DC adapter a disconnection from the information handling system; and

in response to the detecting, setting the AC-to-DC adapter to output up to the first power level.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the identification information comprises the low signal pulse sent across a serial communication link.

15. A system for managing power output from an AC-to-DC adapter, the system comprising:

an over current protection circuit operable to allow output of up to a first power level or up to a second power level;

an identification module operable to receive an identification signal that identifies a device receiving power from the AC-to-DC adapter as a first device type or a second device type; and

an adapter manager interfaced with the over current protection circuit and operable to set the over current protection circuit to a first setpoint associated with the first device type unless the identification signal indicates the second device type, the adapter manager further operable to set the over current protection circuit to a second setpoint associated with the second device type if the identification signal indicates the second device type.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the first device type comprises an information handling system having power consumption associated with the first setpoint and the second device type comprises an information handling system having power consumption associated with the second setpoint.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the adapter manager is further operable to set the over current protection as the first setpoint upon initial application of power from an external power source.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the adapter manager is further operable to set the over current protection as the first set point upon initial connection with an information handling system.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the identification signal comprises a low signal pulse communicated from the device receiving power across a serial communication link.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising a timer interfaced with the serial link and operable to distinguish the continuing signal from serial communications of the serial link.