System and Method for Information Handling System Power Management by Variable Direct Current Input

• US 20100185877A1
• Filed: 01/16/2009
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Chueh, Yung Fa, Chang, Wen-Yung, Weng, So-Yu, Huang, Wen-Hung
• Granted Patent: US 8,140,879 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

A power manager of an information handling system selectively commands a first or second source voltage from an AC-to-DC adapter based upon power consumption of the information handling system. A lower direct current voltage is provided during reduced power consumption so that DC-to-DC conversion in a power supply is more efficient. A higher direct current voltage is provided during increased power consumption so that the current required to provide the increased power remains below a threshold current, thus allowing the power system to have components that operate at lower current levels under high power consumption operations yet with increased efficiency during low power consumption operations.

Claims

1. An information handling system comprising:

plural electronic components operable to cooperate to process information, the electronic components consuming direct current power;

a power supply operable to accept direct current at a source voltage and supply the direct current at one or more destination voltages associate with the electronic components;

a power adapter operable to accept alternating current from an external power source and convert the alternating current to a first or second source voltage for use by the power supply; and

a power manager interfaced with the power supply and the power adapter, the power manager operable to command the first source voltage for a first power consumption level and the second source voltage for a second power consumption level.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising a housing that houses the electronic components, the power supply, the power adapter and the power manager.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 further comprising a housing that houses the electronic components and the power supply, the power adapter residing external to the housing and interfaced with the power supply through a cable.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the power manager comprises an embedded controller.

5. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the first source voltage comprises 14 VDC and the second source voltage comprises 19.5 VDC.

6. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the first power consumption level comprises less than 60 W and the second power consumption level comprises more than 60 W.

7. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein the power manager command the first source voltage and second source voltage to maintain current below a predetermined threshold.

8. The information handling system of claim 7 wherein the predetermined threshold comprises approximately 4.3 Amps.

9. A method for information handling system power management, the method comprising:

converting alternating current to direct current at a first source voltage;

providing the first source voltage to an information handling system power supply;

converting the first source voltage with the power supply to one or more direct current destination voltages;

powering electronic components of the information handling system with the one or more direct current destination voltages;

detecting a predetermined condition at the information handling system;

converting the alternating current to direct current at a second source voltage in response to the predetermined condition;

providing the second source voltage to the power supply;

converting the second source voltage with the power supply to the one or more direct current destination voltages; and

powering the electronic components of the information handling system with the one or more direct current destination voltages.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first source voltage is greater than the second source voltage and the predetermined condition comprises current of less than a predetermined threshold.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the second source voltage is greater than the first source voltage and the predetermined condition comprises current of greater than a predetermined threshold.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the predetermined condition comprises a predetermined power consumption by the electronic components.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the converting alternating current to a source voltage and the converting source voltage to a destination voltage are performed within a common information handling system housing.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein converting alternating current is performed by an adapter external to a housing that contains the information handling system electronic components.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising communicating detection of the predetermined condition from the power supply to an adapter through a power cable, the adapter performing the converting alternating current.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising communicating detection of the predetermined condition from an adapter to the power supply through a power cable, the adapter performing the converting alternating current.

17. A system for managing power to an information handling system, the system comprising:

an AC-to-DC adapter operable to convert alternating current to direct current at first and second source voltages;

a power supply operable to convert the first and second source voltages to one or more destination voltages for use in powering electronic components of the information handling system; and

a power manager interfaced with the AC-to-DC adapter, the power manager operable to command the first source voltage or the second source voltage based on one or more predetermined conditions.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the predetermined conditions comprise the power consumption of the electronic components.

19. The system of claim 17 further comprising a cable connecting the AC-to-DC adapter and power supply, wherein the predetermined conditions comprise a predetermined current through the cable.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the first and second source voltages comprise 14 VDC and 19.5 VDC.