System and Method for Controlling Temperature in an Information Handling System

• US 20110224837A1
• Filed: 03/10/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Duncan, Tyler, Artman, Paul, Moss, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,532,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling temperature in an information handling system is provided. In certain embodiments, a method may include receiving a desired threshold value, determining if a current real-time system value exceeds the desired threshold value, determining if a power shedding mode is enabled, if the power shedding mode is enabled, adjusting power supplied to the information handling system, and if the power shedding mode is not enabled, dynamically adjusting a fan speed of a cooling fan associated with the information handling system.

Claims

1. A method for controlling temperatures in an information handling system, the method comprising:

receiving a desired threshold value;

determining if a current real-time system value exceeds the desired threshold value;

determining if a power shedding mode is enabled;

if the power shedding mode is enabled, adjusting power supplied to the information handling system; and

if the power shedding mode is not enabled, dynamically adjusting a fan speed of a cooling fan associated with the information handling system.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the current real-time system value comprises a current temperature differential value or a current exhaust temperature.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a current real-time system value.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein determining the current real-time system value comprises:

receiving a power consumption value for a component associated with the information handling system;

receiving the fan speed of the cooling fan associated with the information handling system; and

determining a current temperature differential value based at least on the power consumption value and the fan speed.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein determining the current real-time system value further comprises determining a current exhaust temperature based on the current temperature differential value.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein dynamically adjusting the fan speed of the cooling fan comprises determining the fan speed as a function of a power consumption value and a desired temperature differential value.

7. A method, comprising:

receiving a desired temperature differential value;

receiving a power consumption value for a component associated with a information handling system;

receiving a fan speed of a cooling fan associated with the information handling system;

determining a current temperature differential value based at least on the power consumption value and the fan speed;

determining if the current temperature differential value exceeds the predetermined temperature differential value; and

if the current temperature differential value exceeds the predetermined temperature differential value, dynamically adjusting the fan speed of the cooling fan.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein dynamically adjusting the fan speed comprises determining the fan speed as a function of the power consumption value and the desired temperature differential value.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein determining the fan speed comprises determining the fan speed from a fan speed curve, wherein the fan speed curve is a function of the power consumption value and the desired temperature differential value.

10. A system for controlling temperatures in an information handling system, the system comprising:

a cooling fan configured to direct cool air to components of the information handling system; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the cooling fan and configured to;

receive a desired threshold value;

determine if a current real-time system value exceeds the predetermined threshold value;

determine if a power shedding mode is enabled;

if the power shedding mode is enabled, adjusting power supplied to the information handling system; and

if the power shedding mode is not enabled, dynamically adjusting a fan speed of the cooling fan associated with the information handling system.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the current real-time system value comprises a current temperature differential value or a current exhaust temperature.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a current real-time system value.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein determining the current real-time system value comprises:

receiving a power consumption value for the components associated with the information handling system;

receiving the fan speed of the cooling fans; and

determining a current temperature differential value based at least on the power consumption value and the fan speed.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein determining the current real-time system value further comprises determining a current exhaust temperature based on the current temperature differential value.

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein dynamically adjusting the fan speed of the cooling fans comprises determining the fan speed as a function of a power consumption value and a desired temperature differential value.

16. The system according to claim 10, wherein dynamically adjusting the fan speed of the cooling fan comprises determining the fan speed from a fan speed curve, wherein the fan speed curve is a function of a power consumption value and a desired temperature differential value.

17. The system according to claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a power consumption value of the components of the information handling system via a PMbus.

18. The system according to claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to correlate each of the fan speeds to a flow rate value.

19. The system according to claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the fan speed of the cooling fan above the fan speed required by the components.

20. The system according to claim 10, wherein the information handling system is housed in a rack.