Method and Apparatus to Provide Platform Power Peak Limiting based on Charge of Power Assist Unit
First Claim
1. An information handling system, comprising:
- a power assist unit coupled to a power rail, the power assist unit including;
a power storage element;
a converter coupled to the power storage element and to the power rail; and
a controller configured to receive a current level indication indicating a current provided to a load of the information handling system, to direct the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail when the current level indication is greater than a threshold level, to direct the converter to charge the power storage element from the power rail when the current level indication is less than the threshold level, and to provide a charge level indication that indicates an amount of charge on the power storage unit; and
a baseboard management controller configured to receive the charge level indication, and to set a peak power limit for the information handling system based on the charge level indication.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An information handling system includes a power assist unit (PAU) and a baseboard management controller (BMC). The PAU is coupled to a power rail and includes a power storage element, a converter coupled to the power storage element and the power rail, and a controller. The controller receives a current level indication indicating a current provided to a load of the information handling system, directs the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail when the current level indication is greater than a threshold level, directs the converter charge the power storage element from the power rail when the current level indication is greater than the threshold level, and provides a charge level indication that indicates an amount of charge on the power storage unit. The BMC receives the charge level indication, and sets a peak power limit for the information handling system based on the charge level indication.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An information handling system, comprising:
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a power assist unit coupled to a power rail, the power assist unit including; a power storage element; a converter coupled to the power storage element and to the power rail; and a controller configured to receive a current level indication indicating a current provided to a load of the information handling system, to direct the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail when the current level indication is greater than a threshold level, to direct the converter to charge the power storage element from the power rail when the current level indication is less than the threshold level, and to provide a charge level indication that indicates an amount of charge on the power storage unit; and a baseboard management controller configured to receive the charge level indication, and to set a peak power limit for the information handling system based on the charge level indication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7)
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6. The information handling system of claim, wherein the power storage element comprises a supercapacitor.
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8. A method, comprising:
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coupling a power storage element of a power assist unit of an information handling system to a converter of the power assist unit; coupling the converter to a power rail of the information handling system; receiving, by a controller of the power assist unit, a current level indication indicating a current provided to a load of the information handling system; directing, by the controller, the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail when the current level indication is greater than a threshold level; directing, by the controller, the converter to charge the power storage element from the power rail when the current level indication is less than the threshold level; providing a charge level indication that indicates an amount of charge on the power storage unit; receiving, by a baseboard management controller of the information handling system, the charge level indication; and setting a peak power limit for the information handling system based on the charge level indication. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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- 9. The method of claim 9, wherein setting the peak power limit is further in response to the charge level indication being below a first threshold.
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15. An information handling system, comprising:
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a power supply unit configured to provide a power rail to power a load of the information handling system, and to provide a current level indication indicating a current provided to the load by the power supply unit; a power assist unit coupled to the power rail, the power assist unit including; a power storage element; a converter coupled to the power storage element and to the power rail; and a controller configured to receive the current level indication, to direct the converter to provide power from the power storage element to the power rail when the current level indication is greater than a threshold level, to direct the converter to charge the power storage element from the power rail when the current level indication is less than the threshold level, and to provide a charge level indication that indicates an amount of charge on the power storage unit; and a baseboard management controller configured to receive the charge level indication, and to set a peak power limit for the information handling system based on the charge level indication. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification