System and method for co-operative thermal management of electronic devices within a common housing

• US 6,934,864 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2002
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Sanders-Fore, Sharon Lynn, Macon, James Franklin Jr., Piazza, William Joseph, Rollins, Michael Scott, Chu, Simon, Simmons, Hoyt Conis, Hughes, James Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Browne, Lynne H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Anand B.
• Application Number:
  US10/044,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20030135767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/320, 713/324
• US Class Current: 713/324
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20209 Thermal management, e.g. fan control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A method for co-operative thermal management of a number of independent electronic devices housed within a common enclosure that includes designating a priority number and measuring a temperature for each of the independent electronic devices. Next, for each of the independent electronic devices, the measured temperature is evaluated to determine if it exceeds a threshold value for the independent electronic device. If the measured temperature exceeds a threshold value, a count-down value is initialize to the designated priority number of the independent electronic device. Following which, the count-down value is evaluated to determine if it is equal to zero. If the count-down value is equal to zero, the independent electronic device is powered down. However, if the count-down value is not equal to zero, a specified time interval is allowed to expire before the count-down value is decremented and re-evaluated to determine if it is equal to zero.

Claims

1. A method for co-operative thermal management of a plurality of independent electronic devices housed within a common enclosure, said method comprising:

designating a priority number for each of said plurality of independent electronic devices, wherein each of said plurality of independent electronic devices has a thermal controller;

in response to a failure of at least one cooling fan coupled with said common enclosure, measuring a temperature of each of said plurality of independent electronic devices; and

for each of said plurality of independent electronic devices;

determining if said measured temperature exceeds a threshold value for said independent electronic device;

in response to a determination that said measured temperature exceeds a threshold value, initializing a count-down value to said designated priority number of said independent electronic device;

counting down said count-down value as long as said measured temperature exceeds said threshold value; and

in response to said count-down value reaching a pre-determined action level, powering down said independent electronic device.

2. The method for co-operative thermal management as recited in claim 1, wherein said initializing a count-down value further includes initiating an interval timer.

3. The method for co-operative thermal management as recited in claim 1, wherein said initializing a count-down value further includes waiting a first predetermined period of time before repeating said measuring a temperature of said independent electronic device in response to a determination that said measured temperature does not exceed said threshold value.

4. The method for co-operative thermal management as recited in claim 2, wherein said measuring a temperature further includes:

determining if said count-down value is equal to zero; and

powering-down said independent electronic device in response to a determination that said count-down value is equal to zero, otherwise waiting a second predetermined period of time before obtaining a second temperature measurement of said independent electronic device and determining if said second temperature measurement exceeds said threshold value.

5. The method for co-operative thermal management as recited in claim 4, wherein said measuring a temperature further includes:

determining if said interval timer has expired in response to a determination that said second temperature measurement exceeds said threshold value; and

decrementing said count-down value, and subsequently reinitiating said interval timer and repeating said determining if said count-down value is equal to zero in response to a determination that said interval timer has expired, otherwise repeat waiting a second predetermined period of time before obtaining a temperature measurement.

6. A method for co-operative thermal management of a plurality of independent electronic devices housed within a common enclosure, said method comprising:

designating a priority number for each of said plurality of independent electronic devices, wherein each of said plurality of independent electronic devices has a service processor that remains operational when said electronic device is powered down; and

in response to a failure of at least one cooling fan coupled with said common enclosure, measuring a temperature of each of said plurality of independent electronic devices, and for each of said plurality of independent electronic devices;

determining if said measured temperature exceeds a threshold value for said independent electronic device;

in response to a determination that said measured temperature exceeds a threshold value, initializing a count-down value to said designated priority number of said independent electronic device;

counting down said count-down value as long as said measured temperature exceeds said threshold value; and

in response to said count-down value reaching a pre-determined action level, powering down said independent electronic device.

7. The method for co-operative thermal management as recited in claim 6, wherein said initializing a count-down value farther includes initiating an interval timer.

8. The method for co-operative thermal management as recited in claim 7, wherein said measuring a temperature further includes:

determining if said count-down value is equal to zero; and

powering-up said independent electronic device in response to a determination that said count-down value is equal to zero, otherwise waiting a second predetermined period of time before obtaining a second temperature measurement of said independent electronic device and determining if said second temperature measurement exceeds said threshold value.

9. The method for co-operative thermal management as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

determining if said interval timer has expired in response to a determination that said second temperature measurement does not exceed said threshold value; and

decrementing said count-down value, and subsequently reinitiating said interval timer and repeating said determining if said count-down value is equal to zero in response to a determination that said interval timer has expired, otherwise repeat waiting a second predetermined period of time before obtaining a temperature measurement.

10. An electronic device, comprising:

a designated priority number; and

a thermal controller, including;

means for, in response to a failure of at least one cooling fan coupled with said electronic device, measuring a temperature of said electronic device;

means for determining if said measured temperature exceeds a threshold value for said electronic device;

means for, responsive to a determination that said measured temperature exceeds a threshold value, initializing a count-down value to said designated priority number of said electronic device;

means for counting down said count-down value as long as said measured temperature exceeds said threshold value; and

means for, responsive to said count-down value reaching a pre-determined action level, powering down said electronic device.

11. The electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein said thermal controller is embodied in a service processor that remains operational when said electronic device is powered down.

12. The electronic device as recited in claim 11, wherein said service processor powers up said electronic device in response to a determination that said measured temperature does not exceed said threshold value and said count-down value is equal to zero.

13. The electronic device as recited in claim 11, wherein said electronic device is a server blade.

14. The electronic device as recited in claim 10, wherein said thermal controller powers down said electronic device in response to a determination that said measured temperature exceeds said threshold value and said count-down value is equal to zero.

15. A data processing system, comprising:

an enclosure; and

a plurality of independent electronic devices housed within said enclosure, wherein each of said plurality of independent electronic devices having;

a designated priority; and

a thermal controller, including;

means for, in response to a failure of at least one cooling fan coupled with said enclosure, measuring a temperature of said independent electronic device;

means for determining if said measured temperature exceeds a threshold value for said independent electronic device;

means for, responsive to a determination that said measured temperature exceeds a threshold value, initializing a count-down value to said designated priority number of said independent electronic device;

means for counting down said count-down value as long as said measured temperature exceeds said threshold value; and

means for, responsive to said count-down value reaching a pre-determined action level, powering down said electronic device.

16. The data processing system as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

a backplane coupled to said plurality independent electronic devices; and

a plurality of fans.

17. The data processing system as recited in claim 15, wherein said thermal controller is embodied in a service processor that remains operational when said independent electronic device is powered down.

18. The data processing as recited in claim 17, wherein said service processor powers up said independent electronic device in response to a determination that said measured temperature does not exceed said threshold value and said count-down value is equal to zero.

19. The data processing system as recited in claim 15, wherein said thermal controller powers down said independent electronic device in response to a determination that said measured temperature exceeds said threshold value and said count-down value is equal to zero.

20. The data processing system as recited in claim 15, wherein said independent electronic device is a server blade.

21. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for implementing a method for co-operative thermal management of a plurality of independent electronic devices housed within a common enclosure, said computer executable instructions when executed by one of said plurality of independent electronic devices perform the steps of:

designating a priority number far said independent electronic device,

in response to a failure of at least one cooling fan coupled with said common enclosure, measuring a temperature of said independent electronic device;

determining if said measured temperature exceeds a threshold value for said independent electronic device;

in response to a determination that said measured temperature exceeds a threshold value, initializing a count-down value to said designated priority number of said independent electronic device and initiate an interval timer;

counting down said count-down value as long as said measured temperature exceeds said threshold value; and

in response to said count-down value reaching a pre-determined action level, powering down said independent electronic device.