System and method for regulating the power consumption of a computer system

• US 7,603,571 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Sauber, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rehman; Mohammed H
• Application Number:
  US10/961,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20060080559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,831 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/324 by lowering clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A system and method for regulating the power consumption of a computer system is disclosed. The power supplied to the computer system is evaluated. If the power supplied to or delivered by the computer system is sufficiently substandard, a command is issued to cause the components of the computer system to enter a reduced power condition.

Claims

1. An information handling system, comprising:

an input power source, wherein the input power source is an alternating current power source;

a power measurement module coupled to the input power source and operable to measure a set of quantifiable characteristics of the input power source;

a power evaluation module operable to receive a measurement signal from the power measurement module;

a power supply coupled to the power measurement module and operable to provide a power level indicator signal to the power evaluation module;

a plurality of system components, wherein the plurality of system components includes at least one processor;

a system regulator coupled to the power supply and providing to the power evaluation module a measurement signal related to power being consumed by the plurality of system components;

wherein the power evaluation module evaluates a power source condition of the input power source on the basis of the measurement signal from the power measurement module and the power level indicator signal from the power supply; and

wherein the power evaluation module is operable to issue a throttle command to the processor to place the processor in a reduced power mode if the power source condition of the input power source is sufficiently substandard.

2. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the system regulator provides at least one direct current power signal to a component of the information handling system.

3. The information handling system of claim 2, wherein the evaluation module evaluates the power condition of the information handling system on the basis of the power level indicator signals from each of the power measurement module, the power supply, and the system regulator.

4. The information handling system of claim 3, wherein the issuance of the throttle command results in the processor operating at a reduced operating speed.

5. The information handling system of claim 3, wherein the issuance of the throttle command results in one or more of the system components entering a state of reduced power consumption.

6. The information handling system of claim 1, wherein the power level indicator signal received from the power measurement module relates to the characteristics of an alternating current input power source to the information handling system.

7. A method for monitoring the power condition of a computer system, the computer system comprising a system regulator, comprising:

measuring one or more alternating current characteristics of an alternating current power source;

transmitting the measured alternating current characteristics to an evaluation module;

receiving at the evaluation module information concerning the power being consumed by the computer system;

evaluating an alternating current power condition of the alternating current power source on the basis of the measured alternating current characteristics of the alternating current power source, wherein the evaluation module is operable to issue a throttle command to the computer system if the alternating current power condition is sufficiently substandard; and

wherein the system regulator is coupled to the alternating current power source and is operable to provide to the evaluation module a power level indicator signal related to power being consumed by the computer system;

determining that the alternating current power condition of the computer system is substandard; and

placing the computer system in a reduced power condition if the computer system is not in a reduced power condition.

8. The method for monitoring the power condition of a computer system of claim 7, further comprising the step of issuing a throttle command if the alternating current power condition of the computer system is determined to be substandard.

9. The method for monitoring the power condition of a computer system of claim 8, wherein:

at least one of the system components of the computer system is a processor; and

the issuance of the throttle command causes the processor of the computer system to operate at a reduced operating speed.

10. The method for monitoring the power condition of a computer system of claim 8, wherein the issuance of the throttle command causes a plurality of the system components of the computer system to enter a reduced power state.

11. The method for monitoring the power condition of a computer system of claim 7, wherein the step of placing the computer system in a reduced power condition comprises the step of issuing a throttle command to one or more system components of the computer system.

12. The method for monitoring the power condition of a computer system of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

determining that the alternating current power condition of the computer system is not substandard; and

releasing the computer system from a reduced power condition if the computer system is in a reduced power condition.

13. The method for monitoring the power condition of a computer system of claim 12, wherein the step of releasing the computer system from a reduced power condition comprises the step of issuing a command that deasserts a previously asserted throttle command to the computer system.

14. A method for regulating the power consumed by a computer system in response to the quality of the power being supplied to the computer system, the computer system comprising a system regulator, comprising:

measuring one or more alternating current characteristics of an alternating current power source to a computer system;

measuring one or more quantifiable characteristics of alternating current power source to the computer system;

evaluating, at an evaluation module, the power being consumed by the components of the computer system, wherein a system regulator is coupled to the evaluation module and a power supply and is operable to provide a measurement signal related to the power being consumed by the components of the computer system;

analyzing the measured alternating current characteristics of the alternating current power source to determine if an alternating current power condition of the alternating current power source is substandard;

placing one or more components of the computer system in a reduced power state if the power condition of the computer system is determined to be substandard or if the alternating current power condition of the alternating current power source is determined to be substandard; and

wherein the step of analyzing comprises the step of analyzing the measured characteristics of the alternating current power source and the power being consumed by the components of the computer system to determine if the alternating current power condition of the computer system is substandard or if the alternating current power condition of the alternating current power source is substandard.

15. The method for regulating the power consumed by a computer system in response to the quality of the power being supplied to the computer system of claim 14, wherein the step of placing the components of the computer system in a reduced power state if the alternating current power condition of the computer system is determined to be substandard comprises:

determining that the computer system is not in a reduced power state; and

placing the components of the computer system in a reduced power state.

16. The method for regulating the power consumed by a computer system in response to the quality of the power being supplied to the computer system of claim 15, further comprising the step of releasing the computer system from a reduced power state if the power condition of the computer system is not determined to be substandard.

17. The method for regulating the power consumed by a computer system in response to the quality of the power being supplied to the computer system of claim 16, wherein the step of releasing the computer system from a reduced power state if the power condition of the computer system is not determined to be substandard, wherein the step of placing the components of the computer system in a reduced power state if the alternating current power condition of the computer system is determined to be substandard comprises the step of issuing a throttle command to one or more of the components of the computer system comprises:

determining that the computer system is in a reduced power state; and

releasing the components of the computer system from the reduced power state.