Memory module with on-board power-consumption monitoring

• US 7,702,928 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Martinez, Idis Ramona, Schumacher, Derek Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown; Michael J
• Application Number:
  US11/102,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20060230295A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,838 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/340, 365/226, 365/227, 365/229
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision

Abstract

A memory module includes memory devices and a power tracker for monitoring power consumption by the memory devices. The power tracker generates digital power consumption data that can be stored and used to anticipate and/or diagnose of power-related problems. The invention allows accurate monitoring of conditions that could otherwise lead to failure and provides a source of diagnostic data in the event of system failure related to excessive power consumption. Modules that self-monitor power consumption can provide highly accurate data to the user and/or the system, which has significant advantages over error-prone theoretical measurements or estimations.

Claims

1. A memory module including:

volatile memory devices;

a power sensor for measuring power consumption and for generating power-consumption data corresponding to the power consumed by said memory devices; and

non-volatile memory for storing said power-consumption data.

2. A memory module as recited in claim 1 further comprising a power processor for associating contemporaneous data with said power-consumption data when said power-consumption data is stored in said non-volatile memory.

3. A memory module as recited in claim 2 further comprising a power-tracker bus, said power processor transferring said power-consumption data from said non-volatile memory to external devices via said power-tracker bus.

4. A memory module as recited in claim 2 wherein said power processor transfers said power-consumption data from said non-volatile memory to said memory devices.

5. A method comprising:

measuring power consumed by volatile memory devices on a memory module;

generating power-consumption data corresponding to power consumed by said memory devices on said memory module; and

storing said power-consumption data in non-volatile memory on said memory module.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 further comprising time-stamping said power-consumption data before said storing.

7. A method as recited in claim 5 further comprising transferring said power-consumption data off said memory module in response to a request therefore.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein said power-consumption data is transferred off said memory module via a dedicated power-tracker bus.