Controlled power cycling in computing devices
First Claim
1. A power control system, comprising:
- a switch having a first terminal to connect to a standby DC power source in a computer, and having a second terminal to connect to standby circuits of the computer; and
a controller communicating with an input device external to the computer, and operatively connected to the switch to decouple the first terminal from the second terminal in response to a power cycle signal from the input device to disable power supplied to the standby circuits while power remains supplied to main circuits of the computer, the power cycle signal being generated in response to a detected condition of the computer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Cycling power in a computer to clear hang-up conditions may include disabling low voltage DC signals between an output of a standby DC power supply and standby-powered circuits in response to a power cycle request. In response to a disable signal, a power cycle module (PCM) may disable standby power being supplied to standby circuits in a computer, server, or router, for example. In addition, the PCM may disable power to main circuits by, for example, generating logic-level control signals to the power supply, or by opening a series-connected switch through which main current flows. In response to a re-enable signal, the PCM may re-enable the supply of standby and/or main power to a computer.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A power control system, comprising:
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a switch having a first terminal to connect to a standby DC power source in a computer, and having a second terminal to connect to standby circuits of the computer; and a controller communicating with an input device external to the computer, and operatively connected to the switch to decouple the first terminal from the second terminal in response to a power cycle signal from the input device to disable power supplied to the standby circuits while power remains supplied to main circuits of the computer, the power cycle signal being generated in response to a detected condition of the computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method to power cycle a device, the method comprising:
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receiving a signal to cycle power in a device having a main DC voltage supply and a standby DC voltage supply, disabling the main DC voltage supply, and not disabling the standby DC voltage supply during a re-boot operation, the signal being generated in response to a detected condition of the device; and decoupling an output of the standby DC voltage supply from a standby circuit in the device in response to the received signal to disable the standby DC voltage supply while maintaining the main DC voltage supply. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus to control power in a computing device, comprising:
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a first circuit to couple a first DC voltage source for the computing device to a voltage supply node of a first circuit of the computing device, the first DC voltage source being disabled from supplying power during a re-boot operation of the computer device; a second circuit to couple a second DC voltage source for the computing device to a voltage supply node of a second circuit of the computing device, wherein the second DC voltage source is operable to supply power during a re-boot operation of the computing device; and means for decoupling the second DC voltage source from the second circuit voltage supply node in response to a power cycle request while the first DC voltage source supplies power to the first circuit, the power cycle request being generated in response to a detected condition of the computer device. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification