System and method for optimizing regulated voltage output point

• US 8,097,979 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2009
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Berke, Stuart A., Wang, Kunrong
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US12/362,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20100187906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 307/31, 324 7611-157, 702183-199, 702118-126
• US Class Current: 307/31
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/31721 Power aspects, e.g. power supplies for test circuits, power saving during test for scan test G01R31/318575
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2029/0407 on power on
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2029/5004 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 29/02 Detection or location of defective auxiliary circuits, e.g. defective refresh counters
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 29/021 in voltage or current generators
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 29/028 with adaption or trimming of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 29/06 Acceleration testing
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 29/56 External testing equipment for static stores, e.g. automatic test equipment [ATE]; Interfaces therefor

Abstract

A device includes a plurality of voltage regulators, and a test module. Each of the voltage regulators are configured to provide a regulated voltage to one of a plurality of subsystems. The test module is in communication with the voltage regulators, and is configured to perform a subsystem component inventory for each of the subsystems at a start of a power-on self-test of the device, to determine a configuration of the device. The test module is also configured to capture first voltage data for the subsystems during an idle operation, to capture second voltage data for the subsystems during a stressed operation, and to set a voltage set point for each of the regulated voltages provided by one of the voltage regulators based on the subsystem component inventory, a power requirement table, or the first and second voltage data.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a plurality of voltage regulators, each configured to provide a regulated voltage to one of a plurality of subsystems; and

a test module in communication with the voltage regulators, the test module configured to perform a subsystem component inventory for each of the subsystems at a start of a power-on self-test of the device, to determine a configuration of the device based on the subsystem component inventory for each of the subsystems, to capture first voltage data for the subsystems during an idle operation, to capture second voltage data for the subsystems during a stressed operation, and configured to set a voltage set point for each of the regulated voltages provided by one of the voltage regulators based on the subsystem component inventory.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the test module is further configured to refine the voltage set point for one of the voltage regulators based on the first and second voltage data.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the test module is further configured to set a load line associated with one of the voltage regulators based on the configuration of the device.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the test module is further configured to adjust an operating voltage for one of the voltage regulators based on the first and second voltage data.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the test module is further configured to provide the idle operation to the subsystems.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the test module is further configured to provide the stressed operation to the subsystems.

7. A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions to manipulate a processor, the plurality of instructions comprising:

instructions to perform a system inventory of components in a device at a start of a power-on self-test of the device;

instructions to determine a configuration of the device based on the system inventory of the components;

instructions to set a voltage set point for each of a plurality of subsystem voltage regulators based on the configuration of the device;

instructions to capture first voltage data for a plurality of subsystems during an idle operation;

instructions to capture second voltage data for the plurality of subsystems during a stressed operation; and

instructions to refine the plurality of subsystem voltage regulators based on the first and second voltage data.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7 further comprising:

instructions to refine the voltage set point for one of the subsystem voltage regulators based on the first and second voltage data.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 7 further comprising:

instructions to set a load line associated with one of the subsystem voltage regulators based on the configuration of the device.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 7 further comprising:

instructions to adjust an operating voltage for one of the subsystem voltage regulators based on the first and second voltage data.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 7 further comprising:

instructions to provide the idle operation to the components in the device prior to capturing the first voltage data.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 7 further comprising:

instructions to provide the stressed operation to the components in the device prior to capturing the second voltage data.

13. A computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions to manipulate a processor, the plurality of instructions comprising:

instructions to perform a system inventory of components in a device at a start of a power-on self-test of the device;

instructions to determine a configuration of the device based on the system inventory of the components;

instructions to compare the configuration of the device to a power requirement table;

instructions to set a voltage set point for each of a plurality of subsystem voltage regulators based on the configuration of the device and the power requirement table;

instructions to capture first current data for a plurality of subsystems during an idle operation;

instructions to capture second current data for the plurality of subsystems during a stressed operation; and

instructions to refine the plurality of subsystem voltage regulators based on the first and second current data.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13 further comprising:

instructions to refine the voltage set point for one of the subsystem voltage regulators based on the first and second current data.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 13 further comprising:

instructions to set a load line associated with one of the subsystem voltage regulators based on the configuration of the device and the power requirement table.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 13 further comprising:

instructions to adjust an operating voltage for one of the subsystem voltage regulators based on the first and second current data.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 13 further comprising:

instructions to provide the idle operation to the components in the device prior to capturing the first current data.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 13 further comprising:

instructions to provide the stressed operation to the components in the device prior to capturing the second current data.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 13 wherein the power requirement table includes a maximum power requirement and a minimum power requirement for a plurality of configurations of the device.