Computer management and power backup system and device

• US 8,201,009 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2009
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Win Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: T-Win Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Sun, Chen Tung, Chen, Tinway, Hsu, Andy, Lu, Lafin
• Primary Examiner(s): Cao, Chun
• Application Number:
  US12/503,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20110016340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 713/320, 713/340
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1441 Resetting or repowering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3058 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring environmental properties or parameters of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring of power, currents, temperature, humidity, position, vibrations thermal management in cooling arrangements of a computing system G06F1/206

Abstract

A computer power backup system and device are provided. When power to a computer system is lost, a battery backup unit provides power to the computer system for a while, allowing a power management control to send out an alert to an enterprise client so as to urge immediate action. If the power outage persists without being solved, and the power management control detects insufficient power in a battery of the battery backup unit, the power management control will store data in a storage device automatically and safely and then shut down the computer system. When power is restored, the power management control turns on the computer system automatically and begins charging the battery of the battery backup unit. Through the above operation, the integrity and safety of data in the computer system are secured.

Claims

1. A computer power backup system comprising:

a battery backup unit connected to a power management control of a computer system via a baseboard management controller, the power management control constantly monitoring statuses of the computer system, of a power supply unit, and of a battery of the battery backup unit, when the power management control detects a power outage of the computer system, the power management control sends out an alert to an enterprise client requesting the enterprise client to back up data, and if the enterprise client fails to take timely action before backup power in the battery of the battery backup unit is used up, the power management control will send out a command whereby a system motherboard stores data automatically and safely in a storage device through the baseboard management controller and the computer system is shut down safely, the power management control automatically turning on the computer system and charging the battery of the battery backup unit when power to the computer system is restored;

wherein the battery is directly connected to a charge circuit and a monitor of the battery backup unit;

wherein the charge circuit is directly connected to the battery and the monitor of the battery backup unit;

wherein the monitor and the charge circuit are connected to the battery and the baseboard management controller via a system management BUS.

2. The computer power backup system of claim 1, wherein the computer power backup system is connected by itself to the computer system so as to serve as an uninterruptible power supply backup system, or is used in series connection with an uninterruptible power supply system so as to provide double protection against power outage.

3. A computer power backup device, comprising a battery backup unit, a DC-DC converter, and a power management control built in a system motherboard and connected to a baseboard management controller of a computer system, wherein:

the battery backup unit is connected to a power supply unit and the power management control, the battery backup unit comprising a battery, a monitor, and a charge circuit, wherein the monitor and the charge circuit are connected to the battery and the baseboard management controller;

the DC-DC converter has an input end connected to the power supply unit, the battery backup unit, and the baseboard management controller, and an output end connected to various current input units of the system motherboard; and

the power management control is built in with executive programs of the computer system and is connected to the baseboard management controller and the battery backup unit;

wherein the battery is directly connected to the charge circuit and the monitor of the battery backup unit;

wherein the charge circuit is directly connected to the battery and the monitor of the battery backup unit;

wherein the monitor and the charge circuit are connected to the battery and the baseboard management controller via a system management BUS.

4. The computer power backup device of claim 3, wherein the battery backup unit serves mainly to provide power from the battery through the power management control when power to the computer system is lost, thus preventing the computer system from being shut down immediately, and wherein the monitor automatically instructs the charge circuit to charge the battery when power to the computer system is restored, thus allowing the computer power backup device to remain effective in data protection.

5. The computer power backup device of claim 3, wherein the DC-DC converter serves mainly to convert power provided by the power supply unit and the battery backup unit into power suitable for use by the system motherboard.