Systems and methods for time-based management of backup battery life in memory controller systems

• US 8,370,659 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2009
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Chiasson, Shane, Nunna, Anand, Bruderer, Clark C., Wang, Ligong
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choudhury, Zahid
• Application Number:
  US12/586,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20110072280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/310, 713/320
• US Class Current: 713/320
• 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 1/3225 of memory devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3268 Power saving in hard disk drive
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3275 Power saving in memory, e.g. RAM, cache
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Systems and methods that may be implemented for time-based management of storage memory controller (e.g., RAID controller) backup battery life in information handling systems by limiting the backup battery system operation time in order to save energy, reduce the impact of leakage current, and prolong memory controller backup battery shelf life while at the same time meeting requirements of back-up time for storage/server applications. The disclosed systems and methods may be implemented, for example, by providing a battery system controller that implements a pre-set memory controller backup battery operation time, in combination with a hardware-controlled mechanism that extends backup battery system operation time by disabling one or more current leakage paths within the storage memory controller circuitry.

Claims

1. An information handling system, comprising:

a storage memory controller circuit for controlling the transfer of data to and from an external data storage system, the storage memory controller circuit including a back up battery system coupled to memory controller system-side circuitry, the backup battery system including one or more battery cells and a battery management unit (BMU), the memory controller system-side circuitry including one or more system load components that include a memory controller, and each of the BMU and the system load components being coupled by a power path to receive electrical power from the one or more battery cells;

at least one switching device coupled in the power path between the one or more battery cells and each of the BMU and one or more of the system load components; and

at least one processing device;

wherein the at least one processing device is coupled to monitor the status of the memory controller and is coupled to control the at least one switching device to selectively electrically isolate the one or more battery cells from each of the BMU and the one or more of the system load components when the at least one processing device detects that the status of the memory controller has been inactive for greater than a predetermined period of time; and

wherein the at least one processing device is configured to;

measure the elapsed time since last memory controller activity,

perform one or more gas gauge and charge/discharge routine functions when the measured elapsed time is less than or equal to the predetermined period of time, and

control the at least one switching device to selectively electrically isolate the one or more battery cells from each of the BMU and the one or more of the system load components, and perform no gas gauge and charge/discharge routine functions when the measured elapsed time is greater than the predetermined period of time.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processing device comprises power good logic included within the memory controller system-side circuitry, the power good logic being configured to disallow flow of current from the one or more battery cells to the one or more system load components at any time that no external power is present.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processing device comprises the BMU of the backup battery system;

wherein the BMU is configured to perform one or more gas gauge and charge/discharge routine functions when the BMU detects that the status of the memory controller has been active within the predetermined period of time; and

wherein the BMU is configured to perform no gas gauge and charge/discharge routine functions when the BMU detects that the status of the memory controller has been inactive for greater than the predetermined period of time.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one processing device further comprises the BMU of the backup battery system;

and where the system further comprises power good logic configured to provide a signal upon detection of loss of external power to the information handling system;

wherein the BMU and one or more of the system load components are each coupled to the one or more battery cells by a separate dedicated portion of the power path;

wherein a separate dedicated switching device is coupled in the separate dedicated power path portion between the one or more battery cells and each one of the BMU and one or more of the separate system load components;

wherein the BMU is coupled to control at least one of the separate switching devices to selectively electrically isolate the BMU from the one or more battery cells in a manner that is independent of the one or more system load components; and

wherein the power good logic is coupled to control at least one other separate switching device to electrically isolate each of the system load components from the one or more battery cells.

5. The system of claim 4, where the BMU is included in backup battery system side circuitry that is separate from the memory controller system-side circuitry;

where the power good logic is included in the memory controller system-side circuitry;

where the one or more system load components of the memory controller system-side circuitry that are each coupled to the one or more battery cells by a separate portion of the power path comprise at least a separate memory controller, separate battery backup circuitry, separate charger circuitry, and separate learn cycle circuitry; and

wherein the power good logic is coupled by a respective corresponding individual control path to each of the separate switching devices so as to independently control each of the separate switching devices to selectively electrically isolate each of the memory controller, separate battery backup circuitry, separate charger circuitry, and separate learn cycle circuitry from the one or more battery cells in order to selectively disallow flow of leakage current from the one or more battery cells to any selected one or any selected combination of the individual system load components of the memory controller system-side circuitry in a manner that is independent of the BMU.

6. An information handling system, comprising:

a storage memory controller circuit for controlling the transfer of data to and from an external data storage system, the storage memory controller circuit including a back up battery system coupled to memory controller system-side circuitry, the backup battery system including one or more battery cells and a battery management unit (BMU), the memory controller system-side circuitry including one or more system load components that include a memory controller, and each of the BMU and the system load components being coupled by a power path to receive electrical power from the one or more battery cells;

at least one switching device coupled in the power path between the one or more battery cells and at least one of the BMU or one or more of the system load components; and

at least one processing device;

wherein the at least one processing device is coupled to monitor the status of the memory controller and is coupled to control the at least one switching device to selectively electrically isolate the one or more battery cells from each of the BMU and the one or more of the system load components when the at least one processing device detects that the status of the memory controller has been inactive for greater than a predetermined period of time;

wherein the at least one processing device comprises the BMU of the backup battery system; and

wherein the BMU is coupled to the memory controller by a system management bus (SMBus); and

wherein the BMU is configured to detect the active status of the memory controller by monitoring the SMBus for the presence of valid SMBus communication.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the storage memory controller circuit is a RAID controller card;

wherein the back up battery system is a replaceable smart battery pack;

wherein the BMU is coupled to the memory controller by a system management bus (SMBus);

wherein the BMU is configured to monitor the status of the memory controller by monitoring the SMBus for the presence of valid SMBus communication; and

wherein the presence of valid SMBus communication signals on the SMBus indicates that the memory controller is active and absence of the valid SMBus communication signals on the SMBus indicates that the memory controller is inactive.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the BMU is configured to pull down at least one of SMCL or SMDA lines of the SMBus to make at least one of the SMCL or SMDA lines low when when there is no external power provided to the memory controller system-side circuitry, and such that a rising edge is triggered on the at least one SMCL or SMDA line when the memory controller system-side circuitry is powered up by external power;

and where the BMU is configured to detect the rising edge and respond by controlling the at least one switching device to selectively electrically couple the one or more battery cells to each of the BMU and the one or more of the system load components.

9. An information handling system,

comprising:

a storage memory controller circuit for controlling the transfer of data to and from an external data storage system, the storage memory controller circuit including a back up battery system coupled to memory controller system-side circuitry, the backup battery system including one or more battery cells and a battery management unit (BMU), the memory controller system-side circuitry including one or more system load components that include a memory controller, and each of the BMU and the system load components being coupled by a power path to receive electrical power from the one or more battery cells;

at least one switching device coupled in the power path between the one or more battery cells and at least one of the BMU or one or more of the system load components; and

at least one processing device;

wherein the at least one processing device is coupled to monitor the status of the memory controller and is coupled to control the at least one switching device to selectively electrically isolate the one or more battery cells from each of the BMU and the one or more of the system load components when the at least one processing device detects that the status of the memory controller has been inactive for greater than a predetermined period of time;

wherein the at least one processing device comprises the BMU of the backup battery system; and

wherein the BMU and the one or more system load components are each coupled to the one or more battery cells by a common portion of the power path;

wherein the at least one switching device is coupled in the common portion of the power path between the one or more battery cells and each of the BMU and the system load components; and

wherein the BMU is coupled to control the at least one switching device to simultaneously electrically isolate both the BMU and the system load components from the one or more battery cells.

10. An information handling system, comprising:

a storage memory controller circuit for controlling the transfer of data to and from an external data storage system, the storage memory controller circuit including a back up battery system coupled to memory controller system-side circuitry, the backup battery system including one or more battery cells and a battery management unit (BMU), the memory controller system-side circuitry including one or more system load components that include a memory controller, and each of the BMU and the system load components being coupled by a power path to receive electrical power from the one or more battery cells;

at least one switching device coupled in the power path between the one or more battery cells and at least one of the BMU or one or more of the system load components; and

at least one processing device;

wherein the at least one processing device is coupled to monitor the status of the memory controller and is coupled to control the at least one switching device to selectively electrically isolate the one or more battery cells from each of the BMU and the one or more of the system load components when the at least one processing device detects that the status of the memory controller has been inactive for greater than a predetermined period of time;

wherein the at least one processing device comprises the BMU of the backup battery system; and

wherein the BMU and the one or more system load components are each coupled to the one or more battery cells by a separate dedicated portion of the power path;

wherein a separate dedicated switching device is coupled in the separate dedicated power path portion between the one or more battery cells and each one of the BMU and the separate system load components; and

wherein the BMU is coupled to independently control each of the separate switching devices to selectively electrically isolate each of the BMU and the system load components from the one or more battery cells.

11. The system of claim 10, where the BMU is included in backup battery system side circuitry that is separate from the memory controller system-side circuitry;

where the one or more system load components of the memory controller system-side circuitry that are each coupled to the one or more battery cells by a separate portion of the power path comprise at least a separate memory controller, separate battery backup circuitry, separate charger circuitry, and separate learn cycle circuitry; and

wherein the BMU is coupled by a respective corresponding individual control path to each of the separate switching devices so as to independently control each of the separate switching devices to selectively electrically isolate each of the BMU, memory controller, separate battery backup circuitry, separate charger circuitry, and separate learn cycle circuitry from the one or more battery cells in order to selectively disallow flow of leakage current from the one or more battery cells to any selected one or any selected combination of the BMU and individual system load components of the memory controller system-side circuitry.

12. A method of managing battery life of a backup battery system of a storage memory controller circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a storage memory controller circuit configured for controlling the transfer of data to and from an external data storage system, the storage memory controller circuit having a system-side circuitry that includes one or more load components that includes a memory controller;

providing the storage memory controller circuit with a backup battery system coupled by a power path to the storage memory controller system-side circuitry and configured for providing a power source by the power path for the one or more load components during occurrences of a system power loss condition, the backup battery system including one or more battery cells and a battery management unit (BMU);

providing at least one switching device coupled in the power path between the one or more battery cells and each of the BMU and one or more of the system load components;

monitoring the status of the memory controller;

controlling the at least one switching device to selectively electrically isolate the one or more battery cells from each of the BMU and the one or more of the system load components when the monitored status of the memory controller has been inactive for greater than a predetermined period of time;

using the BMU to perform the steps of monitoring the status of the memory controller and of controlling the at least one switching device;

using the BMU to perform one or more gas gauge and charge/discharge routine functions when the BMU detects that the status of the memory controller has been active within the predetermined period of time; and

using the BMU to perform no gas gauge and charge/discharge routine functions when the BMU detects that the status of the memory controller has been inactive for greater than the predetermined period of time.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing power good logic within the memory controller system-side circuitry;

and using the power good logic to perform the steps of monitoring the status of the memory controller and of controlling the at least one switching device to disallow flow of current from the one or more battery cells to the one or more system load components at any time that no external power is present.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising using the BMU to:

measure the elapsed time since last memory controller activity;

perform one or more gas gauge and charge/discharge routine functions when the measured elapsed time is less than or equal to the predetermined period of time; and

control the at least one switching device to selectively electrically isolate the one or more battery cells from at least one of the BMU or one or more of the system load components, and perform no gas gauge and charge/discharge routine functions when the measured elapsed time is greater than the predetermined period of time.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising using the BMU to perform the steps of monitoring the status of the memory controller and of controlling the at least one switching device;

providing power good logic to provide a signal upon detection of loss of external power to the storage memory controller with the BMU and one or more of the system load components each being coupled to the one or more battery cells by a separate dedicated portion of the power path;

providing a separate dedicated switching device coupled in the separate dedicated power path portion between the one or more battery cells and each one of the BMU and one or more of the separate system load components;

using the BMU to control at least one of the separate dedicated switching devices to selectively electrically isolate the BMU from the one or more battery cells in a manner that is independent from the one or more system load components; and

using the power good logic to control at least one other separate dedicated switching device to electrically isolate each of the system load components from the one or more battery cells.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing the BMU as being included in backup battery system side circuitry that is separate from the memory controller system-side circuitry;

providing the power good logic as being included in the memory controller system-side circuitry;

providing the one or more system load components of the memory controller system-side circuitry that are each coupled to the one or more battery cells by a separate portion of the power path to include at least a separate memory controller, separate battery backup circuitry, separate charger circuitry, and separate learn cycle circuitry;

providing the power good logic as being coupled by a respective corresponding individual control path to each of the separate switching devices so as to independently control each of the separate switching devices to selectively electrically isolate each of the memory controller, separate battery backup circuitry, separate charger circuitry, and separate learn cycle circuitry from the one or more battery cells; and

independently controlling each of the separate switching devices to selectively disallow flow of leakage current from the one or more battery cells to any selected one or any selected combination of the individual system load components of the memory controller system-side circuitry in a manner that is independent of the BMU.

17. A method of managing battery life of a backup battery system of a storage memory controller circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a storage memory controller circuit configured for controlling the transfer of data to and from an external data storage system, the storage memory controller circuit having a system-side circuitry that includes one or more load components that includes a memory controller;

providing the storage memory controller circuit with a backup battery system coupled by a power path to the storage memory controller system-side circuitry and configured for providing a power source by the power path for the one or more load components during occurrences of a system power loss condition, the backup battery system including one or more battery cells and a battery management unit (BMU);

providing at least one switching device coupled in the power path between the one or more battery cells and each of the BMU and one or more of the system load components;

monitoring the status of the memory controller;

controlling the at least one switching device to selectively electrically isolate the one or more battery cells from each of the BMU and the one or more of the system load components when the monitored status of the memory controller has been inactive for greater than a predetermined period of time;

using the BMU to perform the steps of monitoring the status of the memory controller and of controlling the at least one switching device; and

further comprising providing the BMU coupled to the memory controller by a system management bus (SMBus); and

using the BMU to detect the active status of the memory controller by monitoring the SMBus for the presence of valid SMBus communication.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the storage memory controller circuit is a RAID controller card;

wherein the backup battery system is a replaceable smart battery pack; and

wherein the method further comprises providing a system management bus (SMBus) that couples the BMU to the memory controller, and using the BMU to monitor the status of the memory controller by monitoring the SMBus for the presence of valid SMBus communication, wherein the presence of valid SMBus communication signals on the SMBus indicates that the memory controller is active and absence of the valid SMBus communication signals on the SMBus indicates that the memory controller is inactive.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising using the BMU to pull down at least one of SMCL or SMDA lines of the SMBus to make at least one of the SMCL or SMDA lines low when when there is no external power provided to the memory controller system-side circuitry;

and detecting a triggered rising edge on the at least one SMCL or SMDA line when the memory controller system-side circuitry is powered up by external power and responding thereto by controlling the at least one switching device to selectively electrically couple the one or more battery cells to each of the BMU and the one or more of the system load components.

20. A method of managing battery life of a backup battery system of a storage memory controller circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a storage memory controller circuit configured for controlling the transfer of data to and from an external data storage system, the storage memory controller circuit having a system-side circuitry that includes one or more load components that includes a memory controller;

providing the storage memory controller circuit with a backup battery system coupled by a power path to the storage memory controller system-side circuitry and configured for providing a power source by the power path for the one or more load components during occurrences of a system power loss condition, the backup battery system including one or more battery cells and a battery management unit (BMU);

providing at least one switching device coupled in the power path between the one or more battery cells and each of the BMU and one or more of the system load components;

monitoring the status of the memory controller;

controlling the at least one switching device to selectively electrically isolate the one or more battery cells from each of the BMU and the one or more of the system load components when the monitored status of the memory controller has been inactive for greater than a predetermined period of time;

using the BMU to perform the steps of monitoring the status of the memory controller and of controlling the at least one switching device; and

further comprising providing the BMU and the one or more system load components as each being coupled to the one or more battery cells by a common portion of the power path with the at least one switching device being coupled in the common portion of the power path between the one or more battery cells and each of the BMU and the system load components; and

using the BMU to control the at least one switching device to simultaneously electrically isolate both the BMU and the system load components from the one or more battery cells.

21. A method of managing battery life of a backup battery system of a storage memory controller circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a storage memory controller circuit configured for controlling the transfer of data to and from an external data storage system, the storage memory controller circuit having a system-side circuitry that includes one or more load components that includes a memory controller;

providing the storage memory controller circuit with a backup battery system coupled by a power path to the storage memory controller system-side circuitry and configured for providing a power source by the power path for the one or more load components during occurrences of a system power loss condition, the backup battery system including one or more battery cells and a battery management unit (BMU);

providing at least one switching device coupled in the power path between the one or more battery cells and each of the BMU and one or more of the system load components;

monitoring the status of the memory controller;

controlling the at least one switching device to selectively electrically isolate the one or more battery cells from each of the BMU and the one or more of the system load components when the monitored status of the memory controller has been inactive for greater than a predetermined period of time;

using the BMU to perform the steps of monitoring the status of the memory controller and of controlling the at least one switching device; and

further comprising providing the BMU and the one or more system load components as each being coupled to the one or more battery cells by a separate dedicated portion of the power path with a separate dedicated switching device being coupled in the separate dedicated power path portion between the one or more battery cells and each one of the BMU and the separate system load components; and

using the BMU to independently control each of the separate dedicated switching devices to selectively electrically isolate each of the BMU and the system load components from the one or more battery cells.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

providing the BMU in backup battery system side circuitry as being separate from the memory controller system-side circuitry;

providing the one or more system load components of the memory controller system-side circuitry as being coupled to the one or more battery cells by a separate portion of the power path comprise at least a separate memory controller, separate battery backup circuitry, separate charger circuitry, and separate learn cycle circuitry;

providing the BMU as being coupled by a respective corresponding individual control path to each of the separate switching devices; and

independently controlling each of the separate switching devices to selectively electrically isolate each of the BMU, memory controller, separate battery backup circuitry, separate charger circuitry, and separate learn cycle circuitry from the one or more battery cells in order to selectively disallow flow of leakage current from the one or more battery cells to any selected one or any selected combination of the BMU and individual system load components of the memory controller system-side circuitry.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising independently controlling each of the separate switching devices to selectively disallow flow of leakage current from the one or more battery cells to only a selected one of the individual system load components of the memory controller system-side circuitry in a manner that is independent of the BMU.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising independently controlling each of the separate switching devices to selectively disallow flow of leakage current from the one or more battery cells to a selected combination of two or more of the individual system load components of the memory controller system-side circuitry in a manner that is independent of the BMU.

25. A backup battery system configured for coupling to and providing backup power to one or more system load components of a storage memory controller circuit that includes a memory controller, the battery system comprising:

one or more battery cells configured for coupling by a power path to provide electrical power to the one or more system load components of the storage memory controller circuit;

a battery management unit (BMU) coupled to receive electrical power from the one or more battery cells via the power path;

at least one switching device coupled in the power path between the one or more battery cells and the BMU, and configured for coupling between the one or more battery cells and one or more of the system load components;

at least one switching device coupled in the power path between the one or more battery cells and each of the BMU and one or more of the system load components; and

wherein the BMU is configured for coupling to monitor the status of the memory controller and for coupling to control the at least one switching device to selectively electrically isolate the one or more battery cells from each of the BMU and the one or more of the system load components when the BMU detects that the status of the memory controller has been inactive for greater than a predetermined period of time;

wherein the BMU is configured to perform one or more gas gauge and charge/discharge routine functions when the BMU detects that the status of the memory controller has been active within the predetermined period of time; and

wherein the BMU is configured to perform no gas gauge and charge/discharge routine functions when the BMU detects that the status of the memory controller has been inactive for greater than the predetermined period of time;

wherein the BMU is configured to;

measure the elapsed time since last memory controller activity,

perform one or more gas gauge and charge/discharge routine functions when the measured elapsed time is less than or equal to the predetermined period of time, and

control the at least one switching device to selectively electrically isolate the one or more battery cells from each of the BMU and the one or more of the system load components, and perform no gas gauge and charge/discharge routine functions when the measured elapsed time is greater than the predetermined period of time; and

wherein the backup battery system is a replaceable battery pack;

wherein the BMU is configured for coupling to a RAID controller card by a system management bus (SMBus);

wherein the BMU is configured to monitor the status of the memory controller by monitoring the SMBus for the presence of valid SMBus communication; and

wherein the presence of valid SMBus communication signals on the SMBus indicates that the memory controller is active and absence of the valid SMBus communication signals on the SMBus indicates that the memory controller is inactive.

26. An information handling system, comprising:

a storage memory controller circuit for controlling the transfer of data to and from an external data storage system, the storage memory controller circuit including a back up battery system coupled to memory controller system-side circuitry, the backup battery system including one or more battery cells and a battery management unit (BMU), the memory controller system-side circuitry including one or more system load components that include a memory controller, and each of the BMU and the system load components being coupled by a power path to receive electrical power from the one or more battery cells;

at least one switching device coupled in the power path between the one or more battery cells and each of the BMU and one or more of the system load components; and

at least one processing device;

wherein the at least one processing device is coupled to monitor the status of the memory controller and is coupled to control the at least one switching device to selectively electrically isolate the one or more battery cells from each of the BMU and the one or more of the system load components when the at least one processing device detects that the status of the memory controller has been inactive for greater than a predetermined period of time; and

where the information handling system further comprises;

at least one first switching device coupled in the power path between the one or more battery cells and the one or more of the system load components, and

at least one second switching device coupled in the power path between the one or more battery cells and the BMU, the second switching device being separate and different from the first switching device.

27. A method of managing battery life of a backup battery system of a storage memory controller circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a storage memory controller circuit configured for controlling the transfer of data to and from an external data storage system, the storage memory controller circuit having a system-side circuitry that includes one or more load components that includes a memory controller;

providing the storage memory controller circuit with a backup battery system coupled by a power path to the storage memory controller system-side circuitry and configured for providing a power source by the power path for the one or more load components during occurrences of a system power loss condition, the backup battery system including one or more battery cells and a battery management unit (BMU);

providing at least one switching device coupled in the power path between the one or more battery cells and each of the BMU and one or more of the system load components;

monitoring the status of the memory controller; and

controlling the at least one switching device to selectively electrically isolate the one or more battery cells from each of the BMU and the one or more of the system load components when the monitored status of the memory controller has been inactive for greater than a predetermined period of time;

where the method further comprises;

providing at least one first switching device coupled in the power path between the one or more battery cells and the one or more of the system load components,

providing at least one second switching device coupled in the power path between the one or more battery cells and the BMU, the second switching device being separate and different from the first switching device, and

controlling the at first and second switching devices to selectively electrically isolate the one or more battery cells from each of the BMU and the one or more of the system load components when the monitored status of the memory controller has been inactive for greater than a predetermined period of time.