Battery management system

• US 9,304,563 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2013
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Sieber, John R., Ahmad, Munir U., Chidester, Philip D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CONNOLLY, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US13/853,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20140298045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 702/63, 320/130
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/36 Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision

Abstract

A method includes determining a need to perform a learn cycle on a battery in a processing module of an information handling system, detecting a learn cycle in progress on another battery in another processing module of the information handling system, and postponing the learn cycle on the battery in response to detecting the learn cycle on the other battery.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, by a first baseboard management controller of a first processing module, a need for initiating a first learn cycle on a first battery of the first processing module;

detecting, by the first baseboard management controller, that a second learn cycle is in progress on a second battery of a second processing module, wherein detecting that the second learn cycle is in progress includes detecting, by the first baseboard management controller, an indication that the second learn cycle is in progress, the indication generated by a second baseboard management controller; and

postponing the first learn cycle, in response to detecting that the second learn cycle is in progress.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the first baseboard management controller, that the second learn cycle has completed; and

initiating the first learn cycle, in response to detecting that the second learn cycle has completed.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

detecting that the second learn cycle is in progress comprises;

providing, by the second baseboard management controller, the indication that the second learn cycle is in progress.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein providing the indication further comprises:

sending status information on a communication network accessible to the first baseboard management controller and to the second baseboard management controller.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the communication network is an inter-baseboard management controller communication link.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the need for initiating the first learn cycle comprises:

receiving a command to perform the first learn cycle from a system management controller.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the need for initiating the first learn cycle comprises:

retrieving a predetermined learn time of the first learn cycle;

comparing the predetermined learn time with a current time; and

determining that the current time is later than the predetermined learn time of the first learn cycle.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing an indication that the first learn cycle is complete, in response to successful performance of the first learn cycle.

9. An information handling system comprising:

a first processor module including;

a first battery module; and

a first baseboard management controller, the first baseboard management controller being operable to;

determine a need to initiate a first learn cycle on the first battery of the first processor module;

detect that a second learn cycle is in progress on a second battery of a second processor module; and

postpone the first learn cycle, in response to detecting that the second learn cycle is in progress;

detect that the second learn cycle is complete; and

initiate the first learn cycle; and

the second processor module including;

the second battery module.

10. The information handling system of claim 9, wherein:

the second processor module further includes;

a second baseboard management controller, the second baseboard management controller being operable to;

provide an indication that the second learn cycle is in progress; and

the first baseboard management controller is further operable to;

receive the indication that the second learn cycle is in progress.

11. The information handling system of claim 10, further comprising:

a memory coupled to the first baseboard management controller and the second baseboard management controller wherein;

in providing the indication that the second learn cycle is in progress, the second baseboard management controller is further operable to write a value into the memory; and

in receiving the indication that the second learn cycle is in progress, the first baseboard management controller is further operable to read the value from the memory.

12. The information handling system of claim 10, further comprising:

an inter-baseboard management controller communication link coupled to the first baseboard management controller and the second baseboard management controller wherein;

in providing the indication that the second learn cycle is in progress, the second baseboard management controller is further operable to send the indication to the first baseboard management controller through the inter-baseboard management controller communication link; and

in receiving the indication that the second learn cycle is in progress, the first baseboard management controller is further operable to receive the indication from the second baseboard management controller through the inter-baseboard management controller communication link.

13. The information handling system of claim 9, wherein:

in determining the need to perform the first learn cycle, the first baseboard management controller is further operable to;

receive a command to perform the first learn cycle from a system management controller.

14. The information handling system of claim 9, wherein:

in determining the need to initiate the first learn cycle, the first baseboard management controller is further operable to;

retrieve a predetermined learn time of the first learn cycle;

compare the predetermined learn time with a current time; and

determine that the current time is later than the predetermined learn time of the first learn cycle.

15. The information handling system of claim 9, wherein:

in determining the need to initiate the first learn cycle, the first baseboard management controller is further operable to;

retrieve a stored battery serial number;

retrieve a first battery serial number from the first battery;

compare the stored battery serial number to the first battery serial number;

select a learn time for the first battery, in response to the comparing;

compare the learn time with a current time; and

determine that the current time is later than the learn time.

16. The information handling system of claim 9, wherein the first baseboard management controller is further operable to:

provide an indication the first learn cycle is complete, in response to successful completion of the first learn cycle.

17. A network storage device comprising:

an internal communication network;

a first storage processor coupled to the internal communication network, the first storage processor being operable to;

determine a need to initiate a first battery learn cycle;

receive an indication that a second battery learn cycle is in progress; and

delay the first battery learn cycle; and

a second storage processor coupled to the internal communication network, the second storage processor being operable to provide the indication that the second battery learn cycle is in progress.

18. The network storage device of claim 17, wherein:

the first storage processor comprises a first baseboard management controller, the first baseboard management controller being operable to;

determine the need to initiate the first battery learn cycle;

receive the indication from the second storage module;

delay the first battery learn cycle; and

the second storage processor comprises a second baseboard management controller, the second baseboard management controller being operable to;

provide the indication that the second battery learn cycle is in progress.

19. The network storage device of claim 17, further comprising:

a chassis management controller coupled to the internal communication network, the chassis management controller operable to;

receive the indication from the second storage processor; and

provide the indication to the first storage processor wherein;

the first storage processor comprises a first baseboard management controller, the first baseboard management controller being operable to;

determine the need to initiate the first battery learn cycle;

receive the indication from the chassis management controller; and

delay the first battery learn cycle; and

the second storage processor comprises a second baseboard management controller, the second baseboard management controller being operable to;

provide the indication that the second battery learn cycle is in progress to the chassis management controller.

20. The network storage device of claim 17, wherein:

the first storage processor comprises a first CPU, the first CPU being operable to;

determine the need to initiate the first battery learn cycle;

receive the indication from the second storage module; and

delay the first battery learn cycle; and

the second storage processor comprises a CPU, the second CPU being operable to;

provide the indication that the second battery learn cycle is in progress.