System and method for controlling temperature in an information handling system

• US 9,804,657 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2013
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Moss, David L., Artman, Paul, Duncan, Tyler
• Primary Examiner(s): Kasenge, Charles
• Application Number:
  US13/963,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20130332757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,544 Days
• Field of Search: 700300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling temperature in an information handling system is provided. In certain embodiments, a method may include receiving a desired threshold value, determining if a current real-time system value exceeds the desired threshold value, determining if a power shedding mode is enabled, if the power shedding mode is enabled, adjusting power supplied to the information handling system, and if the power shedding mode is not enabled, dynamically adjusting a fan speed of a cooling fan associated with the information handling system.

Claims

1. A method for controlling temperatures in an information handling system, the method comprising:

receiving a predetermined threshold value;

determining a current real-time system value;

determining if the current real-time system value exceeds the predetermined threshold value;

determining if a power shedding mode is enabled;

if the power shedding mode is enabled, adjusting power supplied to the information handling system such that the current real-time system value is reduced to a value at or below the predetermined threshold value; and

if the power shedding mode is not enabled, dynamically adjusting a fan speed of a cooling fan such that the current real-time system value is reduced to a value at or below the predetermined threshold value, wherein dynamically adjusting the fan speed of the cooling fan comprises determining the fan speed as a function of a power consumption value of a component associated with the information handling system and a desired temperature differential value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold value comprises the desired temperature differential value and the current real-time system value comprises a current temperature differential value.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the current real-time system value comprises:

receiving the power consumption value;

receiving the fan speed of the cooling fan; and

determining a current temperature differential value based at least on the power consumption value and the fan speed.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold value comprises a desired exhaust temperature value and the current real-time system value comprises a current exhaust temperature value.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the current real-time system value comprises:

receiving the power consumption value;

receiving the fan speed of the cooling fan;

determining a current temperature differential value based at least on the power consumption value and the fan speed; and

determining a current exhaust temperature value based on the current temperature differential value.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein dynamically adjusting the fan speed further comprises determining the fan speed from a fan speed curve, wherein the fan speed curve is a function of the power consumption value and the desired temperature differential value.

7. An apparatus for controlling temperatures in an information handling system, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, are configured to cause the processor to;

receive a predetermined threshold value;

determine a current real-time system value;

determine if the current real-time system value exceeds the predetermined threshold value;

determine if a power shedding mode is enabled;

if the power shedding mode is enabled, adjust power supplied to the information handling system such that the current real-time system value is reduced to a value at or below the predetermined threshold value; and

if the power shedding mode is not enabled, dynamically adjust a fan speed of a cooling fan such that the current real-time system value is reduced to a value at or below the predetermined threshold value, wherein dynamically adjusting the fan speed of the cooling fans comprises determining the fan speed as a function of a power consumption value of a component associated with the information handling system and a desired temperature differential value.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined threshold value comprises the desired temperature differential value and the current real-time system value comprises a current temperature differential value.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein determining the current real-time system value comprises:

receiving the power consumption value;

receiving the fan speed of the cooling fan; and

determining a current temperature differential value based at least on the power consumption value and the fan speed.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined threshold value comprises a desired exhaust temperature value and the current real-time system value comprises a current exhaust temperature value.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein determining the current real-time system value comprises:

receiving the power consumption value;

receiving the fan speed of the cooling fan;

determining a current temperature differential value based at least on the power consumption value and the fan speed; and

determining a current exhaust temperature value based on the current temperature differential value.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein dynamically adjusting the fan speed further comprises determining the fan speed from a fan speed curve, wherein the fan speed curve is a function of the power consumption value and the desired temperature differential value.

13. A system for controlling temperatures in an information handling system, the system comprising:

a cooling fan configured to direct cool air to components of the information handling system; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the cooling fan and configured to;

receive a predetermined threshold value;

determine a current real-time system value;

determine if the current real-time system value exceeds the predetermined threshold value;

determine if a power shedding mode is enabled;

if the power shedding mode is enabled, adjust power supplied to the information handling system such that the current real-time system value is reduced to a value at or below the predetermined threshold value; and

if the power shedding mode is not enabled, dynamically adjust a fan speed of a cooling fan such that the current real-time system value is reduced to a value at or below the predetermined threshold value, wherein dynamically adjusting the fan speed of the cooling fans comprises determining the fan speed as a function of a power consumption value of a component associated with the information handling system and a desired temperature differential value.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined threshold value comprises the desired temperature differential value and the current real-time system value comprises a current temperature differential value.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein determining the current real-time system value comprises:

receiving the power consumption value;

receiving the fan speed of the cooling fan; and

determining a current temperature differential value based at least on the power consumption value and the fan speed.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined threshold value comprises a desired exhaust temperature value and the current real-time system value comprises a current exhaust temperature value.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein determining the current real-time system value comprises:

receiving the power consumption value;

receiving the fan speed of the cooling fan;

determining a current temperature differential value based at least on the power consumption value and the fan speed; and

determining a current exhaust temperature value based on the current temperature differential value.

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to receive the power consumption value via a PMbus.

19. The system according to claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to correlate the fan speed of the cooling fan to a flow rate value.

20. The system according to claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the fan speed of the cooling fan to a fan speed at or above a fan speed required by the components of the information handling system.