Rack server system and control method thereof

• US 10,013,040 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2015
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Original Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Inventors: Jau, Maw-Zan, Wang, Tzu-Hung, Chan, Chin-Hsiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Yi, Roy Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): AIELLO, JEFFREY P
• Application Number:
  US14/918,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20160103183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 320116, 320118, 320119, 320134, 320126, 702 63
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• 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 11/006 Identification G06F11/2289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2015 Redundant power supplies power supply failure G06F1/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/24 Marginal checking or other specified testing methods not covered by G06F11/26, e.g. race tests

Abstract

A rack server system and a control method thereof are provided. The rack server system establishes a communication link for communicating with a battery backup unit. The battery backup unit is connected to a power input port of the rack server system, and includes a number of battery modules connected with each other in parallel. The rack server system controls the battery backup unit to perform validity test on a first battery module during a first period and to perform validity test on a second battery module during a second period, wherein the first period and the second period are not overlapped with each other.

Claims

1. A battery backup control system, comprising:

a battery backup unit providing backup battery support for a server system, and including a plurality of battery modules connected in parallel;

a controller configured to;

receive results of previous validity tests on the plurality of battery modules;

determine that a first previous validity test of a first set battery modules of the plurality of battery modules is passed;

perform a first validity test of the first set battery modules during a first period of time;

determine that a second previous validity test of a second set battery modules of the plurality of battery modules is failed; and

skip a second validity test of the second set of battery modules during a second period of time;

wherein the first and second periods of time do not overlap and are configured in a time-sharing fashion such that the battery backup unit remains ready to provide the backup battery support to the server system.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the first and second sets of battery modules each include at least one battery module.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the first and second sets of battery modules do not overlap.

4. The control system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first set of battery modules or the second set of battery modules includes at least two battery modules.

5. The control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is connected to the battery backup unit, and controls the battery backup unit to perform the first and second validity tests.

6. The control system of claim 1, wherein the first and second validity tests are discharge tests.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein each battery module comprise:

a power supply port;

a battery; and

a DC-to-DC converter connected between the battery and the power supply port.

8. The control system of claim 1, wherein the load is a server rack system.

9. The control system of claim 8, wherein the controller is a part of the server rack system, and wherein the control system further comprises a communication interface configured to provide a communication pathway between the controller and the battery backup unit.

10. A battery backup control system, comprising:

a server rack system;

a battery backup unit configured to provide backup battery support for the server rack system, and including a plurality of battery modules connected in parallel;

a controller configured to;

receive results of previous validity tests on the plurality of battery modules;

determine that a first previous validity test of a first set battery modules of the plurality of battery modules is passed;

perform a first validity test of the first set battery modules during a first period of time;

determine that a second previous validity test of a second set battery modules of the plurality of battery modules is failed; and

skip a second validity test of the second set of battery modules during a second period of time; and

a communication interface configured to provide a communication pathway between the controller and the battery backup unit;

wherein the first and second periods of time do not overlap and are configured in a time-sharing fashion such that the battery backup unit remains ready to provide the backup battery support to the server rack system.

11. The control system of claim 10, wherein the first and second sets of battery modules each include at least one battery module.

12. The control system of claim 10, wherein the first and second sets of battery modules do not overlap.

13. The control system of claim 11, wherein the first and/or the second sets of battery modules includes at least two battery modules.

14. The control system of claim 10, wherein the first and second validity tests are discharge tests.

15. The control system of claim 10, wherein each battery module comprises:

a power supply port;

a battery; and

a DC-to-DC converter connected between the battery and the power supply port.

16. A method for controlling a battery backup control system, comprising:

providing backup battery support for a server system through a battery backup unit including a plurality of battery modules connected in parallel;

receiving results of previous validity tests on the plurality of battery modules;

determining that a first previous validity test of a first set battery modules of the plurality of battery modules is passed;

performing a first validity test of the first set battery modules during a first period of time;

determining that a second previous validity test of a second set battery modules of the plurality of battery modules is failed; and

skipping a second validity test of the second set of battery modules during a second period of time,

wherein the first and second periods of time do not overlap and are configured in a time-sharing fashion such that the battery backup unit remains ready to provide the backup battery support to the server system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second performing each comprises a test on at least one battery.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second sets of battery modules do not overlap.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and/or the second performing comprises a test on at least two battery modules.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first and second validity tests are discharge tests.