Server room power management apparatus and method thereof

• US 10,520,965 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2016
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cyberpower Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cyberpower Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Hsieh, Hung-Ming, Chien, Hung-Chun, Peng, Yung-Hao
• Primary Examiner(s): Cassity, Robert A
• Application Number:
  US14/990,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20160224046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 700286
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power

Abstract

A server room power management apparatus and method, the power management apparatus comprising a first PDE (power distribution equipment), at least one second PDE and at least one DM (digital meter); wherein a first network interface unit of the first PDE, a second network interface unit of the second PDE and the DM can be connected to become a network; the power management method uses a first processor of the first PDE to collect power consumptions of the second PDE and the DM; wherein, the first processor can work out power usage effectiveness; thus, the apparatus and method do not need an independent server device, that will reach power saving and reduce apparatus costs.

Claims

1. A server room power management apparatus comprising:

a first PDE (power distribution equipment) having a first processor unit and a plurality of first outlets, wherein the first processor unit uses a first current sensor, a first voltage sensor or a first power meter to measure a power consumption of the first outlets, and the first processor unit is connected to a first network interface unit;

at least one second PDE having a second processor unit and a plurality of second outlets, the second processor unit uses a second current sensor, a second voltage sensor or a second power meter to measure a power consumption of the second outlets, and the second processor unit is connected to a second network interface unit;

a standalone DM (digital meter), disposed outside the first PDE and the second PDE and connected between a mains power supply and a power line for measuring a power consumption of the power line, wherein a first power input terminal of the first PDE and a second power input terminal of the second PDE are connected to the power line;

a network hub, the network hub connected via a plurality of network cables to the first network interface unit, the second network interface unit and the standalone DM;

wherein the first processor unit collects an external power consumption information, the first processor unit works out a PUE (power usage effectiveness) according to the power consumption which is measured by the first current sensor, the first voltage sensor or the first power meter and the external power consumption information, and the external power consumption information includes the power consumption of the second PDE and the power consumption of the standalone DM.

2. The server room power management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second processor units is an ARM-base MCU (microcontroller unit), and the first and second network interface units are selected from a built-in Ethernet interface or an optical fiber network interface.

3. The server room power management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second outlets supply power to a plurality of information devices, and the power line supplies power to other devices.

4. The server room power management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first PDE is provided with a PDE display, and therefore the PUE counted by the first processor unit can be shown on the first PDE.

5. The server room power management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first processor unit is further connected to a display interface, the display interface is connected to a display output port, the display output port can connect to an independent display by a signal cable;

the display interface is selected from a VGA (Video Graphics Array) interface, a HDMI (High Definition Multimedia) interface or a Mini Display interface; and

the display output port is selected from a D-sub socket, a HDMI socket or a Mini Display socket.

6. The server room power management apparatus of claim 1, wherein the PUE counted by the first processor unit is temporarily saved in a first memory, and the network hub is connected to a manager and therefore is enabled to access, backup and display the PUE which is counted by the first processor unit;

the manager being selected from a personal computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer or an all-in-one computer.

7. A server room power management method comprising the steps of:

S1) transferring a network packet to at least one second PDE and a standalone DM by a first PDE, therefore can request the second PDE and the standalone DM to report self power consumption at regular time, wherein the standalone DM is disposed outside the first PDE and the second PDE, and is connected between a mains power supply and a power line for measuring a power consumption of the power line, wherein a first power input terminal of the first PDE and a second power input terminal of the second PDE are connected to the power line;

S2) measuring a power consumption A(x) of a period x by the first PDE, measuring a power consumption B(x) of the period x by the second PDE, and measuring a power consumption C(x) of the period x by the standalone DM;

S3) collecting the power consumptions B(x), C(x), the first PDE collecting the power consumptions B(x), C(x) by a network, and the first PDE will temporarily save the power consumptions A(x), B(x), C(x) in a memory of the first PDE;

S4) working out a PUE (power usage effectiveness) data of the period x by the first PDE, the PUE data being determined by a formula as below;

PUE(x)=C(x)/[A(x)+B(x)], the PUE(x) is the power usage effectiveness of the period x, and the first PDE will temporarily save the PUE(x) in the memory of the first PDE;

looping steps S2) to S4), therefore can continuously measure the power consumptions A(x), B(x), C(x) of each period x, and continuously work out the PUE(x) of each period x, the value x is in a range from 1 to N;

wherein the network is formed by a network hub used a plurality of network cables to connect to the first PDE, the second PDE and the standalone DM.

8. The server room power management method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

S5) transferring the PUE(x) of each period x to a manager, the first PDE can use a first network interface to transfer the PUE(x) of each period x; and

S6) accessing the above PUE(x), the manager can access, backup and display the above PUE(x).

9. The server room power management method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

S5a) transforming the above PUE(x) to a chart of PUE, the first PDE can transform the above PUE(x) to a chart of PUE, and the first PDE can use a first network interface to transfer the chart of PUE to a manager; and

S6a) accessing the chart of PUE, the manager can access, backup and display the chart of PUE.

10. A server room power management method comprising the steps of:

S1a) measuring a power consumption A(x) of a period x by a first PDE, measuring at least one power consumption B(x) of the period x by at least one second PDE, and measuring a power consumption C(x) of the period x by a standalone DM, wherein the standalone DM is disposed outside the first PDE and the second PDE, and is connected between a mains power supply and a power line for measuring a power consumption of the power line, wherein a first power input terminal of the first PDE and a second power input terminal of the second PDE are connected to the power line;

S2a) transferring a network packet to the second PDE and the DM by the first PDE, therefore can request the second PDE and the standalone DM to report the power consumptions B(x), C(x) of the period x;

S3) collecting the power consumptions B(x), C(x), the first PDE can collect the power consumptions B(x), C(x) by a network, and the first PDE will temporarily save the power consumptions A(x), B(x), C(x) in a memory of the first PDE;

S4) working out a PUE (power usage effectiveness) data of the period x by the first PDE, the PUE data is determined by a formula as below;

PUE(x)=C(x)/[A(x)+B(x)], the PUE(x) is the power usage effectiveness of the period x, and the first PDE will temporarily save the PUE(x) in the memory of the first PDE;

looping steps S1a) to S4), therefore can continuously measure the power consumptions A(x), B(x), C(x) of each period x, and continuously work out the PUE(x) of each period x, the value x is in a range from 1 to N;

wherein the network is formed by a network hub used a plurality of network cables to connect to the first PDE, the second PDE and the standalone DM.

11. A server room power management apparatus having at least one a first PDE, the first PDE comprising:

a first power input terminal, the first power input terminal is used to connect to a power line;

a plurality of first outlets, the first outlets are used to distribute a power source inputted from the first power input terminal;

a power meter, used to measure a power consumption of the first outlets;

a first processor unit, the first processor unit is used to work out a PUE, the first processor unit connects a first network interface unit;

a first memory unit, the first memory unit is used to save the PUE which is counted by the first processor unit, the first memory unit is connected to the first processor unit;

wherein the first processor unit collects an external power consumption information by the first network interface unit, the first processor unit works out the PUE which is determined by a formula as below;

PUE(x)=C(x)/[A(x)+B(x)], the PUE(x) is the power usage effectiveness of the period x, the A(x) is a power consumption of the first PDE in the period x, the B(x) is a power consumption of at least one second PDE in the period x, and the C(x) is a power consumption of a standalone DM (digital meter), wherein the standalone DM is disposed outside the first PDE and the second PDE, and is connected between a mains power supply and a power line for measuring a power consumption of the power line, wherein a first power input terminal of the first PDE and a second power input terminal of the second PDE are connected to the power line.

12. The server room power management apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first processor unit is an ARM-base MCU.

13. The server room power management apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first network interface unit has a first network port, the first network interface unit is a built-in Ethernet interface or an optical fiber network interface, and the first network port is a RJ45 network socket or an optical fiber network socket.

14. The server room power management apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first network port is connected to a network hub by a network cable, and the network hub is connected to a plurality of at least one the second PDE and the standalone DM.

15. The server room power management apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first network port is connected to a second network interface unit of the second PDE by a first network cable, the first network cable is connected to a second network port of the second network interface unit;

the first network interface unit has a third network port, and the third network port is connected to the standalone DM by a second network cable.

16. The server room power management apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first network interface unit has a fourth network port, the fourth network port is connected to a manager by a third network cable, and the manager is selected from a personal computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer or an all-in-one computer.

17. The server room power management apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first PDE is provided with a PDE display, and therefore the PUE counted by the first processor unit can be shown on the first PDE.

18. The server room power management apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first processor unit is further connected to a display interface, the display interface is connected to a display output port, the display output port is connected to an independent display by a signal cable;

the display interface is selected from a VGA interface, a HDMI interface or a Mini Display interface; and

the display output port is selected from a D-sub socket, a HDMI socket or a Mini Display socket.

19. The server room power management apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first processor unit is further connected to a controller, the controller is connected to an I/O (input/output) port, the I/O port can be selected from a USB socket or a Micro-USB socket;

and the I/O port is connected to a portable electronic device and therefore is enabled to access, backup and display the PUE which is counted by the first processor unit, and the portable electronic device uses the controller to modify and renew the function setting of the first PDE.

20. The server room power management apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first processor unit is further connected to a controller, the controller is connected to an I/O port, the I/O port is a memory card socket, a memory card can be inserted into the I/O port and therefore save the PUE which is counted by the first processor unit, and the memory card is selected from a SD card, a Micro-SD card or a Micro-SDHC card.

21. A server room power management apparatus having at least one a first PDE, the first PDE comprising:

a first power input terminal, the first power input terminal is used to connect to a power line;

a plurality of first outlets, the first outlets are used to distribute a power source inputted from the first power input terminal;

a current sensor, used to measure a power consumption of the first outlets;

a first processor unit, the first processor unit is used to work out a PUE, the first processor unit connects a first network interface unit;

a first memory unit, the first memory unit is used to save the PUE which is counted by the first processor unit, the first memory unit is connected to the first processor unit;

wherein the first processor unit collects an external power consumption information by the first network interface unit, the first processor unit works out the PUE which is determined by a formula as below;

PUE(x)=C(x)/[A(x)+B(x)], the PUE(x) is the power usage effectiveness of the period x, the A(x) is a power consumption of the first PDE in the period x, the B(x) is a power consumption of at least one second PDE in the period x, and the C(x) is a power consumption of a standalone DM (digital meter), wherein the standalone DM is disposed outside the first PDE and the second PDE, and is connected between a mains power supply and the power line for measuring a power consumptions of the power line, wherein the first power input terminal of the first PDE and a second power input terminal of the second PDE are connected to the power line.

22. A server room power management apparatus having at least one a first PDE, the first PDE comprising:

a first power input terminal, the first power input terminal is used to connect to a power line;

a plurality of first outlets, the first outlets are used to distribute a power source inputted from the first power input terminal;

a voltage sensor, used to measure a power consumption of the first outlets;

a first processor unit, the first processor unit is used to work out a PUE, the first processor unit connects a first network interface unit;

a first memory unit, the first memory unit is used to save the PUE which is counted by the first processor unit, the first memory unit is connected to the first processor unit;

wherein the first processor unit collects an external power consumption information by the first network interface unit, the first processor unit works out the PUE which is determined by a formula as below;

PUE(x)=C(x)/[A(x)+B(x)], the PUE(x) is the power usage effectiveness of the period x, the A(x) is a power consumption of the first PDE in the period x, the B(x) is a power consumption of at least one second PDE in the period x, and the C(x) is a power consumption of a standalone DM (digital meter), wherein the standalone DM is disposed outside the first PDE and the second PDE, and is connected between a mains power supply and the power line for measuring a power consumptions of the power line, wherein the first power input terminal of the first PDE and a second power input terminal of the second PDE are connected to the power line.