Method for dynamically cooling when detecting RAID controller with battery present in computer system

• US 20070214820A1
• Filed: 03/16/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Bestavros, Ralph, Olarig, Sompong
• Granted Patent: US 8,041,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/259.200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20836 Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

For dynamically cooling an input/output (I/O) controller, a presence of the I/O controller is automatically detected. The I/O controller includes an electronic component capable of generating heat that is greater than a predefined amount when the electronic component is operating in a predefined state. The I/O controller provides a control output in response to a demand indicative of operating the electronic component in the predefined state. The control output is provided to a baseboard management controller (BMC) that is capable of providing additional cooling to the I/O controller in response to the control signal.

Claims

1. An information handling system (IHS) comprising:

a processor;

a bus coupled to the processor;

an input/output (I/O) controller coupled to the bus, wherein the I/O controller controls inputs and outputs, wherein the I/O controller provides a control output in response to a demand for additional cooling; and

a baseboard management controller (BMC) coupled to the bus, wherein the BMC is operable to receive the control output, wherein the BMC is operable to control additional cooling provided to the I/O controller in response to the control output.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the inputs and outputs are coupled to a storage device, wherein data stored on the storage device is accessible to the processor.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the storage device includes hard disk drives in accordance with a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) architecture.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the I/O controller includes an electronic component capable of generating heat that is greater than a predefined amount when the electronic component is operating in a predefined state, wherein the demand provided by the electronic component is indicative of the predefined state.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein a basic input output system (BIOS) automatically detects a presence of the I/O controller having the electronic component when the I/O controller is coupled to the bus.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the electronic component is a rechargeable battery.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the predefined state is one of a charging state and a discharging state.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the electronic component enters the predefined state at a prescheduled time, wherein the control output is provided in advance of the prescheduled time by a predefined time interval.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control output is communicated via a system management bus (SMbus) in accordance with an intelligent platform management interface (IPMI) standard.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the BMC is unable to provide the additional cooling, wherein the BMC causes the I/O controller to delay the demand for the additional cooling.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the BMC provides a return control output to the I/O controller to cause the delay.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the additional cooling results in an increase in air flow across the I/O controller.

13. A method for cooling an input/output (I/O) controller, the method comprising:

providing a control output in response to a demand for additional cooling; and

providing the additional cooling to the I/O controller in response to the control output.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

detecting the demand being generated by an electronic component of the I/O controller, the electronic component being capable of generating heat that is greater than a predefined amount when the electronic component is operating in a predefined state.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the predefined state is one of a charging state and a discharging state, wherein the electronic component enters the predefined state at a prescheduled time, wherein the control output is provided in advance of the prescheduled time by a predefined time interval.

16. An input/output (I/O) controller comprising:

a control logic capable of receiving a demand for additional cooling; and

a control output provided by the control logic, wherein the control output is indicative of the additional cooling.

17. The I/O controller of claim 16, wherein the I/O controller is a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) controller.

18. The I/O controller of claim 16 further comprising:

an electronic component capable of generating heat that is greater than a predefined amount when the electronic component is operating in a predefined state;

a timer circuit to control the electronic component operating in the predefined state at a prescheduled time, wherein the demand is provided in advance of the prescheduled time by a predefined time interval, wherein the control output is provided in anticipation of the electronic component operating in the predefined state.

19. The I/O controller of claim 18, wherein the predefined state is one of a charging state and a discharging state, wherein the electronic component is a rechargeable battery.

20. The I/O controller of claim 16, wherein the control output is communicated via a system management bus (SMbus) in accordance with an intelligent platform management interface (IPMI) standard.