Patent Application
20060271804
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of information handling systems and, more particularly, to a method and system for controlling delivery of electrical power to circuit board components in an information handling system.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes, thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use, such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Information handling system users often upgrade their systems by installing circuit boards in industry standard expansion slots. Some peripheral devices, such as those installed in PCI-Express expansion slots are capable of drawing in excess of 150 watts of power from a computer system. With a significant amount of this energy being dissipated into heat, it is possible to exceed the overall thermal design of the information handling system. It is apparent, therefore, that there is a need for an improved method and system for detecting circuit boards installed in information handling systems and for controlling the amount of power delivered to such expansion boards.
In accordance with the present invention, a system and method is provided for controlling delivery of electrical power to a circuit board in an information handling system. In the present invention, a power management system is operable to detect a circuit board that is operably coupled to a main system board of an information handling system. In some embodiments of the invention, the expansion circuit board is operably coupled to the main system board by a connector complying with the PCI-Express operating parameters. The power management subsystem detects the status of a cooling system associated with the expansion circuit board and is operable to control the amount of power delivered to the expansion circuit board based on the status of the cooling system. In some embodiments of the invention, the expansion circuit board is operable to provide information regarding the desired power consumption of the expansion circuit board. The power management subsystem of the present invention is operable to receive the information regarding the desired power consumption of the expansion circuit board and is further operable to detect the status of the cooling system associated with the expansion circuit board. Based on the status of the cooling system associated with the expansion circuit board, the power management subsystem sets the allowed power consumption for the expansion circuit board at an appropriate level.
The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference number throughout the several figures designates a like or similar element.
The method and apparatus of the present invention provides significant improvements in the use of circuit boards for expanding the performance capabilities of an information handling system, such as the information handling system 100 shown in
Referring to
As will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow, the present invention provides a method and system for detecting the expansion circuit board 130 and for controlling the power consumption of the expansion circuit board 130 based on a plurality of operating parameters that may include the state of the cooling system 136 associated with the expansion circuit board 130 and the temperature of other components in the information handling system 100. The power management subsystem is embodied in an integrated circuit 140 that is operably coupled to the processor 104 and is operable to receive and execute control signals received therefrom.
As was discussed hereinabove, one of the embodiments of the present invention implements the power management control using PCI-Express protocols in accordance with the PCI-Express Base Specification Revision 1.0, published on Jul. 22, 2002 (the “PCI-Express Specification”). In particular, page 389 of the aforementioned document describes the “Cards Power Budgeting structure” and the Power Budgeting Enhanced Capability Header (ID=0004) using the Data Select Register and the Data Register. In addition, page 352 of the aforementioned document describes the “PCI Express x16 slot power limit” in connection with the PCI Express Capability List Register (ID=10h) offset 14h (Slot Capability Register) Bit[14:7]=slot power limit value, Bit[16:15]=slot power limit scale. Each of the aforementioned portions of PCI-Express Specification is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. The PCI registers and related data parameters discussed above can be used to implement the power management functions described herein using circuitry and programming techniques known to those of skill in the art.
Referring again to
The power management subsystem 140 is operably connected to the power supply 132 and can control the amount of electrical power delivered by the power supply 132 depending on the desired power consumption for the expansion circuit board 130 and the status of the cooling system associated with the expansion circuit board 130. The power management subsystem is operable to monitor and control the cooling system 134 associated with the power supply 132. Finally, the power management subsystem 140 is operable to monitor and control the cooling system 138 on the information handling system chassis 139 to maintain the interior temperature of the information handling system at a predetermined temperature.
With regard to the energy consumption and cooling parameters of the expansion circuit board 130, the power management subsystem 140 is capable of receiving information regarding the existence of cooling system 136, the operating condition of cooling system 136, or the lack of a cooling system on the circuit board 130. The power management subsystem is also capable of monitoring the operating condition of the cooling systems 134 and 138. In one embodiment of the invention, the amount of power delivered to the expansion circuit board 130 is determined by monitoring the existence of the cooling system 136 and its operating status. In other embodiments of the invention, the amount of power delivered to the expansion circuit board is controlled by monitoring and controlling the operating status of the cooling systems 134 and 138, either individually or in combination.
Although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
