IP Library Granted Patent US 10,866,629
Granted Patent B2
US 10,866,629 · App. 15/983,419 · Granted Dec 15, 2020

Power control for computer systems with multiple power supplies

Inventors: Timothy J. Schlude (Apex, NC); Warren D. Bailey (Pittsboro, NC); Ritu Bhatia (Morrisville, NC); Michael D. French, Jr. (Apex, NC); Donald N. Tingen (Mebane, NC)
Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
G06F1/3296G06F1/3206
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,866,629
App. No.
15/983,419
Granted
Dec 15, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Power control for computer systems with multiple power supplies including receiving a first measurement of power supplied to a computer system by a first power supply; receiving a second measurement of power supplied to the computer system by a second power supply; calculating a total power supplied to the computer system by combining the first measurement of power supplied to the computer system by the first power supply and the second measurement of power supplied to the computer system by the second power supply; comparing the total power supplied to the computer system to a power threshold of the computer system; and in response to determining that the total power supplied exceeds the power threshold of the computer system, shutting off the first power supply.

Claims (42)

1. A method comprising:

by program instructions on a computing device,

receiving a first measurement of power supplied to a computer system by a first power supply;

receiving a second measurement of power supplied to the computer system by a second power supply;

calculating a total power supplied to the computer system by combining the first measurement of power supplied to the computer system by the first power supply and the second measurement of power supplied to the computer system by the second power supply;

comparing, by a controller on the first power supply, the total power supplied to the computer system to a power threshold of the computer system, wherein the power threshold of the computer system is a maximum amount of power the computer system draws before damage to the computer system occurs; and

in response to determining that the total power supplied exceeds the power threshold of the computer system, shutting off the first power supply.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to determining that the total power supplied exceeds the power threshold of the computer system, shutting off the second power supply.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein shutting off the second power supply comprises sending a shutoff signal to a controller on the second power supply.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein shutting off the second power supply comprises sending a shutoff signal directly to a shutoff mechanism on the second power supply.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first measurement of power supplied to the computer system by the first power supply does not exceed a power threshold of the first power supply, and wherein the second measurement of power supplied to the computer system by the second power supply does not exceed a power threshold of the second power supply.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the second measurement of power supplied to the computer system by the second power supply comprises receiving the second measurement from a controller on the second power supply; and

wherein the determination that the total power supplied exceeds the power threshold of the computer system is carried out by the controller on the first power supply.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the second measurement of power supplied to the computer system by the second power supply comprises receiving the second measurement directly from a power meter on the second power supply.

8. An apparatus comprising computer program instructions that, when executed, cause the apparatus to carry out the steps of:

receiving a first measurement of power supplied to a computer system by a first power supply;

receiving a second measurement of power supplied to the computer system by a second power supply;

calculating a total power supplied to the computer system by combining the first measurement of power supplied to the computer system by the first power supply and the second measurement of power supplied to the computer system by the second power supply;

comparing, by a controller on the first power supply, the total power supplied to the computer system to a power threshold of the computer system, wherein the power threshold of the computer system is a maximum amount of power the computer system draws before damage to the computer system occurs; and

in response to determining that the total power supplied exceeds the power threshold of the computer system, shutting off the first power supply.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the apparatus further carries out the steps of:

in response to determining that the total power supplied exceeds the power threshold of the computer system, shutting off the second power supply.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein shutting off the second power supply comprises sending a shutoff signal to a controller on the second power supply.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein shutting off the second power supply comprises sending a shutoff signal directly to a shutoff mechanism on the second power supply.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first measurement of power supplied to the computer system by the first power supply does not exceed a power threshold of the first power supply, and wherein the second measurement of power supplied to the computer system by the second power supply does not exceed a power threshold of the second power supply.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein receiving the second measurement of power supplied to the computer system by the second power supply comprises receiving the second measurement from a controller on the second power supply; and

wherein the determination that the total power supplied exceeds the power threshold of the computer system is carried out by the controller on the first power supply.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein receiving the second measurement of power supplied to the computer system by the second power supply comprises receiving the second measurement directly from a power meter on the second power supply.

15. A computer program product including a computer readable medium, the computer program product comprising computer program instructions that, when executed, cause a computer to carry out the steps of:

receiving a first measurement of power supplied to a computer system by a first power supply;

receiving a second measurement of power supplied to the computer system by a second power supply;

calculating a total power supplied to the computer system by combining the first measurement of power supplied to the computer system by the first power supply and the second measurement of power supplied to the computer system by the second power supply;

comparing, by a controller on the first power supply, the total power supplied to the computer system to a power threshold of the computer system, wherein the power threshold of the computer system is a maximum amount of power the computer system draws before damage to the computer system occurs; and

in response to determining that the total power supplied exceeds the power threshold of the computer system, shutting off the first power supply.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the computer program instructions further cause the computer to carry out the steps of:

in response to determining that the total power supplied exceeds the power threshold of the computer system, shutting off the second power supply.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein shutting off the second power supply comprises sending a shutoff signal to a controller on the second power supply.

18. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein shutting off the second power supply comprises sending a shutoff signal directly to a shutoff mechanism on the second power supply.

19. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the first measurement of power supplied to the computer system by the first power supply does not exceed a power threshold of the first power supply, and wherein the second measurement of power supplied to the computer system by the second power supply does not exceed a power threshold of the second power supply.

20. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein receiving the second measurement of power supplied to the computer system by the second power supply comprises receiving the second measurement from a controller on the second power supply; and

wherein the determination that the total power supplied exceeds the power threshold of the computer system is carried out by the controller on the first power supply.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: LENOVO GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 069869/0614 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2022
From: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
To: LENOVO GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL LTD
Reel/Frame 060649/0865 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 18, 2018
From: SCHLUDE, TIMOTHY J.; BAILEY, WARREN D.; BHATIA, RITU; FRENCH, MICHAEL D., JR.; TINGEN, DONALD N.
To: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 045843/0274 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190354164A1 · Nov 21, 2019