IP Library Granted Patent US 11,592,805
Granted Patent B2
US 11,592,805 · App. 16/836,698 · Granted Feb 28, 2023

Computing device expansion modules and control of their operation based on temperature

Inventors: Warren Bailey (Research Triangle Park, NC); Patrick Caporale (Research Triangle Park, NC); Alfredo Aldereguia (Research Triangle Park, NC); Brett Scrivner (Research Triangle Park, NC); Michael DeCesaris (Research Triangle Park, NC); Mark McCool (Research Triangle Park, NC)
Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
G05B19/416G05D23/1917G06F1/206G06F9/448G06F13/10G05B2219/37431
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,592,805
App. No.
16/836,698
Granted
Feb 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Computing device expansion modules and control of their operation based on temperature are disclosed. According to an aspect, an expansion module includes an interface configured to operably connect to a computing device including a service manager. Further, the expansion module includes a controller configured to determine whether communication with the service manager of the computing device is enabled or not enabled. The controller is also configured to set a first temperature level at which operation of the expansion module is reduced in response to determining that communication with the service manager is enabled. Further, the controller is configured to set a second temperature level at which operation of the expansion module is reduced in response to determining that communication with the service manager is not enabled. The second temperature level is lower than the first temperature level.

Claims (53)

1. An expansion module comprising:

an interface configured to operably connect to a computing device including a service manager; and

a controller configured to:

determine whether communication with the service manager of the computing device is enabled or not enabled;

set a first temperature level at which operation of the expansion module is reduced in a closed loop operation wherein a detected temperature is communicated to the service manager in response to determining that communication with the service manager is enabled; and

set a second temperature level at which operation of the expansion module is reduced in an open loop operation wherein the detected temperature is not communicated to the service manager in response to determining that communication with the service manager is not enabled, wherein the second temperature level is lower than the first temperature level.

2. The expansion module of claim 1 , wherein the service manager comprises a baseboard management controller (BMC) of the computing device.

3. The expansion module of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether communication with the service manager is enabled by use of Management Component Transport Protocol (MCTP).

4. The expansion module of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:

determine that the detected temperature is at the first temperature level and communication with the service manager is enabled; and

reduce operation of the expansion module in response to determining that the detected temperature is at the first temperature level and communication with the service manager is enabled.

5. The expansion module of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:

determine that the detected temperature is at a third temperature level and communication with the service manager is enabled, wherein the third temperature level is less than the first temperature level; and

communicate, in the closed loop operation, a message to the service manager to reduce or halt operations with the expansion module in response to determining that the detected temperature is at the third temperature level and communication with the service manager is enabled.

6. The expansion module of claim 5 , wherein the second temperature level and the third temperature level are the same.

7. The expansion module of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:

determine that the detected temperature is at the second temperature level and communication with the service manager is not enabled; and

reduce operation of the expansion module, in the open loop operation, without communicating temperature information to the service manager in response to determining that the detected temperature is at the second temperature level and communication with the service manager is not enabled.

8. The expansion module of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine whether communication with the service manager is enabled or not enabled based on whether an identifier has been assigned for communication with the computing device.

9. The expansion module of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:

set a third temperature level that is lower than the first and second temperature levels;

determine that a temperature of the expansion module at the third temperature level is detected; and

communicate, in a closed loop operation, a message to the service manager to increase fan speed in response to determining that a temperature of the expansion module at the third temperature level is detected.

10. The expansion module of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to:

set a fourth temperature level that is lower than the first and second temperature levels, and that is higher than the third temperature level;

determine that a temperature of the expansion module at the fourth temperature level is detected; and

communicate, in a closed loop operation, a message to the service manager to increase fan speed to a maximum fan speed in response to determining that a temperature of the expansion module at the fourth temperature level is detected.

11. A method comprising:

at an expansion module:

determining whether communication with a service manager of a computing device is enabled or not enabled;

setting a first temperature level at which operation of the expansion module is reduced in a closed loop operation wherein a detected temperature is communicated to the service manager in response to determining that communication with the service manager is enabled; and

setting a second temperature level at which operation of the expansion module is reduced in in an open loop operation wherein the detected temperature is not communicated to the service manager response to determining that communication with the service manager is not enabled, wherein the second temperature level is lower than the first temperature level.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the service manager comprises a baseboard management controller (BMC) of the computing device.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining, at the expansion module, whether communication with the service manager is enabled by use of Management Component Transport Protocol (MCTP).

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising, at the expansion module:

determining that the detected temperature is at the first temperature level and communication with the service manager is enabled; and

reducing operation of the expansion module in response to determining that the detected temperature is at the first temperature level and communication with the service manager is enabled.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising, at the expansion module:

determining that the detected temperature is at a third temperature level and communication with the service manager is enabled, wherein the third temperature level is less than the first temperature level; and

communicating, in the closed loop operation, a message to the service manager to reduce or halt operations with the expansion module in response to determining that the detected temperature is at the third temperature level and communication with the service manager is enabled.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second temperature level and the third temperature level are the same.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising, at the expansion module:

determining that the detected temperature is at the second temperature level and communication with the service manager is not enabled; and

reducing operation of the expansion module, in the open loop operation, without communicating temperature information to the service manager in response to determining that the detected temperature is at the second temperature level and communication with the service manager is not enabled.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining, at the expansion module, whether communication with the service manager is enabled or not enabled based on whether an identifier has been assigned for communication with the computing device.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising, at the expansion module:

setting a third temperature level that is lower than the first and second temperature levels;

determining that a temperature of the expansion module at the third temperature level is detected; and

communicating, in a closed loop operation, a message to the service manager to increase fan speed in response to determining that a temperature of the expansion module at the third temperature level is detected.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the controller is configured to:

set a fourth temperature level that is lower than the first and second temperature levels, and that is higher than the third temperature level;

determine that a temperature of the expansion module at the fourth temperature level is detected; and

communicate, in a closed loop operation, a message to the service manager to increase fan speed to a maximum fan speed in response to determining that a temperature of the expansion module at the fourth temperature level is detected.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2025
From: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD.
To: LENOVO GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL LTD.
Reel/Frame 070267/0128 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2025
From: LENOVO GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 070269/0207 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 29, 2020
From: ALDEREGUIA, ALFREDO; BAILEY, WARREN; CAPOROLE, PATRICK; DECESARIS, MICHAEL; MCCOOL, MARK; SCRIVNER, BRETT
To: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 052521/0440 →