Granted Patent B2

US 12,267,981 · App. 18/047,821 · Granted Apr 1, 2025

Inventors: Donald W. Gerhart (Leander, TX); Randy Alton Frazier (New Braunfels, TX); Curtis Ray Genz (Round Rock, TX)

Assignee: Dell Products L.P.

H05K7/20G06F11/3058

Abstract

Claims (106)

1. A data processing system that provides computer implemented services, the data processing system comprising:

a heater positioned to, while powered, selectively warm a temperature sensitive hardware component;

a temperature sensor positioned to monitor a temperature associated with heating by the heater;

a heater power system adapted to:

selectively power the heater based on an adjustable temperature threshold; and

a thermal manager adapted to:

identify a startup of the data processing system;

based on the identified startup:

perform a cutoff test of the heater power system to identify a power cutoff capability state of the heater power system;

make, based on the power cutoff capability, a first determination regarding whether the heater power system passed the cutoff test;

in a first instance of the first determination where the heater power system passed the cutoff test:

perform a run mode test of the heater power system to obtain a run mode capability state of the heater power system; and

in a second instance of the first determination where the heater power system did not pass the cutoff test:

disallow the operation of the heater without performing the run mode test.

2. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein the thermal manager is further adapted to:

make, based on the run mode capability state, a second determination regarding whether the heater power system passed the run mode test;

in a first instance of the second determination where the heater power system passed the run mode test:

allow operation of the heater; and

in a second instance of the second determination where the heater power system did not pass the run mode test:

disallow the operation of the heater.

3. The data processing system of claim 2 , wherein allowing the operation of the heater comprises:

setting the adjustable temperature threshold for the operation of the heater to a runtime temperature to obtain an updated adjustable temperature limit.

4. The data processing system of claim 3 , wherein selectively powering the heater comprises:

comparing the temperature monitored by the temperature sensor to the updated adjustable temperature limit; and

depowering the heater when the temperature exceeds the updated adjustable temperature limit.

5. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein performing the cutoff test of the heater power system comprises:

identifying an ambient temperature;

setting a cutoff temperature of the heater power system to a temperature below the ambient temperature; and

monitoring, while the cutoff temperature is set to the temperature below the ambient temperature, an operating state of the heater to identify the power cutoff capability, the power cutoff capability being positive when the operating state of the heater is inoperable while the cutoff temperature is set to the temperature below the ambient temperature and the power cutoff capability being negative when the operating state of the heater is operable while the cutoff temperature is set to the temperature below.

6. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein the thermal manager is further adapted to:

based on the identified startup:

initiate operation of a timer;

while the timer is operating:

monitor for a heartbeat signal from at least one firmware enabled component tasked with managing, in part, operation of the heater;

make, based on the monitoring for the heartbeat signal, a second determination regarding whether the heartbeat signal is obtained prior to expiration of the timer;

in a first instance of the second determination where the heartbeat signal is not obtained prior to the expiration of the timer:

disallow operation of the heater; and

in a second instance of the second determination where the heartbeat signal is obtained prior to the expiration of the timer:

allow operation of the heater, and

restart the time.

7. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein the heater is depowered until selectively powered by the heater power system after the startup begins.

8. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensitive hardware component comprises a management controller that manages operation of the data processing system.

9. The data processing system of claim 1 , wherein the heater comprises a resistive heating element.

10. A computer-implemented method for providing computer implemented services with a data processing system, the method comprising:

identifying a startup of the data processing system;

based on the identified startup:

performing a cutoff test of a heater power system to identify a power cutoff capability state of the heater power system, the heater power system being adapted to selectively power a heater based on an adjustable temperature threshold, and the heater being positioned to, while powered, selectively warm a temperature sensitive hardware component of the data processing system;

making, based on the power cutoff capability and a temperature associated with heating by the heater and monitored by a temperature sensor, a first determination regarding whether the heater power system passed the cutoff test;

in a first instance of the first determination where the heater power system passed the cutoff test:

performing a run mode test of the heater power system to obtain a run mode capability state of the heater power system; and

in a second instance of the first determination where the heater power system did not pass the cutoff test:

disallow the operation of the heater without performing the run mode test.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further comprising:

making, based on the run mode capability state, a second determination regarding whether the heater power system passed the run mode test;

in a first instance of the second determination where the heater power system passed the run mode test:

allowing operation of the heater; and

in a second instance of the second determination where the heater power system did not pass the run mode test:

disallowing the operation of the heater.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein performing the cutoff test of the heater power system comprises:

identifying an ambient temperature;

setting a cutoff temperature of the heater power system to a temperature below the ambient temperature; and

monitoring, while the cutoff temperature is set to the temperature below the ambient temperature, an operating state of the heater to identify the power cutoff capability, the power cutoff capability being positive when the operating state of the heater is inoperable while the cutoff temperature is set to the temperature below the ambient temperature and the power cutoff capability being negative when the operating state of the heater is operable while the cutoff temperature is set to the temperature below.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , further comprising:

based on the identified startup:

initiating operation of a timer;

while the timer is operating:

monitoring for a heartbeat signal from at least one firmware enabled component tasked with managing, in part, operation of the heater;

making, based on the monitoring for the heartbeat signal, a second determination regarding whether the heartbeat signal is obtained prior to expiration of the timer;

in a first instance of the second determination where the heartbeat signal is not obtained prior to the expiration of the timer:

disallowing operation of the heater; and

in a second instance of the second determination where the heartbeat signal is obtained prior to the expiration of the timer:

allowing operation of the heater, and

restarting the time.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the heater is depowered until selectively powered by the heater power system after the startup begins.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the temperature sensitive hardware component comprises a management controller that manages operation of the data processing system.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the heater comprises a resistive heating element.

17. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a processor, cause a data processing system to perform operations for providing computer implemented services with a data processing system, the operations comprising:

identifying a startup of the data processing system;

based on the identified startup:

performing a cutoff test of a heater power system to identify a power cutoff capability state of the heater power system, the heater power system being adapted to selectively power a heater based on an adjustable temperature threshold, and the heater being positioned to, while powered, selectively warm a temperature sensitive hardware component of the data processing system;

making, based on the power cutoff capability and a temperature associated with heating by the heater and monitored by a temperature sensor, a first determination regarding whether the heater power system passed the cutoff test;

in a first instance of the first determination where the heater power system passed the cutoff test:

performing a run mode test of the heater power system to obtain a run mode capability state of the heater power system; and

in a second instance of the first determination where the heater power system did not pass the cutoff test:

disallow the operation of the heater without performing the run mode test.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise:

making, based on the run mode capability state, a second determination regarding whether the heater power system passed the run mode test;

in a first instance of the second determination where the heater power system passed the run mode test:

allowing operation of the heater; and

in a second instance of the second determination where the heater power system did not pass the run mode test:

disallowing the operation of the heater.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein performing the cutoff test of the heater power system comprises:

identifying an ambient temperature;

setting a cutoff temperature of the heater power system to a temperature below the ambient temperature; and

monitoring, while the cutoff temperature is set to the temperature below the ambient temperature, an operating state of the heater to identify the power cutoff capability, the power cutoff capability being positive when the operating state of the heater is inoperable while the cutoff temperature is set to the temperature below the ambient temperature and the power cutoff capability being negative when the operating state of the heater is operable while the cutoff temperature is set to the temperature below.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise:

based on the identified startup:

initiating operation of a timer;

while the timer is operating:

monitoring for a heartbeat signal from at least one firmware enabled component tasked with managing, in part, operation of the heater;

making, based on the monitoring for the heartbeat signal, a second determination regarding whether the heartbeat signal is obtained prior to expiration of the timer;

in a first instance of the second determination where the heartbeat signal is not obtained prior to the expiration of the timer:

disallowing operation of the heater; and

in a second instance of the second determination where the heartbeat signal is obtained prior to the expiration of the timer:

allowing operation of the heater, and

restarting the time.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (20)

Cited By (1)

US 12,493,515