IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,921,629
Granted Patent B2
US 9,921,629 · App. 14/952,250 · Granted Mar 20, 2018

Systems and methods for a multi-rail voltage regulator with configurable phase allocation

Inventors: Stuart Allen Berke (Austin, TX); John J. Breen (Harker Heights, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
G06F1/26G06F1/3234
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,921,629
App. No.
14/952,250
Filed
Nov 25, 2015
Granted
Mar 20, 2018
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2121
USPC
713/300
Abstract

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a processor and a power system comprising a plurality of voltage regulator phases, wherein at least one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases comprises an allocable voltage regulator phase that is configured to be selectively allocated to one of at least a first voltage rail and a second voltage rail of the information handling system based on a hardware configuration of the information handling system.

Claims (37)

1. An information handling system comprising:

a processor;

at least first and second voltage rails;

a power system comprising a plurality of voltage regulator phases, the plurality of voltage regulator phases including at least one allocable voltage regulator phase and at least one statically allocated voltage regulator phase;

a first switch coupled between the first voltage rail and the allocable voltage regulator phase; and

a second switch coupled between the second voltage rail and the allocable voltage regulator phase;

wherein the allocable voltage regulator phase is configured to be selectively allocated to the first voltage rail by the first switch being closed and the second switch being open, or to the second voltage rail by the first switch being open and the second switch being closed, the selective allocation being based on a hardware configuration of the information handling system; and

wherein the statically allocated voltage regulator phase is allocated to the first voltage rail by being coupled directly to the first voltage rail without an intervening switch.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 , further comprising a power controller configured to, based on the hardware configuration:

determine a number of voltage rails to be allocated to information handling resources of the information handling system;

determine a number of voltage regulator phases to be allocated for each of the voltage rails to be allocated; and

selectively allocate the allocable voltage regulator phase to one of at least the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail based on the number of voltage rails to be allocated and the number of voltage regulator phases to be allocated to each of the voltage rails to be allocated.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the hardware configuration comprises an indication of whether the processor comprises a multi-chip package.

4. The information handling system of claim 3 , wherein the hardware configuration comprises an indication of a type of the multi-chip package.

5. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the hardware configuration comprises an indication of memory modules implementing a memory of the information handling system.

6. A method comprising:

in an information handling system that includes at least first and second voltage rails and a plurality of voltage regulator phases, the plurality of voltage regulator phases including at least one allocable voltage regulator phase and at least one statically allocated voltage regulator phase, the information handling system further including a first switch coupled between the first voltage rail and the allocable voltage regulator phase and a second switch coupled between the second voltage rail and the allocable voltage regulator phase:

selectively allocating the at least one allocable voltage regulator phase to the first voltage rail by closing the first switch and opening the second switch, or to the second voltage rail by opening the first switch and closing the second switch, wherein the selectively allocating is based on a hardware configuration of the information handling systems;

wherein the statically allocated voltage regulator phase is allocated to the first voltage rail by being coupled directly to the first voltage rail without an intervening switch.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising, based on the hardware configuration:

determining a number of voltage rails to be allocated to information handling resources of the information handling system;

determining a number of voltage regulator phases to be allocated for each of the voltage rails to be allocated; and

selectively allocating the allocable voltage regulator phase to one of at least the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail based on the number of voltage rails to be allocated and the number of voltage regulator phases to be allocated to each of the voltage rails to be allocated.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the hardware configuration comprises an indication of whether a processor of the information handling system comprises a multi-chip package.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the hardware configuration comprises an indication of a type of the multi-chip package.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the hardware configuration comprises an indication of memory modules implementing a memory of the information handling system.

11. An article of manufacture comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium; and

computer-executable instructions carried on the non-transitory computer-readable medium, the instructions readable by a processor of an information handling system that includes at least first and second voltage rails, a plurality of voltage regulator phases including at least one allocable voltage regulator phase and at least one statically allocated voltage regulator phase, a first switch coupled between the first voltage rail and the allocable voltage regulator phase, and a second switch coupled between the second voltage rail and the allocable voltage regulator phase, the instructions, when read and executed, for causing the processor to selectively allocate the allocable voltage regulator phase to the first voltage rail by closing the first switch and opening the second switch, or to the second voltage rail by opening the first switch and closing the second switch, the selective allocation being based on a hardware configuration of the information handling systems;

wherein the statically allocated voltage regulator phase is allocated to the first voltage rail by being coupled directly to the first voltage rail without an intervening switch.

12. The article of claim 11 , the instructions for further causing the processor to, based on the hardware configuration:

determine a number of voltage rails to be allocated to information handling resources of the information handling system;

determine a number of voltage regulator phases to be allocated for each of the voltage rails to be allocated; and

selectively allocate the allocable voltage regulator phase to one of at least the first voltage rail and the second voltage rail based on the number of voltage rails to be allocated and the number of voltage regulator phases to be allocated to each of the voltage rails to be allocated.

13. The article of claim 11 , wherein the hardware configuration comprises an indication of whether the processor comprises a multi-chip package.

14. The article of claim 13 , wherein the hardware configuration comprises an indication of a type of the multi-chip package.

15. The article of claim 11 , wherein the hardware configuration comprises an indication of memory modules implementing a memory of the information handling system.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF REEL 037848 FRAME 0210 (NOTE) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040031/0725 →
RELEASE OF REEL 037848 FRAME 0001 (TL) Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040028/0152 →
RELEASE OF REEL 037847 FRAME 0843 (ABL) Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040017/0366 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Feb 18, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037848/0001 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Feb 18, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 037847/0843 →
SUPPLEMENT TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Feb 18, 2016
From: DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037848/0210 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 25, 2015
From: BERKE, STUART ALLEN; BREEN, JOHN J.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 037142/0139 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170147050A1 · May 25, 2017