# US 12,010,817 B2 · Method and system for thermal excursion monitor and control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,010,817 B2 - Document ID: US12010817B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/578,148 - Filed: 2022-01-18 - Published: 2023-07-20 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2022-01-18 - Assignees: Dell Products L.P. - Applicants: Dell Products L.P. - Inventors: Eric Michael Tunks; Ayedin Nikazm; Donald Wayne Gerhart; Michael Joseph Stumpf - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12010817B2 ## CPC - G06F 1/189: {Power distribution} - H05K 7/207: {Thermal management, e.g. cabinet temperature control} - G06F 1/20: Cooling means - G06F 1/206: {comprising thermal management} - G06F 1/26: Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) - G06F 1/3206: Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality - G06F 1/3287: by switching off individual functional units in the computer system - H05K 7/1492: {having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications} - H05K 7/20836: {Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract A computing device includes a thermal excursion detection unit and a power supply unit. The thermal excursion detection unit is configured to monitor a temperature of an internal volume of the computing device and to control the operation of the power supply unit. The power supply unit is configured to provide power to hardware components in the computing device and the power supply unit only provides power to the hardware components when the thermal excursion detection unit permits. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computing device, comprising: a thermal excursion detection unit, wherein the thermal excursion detection unit is configured to monitor a temperature of an internal volume of the computing device and to control the operation of a power supply unit; the power supply unit is configured to provide power to hardware components in the computing device, wherein the power supply unit only provides power to the hardware components when the thermal excursion detection unit permits; and a baseboard management controller, wherein the thermal excursion detection unit executes on the baseboard management controller, wherein the power supply unit comprises the thermal excursion detection unit, wherein the power supply unit provides power to the baseboard management controller, wherein the hardware components do not comprise the baseboard management controller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computing device of claim 1, further comprising: a temperature sensor operatively connected to the thermal excursion detection unit, wherein the thermal excursion detection unit monitors the temperature of the internal volume of the computing device using the temperature sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computing device of claim 1, wherein the power supply unit provides power to the thermal excursion detection unit and a temperature sensor, wherein the hardware components do not comprise the thermal excursion detection unit and the temperature sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The computing device of claim 2, further comprising: a battery, wherein the battery provides power to the thermal excursion detection unit and the temperature sensor, wherein the power supply unit does not provide power to the thermal excursion detection unit and the temperature sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The computing device of claim 2, further comprising: a supercapacitor, wherein the supercapacitor provides power to the thermal excursion detection unit and the temperature sensor, wherein the power supply unit does not provide power to the thermal excursion detection unit and the temperature sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The computing device of claim 1, wherein the thermal excursion detection unit is further configured to generate alerts to indicate that the temperature of the internal volume of the computing device is outside a designed operating range. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The computing device of claim 1, wherein the thermal excursion detection unit instructs the power supply unit to provide power to the hardware components when the internal volume of the computing device is within a designed operating range. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The computing device of claim 1, wherein the thermal excursion unit instructs the power supply unit to not provide power to the hardware components when the internal volume of the computing device is outside a designed operating range. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The computing device of claim 8, further comprising: a heating and cooling control component, wherein the thermal excursion unit instructs the power supply unit to provide power to the heating and cooling component when the internal volume of the computing device is outside the designed operating range. ### Claim 10 A method for thermal excursion monitor and control of an internal volume of a computing device, comprising: detecting a current temperature of an internal volume of a computing device via a temperature sensor that is operatively connected to a hardware component of the computing device; making a determination, using the detected current temperature, that the current temperature of the internal volume of the computing device is below a threshold; and in response to the determination: preventing a power supply unit to provide power to hardware components in the computing device and stopping operation of the computing device, wherein the power supply unit comprises a thermal excursion detection unit, wherein, in order to prevent a damage to each of the hardware components, the thermal excursion detection unit instructs the power supply unit not to provide power to the hardware components comprising at least the thermal excursion detection unit and the temperature sensor, and wherein, when the power supply unit does not provide power to the thermal excursion detection unit and the temperature sensor, a battery of the computing device provides power to the thermal excursion detection unit and the temperature sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: based on the determination: generating alerts; and bringing a temperature of the internal volume of the computing device to a designed operating range. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: detecting the current temperature of the internal volume of the computing device; making a second determination, using the detected current temperature, that the current temperature of the internal volume of the computing device is above a threshold; in response to the second determination: preventing the power supply unit to provide power to the hardware components in the computing device and stopping operation of the computing device, wherein the power supply unit comprises the thermal excursion detection unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: based on the determination: generating alerts; and bringing a temperature of the internal volume of the computing device to a designed operating range. ### Claim 14 An information handling system, comprising: a cabinet housing a plurality of computing devices; the plurality of computing devices, wherein each of the computing devices comprises: a thermal excursion detection unit, wherein the thermal excursion detection unit is configured to monitor a temperature of an internal volume of the computing device and to control the operation of a power supply unit; a temperature sensor operatively connected to the thermal excursion detection unit, wherein the thermal excursion detection unit monitors the temperature of the internal volume of the computing device using the temperature sensor; a battery, wherein the battery provides power to the thermal excursion detection unit and the temperature sensor, wherein the power supply unit does not provide power to the thermal excursion detection unit and the temperature sensor; and the power supply unit is configured to provide power to hardware components in the computing device, wherein the power supply unit only provides power to the hardware components when the thermal excursion detection unit permits. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The information handling system of claim 14, wherein the power supply unit comprises the thermal excursion detection unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The information handling system of claim 15, wherein the power supply unit provides power to the thermal excursion detection unit and a temperature sensor, wherein the hardware components do not comprise the thermal excursion detection unit and the temperature sensor.