Computing systems with power protection using infrared sensors
AssigneeQuanta Computer Inc.
InventorsHsiao-Tsu Ni, Ying-Che Chang, Chao-Nan Lin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system includes a first printed circuit board (PCB), a temperature sensor, a switching circuit provided on the first PCB, and a controller. The temperature sensor is configured to measure temperature of at least an area of the first PCB. The controller is configured to trigger the switching circuit to turn off power to the first PCB, based at least in part on the temperature sensor detecting a temperature above a temperature threshold. The system is able to disrupt power much faster than conventional methods of power protection which may have a blind spot to certain areas of the first PCB, since these methods rely on power disruption when a maximum power is sensed.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a chassis having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion arranged parallel to the bottom;
- a first printed circuit board (PCB) attached to the bottom portion of the chassis;
- a second PCB attached to the top portion of the chassis, the second PCB communicatively coupled to the first PCB, the second PCB including a temperature sensor configured to measure temperature of at least an area of the first PCB;
- a switching circuit provided on the first PCB;
- and
- a controller provided on the first PCB, the controller being communicatively coupled to the temperature sensor and configured to receive temperature information from the temperature sensor and trigger the switching circuit to turn off power to the first PCB based at least in part on the temperature information indicating a temperature above a temperature threshold.
A method implemented by a controller in a computing system, comprising:
- receiving, from a temperature sensor, temperature information pertaining to at least an area of a first printed circuit board (PCB), the first PCB secured to a bottom portion of a chassis of the computing system and the temperature sensor provided on a second PCB secured to a top portion of the chassis, the top portion arranged in parallel to the bottom portion;
- determining, via a controller provided on the first PCB, whether the received temperature information indicates that a temperature exceeds a temperature threshold, the controller being communicatively coupled to the temperature sensor;
- and
- triggering a switching circuit to turn off power to the first PCB based at least in part on the received temperature exceeding the temperature threshold, the switching circuit provided on the first PCB.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.