System for reducing power consumption upon loss of main power in an information handling system
AssigneeDell Products L.P.
InventorsIsaac Qin Wang, Timothy M. Lambert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In accordance with one embodiment, a fan controller operates in a standard mode when main power is provided to the power supply unit in which speed of the fan is controlled in response to a primary pulse width modulation (PWM) signal from a power controller. A loss of the main power to the power supply unit may be detected at a logic circuit, which provides a secondary PWM signal to the fan controller in response to the loss of the main power. In certain embodiments, the fan controller is operated in a power loss mode in response to the secondary PWM signal to direct the speed of the fan to a low-power consumption target speed.
Claims20
A method for reducing power consumption by a fan upon loss of main power to a power supply unit in an information handling system, comprising:
- operating a fan controller in a standard mode when main power is provided to the power supply unit, wherein the fan controller is configured to control speed of the fan in response to a primary pulse width modulation (PWM) signal from a power controller;
- detecting a loss of the main power to the power supply unit at a logic circuit;
- providing a secondary PWM signal from the logic circuit to the fan controller in response to loss of the main power to the power supply unit;
- and
- operating the fan controller in a power loss mode in response to the secondary PWM signal, wherein the fan controller directs the speed of the fan to a low-power consumption target speed in the power loss mode.
A fan control system for use in an information handling system having a power supply unit configured to receive power from a main power supply, the fan control system comprising:
- a fan controller configured to operate in a standard mode when the main power supply provides power to the power supply unit, wherein the fan controller is configured to control speed of a fan in response to a primary pulse width modulation (PWM) signal from a power controller in the standard mode;
- and
- a programmable logic device configured to receive a power status signal corresponding to a state of power from the main power supply to the power supply unit, wherein the programmable logic device is configured to provide a secondary PWM signal to the fan controller when the power status signal goes to a state indicating that the power supply unit is not receiving power from the main power supply;
- wherein the fan controller is further configured to operate in a power loss mode in response to the secondary PWM signal, wherein the fan controller directs the speed of the fan to a low-power consumption target speed in the power loss mode.
An information handling system comprising:
- a processor;
- memory accessible to the processor, wherein the memory includes a non-volatile dual in-line memory module (NVDIMM);
- a power supply system configured to receive main power and to generate system power to the NVDIMM, wherein the power supply system is further configured to generate a power loss signal indicative of a loss of main power to the power supply system;
- a fan disposed to provide an airflow over the NVDIMM;
- a fan controller configured to control speed of the fan;
- a primary pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generator configured to generate a primary PWM signal to the fan controller, wherein the fan controller uses the primary PWM signal to operate in a standard mode when main power is provided to the power supply system, wherein the fan controller is configured to control speed of the fan in response to the primary PWM signal from the primary PWM signal generator;
- and
- a programmable logic device configured to receive the power loss signal, wherein the programmable logic device is configured to generate a secondary PWM signal to the fan controller when the power loss signal indicates a loss of main power to the power supply system;
- wherein the fan controller operates in a power loss mode in response to the secondary PWM signal, wherein the fan controller directs the speed of the fan to a low-power consumption target speed in the power loss mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.