US6928560B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Distributed power control system
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 2001-09-28
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Granted: 2005-08-09
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Expires: 2021-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A computer system incorporates distributed power control. In particular, the computer system comprises a power supply for providing at least one voltage, a power distribution system, and N boards, or modules (where N>1) coupled to the power supply via the power distribution system. Each board comprises a voltage regulator, which receives the voltage from the power supply and provides a regulated voltage to the board, and a processor for controlling the voltage regulator for varying the regulated voltage.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph H. Fell, III
- 👤 William Weil
- 👤 Keith Mease
- 👤 Gregory Corban
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 08:53
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/20; G06F1/206; G06F1/26; G06F1/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A computer system comprising: a power supply for providing a voltage; at least two boards, each board receiving the voltage, and wherein each board comprises at least one voltage regulator, for receiving the voltage and for providing a regulated voltage level to the board, and at least one processor for controlling the regulated voltage level, wherein the processor monitors a value of at least one power-related parameter on the board and controls the voltage regulator in such a way as to influence a subsequent value of the at least one parameter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
A computer system comprising: a power supply for providing a voltage; at least two boards, each board receiving the voltage, and wherein each board comprises at least one voltage regulator, for receiving the voltage and for providing a regulated voltage level to the board, and at least one processor for controlling the regulated voltage level, wherein the processor monitors a value of at least one power-related parameter on the board and controls the voltage regulator in such a way as to influence a subsequent value of the at least one parameter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer system of claim 1 wherein the processor, upon detection of a fault associated with the at least one power related parameter, shuts down the board.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer system of claim 1 wherein the at least one power-related parameter is a regulated voltage of the board.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer system of claim 3 wherein the processor collects temperature values over time for performing a time-based analysis of the collected temperature values.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer system of claim 1 wherein the at least one power-related parameter is a temperature value of the board.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer system of claim 1 wherein each board further comprises a signaling interface for receiving instructions therefrom, and wherein, the processor is responsive to the received instructions for controlling the at least one voltage regulator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer system of claim 6 wherein the processor causes data to be written to a system log file, wherein the data is associated with the at least one power-related parameter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The computer system of claim 1 further comprising an interface for coupling to a console for receiving instructions therefrom for controlling various ones of the processors on each of the at least two boards.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
106 words
A computer system comprising: a plurality of boards, each board comprising a power control element, wherein the power control element comprises a regulator for providing a regulated voltage to the board and a processor for monitoring and controlling the regulator; and a signaling interface coupled to each power control element of each of the plurality of boards for communicating data to, and from, each one of the processors, wherein the processor for each board monitors a value of at least one power-related parameter for its board and controls its regulator in such a way as to influence a subsequent value of the at least one parameter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
106 words
A computer system comprising: a plurality of boards, each board comprising a power control element, wherein the power control element comprises a regulator for providing a regulated voltage to the board and a processor for monitoring and controlling the regulator; and a signaling interface coupled to each power control element of each of the plurality of boards for communicating data to, and from, each one of the processors, wherein the processor for each board monitors a value of at least one power-related parameter for its board and controls its regulator in such a way as to influence a subsequent value of the at least one parameter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer system of claim 9 wherein the processor for each board, upon detection of a fault associated with the at least one power related parameter, shuts down its board.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer system of claim 9 wherein the at least one power-related parameter is a regulated voltage of the board.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer system of claim 9 wherein the at least one power-related parameter is a temperature value of the board.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer system of claim 9 wherein the processor for each board is responsive to instructions received from the signaling interface for controlling its regulator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer system of claim 9 wherein the processor for each board causes data to be written to a system log file via the signaling interface and wherein the data is associated with the at least one power-related parameter of its board.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer system of claim 9 further comprising an interface for coupling to a console for receiving instructions therefrom for controlling various ones of the processors on each board.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer system of claim 9 further comprising a central controller coupled to the signaling interface for controlling the processor on each of the plurality of boards.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer system of claim 16 wherein the central controller causes data to be written to a log file representative of information received, via the signaling interface, with respect to at least one power-related parameter of one of the plurality of boards.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer system of claim 16 further comprising an interface for coupling the central controller to a console for receiving instructions therefrom for controlling various ones of the processors on each board.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-08-08 | 2009-02-07 | 2009-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-08-08 | 2013-02-07 | 2013-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-08-08 | 2017-02-07 | 2017-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |