Method And Apparatus For Reducing Server Power Supply Size And Cost

Abstract

Computing and server power supplies are typically sized larger to deliver the maximum power the system may need. However since systems are not often used to capacity a smaller power supply may be used in conjunction with a thermal sensor to monitor a critical component of the power supply defined as the particular component within the power supply whose temperature reaches its maximum allowed limit sooner than any other power supply component when the average (continuous) power may exceed the power supply's max rating. When a critical temperature has been reached, an interrupt signal is generated by the power supply to signal the host to throttle back until the temperature comes back into an acceptable range.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power supply, comprising:
 a plurality of components for delivering power;   a critical component among the plurality of components;   a thermal sensor to monitor the temperature of the critical component; and   a circuit for generating an interrupt signal if the thermal sensor senses that the critical component has reached a first threshold temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The power supply as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the interrupt signal causes a host system to throttle. 
     
     
         3 . The power supply as recited in  claim 2  wherein the power supply has a lower power rating than that required by the host during peak utilization times. 
     
     
         4 . The power supply as recited in  claim 1  wherein the interrupt signal comprises a SMBAlert# signal. 
     
     
         5 . The power supply as recited in  claim 1  wherein the circuit for generating the interrupt signal comprises a comparator for comparing the output of the thermal sensor to a reference signal. 
     
     
         6 . The power supply as recited in  claim 1  wherein the circuit for generating the interrupt signal is a microprocessor and the interrupt signal is determined by software. 
     
     
         7 . A method, comprising:
 identifying a component within a power supply that reaches its maximum temperature during heavy load times before other components;   monitoring the temperature of the identified component; and   generating in signal to cause a device receiving power from the power supply to throttle when the component reaches an upper threshold temperature.   
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 8  wherein the device receiving power is a computing device. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 8  wherein the interrupt signal comprises a SMBAlert# signal. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in claim wherein the throttling comprises:
 causing the computing device to operate at a slower clock rate.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 7  further comprising:
 deasserting the interrupt signal when the component temperature drops to a lower threshold temperature. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 7  wherein the generating comprises a comparator for comparing the temperature of the component to a temperature warning threshold signal. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 7  wherein the generating is done with software. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 sizing the power rating of the power supply smaller than the power rating of the device receiving power.   
     
     
         15 . A system for using a smaller power supply than a power supply called for by a computer, comprising:
 a power supply;   a temperature sensor within the power supply;   means for generating an interrupt signal to cause the computer to throttle when the temperature sensor detects a threshold temperature has been reached.   
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a component within the power supply that reaches its maximum allowable temperature before other components which is monitored by the temperature sensor.   
     
     
         17 . The system as recited  claim 14  wherein the interrupt signal comprises a SMBAlert# signal. 
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 17  wherein throttling comprises running the computing device at a slower clock speed. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 17  wherein the computing device comprises a server.