Self-Powered Indicator

Abstract

A rack-mountable computer system includes: a power supply unit comprising a power storage module and a power switch module; a controller configured to generate a signal indicating status information of the rack-mountable computer system; an indicator configured to indicate the status information of the rack-mountable computer system; and a signal latch module. The power supply unit switches a power supply of the indicator from the external power supply unit to the power supply unit in a power loss event when the rack-mountable computer system is detached from a rack or a system power of the rack is lost from an external power supply unit and supplies power to the indicator after the power loss event occurs. The signal latch module is configured to latch the signal that is generated by the controller and indicates the status information of the rack-mountable computer system in response to the power loss event.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rack-mountable computer system comprising:
 a power supply unit comprising a power storage module and a power switch module;   a controller configured to generate a signal indicating status information of the rack-mountable computer system;   an indicator configured to indicate the status information of the rack-mountable computer system; and   a signal latch module,   wherein the power supply unit switches a power supply of the indicator from the external power supply unit to the power supply unit in a power loss event when the rack-mountable computer system is detached from a rack or a system power of the rack is lost from an external power supply unit and supplies power to the indicator after the power loss event occurs, and   wherein the signal latch module is configured to latch the signal that is generated by the controller and indicates the status information of the rack-mountable computer system in response to the power loss event.   
     
     
         2 . The rack-mountable computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply unit switches a power supply of the signal latch module from the external power supply unit to the power supply unit in response to the power loss event. 
     
     
         3 . The rack-mountable computer system of  claim 2 , wherein the power off signal is received from an external power supply unit. 
     
     
         4 . The rack-mountable computer system of  claim 2 , wherein the power off signal is generated by the power supply unit. 
     
     
         5 . The rack-mountable computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the power storage module includes a super capacitor or a battery. 
     
     
         6 . The rack-mountable computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the power switch module is configured to switch a power source of the indicator from an external power supply to the power supply unit when the external power supply is lost. 
     
     
         7 . The rack-mountable computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
     
     
         8 . The rack-mountable computer system of  claim 1 , further includes one or more data storage devices. 
     
     
         9 . The rack-mountable computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the indicator is configured to indicate the status information of the one or more data storage devices. 
     
     
         10 . The rack-mountable computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is a baseboard management controller (BMC) of the rack-mountable computer system. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 providing an internal power supply unit of a computer system;   detecting a power loss event of the computer system the computer system is detached from a rack or a system power of the rack is lost from an external power supply unit; and   switching a power supply of an indicator from the external power supply unit to the internal power supply unit and latching a status signal generated by a controller of the computer system after the power loss event occurs.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the power loss occurs when the computer system is detached from a rack or a system power of the rack is lost. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising receiving a power off signal from an external power supply unit associated with the rack. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising generating a power off signal using the internal power supply unit. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the internal power supply unit includes a power storage module. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the power storage module includes a super capacitor or a battery. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the indicator includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the computer system further includes one or more data storage devices. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the indicator is configured to indicate the status information of the one or more data storage devices. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is a baseboard management controller (BMC) of the computer system.