International Business Machines Corporation

Other

Robert Philip Makowicki

Gary Franklin Goth

Daniel J Kearney

Jody A Hickey

Steven G Shevach

John J Loparco

Xiaojin Wei

Kevin Robert Covi

William P Kostenko

Raymond J Harrington

Allan C VanDeventer

Donald W Porter

Steven John Ahladas

Katie L Pizzolato

Thomas C Long

Brian C Tucker

Dale F Sorenson

W David McClafferty

Gary N Goth

Dale F Soreson

Brain C Tucker

One aspect is a method that includes applying a plurality of incrementally varying voltage targets to a plurality of power phase converters operating in parallel between a source voltage rail and a load voltage rail. A phase temperature of each of the power phase converters is monitored. The phase temperature of each of the power phase converters is compared to a thermal adjustment limit. One or more of the power phase converters are adjusted to reduce an associated output current based on determining that at least one of the power phase converters exceeds the thermal adjustment limit. Power phase converter adjustments can be performed in a balanced manner such that a net sum voltage at the load voltage rail is substantially unchanged after the adjustments.

Thermal management in a multi-phase power system

A system and incorporated method is provided for performing high reliability flash updates using firmware residing in a computing environment. The system comprises a nonvolatile memory having a boot sector and an application sector and a volatile memory in processing communication to update the nonvolatile memory. The volatile memory also includes an implemented algorithm that can temporarily store functions necessary to update the nonvolatile memory via a flash update.

Reliably updating computer firmware while performing command and control functions on a power/thermal component in a high-availability, fault-tolerant, high-performance server

A protection circuit for a parallel power system having at least two parallel coupled voltage regulators is disclosed. The protection circuit includes at least two isolation control circuits, each control circuit being coupled to a respective voltage regulator. Each isolation control circuit includes a current sense circuit for sensing current polarity at an output of the respective voltage regulator, and a controller for automatically isolating the respective voltage regulator when an over-voltage condition exists at an output of the parallel power system and a positive current polarity is sensed at the output of the respective voltage regulator. The at least two isolation control circuits isolate only a voltage regulator having positive current outflow during the over-voltage condition. In one embodiment, each isolation control circuit further includes an over-voltage detection circuit for detecting when the over-voltage condition exists at the output of the parallel power system.

Over-voltage protection for voltage regulator modules of a parallel power system

Automated control is provided of rotational velocity of an air-moving device cooling an electronics subsystem of an electronics rack. The automated control includes: automatically responding to a failure event associated with the electronics subsystem of the rack by setting rotational velocity of the air-moving device to a first upper limit (RPM) above a normal operating limit; sensing motor temperature of a motor of the air-moving device; automatically increasing rotational velocity of the air-moving device to a second upper limit (RPM) if the sensed motor temperature is below a first predefined temperature threshold (T), wherein RPM&#x3e;RPM; maintaining rotational velocity of the air-moving device at the second upper limit while the sensed motor temperature is below a second predefined temperature threshold (T), wherein T&#x3e;T; and returning to normal operating rotational velocity of the air-moving device subsequent to servicing of the electronics rack responsive to the event.

Automated control of rotational velocity of an air-moving device of an electronics rack responsive to an event

A technique for controlling a system is provided in which a control-data table is employed for facilitating operation of the system, and an inject-fault-data table is selectively used during testing of the system. Pursuant to the technique, a security mechanism is provided to restrict the system's utilization of the inject-fault-data table. A security check by the security mechanism is to be satisfied for the system to access the inject-fault-data table. In an enhanced embodiment, the system is tested by substituting an inject-fault-data entry of the inject-fault-data table for a control-data entry of the control-data table as an input to the system. The testing verifies the response of the system to an emulated fault, which results from employing at least one inject-fault-data entry during testing of the system.

Control system, and program product employing an embedded mechanism for testing a system's fault-handling capability

A method of controlling a system is provided in which a control-data table is employed for facilitating operation of the system, and an inject-fault-data table is selectively used during testing of the system. Pursuant to the method, a security mechanism is provided to restrict the system's utilization of the inject-fault-data table. A security check by the security mechanism is to be satisfied for the system to access the inject-fault-data table. In an enhanced embodiment, the system is tested by substituting an inject-fault-data entry of the inject-fault-data table for a control-data entry of the control-data table as an input to the system. The testing verifies the response of the system to an emulated fault, which results from employing at least one inject-fault-data entry during testing of the system.

Control method, system, and program product employing an embedded mechanism for testing a system's fault-handling capability

An exemplary embodiment is a cooling system for cooling multiple logic modules. The cooling system includes a condenser, a first electrically controlled expansion valve coupled to the condenser and a first evaporator coupled to the first electrically controlled expansion valve. A second electrically controlled expansion valve is coupled to the condenser and a second evaporator coupled to the second electrically controlled expansion valve. A controller provides control signals to the first electrically controlled expansion valve and the second electrically controlled expansion valve to control operation of the first electrically controlled expansion valve and the second electrically controlled expansion valve. A compressor is coupled to the first evaporator, the second evaporator and the condenser.

System for cooling multiple logic molecules

A refrigeration system for cooling a logic module includes an evaporator housing including an evaporator block in thermal communication with the logic module. The evaporator housing includes a humidity sensor for detecting a humidity within the evaporator housing. The system further comprises a controller for controlling a refrigeration unit supplying cold refrigerant to the evaporator block in response to the operating conditions of the logic module and the temperature of the evaporator block. In another aspect of the invention, two modular refrigeration units are independently operable to cool the evaporator block, and each refrigeration unit is controllable in various modes of operation including an enabled mode in which it is ready to cool the evaporator and an on mode in which it is actively cooling the evaporator. In another aspect of the invention, the evaporator block and a heater on a reverse side of the circuit board are particularly controlled during concurrent repair operations. In another aspect of the invention, faulty sensors are recognized as such and an appropriate response is made. In another aspect of the invention, the system is shut down in a manner allowing rapid access to the logic module.

Growing community of inventors

Staatsburg, NY, United States of America

Robert Philip Makowicki