Computer System Energy Computation via Current Sampling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current computer technology is limited in its ability to accurately determine and report total energy consumption, which is crucial for understanding and controlling electrical power usage, especially in large deployments where cumulative energy usage can have a substantial environmental impact.

Innovation Solution

A computer system with a controller and software that computes energy consumption by sampling current and voltage, converting it into energy units (watt-hours), and provides users with graphical interfaces to view and adjust power settings to optimize energy usage, including remote management capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If computer systems are deployed in large volumes for business and life applications, then computing functionality and productivity are improved, but total energy consumption from the electrical grid increases substantially

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomputing functionalityVSAvoidtotal energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring power draw through hardware sensors and providing this information back to both local users and remote management entities. This enables dynamic adjustment of computing operations to optimize energy consumption while maintaining necessary productivity levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The computer system performs self-monitoring of its own power consumption through integrated sensors and controllers that automatically track and report energy usage without requiring external measurement devices, enabling the system to serve its own energy management needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If instantaneous power draw monitoring is implemented, then understanding of power usage at any given time is improved, but ability to determine total energy consumption remains limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstantaneous power draw measurementVSAvoidtotal energy consumption data

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges instantaneous power draw measurements with time duration data to compute total energy consumption. By combining these two measurement streams through integration, the system simultaneously provides both instantaneous power information and cumulative energy usage without losing either data type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary computational layer that processes raw power draw measurements and time data to generate derived energy consumption information. This intermediary processing transforms basic measurements into meaningful energy metrics that address the information gap.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9218037B2Computation of system energy

Publication Date: 2015.12.22 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

A system comprises an energy source that provides a system current for the system. The system also comprises logic coupled to the energy source. The logic receives an analog signal that is derived from a measurement of current in the system and computes an amount of energy consumed by the system based on the analog signal.