Dynamic Voltage Assignment for PCI Bus Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computer systems with PCI bus systems often face inefficiencies due to power supply systems being designed to meet maximum power requirements for all voltage levels, leading to unused capacity and increased manufacturing costs, especially when power redundancy is employed.
Innovation Solution
A power management system that includes a voltage source capable of providing multiple voltages and a controller to dynamically switch between these voltages based on the current or power consumption of connected loads, ensuring that the highest demand receives the necessary voltage, thereby optimizing power distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power supply systems are designed to supply maximum power requirement for each voltage level, then power reliability is improved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the voltage assignment configurable and adaptable rather than fixed. The system can dynamically reassign voltages to different bus slots based on the actual power requirements of inserted cards, allowing the power supply system to adjust its capacity allocation in real-time, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing manufacturing costs for oversized power supplies
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of voltage assignment from a fixed configuration to a configurable one. By allowing the voltage supplied to each bus slot to be changed based on the power requirements of the inserted card, the system optimizes power distribution without requiring redundant power capacity, thus reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining adequate power reliability
2Reliability
If power redundancy is employed, then power reliability is improved, but manufacturing costs further increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for static power redundancy by implementing dynamic voltage assignment. The system can adaptively allocate power capacity to match actual demands, providing reliability through flexible resource allocation rather than through redundant hardware, thereby avoiding the increased manufacturing costs associated with redundant power supply components
3Reliability
If DC to DC converters are designed to provide sufficient power for all slots, then power reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces device complexity by implementing a dynamic voltage assignment mechanism that allows a single DC to DC converter to serve multiple bus slots with different power requirements. Instead of requiring multiple converters designed for maximum capacity, the system dynamically assigns appropriate voltages, simplifying the power supply architecture while maintaining reliability through adaptive power distribution
Data Source
AI summary
A power management system includes a voltage source configured to provide at least a first voltage and a second voltage, and a controller configured to couple the first voltage to a first voltage supply terminal or couple the second voltage to a second voltage supply terminal in response to a comparison of one or more first variables associated with the first voltage supply terminal to one or more second variables associated with the second voltage supply terminal.