Server Power Supply Deep Sleep Transition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current power supply designs in servers continue to consume power even in standby mode, leading to increased operational costs, especially in data centers with multiple servers, as all power supplies remain active, resulting in unnecessary power consumption.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that transitions unnecessary power supplies into a minimal power consumption state, such as deep sleep or standby, using voltage detection and adjustment circuits to manage power supply modes, allowing only one power supply to provide standby power, thereby reducing overall power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all power supplies remain active in standby mode, then power supply reliability is maintained, but power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supply reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the power supply system into multiple independent power supplies, allowing individual power supplies to be placed in different states (online, standby, or deep-sleep) based on system needs. This segmentation enables selective power consumption reduction while maintaining reliability through redundancy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic state management for power supplies, transitioning them between online, standby, and deep-sleep states based on real-time system requirements. The system dynamically adjusts power supply states to balance reliability and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If multiple power supplies are placed in standby state, then power consumption is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidpower supply management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms where power supplies monitor system state and automatically adjust their own states or receive control signals from the system. This feedback loop simplifies management by enabling autonomous decision-making while reducing overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Power supplies are designed with self-service capabilities, including automatic state transition and self-monitoring functions. This reduces the need for complex external management systems and simplifies the overall architecture while achieving power savings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Use of energy by moving object

If power supplies transition to deep-sleep state, then power savings are maximized, but response time to power restoration increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower savingsVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary actions by maintaining power supplies in a standby state (not deep-sleep) when system wake-up is anticipated, or by pre-configuring quick-wake mechanisms. This prepares the power supply system in advance, reducing response time while still achieving significant power savings compared to full operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8281172B2Server with multiple power supplies transitioning first power supply from its online state to its standby state and second power supply to its deep-sleep state

Publication Date: 2012.10.02 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEV LP

AI summary

One exemplary embodiment is a server that includes multiple power supplies. When the server is in a standby state, one power supply is in a standby state and another power supply is in a deep sleep state.