Abstract: An embedded controller locks down one or more devices within an information handling system based on a detection of an operating system crash. A processor monitors an operating system executing within the information handling system, and detects the operating system crash. In response to the detection of the operating system crash, the processor notifies the embedded controller of the operating system crash.

Abstract: A power adapter provides power to an information handling system. The power adapter includes a power supply and a power delivery controller. The power supply receives an alternating current (AC) input at one of a plurality of input voltages, and provides a direct current (DC) output at one of a plurality of output voltages, each output voltage being associated with a current limit.

Abstract: An information handling system may include a processor, a display device communicatively coupled to the processor, and a basic input/output system (BIOS) communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to cause the processor to, during a pre-boot environment of the information handling system, collect contextual information regarding the information handling system, based on the contextual information, determine whether to enable soft keyboard functionality, and responsive to a determination to enable soft keyboard functionality, cause display of soft keyboard functionality to the display device.

Abstract: An information handling system includes an embedded controller and a memory device storing code that when executed causes the embedded controller to perform operations that includes receiving a request to change a security setting, determining a security policy associated with the security setting, and determining whether the change to the security setting deviates from the security policy. In addition, the embedded controller in response to determining that the change to the security setting deviates from the security policy, denying the request and reverting the change to the security setting.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a memory that stores context data associated with a crash of the information handling system. A BIOS determines whether a crash of the information handling system occurred during a most recent operating system runtime of the information handling system. In response to the determination of the crash during the most recent operating system runtime, the embedded controller reads the context data associated with the crash of the information handling system. An embedded controller verifies a golden BIOS image for the information handling system, and sets an indication for an operating system of the information handling system to revert to original setting for a healthy boot.

Abstract: An information handling system uses one connector for both liquid and air cooling and detects the type of cooling system installed. That provides the ability to choose the correct thermal handling table based on the installed cooling system. To detect the type of cooling system installed, a thermal management controller sets a control signal supplied to the cooling system through the connector to a first control value and determines if a tachometer signal supplied by the cooling system to the thermal management controller through the connector indicates a first type of cooling system. If the first type of cooling system is not detected, the thermal management controller checks if the tachometer signal from the cooling system with the control signal set at the first control value, or alternatively at a second control value, indicates a second type of cooling system. If no cooling system is detected, an error condition exists.

Abstract: An information handling system uses one connector for both liquid and air cooling and detects the type of cooling system installed. That provides the ability to choose the correct thermal handling table based on the installed cooling system. To detect the type of cooling system installed, a thermal management controller sets a control signal supplied to the cooling system through the connector to a first control value and determines if a tachometer signal supplied by the cooling system to the thermal management controller through the connector indicates a first type of cooling system. If the first type of cooling system is not detected, the thermal management controller checks if the tachometer signal from the cooling system with the control signal set at the first control value, or alternatively at a second control value, indicates a second type of cooling system. If no cooling system is detected, an error condition exists.

Abstract: A power adapter provides power to an information handling system. The power adapter includes a power supply and a power delivery controller. The power supply receives an alternating current (AC) input at one of a plurality of input voltages, and provides a direct current (DC) output at one of a plurality of output voltages, each output voltage being associated with a current limit.

Abstract: An information handling system may include a processor, a display device communicatively coupled to the processor, and a basic input/output system (BIOS) communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to cause the processor to, during a pre-boot environment of the information handling system, collect contextual information regarding the information handling system, based on the contextual information, determine whether to enable soft keyboard functionality, and responsive to a determination to enable soft keyboard functionality, cause display of soft keyboard functionality to the display device.

Abstract: An information handling system may include at least one processor, a memory, and an embedded controller (EC). The information handling system may be configured to, prior to initialization of an operating system of the information handling system: execute memory reference code configured to test selected regions of the memory; transmit results of the memory reference code to the EC; store, at the EC, information indicative of respective likelihoods that particular regions of the memory are bad; and upon a subsequent boot, select a region of the memory having a low likelihood of being bad for loading a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) of the information handling system.

Abstract: An information handling system may include at least one processor, a memory, and an embedded controller (EC). The information handling system may be configured to, prior to initialization of an operating system of the information handling system: execute memory reference code configured to test selected regions of the memory; transmit results of the memory reference code to the EC; store, at the EC, information indicative of respective likelihoods that particular regions of the memory are bad; and upon a subsequent boot, select a region of the memory having a low likelihood of being bad for loading a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) of the information handling system.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a system may include a feedback controller and a comparator. The feedback controller may be configured to, based on a setpoint value and a measured process value calculate a first difference between the setpoint value and the measured process value and generate a controller driving signal based on the first difference. The comparator may be configured to compare a second difference between the setpoint value and a previous setpoint value to a predetermined threshold, determine if a magnitude of the second difference is greater than the predetermined threshold, output as an output driving signal the controller driving signal if the magnitude is not greater than the predetermined threshold, and output as the output driving signal a setpoint driving signal if the magnitude is greater than the predetermined threshold, the setpoint value based on the setpoint value independent of the measured process value.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a system may include a feedback controller and a comparator. The feedback controller may be configured to, based on a setpoint value and a measured process value calculate a first difference between the setpoint value and the measured process value and generate a controller driving signal based on the first difference. The comparator may be configured to compare a second difference between the setpoint value and a previous setpoint value to a predetermined threshold, determine if a magnitude of the second difference is greater than the predetermined threshold, output as an output driving signal the controller driving signal if the magnitude is not greater than the predetermined threshold, and output as the output driving signal a setpoint driving signal if the magnitude is greater than the predetermined threshold, the setpoint value based on the setpoint value independent of the measured process value.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a system may include a feedback controller and a comparator. The feedback controller may be configured to, based on a setpoint value and a measured process value calculate a first difference between the setpoint value and the measured process value and generate a controller driving signal based on the first difference. The comparator may be configured to compare a second difference between the setpoint value and a previous setpoint value to a predetermined threshold, determine if a magnitude of the second difference is greater than the predetermined threshold, output as an output driving signal the controller driving signal if the magnitude is not greater than the predetermined threshold, and output as the output driving signal a setpoint driving signal if the magnitude is greater than the predetermined threshold, the setpoint value based on the setpoint value independent of the measured process value.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a system may include a feedback controller and a comparator. The feedback controller may be configured to, based on a setpoint value and a measured process value calculate a first difference between the setpoint value and the measured process value and generate a controller driving signal based on the first difference. The comparator may be configured to compare a second difference between the setpoint value and a previous setpoint value to a predetermined threshold, determine if a magnitude of the second difference is greater than the predetermined threshold, output as an output driving signal the controller driving signal if the magnitude is not greater than the predetermined threshold, and output as the output driving signal a setpoint driving signal if the magnitude is greater than the predetermined threshold, the setpoint value based on the setpoint value independent of the measured process value.

Abstract: Thermal subsystems of manufactured information handling systems are tested for compliance with desired parameters by running a thermal diagnostics module in firmware during one or more manufacturing activities performed on the information handling system. The thermal diagnostics module monitors and stores one or more thermal parameters detected at the information handling system, such as the maximum temperature zone detected during a manufacturing activity. The stored thermal parameter is read after the manufacturing activity and compared with an expected value to determine the status of the thermal subsystem. For instance, an information handling system maximum operating temperature is detected by firmware running on an embedded controller during imaging of a hard disk drive and fails thermal testing if the detected maximum operating temperature exceeds a predetermined value, such as a value that would not be reached if the thermal subsystem functioning properly.

Abstract: A method for operating an informational handling system includes providing a user control for allowing a user to select a granularity between a plurality of brightness steps, detecting the selected granularity based on input from the user control, and implementing the selected granularity.

Abstract: Thermal subsystems of manufactured information handling systems are tested for compliance with desired parameters by running a thermal diagnostics module in firmware during one or more manufacturing activities performed on the information handling system. The thermal diagnostics module monitors and stores one or more thermal parameters detected at the information handling system, such as the maximum temperature zone detected during a manufacturing activity. The stored thermal parameter is read after the manufacturing activity and compared with an expected value to determine the status of the thermal subsystem. For instance, an information handling system maximum operating temperature is detected by firmware running on an embedded controller during imaging of a hard disk drive and fails thermal testing if the detected maximum operating temperature exceeds a predetermined value, such as a value that would not be reached if the thermal subsystem functioning properly.

Abstract: A portable information handling system having internal battery power and external adapter power manages power drawn from the external power adapter to avoid exceeding the power rating of the external power adapter. As power drawn from the external adapter approaches a predetermined limit of the power adapter power rating, a power manager of the information handling system alters the operation of the information handling system to reduce power drawn from the adapter, such as by reducing current drawn to charge the battery, enforcing battery optimized mode steps or throttling central processing unit operation. Incremental decreases in power consumption maintain power draw below the external adapter power rating while incremental increases in power consumption have a delay that returns the information handling system to normal operations without excessive oscillation between operating modes.

Abstract: Thermal subsystems of manufactured information handling systems are tested for compliance with desired parameters by running a thermal diagnostics module in firmware during one or more manufacturing activities performed on the information handling system. The thermal diagnostics module monitors and stores one or more thermal parameters detected at the information handling system, such as the maximum temperature zone detected during a manufacturing activity. The stored thermal parameter is read after the manufacturing activity and compared with an expected value to determine the status of the thermal subsystem. For instance, an information handling system maximum operating temperature is detected by firmware running on an embedded controller during imaging of a hard disk drive and fails thermal testing if the detected maximum operating temperature exceeds a predetermined value, such as a value that would not be reached if the thermal subsystem functioning properly.