Abstract: A rack equipment power purchase plan supervision system and method is presented. In one embodiment of the present invention, a rack equipment power purchase plan supervision system includes rack equipment for processing information. The rack equipment is supervised by a rack equipment power purchase plan supervision component in accordance with a power purchase plan. The power purchase plan defines operational settings of the rack equipment for various power supply conditions. A communication bus for communicating information communicatively couples the power purchase plan supervision component and the rack equipment.

Abstract: An equipment rack load modulation system and method are presented. An equipment rack aggregate thermal and power budget is determined. The aggregate thermal and power budget is allocated based upon rack equipment loaded in an equipment rack. The rack equipment is then operated in accordance with the allocation of the aggregate thermal and power budget.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention recites a fan motor assembly with integrated redundant availability. The fan motor assembly comprises a fan motor subassembly with a plurality of replaceable fan motors, and a fan motor selector mechanism coupled to the fan motor subassembly, so that the fan motor selector mechanism selectively engages one of the plurality of replaceable fan motors to a fan. The fan motor assembly further comprises a control unit which is coupled to the fan motor selector mechanism which is configured to control the fan motor selector mechanism such that a first replaceable fan motor mechanically powers the fan while a second replaceable fan motor can be dynamically removed from the fan motor subassembly.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention recites a fan motor assembly with integrated redundant availability. The fan motor assembly comprises a fan motor subassembly with a first fan motor and a second fan motor, and a fan motor selector mechanism coupled to the fan motor subassembly, so that the fan motor selector mechanism selectively couples the first fan motor or second fan motor to a fan. The fan motor assembly further comprises a control unit coupled to the fan motor selector mechanism, wherein the control unit is configured to control the fan motor selector mechanism such that either of the first fan motor and second fan motor is selectively engaged to said fan.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention provides a server card that is removably insertable into a server chassis. An electronic power switching mechanism is disposed on the server card and is configured to cause three power states of the server card including a fully operational state, a standby state, and a fully shutdown state. In the fully operational state, a system power of the server card is enabled and a standby power of the server card is enabled. In the standby state, a system power of the server card is disabled and the standby power of the server card is enabled. In a shutdown state, the system power of the server card is disabled and the standby power of the server card is disabled.

Abstract: A power distribution system comprises a flexible power connector, a printed circuit board, a power supply, and a processor mounted on the printed circuit board. The flexible power connector comprises a first end electrically connected to the processor and a second end electrically connected to the power supply. The flexible power connector is configured with a length so that the power supply is in a spaced relationship relative to the processor and the flexible power connector includes a plurality of stacked layers arranged generally parallel to each other for distributed power transmission. These layers include at least two ground layers and at least one power layer. The power layer is sandwiched between two of the at least two ground layers.

Abstract: A rack equipment management system and method for providing a convenient and efficient manner to automatically manage rack equipment associated with information processing based upon power consumption and heat dissipation policies is presented. In one embodiment of the present invention, a rack equipment management system includes a rack equipment management policy data store, a management component, and a communication bus. The rack equipment management policy data store stores policy information related to rack equipment operations. The management component manages power consumption and thermal load of the rack equipment. The communication bus communicatively couples the rack equipment management policy data store and the management component.

Abstract: A rack equipment management information coordination and tracking system and method is disclosed. In one embodiment, a rack equipment management information coordination method is implemented. As part of the rack equipment management information coordination method a rack equipment management plan is formulated. Equipment description information detection is also automatically directed. Both the detected rack equipment description information and formulated rack equipment management plan are stored.

Abstract: A rack equipment application performance modification system and method is disclosed for providing a convenient and efficient manner to modify performance of rack equipment based upon an application. In one embodiment of the present invention, a rack equipment application performance modification system comprises rack equipment, an application performance modification component, and a communication bus. The rack equipment processes information. The application performance modification component modifies performance of said rack equipment based upon an application. The communication bus communicatively couples the rack equipment and the application performance modification component and the communication bus communicates information between the application performance modification component and the rack equipment.

Abstract: A frequency manager automatically selects a clock frequency for each device or bus, or for a plurality of devices or buses, in a system, based on various factors and objectives. These factors and objectives can include optimizing performance of the devices without exceeding the system's power/thermal budget. The frequency manager can then control circuits that generate and provide clock signals having the selected frequency(ies) to these devices or buses. For example, in a system that is less than fully populated with devices, embodiments of the invention can select higher clock frequencies than a fully populated system would utilize. Some embodiments of the invention select higher clock frequencies for high-bandwidth devices than for low-bandwidth devices. Other embodiments use information about application programs that will be executed by systems, such as which devices these application programs will frequently access, to select higher clock frequencies for the frequently accessed devices.

Abstract: A fan rotor system for cooling an electronic system includes a rotor body configured to be rotated by a fan motor and at least one collapsible fan blade mounted on the rotor body for moving cooling air through the electronic system. The at least one collapsible fan blade has a first air driving position, wherein the fan blade moves cooling air in a desired direction for cooling the electronic system, and a second air passage position, wherein the at least one collapsible fan blade is collapsed to allow cooling air to pass the at least one collapsible fan blade with less drag than when the at least one collapsible fan blade is in the first air driving position. The at least one collapsible fan blade is movable between the first air driving position when the rotor body is rotating and the second air passage position when the rotor body is not rotating.

Abstract: A frequency manager automatically selects a clock frequency for each device or bus, or for a plurality of devices or buses, in a system, based on various factors and objectives. These factors and objectives can include optimizing performance of the devices without exceeding the system's power/thermal budget. The frequency manager can then control circuits that generate and provide clock signals having the selected frequency(ies) to these devices or buses. For example, in a system that is less than fully populated with devices, embodiments of the invention can select higher clock frequencies than a fully populated system would utilize. Some embodiments of the invention select higher clock frequencies for high-bandwidth devices than for low-bandwidth devices. Other embodiments use information about application programs that will be executed by systems, such as which devices these application programs will frequently access, to select higher clock frequencies for the frequently accessed devices.

Abstract: A frequency manager automatically selects a clock frequency for each device or bus, or for a plurality of devices or buses, in a system, based on various factors and objectives. These factors and objectives can include optimizing performance of the devices without exceeding the system's power/thermal budget. The frequency manager can then control circuits that generate and provide clock signals having the selected frequency(ies) to these devices or buses. For example, in a system that is less than fully populated with devices, embodiments of the invention can select higher clock frequencies than a fully populated system would utilize. Some embodiments of the invention select higher clock frequencies for high-bandwidth devices than for low-bandwidth devices. Other embodiments use information about application programs that will be executed by systems, such as which devices these application programs will frequently access, to select higher clock frequencies for the frequently accessed devices.

Abstract: An electronic system has independently coolable first and second zones. The electronic system includes a first zone having a first zone fan and a plurality of first zone connectors for connecting electronic modules and a second zone having a second fan zone and a plurality of second zone connectors for connecting electronic modules. A module manager is also provided for communicating with the first and second zone connectors and with the first and second zone fans. The module manager can independently control the speed of the first and second zone fans based upon operational parameters received from the first and second zone connectors.

Abstract: A fan system is described for cooling a heat dissipating component within an electronic system. The fan system includes a fan that is controllable to a desired operating speed and operatively connected to the heat dissipating component. The fan system further includes a fan manager that determines an operating parameter indicative of the heat dissipated by the heat dissipating component, calculates a control signal indicative of the desired speed of the fan based upon the value of the operating parameter, and communicates the control signal to the fan to control its speed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention recites a lightpipe having a major axis, a first end, and a second end. A light emitting feature having a defined surface is located along the length of the lightpipe. The light emitting feature is adapted to transmit electromagnetic energy of a specific visible wavelength of light from inside the lightpipe to outside the lightpipe.

Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to an apparatus for supplying redundant power to a plurality of computer systems. The apparatus includes at least one bus bar, a plurality of power supplies each supplying power at a same voltage level, a plurality of power switches, and a power supply management controller. Power inputs of the computer systems are connected to the at least one bus bar. The power supplies are selectively connected to the at least one bus bar using the power switches. The power supply management controller controls the power switches such that the power is supplied redundantly to the computer systems.

Abstract: A RF-linked computer system comprises a radio tight enclosure that contains a plurality of cavities capable of accepting multiple function modules. The function modules have radio frequency communication systems that intercommunicate in multiple parallel channels and wide bandwidth within the enclosure. The RF-linked computer system further comprises an optical communication link capable of communicating to devices and systems exterior to the enclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus for terminating a transmission line includes a terminating circuit coupled to a first connector portion. A second connector portion mates with the first connector portion. The second connector portion is coupled in electrical contact with the transmission line and includes one or more components, such as pins, that can radiate unwanted electromagnetic interference (EMI) when the transmission line is not terminated. The terminating circuit includes components, such as one or more resistors, that substantially match the impedance of the transmission line. The terminating circuit can also be configured to terminate other conductive lines that can pick up signal noise in a system. The terminating apparatus can be utilized on operational boards that plug into devices such as backplanes or mid-planes. Alternatively, the terminating circuit can be included on a null device or built into the first connector portion.

Abstract: In a system and method for managing the operating frequency of processors in a blade-based computer system, a circuit receives a signal with instructions relating to the desired operating frequency of the processors or blades. The circuit then generates a control signal based upon the specific frequency designated by the user.