Abstract: A system and method of protecting the input components of a power supply. An input overcurrent protection module is provided, which may be implemented in firmware, which monitors the input current through an input interface of the power supply. When the input current exceeds a threshold current (i.e., a current above the maximum rating of an input component, such as an input cable), the input current protection module determines whether an input overcurrent event is occurring. When it is determined that an input overcurrent event has occurred, the input current protection module disables the output circuitry of the power supply and triggers a few timers. The input overcurrent protection module continues to monitor the input and, if the input current continues to exceed the threshold current, is configured to shut down the power supply. In this way, input components may be protected from overcurrent issues in high-power systems.

Abstract: A power supply system includes a plurality of power supplies coupled to a common power bus. Each of the plurality of power supplies adjusts an output voltage set-point within a droop window in response to an excursion sensed voltage on the common power bus reflecting the current load on the power supply system. In response to a transient in the sensed voltage being above or below the droop window, each power supply may shift its droop window up or down. If the droop window of each power supply is at a maximum or minimum value within a voltage regulation window, each power supply may respond to a transient in the sensed voltage by compressing the droop window.

Abstract: A power supply system includes a plurality of power supplies coupled to a common power bus. Each of the plurality of power supplies adjusts an output voltage set-point within a droop window in response to an excursion sensed voltage on the common power bus reflecting the current load on the power supply system. In response to a transient in the sensed voltage being above or below the droop window, each power supply may shift its droop window up or down. If the droop window of each power supply is at a maximum or minimum value within a voltage regulation window, each power supply may respond to a transient in the sensed voltage by compressing the droop window.

Abstract: A system and method of protecting the input components of a power supply. An input overcurrent protection module is provided, which may be implemented in firmware, which monitors the input current through an input interface of the power supply. When the input current exceeds a threshold current (i.e., a current above the maximum rating of an input component, such as an input cable), the input current protection module determines whether an input overcurrent event is occurring. When it is determined that an input overcurrent event has occurred, the input current protection module disables the output circuitry of the power supply and triggers a few timers, The input overcurrent protection module continues to monitor the input and, if the input current continues to exceed the threshold current, is configured to shut down the power supply. In this way, input components may be protected from overcurrent issues in high-power systems.

Abstract: A method, system, and device for using an interface controller to validate and authenticate controller code for a commodity device to be included within a computer system (e.g., a power supply) are provided. In one example, a commodity device controller includes dynamic memory for control software (e.g., control code to control operation of the commodity device) that may be validated (and/or updated) using an interface controller. The interface controller may perform this update/validation at startup (or run-time) to ensure secure control over aspects of the computer device including the commodity device control code. If a security risk is detected it may be mitigated in various ways, including disabling of the commodity device. Control code provided by third-parties (e,g., supplier of commodity device) may be validated and secured using disclosed techniques.

Abstract: A system and method of protecting the input components of a power supply. An input overcurrent protection module is provided, which may be implemented in firmware, which monitors the input current through an input interface of the power supply. When the input current exceeds a threshold current (i.e., a current above the maximum rating of an input component, such as an input cable), the input current protection module determines whether an input overcurrent event is occurring. When it is determined that an input overcurrent event has occurred, the input current protection module disables the output circuitry of the power supply and triggers a few timers. The input overcurrent protection module continues to monitor the input and, if the input current continues to exceed the threshold current, is configured to shut down the power supply. In this way, input components may be protected from overcurrent issues in high-power systems.

Abstract: In some examples, a trust controller generates a first value and send the first value to a target controller of a subsystem, and generates a first verification value based on the first value and a known good code image for the target controller. The trust controller receives a second verification value from the target controller, the second verification value based on the first value and a code image to be executed at the target controller. The trust controller determines whether the code image to be executed at the target controller is compromised based on the first verification value and the second verification value.

Abstract: A system including multiple power supplies is provided. Each of the power supplies is configured to provide a standby power to a management unit in the system through a standby output and a main power through a main output, when an input power signal has been received for the system. The system also includes a resistor configured to receive a standby signal from each of the power supplies to raise a signal voltage, wherein the standby signal is a pre-selected current. The system also includes a controller in each of the power supplies, the controller configured to raise the signal voltage to the specified value when the signal voltage is greater than a threshold, and to enable the standby power from a respective power supply to reach the management unit when the signal voltage is within the specified value. A method to use the above system for a synchronized power supply to a management unit is also provided.

Abstract: In some examples, a trust controller generates a first value and send the first value to a target controller of a subsystem, and generates a first verification value based on the first value and a known good code image for the target controller. The trust controller receives a second verification value from the target controller, the second verification value based on the first value and a code image to be executed at the target controller. The trust controller determines whether the code image to be executed at the target controller is compromised based on the first verification value and the second verification value.

Abstract: Example implementations relate to determining a failure event of a power supply. In some examples, an apparatus may comprise logic circuitry coupled to a signal line, the logic circuitry to receive a monitor signal via the signal line, where the monitor signal corresponds to an internal voltage of a power supply that is consumed wholly by the power supply, compare the monitor signal to a reference signal, and determine, based on the comparison, whether a failure event has occurred in the power supply.

Abstract: An example system includes a server including a power supply and a microcontroller. The power supply may store parameters for a plurality of different ranges of overcurrent and a plurality of corresponding different time periods. The power supply may also receive information from the electrical component corresponding to the speed at which the electrical component can reduce the amount of power the electrical component is consuming. The controller may receive information from the power supply to determine the amount of current that will cause an overcurrent event in the electrical component. The controller may signal the electrical component to reduce the amount of power the electrical component is drawing from the power supply in response to the detected amount of current corresponding to the overcurrent event.

Abstract: A system including multiple power supplies is provided. Each of the power supplies is configured to provide a standby power to a management unit in the system through a standby output and a main power through a main output, when an input power signal has been received for the system. The system also includes a resistor configured to receive a standby signal from each of the power supplies to raise a signal voltage, wherein the standby signal is a pre-selected current. The system also includes a controller in each of the power supplies, the controller configured to raise the signal voltage to the specified value when the signal voltage is greater than a threshold, and to enable the standby power from a respective power supply to reach the management unit when the signal voltage is within the specified value. A method to use the above system for a synchronized power supply to a management unit is also provided.

Abstract: In some examples, an Emergency Power Off (EPO) device can be connected to a non-EPO port of a computing device, and the EPO device can provide an EPO signal via the non-EPO port to a manager connected to an energy storage device of the computing device, wherein the EPO signal comprises instructions to power off the energy storage device.

Abstract: A method for detecting thermal events in an electrical system includes: synchronizing, via a controller, measurements of power consumed by each of a plurality of load elements during an interval with one another and with measurements of power supplied by each of a plurality of power sources to the plurality of load elements during the interval; determining a differential between a sum of the power consumed by the load elements during the interval and a sum of the power supplied by the power sources to the plurality of load elements during the interval; comparing the differential to a predetermined threshold; and determining whether a thermal event has occurred based on the comparison of the differential to the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A system and method of protecting the input components of a power supply. An input overcurrent protection module is provided, which may be implemented in firmware, which monitors the input current through an input interface of the power supply. When the input current exceeds a threshold current (i.e., a current above the maximum rating of an input component, such as an input cable), the input current protection module determines whether an input overcurrent event is occurring. When it is determined that an input overcurrent event has occurred, the input current protection module disables the output circuitry of the power supply and triggers a few timers. The input overcurrent protection module continues to monitor the input and, if the input current continues to exceed the threshold current, is configured to shut down the power supply. In this way, input components may be protected from overcurrent issues in high-power systems.

Abstract: A method for detecting thermal events in an electrical system includes: synchronizing, via a controller, measurements of power consumed by each of a plurality of load elements during an interval with one another and with measurements of power supplied by each of a plurality of power sources to the plurality of load elements during the interval; determining a differential between a sum of the power consumed by the load elements during the interval and a sum of the power supplied by the power sources to the plurality of load elements during the interval; comparing the differential to a predetermined threshold; and determining whether a thermal event has occurred based on the comparison of the differential to the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An example system includes a control interface and a device coupled to the control interface. The control interface may generate a parameter. The device may receive the parameter from the control interface, generate a switching waveform and current reference, adjust the switching waveform to generate an output current, and adjust the output current by using an error amplifier to provide an output current that conforms to at least one parameter.

Abstract: An example system includes a server including a power supply and a microcontroller. The power supply may store parameters for a plurality of different ranges of overcurrent and a plurality of corresponding different time periods. The power supply may also receive information from the electrical component corresponding to the speed at which the electrical component can reduce the amount of power the electrical component is consuming. The controller may receive information from the power supply to determine the amount of current that will cause an overcurrent event in the electrical component. The controller may signal the electrical component to reduce the amount of power the electrical component is drawing from the power supply in response to the detected amount of current corresponding to the overcurrent event.

Abstract: An example system includes a control interface and a device coupled to the control interface. The control interface may generate a parameter. The device may receive the parameter from the control interface, generate a switching waveform and current reference, adjust the switching waveform to generate an output current, and adjust the output current by using an error amplifier to provide an output current that conforms to at least one parameter.

Abstract: In some examples, an Emergency Power Off (EPO) device can be connected to a non-EPO port of a computing device, and the EPO device can provide an EPO signal via the non-EPO port to a manager connected to an energy storage device of the computing device, wherein the EPO signal comprises instructions to power off the energy storage device.