Low temp power state handling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12105569-B2
Application number	US-202217577602-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2022
Priority date	Jan 18, 2022
Publication date	Oct 1, 2024
Grant date	Oct 1, 2024

Abstract

An improved method and system for controlling the powering-on of an electronic device when initially the internal temperature is below a safe threshold. The method and system can preheat the electronic device until it is at a safe temperature in which to safely power-on the electronic device. Alternatively or in addition, the method and system can alert a user if the temperature is below a threshold and proceed to power-on when the temperature is above the threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for preheating an electronic device, comprising:
obtaining a first internal temperature of the electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises a plurality of components;
making a first determination that the first internal temperature is below a first threshold;
preheating, in response to the first determination, the electronic device, wherein the preheating is performed by closing dampers to block a flow of ambient air into the electronic device;
continuing to preheat the electronic device until the temperature is above the first threshold and is below a second threshold;
powering on the electronic device in an intermediary power-on state when the temperature is above the first threshold and less than the second threshold, wherein a first subset of the plurality of components is powered on during the intermediary power-on state and a second subset of the plurality of components is not powered on during the intermediary power-on state;
after powering on the electronic device in the intermediary power-on state:
obtaining a second internal temperature of the electronic device;
making a second determination that the second internal temperature is above the second threshold; and
performing, based on the second determination, a normal power-on of the electronic device, wherein the second subset of the plurality of components is powered on during the normal power-on.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is an information handling system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preheating of the electronic device is further performed by a heating element inside the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preheating of the electronic device is further performed by activating an external heating element.

5. An electronic device comprising:
at least one sensor for determining an internal temperature;
a processor that controls the electronic device; and
a memory having computer program instructions stored thereon, the processor executing the computer program instructions in the memory to perform a method comprising:
obtaining a first internal temperature of the electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises a plurality of components;
making a first determination that the first internal temperature is below a first threshold;
preheating, in response to the first determination, the electronic device, wherein the preheating is performed by closing dampers to block a flow of ambient air into the electronic device;
continuing to preheat the electronic device until the temperature is above the first threshold and is below a second threshold;
powering on the electronic device in an intermediary power-on state when the temperature is above the first threshold and less than the second threshold, wherein a first subset of the plurality of components is powered on during the intermediary power-on state and a second subset of the plurality of components is not powered on during the intermediary power-on state;
after powering on the electronic device in the intermediary power-on state:
obtaining a second internal temperature of the electronic device;
making a second determination that the second internal temperature is above the second threshold; and
performing, based on the second determination, a normal power-on of the electronic device, wherein the second subset of the plurality of components is powered on during the normal power-on.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the electronic device is an information handling system.

7. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the electronic device is part of a chassis in an information handling system.

8. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the preheating of the electronic device is further performed by a heating element inside the electronic device.

9. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the preheating of the electronic device is further performed by activating an external heating element.

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• Vivio Joseph Andrew
• Nikazm Ayedin
• Duncan Tyler Baxter

Classifications

• G05D23/193

  sensing the temperaure in different places in thermal relationship with one or more spaces · CPC title

• H05K7/20836

  Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control · CPC title

• G05D23/1931

  to control the temperature of one space · CPC title

• G01K7/02

  using thermoelectric elements, e.g. thermocouples · CPC title

• G01K3/005

  Circuits arrangements for indicating a predetermined temperature (fire detection G08B17/00) · CPC title