US-20260126842-A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING POWER STABILITY

US20260126842A1US 20260126842 A1US20260126842 A1US 20260126842A1US-20260126842-A1

Abstract

Systems and methods for monitoring power stability are provided. In some embodiments, a detection system is used to determine a reference voltage based on an output voltage from a power source, monitor an input voltage corresponding to a point along a power distribution line between the power source and a load, detect the input voltage triggering a condition set forth by the reference voltage, and send an alert based on the input voltage triggering the condition a preset number of times within a preset period.

Inventors

I-Chang Yang

Assignees

Aivres Systems Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251230

Claims (20)

1 . A method for monitoring power stability, comprising: determining, by a detection system, a reference voltage based on an output voltage from a power source; monitoring, by the detection system, an input voltage corresponding to a point along a power distribution line between the power source and a load; detecting, by the detection system, the input voltage triggering a condition set forth based on the reference voltage; and sending, by the detection system, an alert based on the input voltage triggering the condition a preset number of times within a preset period.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the input voltage triggering the condition set forth based on the reference voltage comprises at least one of: detecting the input voltage exceeding the reference voltage; or detecting the input voltage falling below the reference voltage.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a number of times corresponding to the input voltage triggering the condition is counted by a counter in the detection system, and wherein the counter is reset periodically according to the preset period.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein sending the alert based on the input voltage triggering the condition the preset number of times within the preset period comprises: sending, by the counter, a signal to a controller in response to the number of times counted by the counter reaching the preset number of times within the preset period; and sending, by the controller, the alert to a user or initiate a system response.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the load is a motherboard of a computing system.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: monitoring, by the detection system, a plurality of input voltages between the power source and the load.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the detection system comprises a first ripple detector and a second ripple detector, wherein the first ripple detector is configured to monitor the input voltage when the load is in an active state; and wherein the second ripple detector is configured to monitor the input voltage when the load in a lower-power state.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the detection system is configured to: monitor the input voltage at a first setting, when the load is in an active state; and monitor the input voltage at a second setting, when the load in a lower-power state.
9 . A system for monitoring power stability, comprising: a reference voltage circuit configured to determine a reference voltage based on an output voltage from a power source; a ripple detector configured to: monitor an input voltage corresponding to a point along a power distribution line between the power source and a load; and detect the input voltage triggering a condition set forth based on the reference voltage; and a counter configured to: record a number of the input voltage triggering the condition detected by the ripple detector; and send an alert based on the input voltage triggering the condition a preset number of times within a preset period.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein detecting the input voltage triggering the condition set forth based on the reference voltage comprises at least one of: detecting the input voltage exceeding the reference voltage; or detecting the input voltage falling below the reference voltage.
11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the counter is configured to reset periodically according to the preset period.
12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the alert is sent to a user or used by a controller to initiate a system response.
13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the load is a motherboard of a computing system.
14 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising one or more ripple detectors, wherein the one or more ripple detectors are configured to monitor a plurality of input voltages between the power source and the load.
15 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a second ripple detector, wherein the ripple detector is configured to monitor the input voltage when the load is in an active state, and wherein the second ripple detector is configured to monitor the input voltage when the load in a lower-power state.
16 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the ripple detector is configured to: monitor the input voltage at a first setting, when the load is in an active state; and monitor the input voltage at a second setting, when the load in a lower-power state.
17 . A method for monitoring power stability: provide a motherboard powered by a power source; provide a detection system comprising a reference voltage circuit, a ripple detector, and a counter; connecting the reference voltage circuit to the power source; connecting the ripple detector to a point along a power distribution line between the power source and the motherboard; and connecting the counter to a controller on the motherboard, wherein the reference voltage circuit is configured to determine a reference voltage based on an output voltage from the power source, wherein the ripple detector configured to: monitor an input voltage corresponding to the point along the power distribution line; and detect the input voltage triggering a condition set forth based on the reference voltage, and wherein the counter is configured to: record a number of the input voltage triggering the condition detected by the ripple detector; and send, to the controller, an alert based the input voltage triggering the condition a preset number of times within a preset period.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein detecting the input voltage triggering the condition set forth based on the reference voltage comprises at least one of: detecting the input voltage exceeding the reference voltage; or detecting the input voltage falling below the reference voltage.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the counter is configured to reset periodically according to the preset period.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the alert is used by the controller to initiate a system response.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The disclosed embodiments relate generally to computer systems, and more particularly, to monitoring the operation of the computer systems. BACKGROUND Power on server motherboards is typically distributed through the following steps. First, the output of the server power supply, such as a Common Redundant Power Supply (CRPS), is connected to a Power Distribution Board (PDB). The PDB then delivers the required power to the motherboard via power cables. These power levels are monitored by the Baseboard Management Controller (BMC). Power stability is critical to the reliable operation of a server. For example, insufficient power can lead to system failures, while excessive voltage may damage downstream electronic components. Several factors can contribute to power instability. A common cause is the increase in contact resistance (or wire resistance) along the power transmission path—particularly after prolonged use of the server. This can result from elevated operating temperatures, aging of power cables, or poor contact at the power connectors, ultimately leading to excessive voltage drop. However, when the server is operating under low load, the management controller is unable to detect potential undervoltage issues that may occur under high load in advance. As a result, it cannot proactively trigger fault handling procedures for improvement or prevention. SUMMARY In an exemplary embodiment, a method is provided for monitoring power stability. The method includes determining, by a detection system, a reference voltage based on an output voltage from a power source, monitoring, by the detection system, an input voltage corresponding to a point along a power distribution line between the power source and a load, detecting, by the detection system, the input voltage triggering a condition set forth based on the reference voltage, and sending, by the detection system, an alert based on the input voltage triggering the condition a preset number of times within a preset period. According to an embodiment of the method, detecting the input voltage triggering the condition set forth based on the reference voltage includes at least one of detecting the input voltage exceeding the reference voltage, or detecting the input voltage falling below the reference voltage. According to an embodiment of the method, a number of times corresponding to the input voltage triggering the condition is counted by a counter in the detection system. The counter is reset periodically according to the preset period. According to an embodiment of the method, sending the alert based on the input voltage triggering the condition the preset number of times within the preset period includes sending, by the counter, a signal to a controller in response to the number of times counted by the counter reaching the preset number of times within the preset period, and sending, by the controller, the alert to a user or initiate a system response. According to an embodiment of the method, the load is a motherboard of a computing system. According to an embodiment of the method, the method also includes monitoring, by the detection system, a plurality of input voltages between the power source and the load. According to an embodiment of the method, the detection system comprises a first ripple detector and a second ripple detector. The first ripple detector is configured to monitor the input voltage when the load is in an active state. The second ripple detector is configured to monitor the input voltage when the load in a lower-power state. According to an embodiment of the method, the detection system is configured to monitor the input voltage at a first setting, when the load is in an active state, and monitor the input voltage at a second setting, when the load in a lower-power state. In a further exemplary embodiment, a system is provided for monitoring power stability. The system includes a reference voltage circuit, a ripple detector, and a counter. The reference voltage circuit is configured to determine a reference voltage based on an output voltage from a power source. The ripple detector is configured to monitor an input voltage corresponding to a point along a power distribution line between the power source and a load, and detect the input voltage triggering a condition set forth based on the reference voltage. The counter is configured to record a number of the input voltage triggering the condition detected by the ripple detector, and send an alert based on the input voltage triggering the condition a preset number of times within a preset period. According to an embodiment of the system, detecting the input voltage triggering the condition set forth based on the reference voltage includes at least one of detecting the input voltage exceeding the reference voltage, or detecting the input voltage falling below the reference voltage. According to an embodiment of the system, the counter is configured to reset periodically a