JP2005038131A - Computer system and drive control method for computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a computer system that can effectively reduce power consumption despite using a small capacity power unit. <P>SOLUTION: When an output from the power unit 2 reaches a maximum continuous output or higher, the power unit 2 asserts a peak notification signal to send it to a microcomputer 5. The microcomputer 5 that detects the peak notification signal enters a throttling loop for operating two CPUs 1 and 2 alternately, and sends CPU stop signals to stop the CPUs 1 and 2 alternately. The CPUs 1 and 2 are stopped alternately at intervals of several seconds. The maximum peak output of the power unit 2 then returns to a given value or lower, and the throttling loop ends to return a normal operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a computer system, and more particularly to a power control method for a computer system having a plurality of CPUs.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, the power consumption of a computer system tends to increase mainly due to the improvement of the operating frequency of the CPU. It is expected that the CPU operating frequency will continue to improve in the future, and the power consumption will further increase accordingly.
[0003]
The power consumption of a computer system directly affects the power capacity. Currently, power supply in a computer system often uses a system in which an AC power supply is once converted into a DC power supply (hereinafter, this apparatus is referred to as a power supply unit) and power is supplied to each device. As described above, since the power consumption of the computer system is increasing, it is necessary to increase the power supply capacity of the power supply unit, resulting in an increase in the size of the power supply unit and an increase in cost. The power capacity of the power supply unit is set by totaling the maximum power consumption of all devices mounted in the system. However, the power consumption of the entire system varies greatly depending on the operation mode (application software to be operated, etc.), and in most cases, the total power consumption of the device does not become the maximum.
[0004]
Therefore, it is generally performed to set the peak output specification for the power supply unit and to reduce the size of the power supply unit. This is a method in which a continuous maximum output and a peak maximum output are set in the rated output specification of the power supply unit, and a current exceeding the continuous maximum output is supplied only for a short time. The continuous maximum output is the maximum value of current that can be continuously supplied. The peak maximum output supplies a current exceeding the continuous maximum output only for a short time. By setting the peak output specifications and shortening the time for consuming large power, the heat consumption of each device constituting the power supply unit can be reduced.
[0005]
Computer systems rarely consume maximum power, so set the expected current consumption value as a continuous maximum output, and if you need a current that exceeds the continuous maximum output, respond with a peak output, As a result, a small-capacity power supply unit can be used.
[0006]
For example, the power consumption of the disk device is maximized during spin-up. It is necessary to set the power capacity of the power supply unit in consideration of the spin-up of the disk device, but it is not necessary to set the continuous maximum capacity, and it is set as the peak maximum capacity allowed only for a limited time (about 5 seconds ). This eliminates the need for a large capacity power supply.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-8-152945 (FIG. 1)
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional technology, a device such as a CPU cannot specify the time for consuming the maximum power, and thus cannot set the peak current consumption and the time. As a result, it is necessary to design the power supply so that power can be continuously supplied even when the maximum power is consumed. As a result, a large power supply unit has to be used.
[0009]
Accordingly, in order to solve the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a computer system capable of effectively reducing power consumption even when a small-capacity power supply unit is used.
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a computer system that obtains and drives a predetermined power output, and that supplies a plurality of CPUs and a peak notification signal indicating that the power output exceeds a continuous maximum rating. A unit and a microcomputer that sends a CPU stop signal to the plurality of CPUs so as to alternately stop the operation when the peak notification signal is received. It is.
[0011]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention shows that in a drive control method of a computer system that obtains a predetermined power output from a power supply unit and drives a plurality of CPUs, the power output exceeds a continuous maximum rating. A peak notification signal is output, the peak notification signal is detected, and the operations of the plurality of CPUs are alternately stopped.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a computer system showing an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the computer system in this embodiment has a configuration in which two CPUs are mounted.
A power supply unit 2 that supplies DC power to the computer system 1 and a microcomputer 5 that receives the peak notification signal from the power supply unit 2 and controls the operation of the two CPUs 3 and 4 are provided.
[0013]
The peak notification signal is a signal indicating that the output of the power supply unit exceeds the continuous maximum output. Upon receiving this peak notification signal, the microcomputer 5 sends a CPU stop signal 1 and a CPU stop signal 2 to the CPU 3 and CPU 4. Respectively.
[0014]
The CPU 3 and CPU 4 stop the operation by asserting the CPU stop signal 1 and the CPU stop signal 2.
The operation stop of the two CPUs does not stop at the same time, but the microcomputer 5 transmits the CPU stop signal 1 and the CPU stop signal 2 described above so that both CPUs stop alternately.
[0015]
As described above, the CPU consumes a lot of power, and the power consumption varies depending on the application. In addition, since the maximum power consumption time cannot be defined, a power supply unit that has set a peak maximum output may operate beyond the peak time. Therefore, when the supply current of the power supply unit exceeds the continuous maximum output, the power supply unit 2 is caused to output a peak notification signal indicating this. The microcomputer 5 that has detected the peak notification signal alternately asserts the CPU stop signal 1 and the CPU stop signal 2 to temporarily stop the operations of the CPU 1 and the CPU 2, respectively. Thus, by stopping the operation of the CPU, power consumption can be temporarily reduced, and even a small-capacity power supply unit can be used.
[0016]
The operation of the two CPUs 1 and 2 is alternately stopped so that one of the two CPUs is operating so that the operation of the computer system is not stopped. Because. That is, the microcomputer 5 repeats asserting the CPU stop signal 1 and the CPU stop signal 2 alternately for a certain time. At this time, when the CPU 1 is operating, the CPU 2 is set so that the stop state is exclusive so as to stop, and each CPU repeats the operation and stop states. Thus, for example, task processing or the like does not stop in each CPU, and can be continued.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present embodiment shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, when the computer system according to the present embodiment is performing a normal operation, when the output from the power supply unit 2 exceeds the maximum continuous output (step S21), a peak notification signal is output from the power supply unit 2. It is asserted and transmitted to the microcomputer 5 (step S22). Then, the microcomputer 5 detects a peak notification signal (step S23), enters a throttling group that causes the two CPUs 1 and 2 to operate alternately (step S24), sends a CPU stop signal, and stops the CPU 1 and CPU 2 alternately. (Step S25). Specifically, the two CPUs 1 and 2 in FIG. 32 are alternately stopped every few seconds. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the maximum peak output of the power supply unit 2 returns to a predetermined value or less. When the output of the power supply unit returns below the maximum continuous output, the CPU throttling group is terminated (step S26), and the normal operation is resumed (step S27).
[0018]
As described above, in the present embodiment, in a computer system having a plurality of CPUs, when the power supply unit exceeds the continuous maximum output, the CPU is stopped in this way by alternately stopping the CPUs. As a result, power consumption can be temporarily reduced and, for example, task processing or the like can be continued in each CPU without being stopped.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, even when a small capacity power supply unit is used, power consumption can be effectively reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an operation in the embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an operation state of each CPU in the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an output current waveform of a power supply unit in the same embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Computer system, 2 ... Power supply unit, 3 ... CPU, 4 ... CPU, 5 ... Microcomputer.

Claims (4)

In a computer system that drives by obtaining a predetermined power output,
Multiple CPUs;
A power supply unit that sends a peak notification signal indicating that the power output exceeds a continuous maximum rating;
When receiving this peak notification signal, a microcomputer for sending a CPU stop signal to the plurality of CPUs so as to alternately stop the operation for the plurality of CPUs,
A computer system comprising: 2. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein when the output of the power supply unit falls below a continuous maximum rating, the operation of the CPU is returned to a normal operation. In a drive control method of a computer system for obtaining a predetermined power output from a power supply unit and driving a plurality of CPUs,
Output a peak notification signal indicating that the power output exceeds the continuous maximum rating,
A drive control method for a computer system, wherein the peak notification signal is detected and the operations of the plurality of CPUs are alternately stopped. 4. The drive control method according to claim 3, wherein when the output of the power supply unit falls below a continuous maximum rating, the operation of the CPU is returned to a normal operation.

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