System and method for automatic voltage range measurement

A system for automatic voltage range measurement borne by an electronic device controls a voltage regulator module (VRM) of the electronic device to output a work voltage equaling a work voltage output by the VRM last time added to or subtracted by a voltage difference. When a determination module determines the electronic device has failed to power on or a test of the electronic device for testing hardware of the electronic device has failed after the electronic device is powered on at a work voltage, a limit value of a voltage range boned by the electronic device is ascertained. The limit value is equal to the work voltage this time subtracted or added by the voltage difference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to system measurement, and particularly to a system and a method for automatic voltage range measurement.

2. Description of Related Art

When a voltage range borne by a computer is measured, a resistance of a variable resistor connected to a voltage regulator module (VRM) of a motherboard of the computer needs to be manually adjusted, to change work voltages output by the VRM to ascertain the voltage range. However, such manual adjustment of resistance of the variable resistor can be inconvenient.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a system100of automatic voltage range measurement borne by an electronic device, such as a tested computer40having a voltage regulator module (VRM)44and a power supply42connected to an input terminal1of the VRM is illustrated. The system100includes a main computer10connected to the tested computer40, a voltage regulator20connected between the main computer10and a reference terminal2of the VRM44, and an alternating current (AC) power switch30connected between the main computer10and the power supply42of the tested computer40. The AC power switch30is also connected to an AC power source60. The main computer10includes a memory unit50and a processor11connected to the memory unit50.

The memory unit50may include a random access memory (RAM) for temporary storage of information and/or a read only memory (ROM) for permanent storage of information.

Referring toFIG. 2, the memory unit50includes a control module12, a determination module14, and a recording module16. The control module12, the determination module14, and the recording module16may include one or more computerized instructions executable by the processor10.

The control module12is operable to turn on the AC power switch30to output an AC voltage from the AC power source60to the power supply42of the tested computer40.

The power supply42is operable to convert the received AC voltage to direct current (DC) voltage to power the tested computer40.

The determination module14is operable to determine whether the tested computer40is powered on after the power supply42outputs the DC voltage to the tested computer40and the VRM44outputs a work voltage, and output a determination result denoting that the tested computer40is powered on or has failed to power on to the control module12. If the tested computer40is powered on, the tested computer40executes a test application to test hardware of the tested computer40, such as the central processing unit, the memory, the compact disc read-only memory, and so on.

The determination module14is also operable to determine whether the test is successful after the tested computer40performs the test application, and output a test result denoting that the test is successful or failed to the control module12.

The control module12is also operable to direct the voltage regulator20to output a reference voltage to the reference terminal2of the VRM44after receiving the determination result denoting that the tested computer40is powered on and the test result denoting that the test is successful. The VRM44outputs the work voltage equaling the work voltage output by the VRM last time added by a voltage difference, hereinafter called second voltage difference, according to the received reference voltage.

When the reference voltage received by the reference terminal2of the VRM44is subtracted by a voltage difference, hereinafter called first voltage difference, the work voltage output by the VRM44is added by a second voltage difference. When the reference voltage received by the reference terminal2of the VRM44is added by a first voltage difference, the work voltage output by the VRM44is subtracted by a second voltage difference. The first voltage difference and the second voltage difference are positive values.

When an upper limit value of the voltage range is measured, the control module12directs the voltage regulator20to output a reference voltage for the first time to the reference terminal2of the VRM44. The VRM44outputs the work voltage equaling a standard voltage added by a second voltage difference for the first time. The control module12then directs the voltage regulator20to output a reference voltage equaling the reference voltage output by the voltage regulator last time subtracted by a first voltage difference for every time after the first time. Therefore, the VRM44outputs a work voltage equaling the work voltage output by the VRM44last time added by a second voltage difference for every time after the first time. If the control module12receives the determination result denoting that the tested computer40has failed to power on or the test result denoting that the test has failed, the system100stops measurement of the upper limit value of the voltage range borne by the tested computer40. The upper limit value of the voltage range is equal to the work voltage leading to the tested computer40failing to power on or the test failing subtracted by a second voltage difference. The standard voltage is the voltage output by the VRM44when the control module12does not direct the voltage regulator20to output the reference voltage to the reference terminal2of the VRM44.

When a lower limit value of the voltage range is measured, the control module12directs the voltage regulator20to output a reference voltage for the first time to the reference terminal2of the VRM44. The VRM44outputs the work voltage equaling a standard voltage subtracted by a second voltage difference for the first time. The control module12then directs the voltage regulator20to output a reference voltage equaling the reference voltage output by the voltage regulator last time added by a first voltage difference for every time after the first time. Therefore, the VRM44outputs a work voltage equaling the work voltage output by the VRM44last time subtracted by a second voltage difference for every time after the first time. If the control module12receives the determination result denoting that the tested computer40has failed to power on or the test result denoting that the test has failed, the system100stops measurement of the lower limit value of the voltage range borne by the tested computer40. The lower limit value of the voltage range is equal to the work voltage leading to the tested computer40failing to power on or the test fails added by a second voltage difference.

The recording module16is operable to record the measured upper limit value and the measured lower limit value.

The control module12is further operable to turn off the AC power switch30to stop supplying power to the tested computer40after the VRM44outputs a work voltage equaling the work voltage output by the VRM44last time added by or subtracted by a second voltage difference, to continue measurement of the voltage range and protect the tested computer40.

In the embodiment, the first voltage difference is 0.1 volts (V). The second voltage difference is 0.1 V. In other embodiments, the first and second voltage differences can be set as other values or a negative value.

Referring toFIG. 2, in order to ensure the work voltage output by the VRM44to be unique which leading to the tested computer40failing to power on or the test failing, it is necessary to determine whether the tested computer40has a fault, as follows.

In step K1, the control module12turns on the AC power switch30to output the AC voltage from the AC power source60to the power supply42, to convert the AC voltage to the DC voltage to power the tested computer40.

In step K2, the determination module14determines whether the tested computer40is powered on, and outputs the determination result to the control module12. If the control module12receives the determination result denoting that the tested computer40is powered on, step K3is implemented. If the control module12receives the determination result denoting that the tested computer40fails to power on, or the tested computer40has a fault, the voltage range borne by the tested computer40cannot be measured.

In step K3, the control module12turns off the tested computer40and the AC power switch30to stop supplying power to the tested computer40. The system for automatically measuring voltage can be proceeded.

If the tested computer40has no fault, steps K1-K3can be omitted.

An exemplary embodiment of a method for automatically measuring the voltage range borne by the tested computer40includes the following steps.

In step S1, the control module12turns on the AC power switch30to output the AC voltage from the AC power source60to the power supply42, to convert the AC voltage to the DC voltage to power the tested computer40.

In step S2, the control module12directs the voltage regulator20to output a reference voltage to the reference terminals2of the VRM44. The VRM44outputs a work voltage equaling the standard voltage added by a second voltage difference according to the received reference voltage.

In step S3, the control module12turns off the tested computer40.

In step S4, the control module12turns off the AC power switch30to stop power to the tested computer40.

In step S5, the control module12directs the AC power switch30to output the AC voltage to the power supply42, to convert the AC voltage to the DC voltage to power the tested computer40.

In step S6, the determination module14determines whether the tested computer40is powered on, and outputs the determination result to the control module12. If the control module12receives the determination result denoting that the tested computer40is powered on, step S7is implemented. If the control module12receives the determination result denoting that the tested computer40has failed to power on, step S9is implemented.

In step S7, the tested computer40utilizes the testing application to assess the hardware of the tested computer40, such as the CPU, the memory, and so on. The determination module14determines whether the test is successful, and outputs the test result to the control module12. If the control module12receives the test result denoting that the test is successful, step S8is implemented. If the control module12receives the test result denoting that the test has failed, step S9is implemented.

In step S8, the control module12directs the voltage regulator20to output a reference voltage equaling the reference voltage output by the voltage regulator20last time subtracted by the first voltage difference from the reference terminal2of the VRM44. The VRM44outputs a work voltage equaling the work voltage output by the VRM44last time added by the second voltage difference, step S3is repeated.

In step S9, the system100stops measurement of the upper limit value of the voltage range borne by the tested computer40. The recording module16records the upper limit value equaling the work voltage output by the voltage regulator20this time subtracted by the second voltage difference.

In step S10, the control module12directs the voltage regulator20to output a reference voltage to the reference terminals2of the VRM44; the VRM44outputs a work voltage equaling the standard voltage subtracted by the second voltage difference according to the received reference voltage.

In step S11, the control module12turns off the tested computer40.

In step S12, the control module12turns off the AC power switch30to stop power to the tested computer40.

In step S13, the control module12directs the AC power switch30to output the AC voltage to the power supply42, to convert the AC voltage into the DC voltage to power the tested computer40.

In step S14, the determination module14determines whether the tested computer40has powered on, and outputs the determination result to the control module12. If the control module12receives the determination result denoting that the tested power has powered on, step S15is implemented. If the control module12receives the determination result denoting that the tested power has failed to power on, step S17is implemented.

In step S15, the tested computer40utilizes a testing application to test the hardware of the tested computer40, such as the CPU, the memory, and so on. The determination module14determines whether the test is successful, and outputs the test result to the control module12. If the control module12receives the test result denoting that the test is successful, step S16is implemented. If the control module12receives the test result denoting that the test has failed, step S17is implemented.

In step S16, the control module12directs the voltage regulator20to output a reference voltage equaling the reference voltage output by the voltage regulator20last time added by the first voltage difference to the reference terminal of the VRM44. The VRM44outputs a work voltage equaling the work voltage output by the VRM44last time subtracted by the second voltage difference, step S11is repeated.

In step S17, the system100stops measurement of the lower limit value of the voltage range borne by the tested computer40. The recording module16records the lower limit value equaling the work voltage output by the voltage regulator20this time added by the second voltage difference.

In other embodiments, the system100can measure the upper limit value or the lower limit value of the voltage range borne by the tested computer40according to need. If the system100measures only the upper limit value of the voltage range, steps S10-S17can be omitted. If the system100measures only the upper limit value of the voltage range, steps S4-S10can be omitted.

For example, a standard voltage is 5V. The control module12directs the voltage regulator20to output a reference voltage to the reference terminals2of the VRM44to direct the VRM44to output 5.01V voltage. The control module12turns off the tested computer40and stops power to the tested computer40. The control module12turns on the AC power switch30to power the tested computer40. The determination module14determines that the tested computer40has powered on. The tested computer40implements the test application. The determination module14determines that the test is successful. The control module12directs the voltage regulator20to output a reference voltage equaling the reference voltage output by the voltage regulator20last time subtracted by the first voltage difference to the reference terminal2of the VRM44, directing the VRM44to output 5.02V voltage. The control module12turns off the tested computer40and stops power to the tested computer40. The control module12turns on the AC power switch30to power the tested computer40. The determination module14determines that the tested computer40has failed to power on. The system100stops measurement of the upper limit value of the voltage range borne by the tested computer40. The recording module16records the upper limit value of 5.01 V. The system starts to measure the lower limit value of the voltage range borne by the tested computer40. Measurement of the lower limit value of the voltage range borne by the tested computer40is the same as the process of measuring the upper limit value.