Battery modules having detection connectors and related systems

• US 10,153,658 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2015
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Nandam, Pradeep Kumar, Miller, David Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hai L
• Application Number:
  US14/601,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20160211698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 307 64- 66
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/10 Batteries in stationary systems, e.g. emergency power source in plant
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7031 Shorting, shunting or bussing of different terminals interrupted or effected on engagement of coupling part, e.g. for ESD protection, line continuity
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0036 using connection detecting circuits H02J7/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/00 Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery module is provided including a battery module connector configured to engage with a backplane connector on a backplane board associated with an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). When the battery module connector is engaged with the backplane connector a circuit is completed that instantaneously indicates to the UPS that the battery module is connected. When the battery module connector is disengaged from the backplane connector the circuit is opened and instantaneously indicates to the UPS that the battery module is disconnected.

Claims

1. A battery module comprising a battery module connector configured to engage with a backplane connector on a backplane board associated with an uninterruptible power supply (UPS),

wherein a voltage sensor in the UPS is configured to detect a change in voltage when the battery module connector is engaged with the backplane connector and a circuit is completed that instantaneously indicates to the UPS that the battery module is connected and when the battery module connector is disengaged from the backplane connector and the circuit is opened and instantaneously indicates to the UPS that the battery module is disconnected, the battery module including a plurality of batteries in a string;

and

wherein when the battery module connector is engaged with the backplane connector a center point voltage of the string is detected by the voltage sensor in the UPS.

2. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the battery module does not include a bleed resistor.

3. The battery module of claim 1, wherein an alarm is triggered responsive to an indication that the battery module has been disconnected.

4. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the battery module is associated with a battery charger and wherein the battery charger is not periodically turned off to allow a capacitor in parallel with the battery module to discharge.

5. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the battery module connector comprises a male connector having two signal contacts that are shorted together or a female connector configured to receive the male connector.

6. The battery module of claim 5, wherein the backplane connector is a female connector configured to receive the battery module connector or a female connector configured to receive the male connector.

7. The battery module of claim 6, wherein when the battery module connector is removed from the backplane connector, the backplane connector becomes an open circuit.

8. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the battery module is positioned in an external battery module (EBM) in communication with the UPS.

9. A backplane board associated with an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) comprising a backplane connector that is configured to engage a battery module connector,

wherein a voltage sensor in the UPS is configured to detect a change in voltage when the battery module connector is engaged with the backplane connector and a circuit is completed that indicates to the UPS that a battery module associated with the battery module connector is connected and when the battery module connector is disengaged from the backplane connector and the circuit is opened and instantaneously indicates to the UPS that the battery module is disconnected, the battery module including a plurality of batteries in a string;

and

wherein when the battery module connector is engaged with the backplane connector a center point voltage of the string is detected by the voltage sensor in the UPS.

10. A system comprising:

an uninterruptible power supply (UPS);

at least one battery module, the at least one battery module comprising a battery module connector configured to engage with a backplane connector on a backplane board associated with the UPS; and

a voltage sensor in the UPS is configured to detect a change in voltage when the battery module connector is engaged with the backplane connector and a circuit is completed that indicates to the UPS that the at least one battery module is connected and when the battery module connector is disengaged from the backplane connector and the circuit is opened and instantaneously indicates to the UPS that the at least one battery module is disconnected, the battery module including a plurality of batteries in a string; and

wherein when the battery module connector is engaged with the backplane connector a center point voltage of the string is detected by the voltage sensor in the UPS.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein, responsive to an indication that the at least one battery module has been disconnected, a number of batteries reported to the UPS is changed and a battery time remaining (BTR) estimate is updated responsive thereto.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the battery module connector comprises a male connector having two signal contacts that are shorted together.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the backplane connector is a female connector configured to receive the battery module connector.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein when the battery module connector is removed from the backplane connector, the backplane connector becomes an open circuit.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one battery module is positioned in an external battery module (EBM) in communication with the UPS.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one battery module does not include a bleed resistor.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one battery module is associated with a battery charger and wherein the battery charger is not periodically turned off to allow a capacitor to discharge.