Un-interruptible power supply with indication of battery internal resistance

• US 10,205,340 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2017
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cyberpower Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cyberpower Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Hsieh, Hung-Ming, Peng, Yung-Hao, Chen, Ta-Peng
• Primary Examiner(s): Cavallari-See, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US15/435,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20180188328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/389 Measuring internal impedance, internal conductance or related variables
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/396 Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
• 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: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/00 Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An un-interruptible power supply (UPS) with indication of battery internal resistance includes a processor, a display, a sensing module and a battery pack. The sensing module is connected to the processor and the battery pack. The processor is connected to the display, generates a reference internal resistance according to multiple internal resistances detected by the sensing module within a stable time after installation, generates a stable internal resistance according to an internal resistance of the battery pack detected by the sensing module after the stable time, compares the stable internal resistance with the reference internal resistance to generate a status of internal resistance of the battery pack, and instructs the display unit to display the status for user'"'"'s timely awareness of the condition of the battery pack and prompt action when the performance of the battery pack deteriorates.

Claims

1. An un-interruptible power supply (UPS) with indication of battery internal resistance, comprising:

an AC (Alternating Current) power input port adapted to connect to an AC power source;

a battery charging unit connected to the AC power input port;

a DC (Direct Current) to AC converter connected to the battery charging unit;

a switch having;

a first end connected to the AC power input port;

a second end connected to the DC to AC converter; and

a switching end switched by the switch to connect to one of the first end and the second end according to a control command received by the switch;

a processor having multiple input terminals and multiple output terminals, and transmitting the control command to the switch when receiving an AC-sensed signal, wherein a part of the multiple output terminals of the processor are connected to the switch, and a part of the multiple input terminals of the processor are connected to the AC power input port;

a display unit connected to one of the output terminals of the processor and displaying text-based information;

a battery pack connected to the battery charging unit and the DC to AC converter, supplying a DC power, and charged by the battery charging unit;

a sensing module connected to the battery pack and the processor to sense an internal resistance of the battery pack and transmit the internal resistance to the processor;

wherein the processor generates a reference internal resistance according to multiple internal resistances of the battery pack detected within a stable time after installation of the battery pack, generates a stable internal resistance when an internal resistance is detected by the sensing module after the stable time expires, and compares the stable internal resistance with the reference internal resistance to generate an internal resistance status for the display unit to display a status of internal resistance of the battery pack.

2. The UPS as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor takes an average of the multiple internal resistances of the battery pack to generate the reference internal resistance.

3. The UPS as claimed in claim 2, wherein the processor divides the stable internal resistance generated after the stable time by the reference internal resistance to generate a computed value, determines that a status of the internal resistance of the battery pack is bad when the computed value falls within a first range, is to be observed when the computed value falls within a second range, and is normal when the computed value falls within a third range.

4. The UPS as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first range, the second range and the third range are respectively defined by a range greater than 200%, a range greater than 150% and less than or equal to 200%, and a range less than or equal to 150%.

5. The UPS as claimed in claim 4, wherein the display unit prompts the status of internal resistance of the battery pack in an alarm state when the computed value falls within the first range, in a warning state when the computed value falls within the second range, and in a normal state when the computed value falls within the third range.

6. The UPS as claimed in claim 5, wherein the stable time after installation ranges from 3 to 6 months.

7. The UPS as claimed in claim 6, wherein

when detecting the multiple internal resistances of the battery set before the stable time expires or detecting the stable internal resistance after the stable time expires, the sensing module simultaneously detects a surrounding temperature and transmits the multiple internal resistances or the stable internal resistance and the surrounding temperature to the processor;

and

the processor is built in with compensation ratio information expressed by a relationship between the surrounding temperature and an internal resistance ratio, and finds the internal resistance ratio corresponding to the surrounding temperature, and divides each of the multiple internal resistances or the stable internal resistance of the battery pack by the corresponding internal resistance ratio to generate a compensated internal resistance.

8. The UPS as claimed in claim 7, wherein

the battery pack has multiple batteries connected in series to each other and including a first battery, a second battery, a third battery and a fourth battery;

the sensing module includes a sensor, the sensor includes;

a first internal resistance measuring unit and a first internal resistance measurement driving unit connected to a positive terminal of the second battery;

a second internal resistance measuring unit and a second internal resistance measurement driving unit connected to a positive terminal of the first battery;

a third internal resistance measuring unit and a third internal resistance measurement driving unit connected to a positive terminal of the fourth battery;

a fourth internal resistance measuring unit and a fourth internal resistance measurement driving unit connected to a positive terminal of the third battery;

a first isolation unit and a second isolation unit, wherein the second isolation unit is connected to the communication interface port, wherein the communication interface port is connected to the processor;

a first microcontroller unit (MCU) connected to the first isolation unit, the second isolation unit, the third internal resistance measuring unit, the third internal resistance measurement driving unit, the fourth internal resistance measuring unit and the fourth internal resistance measurement driving unit; and

a second MCU connected to the first isolation unit, the first internal resistance measuring unit, the first internal resistance measurement driving unit, the second internal resistance measuring unit, the second internal resistance measurement driving unit.

9. The UPS as claimed in claim 8, wherein the processor transmits a command signal to the first MCU and the second MCU, the second MCU controls the second internal resistance measurement driving unit to instruct the first battery and the second battery to operate, the second internal resistance measuring unit transmits a first measurement signal to the second MCU, the second MCU controls the first internal resistance measurement driving unit to instruct the second battery to operate, the first internal resistance measuring unit transmits a second measurement signal to the second MCU, the second MCU transmits a first internal resistance and a second internal resistance to the first MCU according to the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal, the first MCU controls the fourth internal resistance measurement driving unit to instruct the third battery and the fourth battery to operate, the fourth internal resistance measuring unit transmits a third measurement signal to the first MCU, the first MCU controls the third internal resistance measurement driving unit to instruct the fourth battery to operate, the third internal resistance measuring unit transmits a fourth measurement signal to the first MCU, the first MCU transmits a third internal resistance and a fourth internal resistance to the processor according to the third measurement signal and the fourth measurement signal and transmits the first internal resistance and the second internal resistance to the processor, and the processor respectively generates a first compensated internal resistance, a second compensated internal resistance, a third compensated internal resistance and a fourth compensated internal resistance corresponding to the first battery, the second battery, the third battery and the fourth battery according to the first internal resistance, the second internal resistance, the third internal resistance, and the fourth internal resistance.

10. The UPS as claimed in claim 7, wherein

the sensing module has multiple sensors and each sensor has a microprocessor, an isolation unit, a communication interface port, an internal resistance measuring unit, and an internal resistance measurement driving unit, wherein the microprocessor is connected to the isolation unit, the internal resistance measuring unit and the internal resistance measurement driving unit, the communication interface port is connected to the isolation unit, the communication interface ports of the multiple sensors are connected in series and then are connected to the processor;

and

the battery pack has multiple batteries connected in series to each other, the internal resistance measuring unit and the internal resistance measurement driving unit of each sensor are connected to the positive terminal of a corresponding battery, wherein the processor transmits a command signal to the microprocessor of each sensor, the microprocessor controls the internal resistance measurement driving unit to instruct a corresponding battery to operate, and the internal resistance measuring unit of the sensor transmits a measurement signal of the corresponding battery to the processor for computation to generate a status of internal resistance of the corresponding battery.

11. An un-interruptible power supply (UPS) with indication of battery internal resistance, comprising:

an AC (Alternating Current) power input port adapted to connect to an AC power source;

a battery charging unit connected to the AC power input port;

a DC (Direct Current) to AC converter connected to the battery charging unit;

a switch having;

a first end connected to the AC power input port;

a second end connected to the DC to AC converter; and

a switching end switched by the switch to connect to one of the first end and the second end according to a control command received by the switch;

an AC power output port connected to the switching end of the switch and adapted to connect to an external electronic device to supply power to the electronic device;

a processor having multiple input terminals and multiple output terminals, and transmitting the control command to the switch when receiving an AC-sensed signal, wherein a part of the multiple output terminals of the processor are connected to the switch, and a part of the multiple input terminals of the processor are connected to the AC power input port;

a display unit connected to one of the output terminals of the processor;

a battery pack connected to the battery charging unit and the DC to AC converter, supplying a DC power, and charged by the battery charging unit;

a sensing module connected to the battery pack and the processor to sense an internal resistance of the battery pack and transmit the internal resistance to the processor;

wherein the processor generates a reference internal resistance according to multiple internal resistances of the battery pack detected within a stable time after installation of the battery pack, generates a stable internal resistance when an internal resistance is detected by the sensing module after the stable time expires, and compares the stable internal resistance with the reference internal resistance to generate an internal resistance status for the display unit to display the internal resistance status with a corresponding background color of a screen of the display unit.

12. The UPS as claimed in claim 11, wherein the processor takes an average of the multiple internal resistances of the battery pack to generate the reference internal resistance.

13. The UPS as claimed in claim 12, wherein the processor divides the stable internal resistance generated after the stable time by the reference internal resistance to generate a computed value, determines that a status of the internal resistance of the battery pack is bad when the computed value falls within a first range, is to be observed when the computed value falls within a second range, and is normal when the computed value falls within a third range.

14. The UPS as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first range, the second range and the third range are respectively defined by a range greater than 200%, a range greater than 150% and less than or equal to 200%, and a range less than or equal to 150%.

15. The UPS as claimed in claim 14, wherein the display unit prompts the status of internal resistance of the battery pack in an alarm state when the computed value falls within the first range, in a warning state when the computed value falls within the second range, and in a normal state when the computed value falls within the third range.

16. The UPS as claimed in claim 15, wherein the stable time after installation ranges from 3 to 6 months.

17. The UPS as claimed in claim 16, wherein

when detecting the multiple internal resistances of the battery set before the stable time expires or detects the stable internal resistance after the stable time expires, the sensing module simultaneously detects a surrounding temperature and transmits the multiple internal resistances or the stable internal resistance of the battery pack and the surrounding temperature to the processor;

and

the processor is built in with compensation ratio information expressed by a relationship between the surrounding temperature and an internal resistance ratio, and finds the internal resistance ratio corresponding to the detected surrounding temperature, and divides the each of the multiple internal resistances or the stable internal resistance of the battery pack by the corresponding internal resistance ratio to generate the compensated internal resistance.

18. The UPS as claimed in claim 17, wherein

the battery pack has multiple batteries connected in series to each other and including a first battery, a second battery, a third battery and a fourth battery;

the sensing module includes a sensor, the sensor includes;

a first internal resistance measuring unit and a first internal resistance measurement driving unit connected to a positive terminal of the second battery;

a second internal resistance measuring unit and a second internal resistance measurement driving unit connected to a positive terminal of the first battery;

a third internal resistance measuring unit and a third internal resistance measurement driving unit connected to a positive terminal of the fourth battery;

a fourth internal resistance measuring unit and a fourth internal resistance measurement driving unit connected to a positive terminal of the third battery;

a first isolation unit and a second isolation unit, wherein the second isolation unit is connected to the communication interface port, wherein the communication interface port is connected to the processor;

a first microcontroller unit (MCU) connected to the first isolation unit, the second isolation unit, the third internal resistance measuring unit, the third internal resistance measurement driving unit, the fourth internal resistance measuring unit and the fourth internal resistance measurement driving unit; and

a second MCU connected to the first isolation unit, the first internal resistance measuring unit, the first internal resistance measurement driving unit, the second internal resistance measuring unit, the second internal resistance measurement driving unit.

19. The UPS as claimed in claim 18, wherein the processor transmits a command signal to the first MCU and the second MCU, the second MCU controls the second internal resistance measurement driving unit to instruct the first battery and the second battery to operate, the second internal resistance measuring unit transmits a first measurement signal to the second MCU, the second MCU controls the first internal resistance measurement driving unit to instruct the second battery to operate, the first internal resistance measuring unit transmits a second measurement signal to the second MCU, the second MCU transmits a first internal resistance and a second internal resistance to the first MCU according to the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal, the first MCU controls the fourth internal resistance measurement driving unit to instruct the third battery and the fourth battery to operate, the fourth internal resistance measuring unit transmits a third measurement signal to the first MCU, the first MCU controls the third internal resistance measurement driving unit to instruct the fourth battery to operate, the third internal resistance measuring unit transmits a fourth measurement signal to the first MCU, the first MCU transmits a third internal resistance and a fourth internal resistance to the processor according to the third measurement signal and the fourth measurement signal, and the processor respectively generates a first compensated internal resistance, a second compensated internal resistance, a third compensated internal resistance and a fourth compensated internal resistance corresponding to the first battery, the second battery, the third battery and the fourth battery according to the first internal resistance, the second internal resistance, the third internal resistance, and the fourth internal resistance.

20. The UPS as claimed in claim 17, wherein

the sensing module has multiple sensors and each sensor has a microprocessor, an isolation unit, a communication interface port, an internal resistance measuring unit, and an internal resistance measurement driving unit, wherein the microprocessor is connected to the isolation unit, the internal resistance measuring unit and the internal resistance measurement driving unit, the communication interface port is connected to the isolation unit, the communication interface ports of the multiple sensors are connected in series and then are connected to the processor;

and

the battery pack has multiple batteries connected in series to each other, the internal resistance measuring unit and the internal resistance measurement driving unit of each sensor are connected to the positive terminal of a corresponding battery, wherein the processor transmits a command signal to the microprocessor of each sensor, the microprocessor controls the internal resistance measurement driving unit to instruct a corresponding battery to operate, and the internal resistance measuring unit of the sensor transmits a measurement signal of the corresponding battery to the processor for computation to generate a status of internal resistance of the corresponding battery.