Intelligent power system

• US 20010045779A1
• Filed: 05/08/2001
• Published: 11/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Accel Power, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Accel Power, Inc.
• Inventors: Zhou, Jimmy Chen, Lee, Huey, Kua, John, Sin, Ronald C. M.
• Application Number:
  US09/851,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20010045779A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

This invention provides a design for the uninterruptible power supply system to make it more compact in size, more intelligent in handling primary power source and other power source failure, more efficient and reliable. This 600 to 1000 watt power system is capable of taking AC, DC and battery power inputs and distributes to multiple loads after conversion. Its power sentry monitors and controls all power inputs and outputs, and capable of switching power inputs without affecting the outputs in case of power source failure. The power sentry also controls the speeds of the cooling fans, charges the batteries, communicates with the operator, displays status, manages power consumption, prepares the substitute power source before switching power source, and shuts down the whole system incase of emergencies.

Claims

1. A compact, uninterruptible power supply system to provide and maintain a continuous supply of power to desired loads, comprising:

a high density power supply having a plurality of alternable power sources;

a battery charger to provide charges to at least one of the alternable power sources;

power source switching means to switch the power supply of the system among the plurality of alternable power sources; and

power supply management means to monitor the status of the plurality of alternable power sources based on a pre-determined power level so that the power source switching means is automatically activated to switch the power supply of the system from a first power source then in use to a second power source to ensure uninterruptable power supply when the first power source falls below the pre-determined power level.

2. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 1

further comprises a plurality of status LEDs to monitor the operation of the system and a fan to cool the system.

3. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 2

wherein the power supply management means is provided by a flash programmable microcontroller.

4. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 3

wherein the microcontroller comprises a power sentry which constantly senses and stores status information of the alternable power sources.

5. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 4

wherein the microcontroller further comprises a command module which provides status information of the AC power supply to the power sentry.

6. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 5

wherein the microcontroller further comprises a sentry operating system to communicate with an external operation system.

7. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 1

wherein the plurality of alternable power sources are selected from the group consisting of a DC power source, a battery and an AC primary power source.

8. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 1

wherein the power source switching means is an input power switch.

9. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 8

wherein the input power switch is connected to an output of the DC power source, the battery and an output of the AC primary power source to select power supply from any of the three input power sources.

10. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 1

further comprises an initial startup rectifier connected to an output of the AC primary power source.

11. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 10

further comprises a standby power connected to the initial startup rectifier to provide DC bias voltage to the system.

12. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 4

wherein the power sentry is connected to the input power switch to monitor all aspects of the source input data through its connection to the input power switch

13. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 12

wherein the power sentry issues a switch command to the input power switch to switch the power input to the DC Input if the power sentry senses a power failure in the AC primary power supply based on the status information collected.

14. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 13

wherein the power sentry issues a switch command to the input power switch to switch the power input to the battery input if the power sentry senses a power failure in the DC power supply based on the status information collected.

15. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 4

wherein the power sentry is further connected to a power output control to scan power supply output data collected by the power output control.

16. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 15

wherein the power output control is further connected to a plurality of checkpoints through which the power is provided to the desirable loads.

17. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 16

wherein the checkpoints are further connected to a peripheral monitoring multiplexer through which peripheral information such as heat sink temperature, internal temperature, fan speed and fan current data and battery status are collected.

18. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 17

wherein the peripheral information collected thereof by the checkpoints is passed to the power sentry through the command module

19. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 18

wherein the power output control scans all checkpoints voltages at a pre-determined sample rate and store these data in CACHE memory.

20. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 4

wherein the power sentry displays the normal data and provides sound or visual alarm on the status LEDs.

21. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 8

wherein the input power switch is connected to a high speed switch and driver to provide power switch.

22. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 21

wherein the high speed switch and driver is further connected to a main DC rail that is connected in parallel to a group of DC to DC converters to provide power to the loads.

23. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 1

wherein the battery charger further comprises a charger CPU, a charger control, a SM Bus and a Li-Ion battery.

24. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 23

wherein the Li-Ion battery communicates in serial packet data with the charger control through the SM Bus for battery monitoring and gas gauging.

25. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 24

wherein the SM Bus also carries commands such as charge, discharge, disconnect, sleep and shutdown from the charger control to the Li-Ion battery.

26. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 23

wherein the battery charger can provide charges to the Li-Ion battery back up to a 32.8V at 1.5 A.

27. The compact, uninterruptible power supply system according to

claim 23

wherein the battery charger is further connected to the power sentry to monitor battery data such as charge and discharge cycle, battery temperature, state of charge or discharge, battery life history, charge and discharge current and voltages.