System for detecting defective battery packs
First Claim
15. A method of detecting and identifying a failed battery pack in an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system, the UPS system having a plurality of parallel connected slots into which may be coupled battery packs, power modules, or battery chargers as determined and configured by a user, the slots being adapted to accommodate two battery packs and providing a series coupling therebetween, the method comprising the steps of:
- detecting a presence and type of equipment installed in each slot;
monitoring a voltage present at the series coupling between the two battery packs for each slot into which is installed battery packs;
calculating an average midpoint voltage for all slots having battery packs installed therein;
comparing the voltage for each slot to the average midpoint voltage for all slots; and
identifying a failed battery pack within a slot when the voltage for its associated slot deviates from the average midpoint voltage by a predetermined amount.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical cabinet for an uninterruptibe power supply (UPS) system includes universal slots that can receive power modules, battery packs, or chargers. The back plane of the slot has connector terminals for battery packs and power modules. The cabinet can be easily reconfigured as desired by changing the number of power modules chargers or battery packs installed. Circuitry is provided that indicates the capacity and operational readiness of the cabinet. This circuitry monitors the battery packs in each slot, and isolates any detected fault to a particular pack.
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Citations
58 Claims
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15. A method of detecting and identifying a failed battery pack in an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system, the UPS system having a plurality of parallel connected slots into which may be coupled battery packs, power modules, or battery chargers as determined and configured by a user, the slots being adapted to accommodate two battery packs and providing a series coupling therebetween, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting a presence and type of equipment installed in each slot;
monitoring a voltage present at the series coupling between the two battery packs for each slot into which is installed battery packs;
calculating an average midpoint voltage for all slots having battery packs installed therein;
comparing the voltage for each slot to the average midpoint voltage for all slots; and
identifying a failed battery pack within a slot when the voltage for its associated slot deviates from the average midpoint voltage by a predetermined amount.
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22. A system for detecting defective battery packs in a modular, redundant uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system, the UPS system having a plurality of parallel connected slots into which may be coupled the battery packs, power modules, or battery chargers as determined and configured by a user, each slot being adapted to accommodate two battery packs and to provide a series coupling therebetween, the system comprising:
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a voltage sense circuit coupled to each series coupling of each slot and operable to generate a voltage sense signal in response to a voltage present thereon;
a voltage sense selector circuit coupled to each of the voltage sense circuits, the voltage sense selector circuit operable to selectively enable the voltage sense circuits;
a controller operably coupled to the voltage sense selector circuit to command the voltage sense selector circuit to enable of a particular voltage sense circuit for a particular slot, the controller reading the voltage sense signal for the particular slot from the voltage sense circuit; and
wherein said controller compares the voltage sense signal for the particular slot to a predetermined expected value and identifies an operational status of the battery packs based thereon. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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28. An electrical cabinet for configuring an uninterruptible power system, the cabinet comprising a plurality of receiving locations each adapted to receive either of a power module and a battery pack, each receiving location including at least one terminal connector comprising a first power connector adapted to electrically connect with the battery pack and a signal connector adapted to electrically connect with the power module.
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40. An electrical cabinet for configuring an uninterruptible power system with battery packs and modules, comprising:
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a support housing;
a plurality of universal bays defined in the support housing, each universal bay sized to receive either of a battery pack and a power module; and
at least one terminal connector for each universal bay, comprising a first power connector adapted to electrically connect with the battery pack and a signal connector adapted to electrically connect with the power module. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A back panel for use in an electrical cabinet of a modular uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system, the UPS being capable of including any combination or exclusion of battery packs, power modules, and battery chargers within the capacity of the electrical cabinet, the electrical cabinet having a plurality of identical receiving locations capable of receiving any one of the power modules, battery packs, and battery chargers, the back panel comprising:
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a backplane; and
a first terminal connector, said terminal connector comprising;
a power connector mounted on said backplane and adapted to electrically connect with the battery pack, the power module, and the battery charger; and
a signal connector mounted on said backplane and adapted to electrically connect with the power module and the battery charger. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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57-1. The UPS of claim 57, wherein said universal receiving locations are further adapted to receive battery chargers, the UPS further comprising a battery charger positioned within a third of said universal receiving locations.
Specification