ON-DEMAND UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLY

• US 20080231118A1
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Roepke, Jon
• Granted Patent: US 7,518,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24

Abstract

An uninterruptible power supply (“UPS”) is provided with a backup power supply that has an adjustable reserve power level that is based on a user'"'"'s input. The UPS provides reserve power that can later be utilized to reactivate the UPS after a shutdown or deactivation state has occurred, when a user demand for reserve power is received. The UPS utilizes a rechargeable battery that can supply stored AC power when the AC power line input voltage level falls below a threshold level and a shutdown has occurred. The user can adjust the reserve level in proportion to her input and the user can later reactivate the UPS to supply stored AC power for a period of time. In one embodiment, the user can execute computer code on her computer that can remotely adjust the reserve power level, based on a measurement of the backup power available from the UPS.

Claims

1. A method for controlling utilization of backup power, comprising:

receiving a user input regarding how much power to reserve;

setting a reserve level based on the user input;

measuring level of the backup power available;

determining whether the measured level meets the set reserve level;

determining whether there is a power outage; and

during the power outage, effecting a shutdown when the measured level fails to meet the set reserve level, and utilizing the backup power when a user demand for the backup power is received.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a user input comprises receiving a user selected setting chosen from a plurality of predefined settings.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a user input comprises receiving a user defined reserve level.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein setting a reserve level comprises setting the reserve level to be proportional the user input.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein setting a reserve level comprises selecting the reserve level from a table of predefined reserve levels.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether there is a power outage comprises:

monitoring an input voltage; and

detecting an interruption to the input voltage.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining whether there is a power outage further comprises:

determining whether the interruption exceeds a minimum interruption interval; and

when the interruption lasts longer than the minimum interruption interval, determining that the power outage is occurring.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein effecting a shutdown comprises transitioning to and operating in sleep mode.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, during the power outage, using the backup power until the measured level fails to meet the set reserve level.

10. A method for controlling utilization of backup power, comprising:

setting a reserve level corresponding to how much power to reserve;

measuring level of the backup power available;

determining whether the measured level meets the set reserve level;

determining whether there is a power interruption; and

during the power interruption, effecting a shutdown when the measured level fails to meet the set reserve level, and utilizing the backup power when a user demand for the backup power is received.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein setting a reserve level comprises receiving a user input.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving a user input comprises receiving a user selected setting chosen from a plurality of predefined settings.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving a user input comprises receiving a user defined reserve level.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein setting a reserve level comprises setting the reserve level to be proportional the user input.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein setting a reserve level comprises selecting the reserve level from a table of predefined reserve levels.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein determining whether there is a power interruption comprises:

monitoring an input voltage; and

detecting a change to the input voltage.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein determining whether there is a power interruption further comprises:

determining whether the change to the input voltage lasts longer than a minimum interval; and

when the change lasts longer than the minimum interval, determining that the power interruption is occurring.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein effecting a shutdown comprises transitioning to and operating in sleep mode.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising, during the power interruption, using the backup power until the measured level fails to meet the set reserve level.

20. A system for controlling utilization of backup power, comprising:

an input device for receiving a user input;

a processor module operatively coupled to the user input device; and

a memory module operatively coupled to the processor module, the memory module comprising executable code operable by the processor module to;

set a reserve level based on the received user input;

measure level of the backup power available;

determine whether the measured level meets the set reserve level;

determine whether there is a power interruption;

effect a shutdown when the measured level fails to meet the set reserve level during the power interruption; and

utilize the backup power when a user demand for the backup power is received during the power interruption.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the user input comprises a user selected setting chosen from a plurality of predefined settings.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the user input comprises a user defined reserve level.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor module sets the reserve level to be proportional to the user input.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor module selects the reserve level from a table of predefined reserve levels.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor module determines whether there is a power interruption by:

monitoring an input voltage; and

detecting a change to the input voltage.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the processor module determines whether there is a power interruption by:

determining whether the change to the input voltage lasts longer than a minimum interval; and

when the change lasts longer than the minimum interval determining that the power interruption is occurring.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor module effects a shutdown by transitioning to and operating in sleep mode.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein the memory module further comprises executable code for the processor module to use the backup power until the measured level fails to meet the set reserve level.

29. A system for controlling utilization of backup power, comprising:

a user input device;

a processor module operatively coupled to the user input device; and

a memory module operatively coupled to the processor module, the memory module comprising executable code operable by the processor module to;

set a reserve level;

measure level of the backup power available;

determine whether the measured level meets the set reserve level;

determine whether there is a power interruption;

effect a shutdown when the measured level fails to meet the set reserve level during the power interruption; and

utilize the backup power when a user demand for the backup power is received during the power interruption.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the processor module sets a reserve level by receiving a user input.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the user input comprises a user selected setting chosen from a plurality of predefined settings.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the user input comprises a user defined reserve level.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the processor module sets the reserve level to be proportional to the user input.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the processor module selects the reserve level from a table of predefined reserve levels.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein the processor module determines whether there is a power outage by:

monitoring an input voltage; and

detecting an interruption to the input voltage.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the processor module determines whether there is a power outage by:

determining whether the interruption exceeds a minimum interruption interval; and

when the interruption lasts longer than the minimum interruption interval determining that the power outage is occurring.

37. The system of claim 29, wherein the processor module effects a shutdown by transitioning to and operating in sleep mode.

38. The system of claim 29, wherein the memory module further comprises executable code for the processor module to use the backup power until the measured level fails to meet the set reserve level.