POWER SUPPLY UNIT

• US 20090026842A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IPS Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IPS Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Hunter, Stephen John, Joubert, Andre Malan
• Granted Patent: US 8,513,832 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/24 for parking meters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0024 Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00302 Overcharge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

A power supply unit for supplying power to a device has a rechargeable, main battery; a charging arrangement for charging the main battery; a non-rechargeable back-up battery; load terminals for connection to a load; and a control unit for controlling supply of power to the load primarily from the main battery and secondarily from the back-up battery. The device is, in particular, a single bay, stand alone parking meter. In the event that the main battery runs low, the control unit is configured to supply power to the load from both the main battery and the back-up battery or only from the back-up battery. The back-up battery is easily replaceable, and the power supply unit has a bay, with connectors for receiving the back-up battery. The main battery is charged from solar panels. A communication device is provided to communicate status messages wirelessly to a control system.

Claims

1. A power supply unit for supplying power to a device, the power supply unit including

a rechargeable, main battery;

a charging arrangement for charging the main battery;

a set of connectors for a back-up battery;

a set of load terminals for connection to a load; and

a control unit for controlling supply of power to the load primarily from the main battery and secondarily from the backup battery.

2. A power supply unit for supplying power to a device as claimed in claim 1, in which the control unit is configured to supply power, in use, to the load from both the main battery and the back-up battery when the main battery is discharged to a predetermined extent.

3. A power supply unit for supplying power to a device as claimed in claim 1, in which the control unit is configured to supply power, in use, to the load from only the back-up battery when the main battery is discharged to a predetermined extent.

4. A power supply unit for supplying power to a device as claimed in claim 1, in which the back-up battery is replaceable.

5. A power supply unit for supplying power to a device as claimed in claim 4, which has a bay for receiving the back-up battery and the set of connectors are located in the bay.

6. A power supply unit for supplying power to a device as claimed in claim 1, which includes a communication device for communicating a status message to a control system.

7. A power supply unit for supplying power to a device as claimed in claim 6, in which the status message is selected from the group consisting of a notification that the main battery has been insufficiently recharged and a notification that power is being supplied from the backup battery.

8. A power supply unit for supplying power to a device as claimed in claim 6, in which the communication device is operable in a wireless manner.

9. A power supply unit for supplying power to a device as claimed in claim 8, in which the communication device includes a cellular telephone module.

10. A power supply unit for supplying power to a device as claimed in claim 1, which includes a solar panel terminal for connecting the charging arrangement to a solar panel.

11. A power supply unit for supplying power to a device as claimed in claim 1, which includes a back-up battery connected to the set of connectors.

12. A power supply unit for supplying power to a device as claimed in claim 11, in which the nominal supply voltage of the back-up battery is slightly greater than that of the main battery.

13. A power supply unit for supplying power to a device as claimed in claim 11, in which the back-up battery is non-rechargeable.

14. A device which has a power supply unit for supplying power to it as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14, which is a parking meter.

16. A device as claimed in claim 15, which is a single bay parking meter.

17. A device which has a power supply unit for supplying power to it as claimed in claim 10, which has a solar panel that is connected to the solar panel terminal.