Configurable Battery End-of-Life Indicator

• US 20090167543A1
• Filed: 12/28/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bi, Haifeng
• Granted Patent: US 9,160,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/636.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed for providing end-of-life indicators for uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems. User input is received regarding designated conditions for activating the end-of-life indicator. The UPS system monitors itself to determine whether monitored conditions correspond to the designating conditions. Upon the monitored conditions corresponding to the designating conditions, an audible or visible end-of-life indicator is activated. For critical systems, a user may specify conservative settings for the designated conditions. For other systems, a user may provide a designated condition (i.e., user input) that results in maximizing service life for the UPS system or associated batteries and reducing costs of ownership and operation.

Claims

1. An uninterruptible power supply comprising:

a tester for monitoring a performance characteristic of a power element;

an end-of-life indicator;

an input for receiving an indicator of a designated condition under which the end-of-life indicator is activated; and

a controller for causing activation of the end-of-life indicator based on comparing the monitored performance characteristic and the received indicator.

2. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, wherein the input has a plurality of settings for specifying a requested period of operation for the power element during a power outage.

3. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, further comprising a hardware interface for receiving the indicator of the designated condition.

4. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, wherein the controller is enabled for measuring an output of the power element to estimate a load required of the power element during future operation.

5. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 4, wherein the tester is enabled for monitoring an input to the power element for determining the performance characteristic, wherein the input is for charging the power element.

6. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 4, wherein the tester is enabled for monitoring performance of the power element by discharging the power element with a known load.

7. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, wherein the end-of-life indicator includes an audible alarm.

8. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, wherein the end-of-life indicator includes a visual indicator on a display.

9. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, wherein the uninterruptible power supply is integrated into a residential gateway.

10. A computer program product stored on a computer readable medium, wherein the computer program product is for providing end-of-life indicators, and wherein the computer program product includes instructions operable for:

receiving a designated condition indicator regarding an end-of-life warning for a battery;

monitoring the battery for a monitored condition;

comparing the designated condition to the monitored condition; and

if the monitored condition corresponds to the designated condition, activating the end-of-life warning.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the designated condition specifies a loaded discharge time parameter, the computer program product further including instructions operable for:

calculating a remaining life parameter for the battery; and

comparing the remaining life parameter to a loaded discharge time parameter.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, further including instructions operable for:

calculating a measured discharge parameter by applying an output for the battery to a known load.

13. A method of providing end-of-life indications, the method comprising:

receiving a designated condition indicating a preference for generating an end-of-life indicator for a battery;

receiving a monitored condition for the battery;

comparing the monitored condition to the designated condition; and

providing the end-of-life indicator in response to the monitored condition corresponding to the designated condition.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein monitoring the battery for the monitored condition includes:

subjecting a battery output to a known load;

measuring a response from the battery to the known load; and

estimating a reserve stored in the battery based at least in part on the measured response.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

measuring a power output to estimate a load required of the battery during future operation.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein monitoring the battery for the monitored condition includes measuring a charge received by the battery and comparing the charge to a stored value.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein monitoring the battery for the monitored condition further includes discharging the battery with a known load.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein monitoring the battery for the monitored condition further includes measuring an output voltage of the battery.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein monitoring the battery for the monitored condition further includes measuring an output impedance of the battery.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein monitoring the battery for the monitored condition further includes measuring an output current of the battery.