SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REPLACING A BATTERY IN AN UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLY

• US 20100244567A1
• Filed: 03/27/2009
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Spitaels, James S., Deokar, Vishwas Mohaniraj, Brookshire, Kyle, Rodenhiser, Fred William
• Granted Patent: US 9,595,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A system for guiding a user through a procedure corresponding to installing a battery in a UPS that is associated with the system. The system includes at least one programmed processor embedded within the UPS. The programmed processor is configured to retrieve at least one stored procedure corresponding to installing the battery in the UPS including at least one step to be performed by the user. The system further includes at least one device embedded within the UPS to provide information regarding a status indicator of the battery of the UPS. The programmed processor and the device are operatively coupled such that the programmed processor receives at least a portion of the information of the battery from the device. The system further includes a user interface forming part of the UPS. The user interface is coupled to the programmed processor for displaying the step of the stored procedure. The programmed processor is configured to prompt the user via the user interface to install a battery and reset at least one battery performance indicator. Other systems, devices and methods for replacing a battery within a device are further disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for guiding a user through a procedure corresponding to installing a battery in an uninterruptible power supply that is associated with the system, the system comprising:

at least one programmed processor embedded within the uninterruptible power supply, the programmed processor being configured to retrieve at least one stored procedure corresponding to installing the battery in the uninterruptible power supply including at least one step to be performed by the user;

at least one device embedded within the uninterruptible power supply, the device providing information regarding a status indicator of the battery of the uninterruptible power supply, the programmed processor and the device being operatively coupled such that the programmed processor receives at least a portion of the information of the battery from the device; and

a user interface forming part of the uninterruptible power supply, the user interface being coupled to the programmed processor for displaying the step of the stored procedure,

wherein the programmed processor is configured to prompt the user via the user interface to install a battery and reset at least one battery performance indicator.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the step of resetting the battery performance indicator includes verifying battery runtime accuracy.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the step of resetting the battery performance indicator includes calibrating battery constant values.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the step of resetting the battery performance indicator includes updating the battery installation date.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmed processor is further configured to notify the user via the user interface of when the battery will shut down.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmed processor, when prompting the user to install the battery, notifies the user of a battery disconnection.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmed processor, when prompting the user to install the battery, notifies the user of proper installation of the battery.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the programmed processor, when prompting the user to reset the battery performance indicator, prompts the user to input or otherwise verify the installation date of the battery.

9. An uninterruptible power supply comprising:

a housing;

an input, supported by the housing, to receive input power;

a power supply circuit, supported by the housing and coupled to the input, to convert input power received from the input;

an output, supported by the housing and coupled to the power supply circuit, to provide output power derived from the power supply circuit;

a battery, supported by the housing and coupled to the power supply circuit, to provide battery power to the power supply circuit when input power to the input is compromised;

a controller, supported by the housing and coupled to the power supply circuit, the controller being configured to retrieve at least one stored procedure corresponding to installing the battery including at least one step to be performed by the user;

at least one device, supported by the housing, to provide information regarding the status of the battery of the uninterruptible power supply, the controller and the device being coupled such that the controller receives at least a portion of the information from the device; and

a user interface, supported by the housing and coupled to the controller, to display the step,

wherein the controller is further configured to prompt the user via the user interface to install the battery.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to reset at least one battery performance indicator.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the step of resetting the battery performance indicator includes calibrating battery constant values.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the step of resetting the battery performance indicator includes updating the battery installation date.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller prompts the user to input or otherwise confirm the installation date of the battery.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to notify the user via the user interface of when the battery will shut down.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller, when prompting the user to install the battery, notifies the user of a battery disconnection.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller, when prompting the user to install the battery, prompts the user to input or otherwise confirm the installation date of the battery.

17. A method of guiding a user through a procedure corresponding to installing a battery of an uninterruptible power supply, the method comprising:

(a) determining whether the battery within the uninterruptible power supply is connected to the uninterruptible power supply;

(b) initiating a battery installment routine if the battery within the uninterruptible power supply requires installment; and

(c) displaying steps (a) and (b) on a user interface provided on a housing of the uninterruptible power supply.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein initiating the battery installment routine includes installing a new battery.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein initiating the battery installment routine further includes determining whether the battery has been properly installed.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein determining whether the battery has been properly installed is determined by obtaining information of the status of the battery of the uninterruptible power supply from at least one device embedded within the uninterruptible power supply.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein initiating the battery installment routine further includes resetting at least one battery performance indicator.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein resetting the battery performance indicator includes verifying battery runtime accuracy.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein resetting the battery performance indicator includes calibrating battery constant values.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein resetting the battery performance indicator includes updating the battery installation date.