Battery backup system
First Claim
1. A backup power system for a user operated data processor having a memory for storing information, said processor having a high DC voltage level input requirement for operating the data processor, said memory having a lower DC voltage level input requirement for maintaining the information in the memory, said data processor being powered by DC power converted from AC power when the AC power is present, said system comprising:
- a plurality of DC power storage means, each of said storage means supplying power generally at said lower DC voltage level;
means for sensing an AC power failure;
means responsive to said sensing means for operatively connecting said plurality of storage means in parallel so that said plurality of storage means supply power at least at said lower DC voltage level to the memory of said data processor for maintaining the information in the memory;
means for disabling the parallel connecting means and for operatively connecting said plurality of storage means in series so that said plurality of storage means supply DC power at least at said high DC voltage level to the data processor to thereby permit the user to operate the data processor and at least retrieve information stored in the memory;
means for disabling the series connecting means and enabling said parallel connecting means so that the DC voltage level supplied by said plurality of storage means can be reduced to said lower DC voltage level.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A battery backup system provides DC power to a data processing system in the event of an AC power failure. A preferred embodiment supplies DC power from a plurality of series-connected batteries at a voltage level sufficient to operate a data processor. After a time delay, the batteries are connected in parallel to provide DC power at a lower voltage level sufficient to maintain information stored in a memory.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A backup power system for a user operated data processor having a memory for storing information, said processor having a high DC voltage level input requirement for operating the data processor, said memory having a lower DC voltage level input requirement for maintaining the information in the memory, said data processor being powered by DC power converted from AC power when the AC power is present, said system comprising:
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a plurality of DC power storage means, each of said storage means supplying power generally at said lower DC voltage level; means for sensing an AC power failure; means responsive to said sensing means for operatively connecting said plurality of storage means in parallel so that said plurality of storage means supply power at least at said lower DC voltage level to the memory of said data processor for maintaining the information in the memory; means for disabling the parallel connecting means and for operatively connecting said plurality of storage means in series so that said plurality of storage means supply DC power at least at said high DC voltage level to the data processor to thereby permit the user to operate the data processor and at least retrieve information stored in the memory; means for disabling the series connecting means and enabling said parallel connecting means so that the DC voltage level supplied by said plurality of storage means can be reduced to said lower DC voltage level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A DC power system for replacing DC power converted from AC power when the AC power is not present, the DC power for powering a data processor having memory means for storing information, wherein the memory means has a first minimum DC voltage level requirement for maintaining the information stored in the memory, said DC power system comprising:
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a processing unit having a higher minimum DC operating voltage level requirement than said first voltage level; means for sensing an Ac power failure; a plurality of storage means for storing and supplying DC power, each of said storage means supplying DC power generally at said first voltage level; means for operatively connecting said plurality of storage means in series so that said plurality of storage means supply DC power at least at said higher minimum voltage level to the processing unit whereby the processing unit is rendered operative; means responsive to an enabling signal from the processing unit for operatively connecting said plurality of storage means in parallel so that said plurality of storage means supply DC power at least at said first minimum voltage level to the memory means whereby the information is maintained in said memory, but said processing unit is rendered inoperative; said processing unit transmitting said enabling signal to the parallel connecting means in response to the sensing means sensing an AC power failure, said processing unit transmitting said enabling signal after a predetermined time delay so that the processing unit is operable under the power of said plurality of series-connected storage means until the expiration of said time delay. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A data processing system powered by DC power and capable of replacing DC power converted from AC power when the AC power is not present, the data processing system comprising:
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memory means for storing information having a first minimum DC voltage level requirement for maintaining the information stored in the memory; a processing unit having a higher minimum DC operating voltage level requirement than said first voltage level; a plurality of storage means for storing and supplying DC power, each of said storage means supplying DC power generally at said first voltage level; means for operatively connecting said plurality of storage means in parallel so that the plurality of storage means supply DC power at least at said first minimum voltage level to the memory means whereby the information is maintained in said memory, but said processing unit is rendered inoperative; means for disabling the parallel connecting means and for operatively connecting the plurality of storage means in series so that said plurality of storage means supply DC power at least at said higher minimum voltage level to the processing unit whereby the processing unit is rendered operative; and means for disabling the series connecting means ad enabling said parallel connecting means so that the DC power supplied by the storage means can be reduced to said first voltage level.
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16. A switching system for a backup power system for a user operated data processor having a memory for storing information, said processor having a high DC voltage level input requirement for operating the data processor, said memory having a lower DC voltage level input requirement for maintaining the information in the memory, said data processor being powered by DC power converted from AC power when the AC power is present, said backup power system having a plurality of DC power storage means, each of the storage means supplying power generally at said lower DC voltage level, said switching system comprising:
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means for sensing an AC power failure; means responsive to said sensing means for operatively connecting said plurality of storage means in parallel so that said plurality of storage means supply power at least at said lower DC voltage level to the memory of said data processor for maintaining the information in the memory; means for disabling the parallel connecting means and for operatively connecting said plurality of storage means in series so that said plurality of storage means supply DC power at least at said high DC voltage level to the data processor to thereby permit the user to operate the data processor and at least retrieve information stored in the memory; means for disabling the series connecting means and enabling said parallel connecting means so that the DC voltage level supplied by said plurality of storage means can be reduced to said lower DC voltage level.
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Specification