UPS-computer system and method for initiating computer shutdown based on remaining battery time as determined from sensed battery voltage and discharge curves
First Claim
1. An uninterruptable power supply system for powering a computer having a shutdown sequence, wherein the time required to execute said shutdown sequence is known and stored in said computer, comprising:
- an auxiliary power source including a battery for supplying power to the computer, said battery having known discharge characteristic curves, said discharge characteristic curves stored in said computer;
sensing means, connected between said battery and said computer, for sensing battery terminal voltage and transmitting the sensed terminal voltage to said computer; and
instruction means, stored in said computer, for determining whether said terminal voltage is within predefined limits, for determining battery time remaining in response to the sensed battery terminal voltage, for comparing said battery time remaining to said time required to execute said shutdown sequence and for initiating said shutdown sequence whenever said battery time remaining is less than or equal to said time required to execute said shutdown sequence, wherein said battery time remaining is determined from said discharge characteristic curves in relation to said battery terminal voltage after it is determined that said terminal voltage is not within said predefined limits, whereby computer operating time is maximized.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for providing protected power to a computer. A computer monitors the terminal voltage and/or current of a battery supplying power to the computer and uses this information or data to determine when, in the event of failure of the AC utility normally supplying power to the computer, to initiate a pre-programmed automatic shutdown of the computer. The determination is based upon the estimated remaining charge of the battery and the total time required to close all active programs in an orderly fashion; thus allowing the computer to be restarted in a well-defined state.
68 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An uninterruptable power supply system for powering a computer having a shutdown sequence, wherein the time required to execute said shutdown sequence is known and stored in said computer, comprising:
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an auxiliary power source including a battery for supplying power to the computer, said battery having known discharge characteristic curves, said discharge characteristic curves stored in said computer; sensing means, connected between said battery and said computer, for sensing battery terminal voltage and transmitting the sensed terminal voltage to said computer; and instruction means, stored in said computer, for determining whether said terminal voltage is within predefined limits, for determining battery time remaining in response to the sensed battery terminal voltage, for comparing said battery time remaining to said time required to execute said shutdown sequence and for initiating said shutdown sequence whenever said battery time remaining is less than or equal to said time required to execute said shutdown sequence, wherein said battery time remaining is determined from said discharge characteristic curves in relation to said battery terminal voltage after it is determined that said terminal voltage is not within said predefined limits, whereby computer operating time is maximized. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of powering a computer when the AC utility power source, which otherwise powers said computer, fails or is disconnected from the computer, wherein said computer has a shutdown sequence and wherein the time required to execute said shutdown sequence is known and stored in said computer, said method comprising the steps of:
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supplying power to the computer from an auxiliary power source including a battery, said battery having known discharge characteristic curves, said discharge characteristic curves stored in said computer; sensing battery terminal voltage; determining whether said battery terminal voltage is within predefined limits; determining battery time remaining in response to the sensed battery terminal voltage, wherein said battery time remaining is determined from said discharge characteristic curves in relation to said battery terminal voltage after it is determined that said terminal voltage is not within said predefined limits; comparing said battery time remaining to said time required to execute said shutdown sequence; and initiating said shutdown sequence whenever said battery time remaining is less than or equal to said time required to execute said shutdown sequence, whereby computer operating time is maximized. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification