Uninterrupted power supply (UPS) system interfacing with communications network

• US 5,381,554 A
• Filed: 02/15/1994
• Issued: 01/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Powerware Corporation (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Exide Electronics Corporation (Exide Electronics Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Langer, Dale R., Messer, G. John
• Primary Examiner(s): MacDonald, Allen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAVIS, GEORGE B
• Application Number:
  US08/196,414
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• Field of Search: 395/750, 364/492, 371/66, 307/38, 307/66
• US Class Current: 714/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24

Abstract

There is a provided a system of one or more uninterrupted power supply (UPS) units, each UPS unit having distributed processing system and a network interface for interfacing with a local area network, the network providing a communication between the one or more UPS devices and also to loads powered by such UPS devices. In one embodiment having a plurality of UPSs, one of the UPSs is a main upstream UPS which is in communication with each down stream UPS to which it supplies supplemental power and which in turn supply power to respective loads. In another embodiment the UPS supplies power to a plurality of prioritized loads, and is in communication with each such load over a network and also controls power distribution to each such load through a power distribution module (PDM).

Claims

1. A system comprising an uninterrupted power supply (UPS), a plurality of loads having predetermined priorities for maintenance of power thereto, a network for transmitting data to and from each of said loads and said UPS, and bar connection means for connecting power separately from said UPS to each of said loads, said UPS having network interface means for interfacing with said network, said network interface means further comprising processor means for processing data and control signal generating means for generating control signals for controlling connection of power to each of said loads, said processor means comprising first means for generating messages to each of said loads wherein said messages concern time remaining for receipt of power by such load, and second means for generating shutdown signals and connecting said shutdown signals to said control signal generating means for controlling prioritized shutdown of said loads.

2. The system as described in claim 1, wherein said control signal generating means comprises a power distribution module (PDM) for controlling distribution of power to said loads.

3. The system as described in claim 1, wherein said processor means comprises storage means for storing data representative of the predetermined priorities of said plurality of loads.