Uninterruptible power supply system with removable front panel display and control module

• US 5,793,627 A
• Filed: 02/10/1997
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: XS Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: XS Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Woodard, Jeffrey L., Caldes, Douglas G., Hawkins, William B. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Rajnikant B.
• Application Number:
  US08/799,047
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 363/146, 363/133, 363/97, 363/23, 363/37, 363/101, 307/64, 307/65, 307/66, 307/10.2, 307/87, 250/223 R, 324/253, 361/770, 361/771, 361/772, 361/773
• US Class Current: 363/146
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1638 Computer housing designed to operate in both desktop and tower orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/00 Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting

Abstract

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system includes a control and display module operational with a UPS when carried by a housing of the UPS and when remote from the housing. An orientation sensing switch carried by the module senses a horizontal or vertical position of the module and provides a signal to a module processor for providing performance diagnostics of the UPS in a horizontal or vertical format as appropriate. The UPS system housing includes support arms extendable from the housing for providing added stability to the housing when in a vertical position. The control and display processor receives manual input from user buttons on the module and communicates with a UPS processor carried by the housing. The UPS includes a battery positioned within the housing for access by removal of a front housing panel for avoiding movement of the UPS system during replacement of batteries.

Claims

1. An uninterruptible power supply system comprising:

a housing;

an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) carried by the housing, the UPS having an input power source and a backup power source for providing an output power source to a load connected thereto;

a UPS processor carried by the housing for receiving UPS input signals indicative of UPS performance and for providing output signals to the UPS for effecting UPS operation;

control and display means for communicating with the UPS processor in response to a manual input signal by a user, the control and display means further providing a visual display indicative of the UPS performance, the control and display means being readily attachable to and detachable from the housing by a user for communicating with the UPS processor when in an attached or detached position;

connector means for providing an electrical connection between the control and display means and the UPS, the connector means providing the connection both when the control and display means is carried by the housing and when in a detached position wherein the control and display means is remote from the housing;

orientation sensing means for sensing a horizontal and a vertical orientation of the visual display, the orientation sensing means communicating with the control and display means for providing the visual display in one of a vertical format and a horizontal format responsive to the sensed orientation; and

supporting means carried by the housing for supporting the housing in a stable vertical orientation, the supporting means having a support arm movable from a stored position to an extended position for supporting the housing.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the UPS comprises:

the UPS backup power source having a battery for providing a direct-current voltage;

the input power source having an alternating-current voltage suitable for the load;

rectifier means for effecting rectification of the alternating-current voltage, the rectifier means connected with the input power source and the battery for charging the battery; and

inverter means for conversion of the direct-current voltage to a desired alternating current voltage, the inverter means connected to the battery for providing the desired alternating current voltage as the output power source to a load.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the UPS comprises:

the UPS backup power source having a battery for providing a direct-current voltage;

the input power source having an alternating-current voltage suitable for the load;

power conversion means for effecting rectification of the alternating-current voltage, the power conversion means having a transformer for connection with the input power source, the power conversion means further connected charging the battery; and

inverter means connected to the transformer and battery for conversion of the direct-current voltage to a desired alternating current voltage, the inverter means providing the desired alternating current voltage through the transformer as the output power source to a load.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises:

a front portion adapted for carrying a battery therein; and

a face plate removably attached to the housing front portion, the face plate removal providing access to the battery for insertion and removal thereof.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the face plate further comprises a concave portion for receiving the control and display means therein.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises:

a rear portion adapted for carrying a power distribution module for electrical connection to the load; and

a power distribution module having a plurality of receptacles for providing connection to load connectors, the power distribution module having contact pins for providing electrical connection to the UPS.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control and display means comprises a control and display processor communicating with the UPS processor, the control and display processor receiving the manual input signal for delivery to the UPS processor, the control and display processor further receiving the UPS output signal through the UPS processor for providing the visual display, the control and display processor responsive to the orientation sensing means for providing the visual display in the format responsive to the visual display orientation.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the control and display means further comprises:

the visual display having a vacuum fluorescent display screen; and

a switch having a push button for providing the manual input signal.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control and display means and the orientation sensing means are carried by a control and display module, the module having attachment means adapted for removable attachment to the housing.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the connector means comprises a wire lead connected between the control and display means and the UPS processor.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the connector means comprises a wireless connection between the control and display means and the UPS processor.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the orientation sensing means comprises a mercury switch for providing a first signal to the control and display means indicative of the horizontal display orientation, and a second signal indicative of the vertical display orientation.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the supporting means further comprises:

a hollow panel for attachment to a housing side portion; and

the support arm rotatably carried by the panel for rotation into the panel for the stored position and rotation out of the panel for the extended position.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the supporting means further comprises:

a panel for attachment to a housing side portion; and

the support arm hingedly carried by the panel for movement from the stored position to the extended position.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the supporting means further comprises multiple support arms, each arm independently movable from its stored position to the support position, the support position for extending the arm outward from the housing along a support surface upon which the system is placed.

16. An uninterruptible power supply system comprising:

a housing;

an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) carried by the housing, the UPS having an input power source and a backup power source for providing an output power source to a load connected thereto;

control and display means for communicating with the UPS in response to a manual input signal by a user, the control and display means further providing a visual display indicative of UPS performance, the control and display means being readily attachable to and detachable from the housing by a user for communicating with the UPS processor when in an attached or detached position; and

connector means for providing an electrical connection between the control and display means and the UPS, the connector means providing the connection both when the control and display means is carried by the housing in the attached position and when in the detached position wherein the control and display means is remote from the housing.

17. The system according to claim 16, further comprising orientation sensing means carried by the control and display means for sensing a horizontal and a vertical orientation of the visual display, the orientation sensing means communicating with the control and display means for providing the visual display in one of a vertical format and a horizontal format responsive to the orientation.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the orientation sensing means comprises a mercury switch, the mercury switch adapted to be responsive the display orientation.

19. The system according to claim 16, further comprising supporting means carried by the housing for supporting the housing in a stable vertical orientation, the supporting means having a support arm movable from a stored position to an extended position for supporting the housing.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the supporting means further comprises:

a panel for attachment to a housing side portion; and

the support arm movably carried by the panel for movement from the stored position to the extended position.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein the supporting means further comprises multiple support arms, each arm independently movable from its stored position to the support position, the support position for extending the arm outward from the housing along a support surface upon which the system is placed.

22. The system according to claim 16, further comprising a UPS processor carried by the housing for receiving UPS input signals indicative of UPS performance and for providing output signals to the UPS for effecting UPS operation, the UPS processor responsive to the manual input signal provided by the control and display means.

23. The system according to claim 16, wherein the UPS comprises:

the input power source having an alternating-current voltage;

the backup power source having a rechargeable battery for providing a direct-current voltage; and

power conversion means for effecting rectification of an alternating-current voltage from the input power source for charging the battery and for conversion of the battery direct-current voltage to a desired alternating current voltage for providing the output power source to a load.

24. The system according to claim 16, wherein the housing further comprises:

a front portion adapted for carrying a battery therein; and

a face plate removably attached to the housing front portion, the face plate removal providing access to the battery for insertion and removal thereof.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the face plate further comprises a concave portion for receiving the control and display means therein.

26. The system according to claim 16, wherein the housing further comprises:

a rear portion adapted for carrying a power distribution module for electrical connection to the load; and

a power distribution module having a plurality of receptacles for providing connection to load connectors, the power distribution module having snap-on styled contact pins for providing electrical connection to the UPS.

27. The system according to claim 16, wherein the control and display means comprises a control and display processor communicating with the UPS, the control and display processor receiving the manual input signal for effecting the UPS performance, the control and display processor further receiving the UPS output signal through the UPS processor for providing the visual display, the control and display processor responsive to the orientation sensing means for providing the visual display in the format responsive to the visual display orientation.

28. The system according to claim 16, wherein the connector means comprises one of a cable connection and a wireless connection between the control and display means and the UPS.

29. An uninterruptible power supply system comprising:

a housing;

an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) carried by the housing, the UPS having an input power source and a backup power source for providing an output power source to a load connected thereto;

control and display means for providing a manual control of UPS operation and a visual display indicative of UPS performance; and

orientation sensing means for sensing a horizontal and a vertical orientation of the housing, the orientation sensing means communicating with the control and display means for providing the visual display in one of a vertical format and a horizontal format responsive to the orientation.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein the control and display means comprises:

a control and display module carried by the housing, the control and display module being readily attachable to and detachable from the housing by a user for communicating with the UPS when in an attached or detached position; and

connector means for providing an electrical connection between the control and display means and the UPS, the connector means providing the connection both when the control and display module is carried by the housing in an attached position and when in the detached position remote from the housing.

31. The system according to claim 29, further comprising supporting means carried by the housing for supporting the housing in a stable vertical orientation, the supporting means having a support arm movably from a stored position to an extended position for supporting the housing.

32. The system according to claim 29, wherein the housing further comprises:

a front portion adapted for carrying a battery therein; and

a face plate removably attached to the housing front portion, the face plate removal providing access to the battery for insertion and removal thereof, the face plate having a concave portion for receiving the control and display means therein.

33. The system according to claim 29, wherein the orientation sensing means comprises a mercury switch for providing a first signal to the control and display means indicative of the horizontal display orientation, and a second signal indicative of the vertical display orientation.

34. An uninterruptible power supply system comprising:

a housing;

an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) carried by the housing, the UPS having an input power source and a backup power source for providing an output power source to a load connected thereto;

display means for providing a diagnostic display of UPS performance, the display means having a vertical format and a horizontal format visual display; and

orientation sensing means for sensing a horizontal and a vertical orientation of the housing, the orientation sensing means providing a signal to the display means for providing one of the vertical format and the horizontal format responsive to the orientation.

35. The system according to claim 34, further comprising:

supporting means carried by the housing for supporting the housing in a stable vertical orientation, the supporting means having a support arm movable from a stored position to an extended position for supporting the housing.

36. The system according to claim 35, wherein the supporting means further comprises:

a panel for attachment to a housing side portion; and

the support arm hingedly carried by the panel for movement from the stored position to the extended position.

37. The system according to claim 35, wherein the supporting means further comprises multiple support arms, each arm independently movable from its stored position to the support position, the support position for extending the arm outward from the housing alone a support surface upon which the system is placed.

38. An uninterruptible power supply system comprising:

a housing;

an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) carried by the housing, the UPS having a battery for providing a backup power source, the UPS further having power conversion means for charging the battery and for providing an alternating-current voltage to a load connected to the system;

a control and display module carried by the housing for communicating with the UPS in response to a push button input signal by a user, the control and display module providing a visual display indicative of UPS performance, the module visual display having a vertical display format and a horizontal display format, the control and display module readily attachable to and detachable from the the housing by a user for communicating with the UPS when in an attached or detached position;

orientation sensing means for sensing a horizontal and a vertical orientation of the visual display, the orientation sensing means providing an orientation signal to the module for providing the visual display in one of the vertical format and the horizontal format responsive to the orientation signal; and

connector means for providing an electrical connection between the control and display module and the UPS, the connector means providing the connection during module attachment to the housing and when detached from the housing for remote operation of the module.

39. The system according to claim 38, further comprising supporting means carried by the housing for supporting the housing in a stable vertical orientation, the supporting means having a support arm movable from a stored position to an extended position for supporting the housing.

40. The system according to claim 38, wherein the housing further comprises:

a front portion adapted for carrying the battery therein; and

a face plate removably attached to the housing front portion, the face plate removal providing access to the battery for insertion and removal thereof.

41. The system according to claim 40, wherein the face plate further comprises a concave portion adapted for receiving the module therein.

42. The system according to claim 41, further comprising attachment means adapted for removably attaching the module to the housing.