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

• US 5,995,400 A
• Filed: 08/05/1998
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kui Hwan Shin
• Original Assignee: XS Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Park, John N., Woodard, Jeffrey L., Caldes, Douglas G., Hawkins, William B. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Rajnikant B.
• Application Number:
  US09/129,612
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 363/146, 363/143, 363/141, 307/64, 307/65
• 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;

a display module communicating with the UPS for providing a visual display indicative of the UPS performance, the display module being readily attachable to and removable from the housing; and

an orientation sensor for sensing a horizontal and a vertical orientation of the visual display, the orientation sensor communicating with the display module for providing the visual display in one of a vertical format and a horizontal format responsive to the orientation.

2. The UPS system according to claim 1, further comprising a UPS processor carried by the housing and operable with the UPS for receiving UPS signals indicative of UPS performance and for effecting UPS operation.

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

a front portion adapted for carrying a battery therein; and

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

4. The UPS system according to claim 3, wherein the face plate comprises a concave portion for receiving the display module therein.

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

a rear portion adapted for carrying a power distribution module for electrical connection to a 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.

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

7. The UPS system according to claim 1, wherein the orientation sensor is carried by the display module.

8. The UPS system according to claim 1, wherein the orientation sensor comprises a mercury switch for providing a first signal indicative of the horizontal display orientation, and a second signal indicative of the vertical display orientation.

9. The UPS system according to claim 1, further comprising a support carried by the housing for supporting the housing in a stable orientation, the support movable from a stored position to an extended position.

10. The UPS system according to claim 9, wherein the support comprises:

a hollow panel; and

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

11. The UPS system according to claim 9, wherein the support is hingedly carried by the housing for movement from the stored position to the extended position.

12. The UPS system according to claim 9, wherein the support comprises multiple support arms, each arm independently movable from its respective stored position to the extended position, the extended position including each arm orientated outward from the housing along a support surface upon which the housing is placed.

13. The UPS system according to claim 1, further comprising electrical connecting means for providing an electrical connection between the display module and the UPS, the electrical connecting means providing the electrical connection when the display module is attached to the housing and when the display module is detached from the housing.

14. An uninterruptible power supply system comprising:

a housing;

an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) carried by the housing; and

a display module communicating with the UPS for providing a visual display indicative of the UPS performance, the display module being readily attachable to and removable from the housing.

15. The UPS system according to claim 14, further comprising an orientation sensor for sensing a horizontal and a vertical orientation of the visual display, the orientation sensor communicating with the display module for providing the visual display in one of a vertical format and a horizontal format responsive to the orientation.

16. The UPS system according to claim 15, wherein the orientation sensor is carried by the display module.

17. The UPS system according to claim 15, wherein the orientation sensor comprises a mercury switch for providing a first signal indicative of the horizontal display orientation, and a second signal indicative of the vertical display orientation.

18. The UPS system according to claim 14, further comprising a UPS processor carried by the housing and operable with the UPS for receiving UPS signals indicative of UPS performance and for effecting UPS operation.

19. The UPS system according to claim 14, wherein the housing comprises:

a front portion adapted for carrying a battery therein; and

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

20. The UPS system according to claim 19, wherein the face plate comprises a concave portion for receiving the display module therein.

21. The UPS system according to claim 14, wherein the housing comprises:

a rear portion adapted for carrying a power distribution module for electrical connection to a 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.

22. The UPS system according to claim 14, wherein the display module comprises a control and display processor communicating with the UPS, the control and display processor receiving the manual input signal for delivery to the UPS, the control and display processor receiving a UPS output signal for providing the visual display, the control and display processor responsive to the orientation sensor for providing the visual display in the format responsive to the visual display orientation.

23. The UPS system according to claim 14, further comprising a support carried by the housing for supporting the housing in a stable orientation, the support movable from a stored position to an extended position.

24. The UPS system according to claim 14, further comprising electrical connecting means for providing an electrical connection between the display module and the UPS, the electrical connecting means providing the electrical connection when the display module is attached to the housing and when the display module is detached from the housing.

25. An uninterruptible power supply system comprising:

a housing;

an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) carried by the housing;

a visual display communicating with the UPS for providing a visual indication of the UPS performance; and

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

26. The UPS system according to claim 25, further comprising a UPS processor carried by the housing and operable with the UPS for receiving UPS signals indicative of UPS performance and for effecting UPS operation.

27. The UPS system according to claim 25, wherein the housing comprises:

a front portion adapted for carrying a battery therein; and

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

28. The UPS system according to claim 27, further comprising a display module carrying the visual display, and wherein the face plate comprises a concave portion for removably receiving a display module therein, the display module being readily attachable to and removable from the housing.

29. The UPS system according to claim 28, wherein the display module comprises a control and display processor communicating with the UPS, the control and display processor receiving the manual input signal for delivery to the UPS, the control and display processor receiving a UPS output signal for providing the visual display, the control and display processor responsive to the orientation sensor for providing the visual display in the format responsive to the visual display orientation.

30. The UPS system according to claim 28, further comprising electrical connecting means for providing an electrical connection between the display module and the UPS, the electrical connecting means providing the electrical connection when the display module is attached to the housing and when the display module is detached from the housing.

31. The UPS system according to claim 28, wherein the orientation sensor is carried by the display module.

32. The UPS system according to claim 25, wherein the housing comprises:

a rear portion adapted for carrying a power distribution module for electrical connection to a 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.

33. The UPS system according to claim 25, wherein the orientation sensor comprises a mercury switch for providing a first signal indicative of the horizontal display orientation, and a second signal indicative of the vertical display orientation.

34. The UPS system according to claim 25, further comprising a support carried by the housing for supporting the housing in a stable orientation, the support movable from a stored position to an extended position.