Battery configuration with a click

• US 6,650,967 B1
• Filed: 06/02/2000
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vertiv Corporation (Vertiv Holdings Co.)
• Original Assignee: Astec International Limited (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Lavergne, Marc, de Varennes, Christian, Got, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ramesh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gain, Edward F.
• Application Number:
  US09/586,294
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/297, 700/9, 700/2, 700/3, 700/22, 324/434, 324/426, 307/66, 307/65, 307/64, 320/123, 340/636.1, 702/63
• US Class Current: 700/286
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4221 with battery type recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/00 Circuit arrangements for dc mains or dc distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00036 the elements or equipment being or involving switches, relays or circuit breakers circuits for indication of single switches H01H9/167
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An automated battery configuration system for a telecommunications power system includes at least one rectifier module, a controller and at least one backup battery. A database system is associated with the controller stores a plurality of records that include a plurality of backup battery parameters. A user interface that is associated with the controller receives user-provided input of at least one battery specifying parameter. The user interface communicates with the database system to retrieve a selected one of the records based on the battery specifying parameter. The controller communicates with the database system and employs at least one of the parameters of the selected record to alter an operating setting of the telecommunications power system. The battery specifying parameters include a manufacturer designation and a model designation of the backup battery.

Claims

1. An automated battery configuration system for a telecommunications power system of the type including at least one rectifier module and at least one backup battery, comprising:

a controller;

a database system associated with said controller for storing a plurality of records that include a plurality of backup battery parameters; and

a user interface associated with said controller for receiving user-provided input of at least one battery specifying parameter,

wherein said user interface communicates with said database system to retrieve a selected one of said records based on said battery specifying parameter, and

wherein said controller communicates with said database system and employs at least one of said parameters of said selected record to modify an operating setting of said telecommunications power system.

2. The automated battery configuration system of claim 1 wherein said user interface includes a graphical user interface.

3. The automated battery configuration system of claim 1 wherein said user interface includes a text-based, menu-driven interface.

4. The automated battery configuration system of claim 1 wherein said user interface is accessed using a display and an input device that is associated with said controller.

5. The automated battery configuration system of claim 1 wherein said user interface is accessed using a remote computer through a distributed communications system.

6. The automated battery configuration system of claim 1 wherein said battery specifying parameter includes a manufacturer designation of said backup battery.

7. The automated battery configuration system of claim 1 wherein said battery specifying parameter includes a model designation of said backup battery.

8. The automated battery configuration system of claim 1 wherein said parameters include at least one of a high voltage alarm, a low voltage alarm, a float voltage of said backup battery, a temperature-based parameter, and a backup battery discharge alarm.

9. The automated battery configuration system of claim 1 further comprising:

a distributed communications system;

a remote computer that is connected to said distributed communications system, wherein said remote computer modifies at least one of said plurality of records.

10. The automated battery configuration system of claim 1 wherein said user interface receives user-provided input of at least one of the following:

a number of backup battery strings, a number of cells per string, and a capacity per string.

11. A method for automatically configuring a backup battery system for a telecommunications power system of the type including at least one rectifier subsystem and at least one backup battery, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of records in a database, wherein each record includes a plurality of backup battery parameters;

receiving user-provided input of at least one battery specifying parameter;

communicating with said database to retrieve a selected one of said records based on said battery specifying parameter; and

employing at least one of said parameters of said selected record to modify an operating setting for said telecommunications power system.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

providing a graphical user interface for receiving said user-provided input.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

accessing a user interface using a display and an input device that is associated with a controller.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

accessing a user interface using a remote computer through a distributed communications system.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

designating at least one battery specifying parameter to be a manufacturer designation of said backup battery.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

designating at least one battery specifying parameter to be a model designation of said backup battery.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein said parameters include at least one of a high voltage alarm, a low voltage alarm, a float voltage of said backup battery, a temperature-based parameter, and a backup battery discharge alarm.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

receiving user-provided input of at least one of the following;

a number of backup battery strings, a number of cells per string, and a capacity per string using a user interface.