Automatic module configuration in a telecommunications power system

• US 6,816,466 B1
• Filed: 06/02/2000
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• 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: Daniel, Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferris, Derrick W
• Application Number:
  US09/586,367
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/445, 370/447, 370/455, 370/463, 370/474, 307/31, 307/42, 710/8, 710/9, 710/10, 710/300, 710/301, 710/302, 710/104, 713/300, 713/340, 709/220, 709/222, 709/245
• US Class Current: 370/254
• 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 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/66 one of the loads acting as master and the other or others acting as slaves
• 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 automatic configuration system for a telecommunications power system includes a power bus and a communications bus. A controller that is connected to the communications bus employs a serial communications protocol. A module transmits an identification signal to the controller that contains an identification number of the module. The modules include rectifier modules, battery connection modules and distribution modules. Each module transmits the identification signal after the module is initially connected to the power bus and the communications bus. The controller receives the identification signal from the module. The controller stores the identification number and generates a module ID for the module that is transmitted to the module for use by the module in further serial communications with the controller.

Claims

1. An auto-configuration system for a telecommunications power system that supplies power to a telecommunications system, comprising:

a power bus that supplies power to the telecommunications system;

a communications bus;

a module that is connected to said power bus and said communications bus, wherein said module is one of a rectifier module, a distribution module, and a battery connection module; and

a controller that is connected to said communications bus, that employs a serial communications protocol, and that periodically transmits acknowledgement request signals to said module,

wherein said module transmits a first identification signal to said controller that includes an identification number of said module after said module is initially connected to said power bus and said communications bus and after said module receives a first acknowledgement request signal, wherein said controller stores said identification number, generates a module ID, and transmits said module ID to said module for use in subsequent serial communications, and wherein said module transmits a second identification signal to said controller that includes said module ID when said module receives a second acknowledgement request signal.

2. The auto-configuration system of claim 1 wherein said first and second identification signals include an identifier packet and a data packet that comply with said serial communications protocol.

3. The auto-configuration system of claim 2 wherein said identifier packet contains fewer bits than are required to uniquely identify said identification number.

4. The auto-configuration system of claim 3 wherein said identification number is split between said identifier packet and said data packet.

5. The auto-configuration system of claim 4 wherein said identifier packet contains a command field and a data field that contains first and second bytes of said identification number.

6. The auto-configuration system of claim 5 wherein said identifier packet further includes a byte location field that identifies a location of said first and second bytes within said identification number.

7. The auto-configuration system of claim 6 wherein said serial communications protocol performs arbitration on said identifier packet.

8. The auto-configuration system of claim 7 wherein said module changes said first identification signal when a collision occurs and resends a new identification signal.

9. A method of automatically configuring a telecommunications power system that includes a power bus that supplies power to a telecommunications system, a communications bus, and a controller that is connected to said communications bus, comprising the steps of:

periodically transmitting acknowledgement request signals from said controller to a module that is connected to said power bus and said communications bus, wherein said module is one of a rectifier module, a distribution module, and a battery connection module;

transmitting a first identification signal from said module to said controller that includes an identification number of said module after said module is initially connected to said power bus and said communications bus and after said module receives a first acknowledgement request signal;

storing said identification number in said controller;

generating a module ID for said module;

transmitting said module ID to said module for use in subsequent serial communications;

transmitting a second identification signal from said module to said controller that includes said module ID after said module receives a second acknowledgement request signal.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of:

coding said first and second identification signals with an identifier packet and a data packet that comply with a serial communications protocol.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said identifier packet contains fewer bits than are required to uniquely define said identification number.

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

splitting said identification number between said identifier packet and said data packet.

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

coding a command field and a data field that contains first and second bytes of said identification number in said identifier packet.

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

coding a byte location field that identifies a location of said first and second bytes within said identification number in said identifier packet.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said serial communications protocol performs arbitration on said identifier packet.

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

identifying when a collision occurs between said first identification signal for said module and a third identification signal for a second module.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

generating a new identification signal for said first module; and

transmitting said new identification signal to said controller.