Battery communication system

• US 7,411,315 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Gottlieb, Peter A., Dowdell, Rodger B. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEBERADINIS, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US11/706,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20070200434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 307/66
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/396 Acquisition or processing of data for testing or for monitoring individual cells or groups of cells within a battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads

Abstract

An uninterrupted power supply (“UPS”) system is disclosed which uses a battery communication system to communicate to a UPS processor information concerning the status of a battery pack in an array of parallel coupled battery packs. The battery packs provide back-up power for the UPS system. Information about the battery packs is collected by a monitor associated with each of the battery packs. The monitors measure battery pack voltage, currents and temperature and compile information about the battery pack from the measured values. Each monitor prepares a data word representing information about its battery pack. The data. words are transmitted to the UPS in response to commands issued by the UPS processor to the monitors.

Claims

1. A UPS system for supplying electrical power to an electrical load, the UPS system comprising:

a plurality of battery packs electrically coupled in parallel;

a power circuit adapted to be coupled to the load and to a main power source, the power circuit being coupled to the battery packs and configured to transfer power from the battery packs to the load;

a plurality of battery information sensors each coupled to a respective battery pack of the plurality of battery packs, each battery information sensor being configured to sense battery information, wherein the battery information includes battery pack charge and discharge current, battery pack temperature and voltage;

one or more battery pack monitors configured to receive battery information, each battery pack monitor coupled to one or more of the battery information sensors and disposed in close proximity to one or more of the battery packs, the battery pack monitors each including a programmed monitor processor configured to process the battery information; and

a UPS processor coupled to the one or more battery pack monitors and configured to receive the battery information from the one or more battery pack monitors over a communication link.

2. The UPS system of claim 1 wherein the UPS processor is configured to request the battery information from the battery pack monitors.

3. The UPS system of claim 1 wherein each battery pack monitor further includes an alarm and each monitor processor is configured to activate the alarm in response to battery information processed by the programmed monitor processor, the alarm being configured to notify users that a particular battery pack coupled to the battery pack monitor requires service.

4. The UPS system of claim 3 wherein the alarm includes a light emitting diode.

5. The UPS system of claim 1 wherein each battery pack monitor further includes a power supply circuit adapted to couple the power supply circuit to at least one battery pack for generating voltages for electrical components of the battery pack monitor.

6. The UPS system of claim 1 wherein:

the communications link includes a communication command line coupled to the UPS processor and to each battery pack monitor associated with each of the battery packs among the plurality of battery packs;

the communications link includes a communication data line coupled to the UPS processor and to each battery pack monitor associated with each of the battery packs among the plurality of battery packs;

the UPS processor is configured to transmit a command to each battery pack monitor over the command line to each battery pack monitor; and

each battery pack monitor is configured to transmit the battery pack information to the UPS processor over the data line in response to receipt of a command from the UPS processor.

7. The UPS system of claim 1 wherein each battery pack monitor includes a temperature sensor and is configured to transmit a battery pack temperature indication to the UPS processor.

8. The UPS system of claim 7 wherein the battery pack temperature indication indicates that a battery pack temperature has exceeded a recommended level.

9. The UPS system of claim 1 wherein the one or more battery pack monitors are disposed within one or more respective battery packs.

10. A back-up power supply apparatus adapted for coupling to a main power source and to a load, the back-up power supply apparatus comprising:

UPS processor means for controlling the back-up power supply apparatus;

at least one local battery pack adapted to be coupled in parallel with an adjacent battery pack, each local battery pack containing a battery pack monitor, the battery pack monitor comprising;

battery information sensor means for sensing battery information about the local battery pack;

processor means for receiving and processing the battery information from the battery information sensor means;

communication means for sending and receiving the battery information to and from the UPS processor means; and

display means for providing display information based on the battery information; and

wherein, the back-up power supply apparatus includes a power circuit means, coupled to the UPS processor means, to couple the main power source to the load, and to couple the at least one local battery pack to the load.

11. The back-up power supply apparatus of claim 10 wherein at least one local battery pack is in close proximity to the battery pack monitor.

12. The back-up power supply apparatus of claim 10 wherein the communication means is for sending and receiving local battery pack information to another local battery pack, if any.

13. The back-up power supply apparatus of claim 12 wherein the display means is further configured for displaying the display information on a LCD display, wherein the LCD display is coupled to the UPS processor means.

14. The back-up power supply apparatus of claim 10 wherein the UPS processor means is for providing the battery information externally to the back-up power supply apparatus.

15. The back-up power supply apparatus of claim 10 wherein the display information includes a packet of information to be sent to the UPS processor means.