Method and apparatus for providing uninterruptible power

• US 7,855,472 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2010
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Pedersen, Michael, Nielsen, Henning Roar, Mathiesen, Henrik, Olsen, Richard Dyrmose, Hjort, Thomas Enne
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman; Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amrany; Adi
• Application Number:
  US12/783,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20100225170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 216 Days
• Field of Search: 307 64- 66
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0047 with monitoring or indicating devices or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for providing uninterruptible power are provided by aspects of the invention. One aspect is more particularly directed to an uninterruptible power supply for providing power to a load. The uninterruptible power supply includes an input to receive input power, an output to provide output power, a plurality of battery modules that provide backup power, a power circuit coupled to the input, coupled to the plurality of battery modules and coupled to the output to provide power derived from at least one of the input power and the backup power to the output, a controller, a return line coupled to the controller and coupled to each of the battery modules, and a first sense line coupled to the controller and coupled to the plurality of battery modules. The controller and each of the battery modules are configured and arranged such that at least one characteristic of the battery modules is determined by the controller based on signals detected by the controller on the first sense line.

Claims

1. An uninterruptible power supply for providing power to a load, the uninterruptible power supply comprising:

an input to receive input power;

an output to provide output power;

a plurality of battery modules that provide backup power;

a power circuit coupled to the input, coupled to the plurality of battery modules and coupled to the output to provide power derived from at least one of the input power and the backup power to the output;

a controller;

a return line coupled to the controller and coupled to each of the plurality of battery modules; and

a first sense line coupled to the controller and coupled to each of the plurality of battery modules;

wherein each respective battery module of the plurality of battery modules includes a voltage divider having an output to provide a variable output voltage that varies with a temperature of the respective battery module, the output of each respective battery module being coupled to the first sense line by a respective switch; and

wherein the controller is configured to determine a highest temperature present in the plurality of battery modules based upon a value of the variable output voltage that is provided to the controller by the respective switch.

2. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, wherein the voltage divider of each respective battery module of the plurality of battery modules includes a first resistor and a second resistor coupled in series between a power supply and the return line and a third resistor coupled in parallel with the second resistor, the second resistor having a resistance value that varies with temperature.

3. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 2, wherein the second resistor of each respective battery module of the plurality of battery modules includes a negative temperature coefficient resistor having a resistance value that decreases with temperature.

4. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 2, wherein each respective battery module of the plurality of battery modules further includes a buffer coupled between the output of the respective battery module and the respective switch, and wherein each respective switch includes a diode.

5. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 4, further comprising:

a pull-up resistor coupled between the power supply and the first sense line;

an amplifier having an input coupled to the first sense line and an output; and

an analog-to-digital converter having an input coupled to the output of the amplifier and an output coupled to the controller.

6. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, wherein each respective switch includes a diode having an anode and a cathode, and wherein each respective battery module of the plurality of battery modules further includes an amplifier having a non-inverting terminal, an inverting terminal, and an output terminal, the non-inverting terminal being coupled to the output of the voltage divider, the inverting terminal being coupled to the anode of the diode, the output of the amplifier being coupled to the cathode of the diode, and the anode of the diode being coupled to the first sense line.

7. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 6, wherein the amplifier is a first amplifier, the uninterruptible power supply further comprising:

a pull-up resistor coupled between the power supply and the first sense line;

a second amplifier having an input coupled to the first sense line and an output; and

an analog-to-digital converter having an input coupled to the output of the amplifier, and an output coupled to the controller.

8. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1, wherein the power circuit includes a first power interface module having a plurality of first power modules, wherein the uninterruptible power supply further comprises a second sense line coupled to the first power interface module and the plurality of first power modules, and wherein the controller, the first power interface module and the plurality of first power modules are configured and arranged such that the controller identifies a revision level of the first power interface module and a revision level of the plurality of first power modules based on signals detected by the controller on the second sense line.

9. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 8, wherein the power circuit includes a second power interface module having a plurality of second power modules, wherein the second sense line is coupled to the second power interface module and the plurality of second power modules of the second power interface module, and wherein the controller, the second power interface module and the plurality of second power modules are configured and arranged such that the controller identifies a revision level of the second power interface module and a revision level of the plurality of second power modules based on signals detected by the controller on the second sense line.

10. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to adjust control parameters of the uninterruptible power supply based on the identified revision level of the first power interface board and the plurality of first power modules.

11. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 8, wherein each of the first power interface module and the plurality of first power modules includes a respective resistor coupled to the second sense line and the return line, wherein a resistance value of the respective resistor identifies a revision level of the power interface module and the plurality of first power modules, respectively.

12. An uninterruptible power supply for providing power to a load, the uninterruptible power supply comprising:

an input to receive input power;

an output to provide output power;

a plurality of battery modules that provide backup power;

a power circuit coupled to the input, coupled to the plurality of battery modules and coupled to the output to provide power derived from at least one of the input power and the backup power to the output;

a return line coupled to each of the plurality of battery modules; and

a first sense line coupled to each of the plurality of battery modules;

wherein each respective battery module of the plurality of battery modules includes a voltage divider having an output to provide a variable output voltage that varies with a temperature of the respective battery module, the output of each respective battery module being coupled to the first sense line by a respective switch; and

wherein the uninterruptible power supply further comprises means for determining a highest temperature present in the plurality of battery modules based upon a value of the variable output voltage provided by the respective switch.

13. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 12, wherein the voltage divider of each respective battery module of the plurality of battery modules includes a first resistor and a second resistor coupled in series between a power supply and the return line and a third resistor coupled in parallel with the second resistor, the second resistor having a resistance value that varies inversely with temperature.

14. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 13, wherein each respective battery module of the plurality of battery modules further includes a buffer coupled between the output of the respective battery module and the respective switch, and wherein each respective switch includes a diode.

15. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 13, wherein each respective switch includes a diode having an anode and a cathode, and wherein each respective battery module of the plurality of battery modules further includes an amplifier having a non-inverting terminal, an inverting terminal, and an output terminal, the non-inverting terminal being coupled to the output of the voltage divider, the inverting terminal being coupled to the anode of the diode, the output of the amplifier being coupled to the cathode of the diode, and the anode of the diode being coupled to the first sense line.

16. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 12, wherein the means for determining the highest temperature includes means, shared by each of the plurality of battery modules, for converting the value of the variable output voltage provided by the respective switch to a temperature value.

17. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 12, wherein the power circuit includes a first power interface module having a plurality of first power modules, wherein the uninterruptible power supply further comprises a second sense line coupled to the first power interface module and the plurality of first power modules, and wherein the uninterruptible power supply further comprises means for identifying a revision level of the first power interface module and a revision level of the plurality of first power modules based on signals on the second sense line and for controlling parameters of the uninterruptible power supply based on the identified revision level of the first power interface board and the plurality of first power modules.

18. A method of monitoring devices in an uninterruptible power supply having an input that receives input power, a plurality of battery modules that provide backup power, and an output that provides output power derived from at least one of the input power and the backup power, the method comprising acts of:

coupling a first sense line to each of the plurality of battery modules;

coupling a return line to each of the plurality of battery modules;

simultaneously providing a respective output from each respective battery module of the plurality of battery modules indicative of a temperature of the respective battery module;

selecting one of the plurality of battery modules to provide the respective output to the first sense line; and

determining that the selected one of the plurality of battery modules has a highest temperature of each of the plurality of battery modules.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the act of determining includes determining that the selected one of the plurality of battery modules has a highest temperature of each of the plurality of battery modules based on a voltage provided by the selected one of the plurality of battery modules on the first sense line, the method further comprising an act of:

converting the voltage provided by the selected one of the plurality of battery modules to a temperature value.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the uninterruptible power supply includes a first power interface module having a plurality of first power modules, and wherein the method further includes acts of:

coupling a second sense line to the first power interface module and the plurality of first power modules;

identifying a revision level of the first power interface module and a revision level of the plurality of first power modules based on signals on the second sense line; and

controlling parameters of the uninterruptible power supply based on the identified revision level of the first power interface board and the plurality of first power modules.