Battery communication system
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring a back-up power system associated with an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), the method comprising:
- selectively coupling a load to an AC power source or to a back-up power system including a plurality of battery packs coupled together in parallel for supplying power to the load when the AC power source is performing outside acceptable limits or fails, the plurality of battery packs including at least a first battery pack and a second battery pack;
receiving, at a UPS processor, battery pack information from a first battery processor monitoring the first battery pack, the battery pack information being indicative of operational status of the plurality of battery packs, wherein battery pack information associated with battery packs other than the first battery pack is received via the first battery pack from a second battery processor monitoring the second battery pack; and
transmitting commands associated with the first and second battery processors to the first battery processor.
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Accused Products
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.
91 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring a back-up power system associated with an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), the method comprising:
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selectively coupling a load to an AC power source or to a back-up power system including a plurality of battery packs coupled together in parallel for supplying power to the load when the AC power source is performing outside acceptable limits or fails, the plurality of battery packs including at least a first battery pack and a second battery pack; receiving, at a UPS processor, battery pack information from a first battery processor monitoring the first battery pack, the battery pack information being indicative of operational status of the plurality of battery packs, wherein battery pack information associated with battery packs other than the first battery pack is received via the first battery pack from a second battery processor monitoring the second battery pack; and transmitting commands associated with the first and second battery processors to the first battery processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instruction including instructions configured to cause a first processor to:
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receive first sensor information from a sensor associated with a first battery pack of a plurality of battery packs of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system, the UPS system having a UPS processor and a power circuit adapted for coupling to a main power source, to a load and a local back-up battery-pack, said local battery-pack adapted for being coupled in parallel with a second battery-pack; process the first sensor information to produce first battery information indicative of operational status of the first battery pack; receive second battery information from a second processor associated with the second battery pack of the plurality of battery packs, the second battery information pertaining to the second battery pack or another battery pack coupled to the second battery pack; and transmit the first and second battery information toward the UPS processor. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system comprising:
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means for selectively coupling a load to an AC power source or to a back-up power system including a plurality of battery packs coupled together in parallel for supplying power to the load when the AC power source is performing outside acceptable limits or fails, the plurality of battery packs including at least a first battery pack and a second battery pack; means for receiving battery pack information from a first battery processor monitoring the first battery pack, the battery pack information being indicative of operational status of the plurality of battery packs, wherein battery pack information associated with battery packs other than the first battery pack is received via the first battery pack from a second battery processor monitoring the second battery pack; and means for transmitting commands associated with the first and second battery processors to the first battery processor.
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Specification