Power supply for tetherless workstations
First Claim
1. A battery power supply, said power supply comprising:
- a battery pack inside a power supply housing;
an inlet external to the housing for an externally supplied charging current to terminals of said battery pack;
a store for storing a unique identifier for said battery power supply;
a diagnostics interface arranged to monitor and to output at least an indication of the level of charge in said battery pack and said unique identifier stored in said store; and
a wireless communications interface for transmitting said output from said diagnostics interface to an external monitoring apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tetherless workstation is provided having a rechargeable battery power supply installed therein for supplying electrical power to equipment associated with the workstation. The battery power supply includes a diagnostics interface for monitoring an indication of at least the battery charge level and for outputting that indication together with a unique identifier stored within the power supply for transmission over a wireless communications interface. A monitoring apparatus is also provided to monitor the operational status of tetherless workstations using indications output by their respective power supplies, for logging usage of workstations and for generating reports on their operational status, including predictions relating to their operational status.
98 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A battery power supply, said power supply comprising:
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a battery pack inside a power supply housing; an inlet external to the housing for an externally supplied charging current to terminals of said battery pack; a store for storing a unique identifier for said battery power supply; a diagnostics interface arranged to monitor and to output at least an indication of the level of charge in said battery pack and said unique identifier stored in said store; and a wireless communications interface for transmitting said output from said diagnostics interface to an external monitoring apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A battery power supply comprising:
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a battery pack; an inverter for converting electrical output from said battery pack into a mains voltage electrical source; an inlet for an externally supplied charging current; a store for storing a unique identifier for said battery power supply; a diagnostics interface arranged to monitor and to output at least an indication of the level of charge in said battery pack, and to output said unique identifier stored in said store; and a wireless communications interface for transmitting an output from said diagnostics interface.
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9. An apparatus, for monitoring a plurality of tetherless workstations having installed therein a battery power supply for supplying electrical power to equipment associated with the tetherless workstation and including a battery pack;
- an inlet for an externally supplied charging current;
a store for storing a unique identifier for said battery power supply;
a diagnostics interface arranged to monitor and to output at least an indication of the level of charge in said battery pack and said unique identifier stored in said store; and
a wireless communications interface for transmitting an output from said diagnostics interface, said apparatus for monitoring comprising;a wireless communications interface for receiving signals output from the diagnostics interface of a battery power supply; a store for storing, in respect of each of said plurality of tetherless workstations, a unique workstation identifier and the unique identifier of a battery power supply installed therein; and means, responsive to data received at said wireless communications interface and to data stored in said store, for generating reports relating to the operational status of said tetherless workstations. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
- an inlet for an externally supplied charging current;
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14. A flexible office arrangement comprising a plurality of tetherless workstations having installed therein a battery power supply for supplying electrical power to equipment associated with the tetherless workstation and including a battery pack;
- an inlet for an externally supplied charging current;
a store for storing a unique identifier for said battery power supply;
a diagnostics interface arranged to monitor and to output at least an indication of the level of charge in said battery pack, and to output said unique identifier stored in said store; and
a wireless communications interface for transmitting an output from said diagnostics interface;
said apparatus for monitoring said plurality of workstations comprising;a wireless communications interface for receiving signals output from the diagnostics interface of a battery power supply; a store for storing, in respect of each of said plurality of tetherless workstations, a unique workstation identifier and the unique identifier of a battery power supply installed therein; and means, responsive to data received at said wireless communications interface and to data stored in said store, for generating reports relating to the operational status of said tetherless workstations.
- an inlet for an externally supplied charging current;
Specification