Method and apparatus for providing uninterruptible power

• US 7,737,580 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2004
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• 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: Hjort, Thomas Enne, Pedersen, Michael, Nielsen, Henning Roar, Mathiesen, Henrik, Olsen, Richard Dyrmose
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson; Stephen W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amrany; Adi
• Application Number:
  US10/931,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20060043797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,114 Days
• Field of Search: 307/46, 307 64- 66
• US Class Current: 307/65
• 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 is configured and arranged to simultaneously provide a respective signal on a respective characteristic signal line that is coupled to the first sense line, wherein the controller is configured to determine a numeric quantity of battery modules in the plurality of battery modules based on the respective signals detected by the controller on the first sense line, wherein each respective battery module of the plurality of battery modules includes a resistor coupled between the respective characteristic signal line of the respective battery module and the return line, and wherein the controller detects a voltage across the first sense line and the return line and determines a total capacity of the plurality of battery modules based on the voltage detected.

2. 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.

3. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 2, 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.

4. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 1,

wherein the numeric quantity of battery modules comprising the plurality of battery modules is determined by the controller based on the respective signals detected by the controller on the first sense line without the controller individually selecting a respective signal from any of the plurality of battery modules.

5. 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 the controller and each of the plurality of battery modules are configured and arranged such that at least one characteristic of the plurality of battery modules is determined by the controller based on signals simultaneously detected by the controller on the first sense line, and wherein the signals are provided simultaneously by each of the plurality of battery modules on the first sense line; and

wherein the at least one characteristic of the plurality of battery modules determined includes a total numeric quantity of battery modules in the plurality of battery modules.

6. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of battery modules includes a resistor coupled between the first sense line and the return line, and wherein the controller detects a voltage across the first sense line and the return line and determines a total capacity of the plurality of battery modules based on the voltage detected.

7. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 6, further comprising:

a power supply line having a first end coupled to the plurality of battery modules; and

a power supply coupled to a second end of the power supply line and coupled to the return line that generates an output voltage across the power supply line and the return line;

wherein the voltage across the resistor in each of the plurality of battery modules is derived from the output voltage of the power supply.

8. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 7, further comprising a second sense line coupled to the controller and coupled to each of the plurality of battery modules, and wherein the controller and the plurality of battery modules are configured and arranged such that the controller determines a highest temperature present in the plurality of battery modules based on a voltage across the second sense line and the return line.

9. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 6, wherein the total capacity is determined in terms of ampere-hours.

10. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 9, further comprising:

a power supply line having a first end coupled to the plurality of battery modules; and

a power supply coupled to a second end of the power supply line and coupled to the return line that generates an output voltage across the power supply line and the return line;

wherein the voltage across the resistor in each of the plurality of battery modules is derived from the output voltage of the power supply.

11. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 10, wherein each of the resistors in each of the plurality of battery modules has approximately a same resistance value.

12. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of battery modules includes a plurality of battery units.

13. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 10, further comprising a battery frame that contains at least one of the plurality of battery modules, wherein the first sense line is further coupled to the battery frame, and wherein the controller and the battery frame are configured and arranged such that the controller can detect a blown fuse in the battery frame.

14. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 10, further comprising a second sense line coupled to the controller and coupled to each of the plurality of battery modules, and wherein the controller and the plurality of battery modules are configured and arranged such that the controller determines a highest temperature present in the plurality of battery modules based on a voltage across the second sense line and the return line.

15. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of battery modules includes a variable resistor having a resistance value that varies with temperature coupled to the second sense line.

16. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of battery modules includes a diode coupled between the variable resistor and the second sense line.

25. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of battery modules includes a diode coupled between the variable resistor and the second sense line.

17. 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, each respective battery module of the plurality of battery modules simultaneously providing a respective signal on a respective characteristic signal line;

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;

a first sense line coupled to the respective characteristic signal line of each of the plurality of battery modules; and

means for determining a numeric quantity of battery modules in the plurality of battery modules based on the respective signals simultaneously received on the first sense line.

18. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 17, wherein the means for determining includes means for determining a total capacity of the plurality of battery modules.

19. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 18, wherein the total capacity is determined in terms of ampere-hours.

20. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 18, further comprising:

a power supply line having a first end coupled to the plurality of battery modules; and

a power supply coupled to the power supply line and coupled to the return line that generates an output voltage across the power supply line and the return line.

21. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 20, wherein at least one of the plurality of battery modules includes a plurality of battery units.

22. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 20, further comprising:

a battery frame that contains at least one of the plurality of battery modules, wherein the first sense line is further coupled to the battery frame; and

means for detecting a blown fuse in the battery frame.

23. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 20, further comprising:

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

means for determining a highest temperature present in the plurality of battery modules based on a voltage across the second sense line and the return line.

24. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 23, wherein each of the plurality of battery modules includes a variable resistor having a resistance value that varies with temperature coupled to the second sense line.

26. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 17, 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 further comprising 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.

27. The uninterruptible power supply of claim 26, 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 further comprising means for identifying a revision level of the second power interface module and a revision level of the plurality of second power modules, based on signals on the second sense line.

28. 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:

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 an output from each respective battery module of the plurality of battery modules on a respective characteristic signal line; and

determining a numeric quantity of battery modules in the plurality of battery modules based on a voltage level detected on the first sense line.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising determining a total capacity of the plurality of battery modules based at least in part on the numeric quantity of the plurality of battery modules.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the total capacity is determined in terms of ampere-hours.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the uninterruptible power supply further includes a power supply unit, the method further comprising

coupling a first end of a power supply line to the plurality of battery modules;

and

coupling a second end of the power supply line to the power supply to generate an output voltage across the power supply line and the return line.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the uninterruptible power supply includes a battery frame, and the method further includes detecting a blown fuse in the battery frame.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

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

determining a highest temperature present in the plurality of battery modules based on a voltage across the second sense line and the return line.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein the uninterruptible power supply includes a first power interface module having a plurality of first power modules, and wherein the method further includes coupling a second sense line to the first power interface module and the plurality of first power modules, and 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.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the uninterruptible power supply includes a second power interface module having a plurality of second power modules, wherein the method further includes coupling a second sense line to the second power interface module and the plurality of second power modules of the second power interface module, and identifying a revision level of the second power interface module and a revision level of the plurality of second power modules, based on signals on the second sense line.