US 7,202,576 B1Granted

Uninterruptible power supply systems and enclosures

AssigneeAmerican Power Conversion Corporation

InventorsJoseph Dechene, Michael Manganese, Namwook Paik, Andrew Chase, Michael Lysik

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention provides a UPS including a precharge circuit and a battery pack sensor electrically coupled to the precharge circuit. The sensor senses the presence of an extra battery pack. The precharge circuit includes: a first precharge contact; a capacitor having first and second leads, the first lead electrically coupled to the first contact; a second precharge contact electrically coupled to the second lead of the capacitor; a current limiting circuit having first and second leads, the first lead of the current limiting circuit electrically coupled to the first lead of the capacitor; and a third precharge contact electrically coupled to the second lead of the current limiting circuit. The UPS can further include an enclosure having a housing and a battery connector integral to the housing, the battery connector adapted to receive the first, second and third precharge contacts.

Claims13

Dependent claims

An uninterruptible power supply comprising:

a precharge circuit including:
a first precharge contact;
a capacitor having first and second leads, the first lead electrically coupled to the first contact;
a second precharge contact electrically coupled to the second lead of the capacitor;
a current limiting circuit having first and second leads, the first lead of the current limiting circuit electrically coupled to the first lead of the capacitor;
and
a third precharge contact electrically coupled to the second lead of the current limiting circuit;
a battery pack sensor electrically coupled to the precharge circuit, the sensor operative to sense the presence of an extra battery pack;
and
a battery cartridge having a battery with positive and negative terminals, a first cartridge contact coupled to the positive terminal of the battery and adapted for mating with the first precharge contact, a second cartridge contact coupled to the negative terminal of the battery and adapted for mating with the second precharge contact, and a third cartridge contact electrically coupled to the first cartridge contact, the third cartridge contact adapted for mating with the third precharge contact, at least one of the first cartridge contact and the first precharge contact being recessed relative to the third cartridge contact and the third precharge contact, respectively, such that the capacitor is precharged through the third cartridge contact prior to full electrical contact between the first cartridge contact and the first precharge contact.

7 more elements

An uninterruptible power supply comprising:

a precharge circuit including:
a first precharge contact;
a capacitor having first and second leads the first lead electrically coupled to the first contact;
a second precharge contact electrically coupled to the second lead of the capacitor;
a current limiting circuit having first and second leads the first lead of the current limiting circuit electrically coupled to the first lead of the capacitor;
and
a third precharge contact electrically coupled to the second lead of the current limiting circuit;
and
a battery pack sensor electrically coupled to the precharge circuit the sensor operative to sense the presence of an extra battery pack;
wherein the battery pack sensor comprises:
a first sensor contact electrically coupled to the first precharge contact;
a second sensor contact electrically coupled to the second precharge contact;
a third sensor contact;
and
a sensing circuit electrically coupled to the third sensor contact and to the first sensor contact;
wherein the sensing circuit comprises:
a microprocessor having first and second pins, the microprocessor operative to sense the presence of a battery pack;
a first resistor having first and second leads, the first lead electrically coupled to the first sensor contact and the second lead electrically coupled to the first microprocessor pin;
a second resistor having first and second leads, the first lead electrically coupled to the first microprocessor pin and the second lead electrically coupled to the second sensor contact;
a third resistor having first and second leads, the first lead electrically coupled to a voltage source and the second lead electrically coupled to the first microprocessor pin;
a diode having an input lead and an output lead, the input lead electrically coupled to the first microprocessor pin;
and
a fourth resistor having first and second leads, the first lead electrically coupled to the output lead of the diode and the second lead electrically coupled to the third sensor contact.

20 more elements

An uninterruptible power supply comprising:

a precharge circuit including:
a first precharge contact;
a capacitor having first and second leads the first lead electrically coupled to the first contact;
a second precharge contact electrically coupled to the second lead of the capacitor;
a current limiting circuit having first and second leads the first lead of the current limiting circuit electrically coupled to the first lead of the capacitor;
and
a third precharge contact electrically coupled to the second lead of the current limiting circuit;
and
a battery pack sensor electrically coupled to the precharge circuit the sensor operative to sense the presence of an extra battery pack, wherein the battery pack sensor comprises a first sensor contact electrically coupled to the first precharge contact a second sensor contact electrically coupled to the second precharge contact a third sensor contact a sensing circuit electrically coupled to the third sensor contact and to the first sensor contact;
and
a battery pack including a battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, a first pack contact electrically coupled to the battery positive terminal and adapted for mating with the first sensor contact, a second pack contact electrically coupled to the battery negative terminal and adapted for mating with the second sensor contact, a sense pack contact electrically coupled to the second pack contact and adapted for mating with the third sensor contact of the sensor.

8 more elements

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) comprising:

precharge means including:
a first precharge contact;
and
a charge storage element having first and second leads the first lead electrically coupled to the first precharge contact;
the precharge means for precharging the charge storage element prior to full electrical contact between a battery cartridge and the first precharge contact;
and
battery pack sensor means electrically coupled to the precharge circuit the sensor means for sensing the presence of an extra battery pack;
wherein the battery pack sensor means comprises:
a first sensor contact electrically coupled to the first precharge contact;
a second sensor contact electrically coupled to the second precharge contact;
a third sensor contact;
and
a sensing circuit electrically coupled to the third sensor contact and to the first sensor contact;
wherein the sensing circuit comprises:
a microprocessor having first and second pins, the microprocessor operative to sense the presence of a battery pack;
a first resistor having first and second leads, the first lead electrically coupled to the first sensor contact and the second lead electrically coupled to the first microprocessor pin;
a second resistor having first and second leads, the first lead electrically coupled to the first microprocessor pin and the second lead electrically coupled to the second sensor contact;
a third resistor having first and second leads, the first lead electrically coupled to a voltage source and the second lead electrically coupled to the first microprocessor pin;
a diode having an input lead and an output lead, the input lead electrically coupled to the first microprocessor pin;
and
a fourth resistor having first and second leads, the first lead electrically coupled to the output lead of the diode and the second lead electrically coupled to the third sensor contact.

18 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/690,726Filed 22 Oct 2003 · us provisional application
Priority: 3 Oct 2003
Granted: 10 Apr 2007
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

H02J 9/06
In which the distribution system is disconnected from the normal source and connected to a standby source: with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS…
H02J 7/345
Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other DC sources, e.g. providing buffering: using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
H02J
Power supply and charging