Patent Application
20080272655
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) devices are commonly available for computer systems and other electronic devices where uninterrupted power is desired (e.g., during a power outage). The UPS device replaces or supplements electrical power from the utility company with electrical power from a battery (or batteries) in the UPS device. The battery is able to provide power at least for a limited time, until electrical power form the utility company can be restored. Once electrical power is restored, the electrical power is used to recharge the battery in the UPS device so that the battery is fully charged the next time there is a power outage.
UPS devices are often located in hard to reach places. For example, a UPS for a personal computer (PC) may be located behind the desk where the PC is being used so that it is out of sight and close to the electrical outlet. Accordingly, the user is inconvenienced each time the user has to plug or unplug a power cord to the UPS device. Although the user may use an extension cord between the UPS device and a more convenient location for plugging/unplugging devices, the user is still inconvenienced each time the user has to check the status indicators on the UPS device (e.g., to determine if the battery is properly charged/charging). In addition, using extension cords may degrade the quality of the electrical power being supplied by the UPS device to the computer system or other electronic device. The use of extension cords may also introduce electrical noise to the electrical power being supplied by the UPS device, degrading operation of the computer system or other electronic devices.
The UPS device 100 may include a primary unit 110 housing a auxiliary power source, such as a battery or batteries (not shown). The primary unit 110 may also be connected by a power cord (not shown) to a primary electrical power source, such as a wall outlet providing AC electrical power from the utility company.
The UPS device 100 also includes a remote unit 120 electrically connected to the primary unit 110 by power cord 130. The remote unit 120 may include one or more connections for electrically connecting any of a wide variety of electronic devices to power being supplied by the UPS device 100. In use, the primary unit 110 may be located near a power source (e.g., a wall outlet) behind furniture such as a desk or file cabinet so that it is out-of-sight, while the remote unit 120 may be more conveniently located for the user. Accordingly, the user can easily access the remote unit to make connections to the UPS device 100 and check the status of operations. The smaller size of the remote unit 120 relative to the primary unit 110 also enables positioning of the remote unit 120 in a variety of different orientations, in drawers, under computer monitors, etc.
In the example shown in
The remote unit 120 may also include a user interface 140 for displaying output for a user and/or receiving input from a user. This input/output may be relayed between the primary unit 110 and the remote unit 120 by signal wiring (e.g., in cord 130) or wireless communications. For purposes of illustration, user interface 140 may include light-emitting diode (LED) status indicators 141 and 142. The status indicators 141 and 142 may be lit to indicate whether power is being supplied by the primary power source or by the auxiliary source (or a combination thereof), or to indicate performance, problems, etc.
Of course user interface 140 is not limited to LED status indicators 141 and 142 and may include any of a wide variety of input/output (I/O). User interface may also be used for any of a wide variety of input and/or output at the remote unit. Other examples, include, but are not limited to, a reset function, a test feature, power on/off, etc.
During use the UPS device 100 provides electrical power from the primary power source to one or more electronic devices connected to the UPS device 100, e.g., by operating in a “pass-through” mode. If the primary power source is disrupted (e.g., during a power failure), or degraded, the UPS device 100 may instead provide electrical power to the one or more electronic devices connected to the UPS device 100 from the auxiliary power source (e.g., the battery).
Depending on the length of the cord 130 and/or other operating conditions, power being supplied by the UPS device 100 may generate noise that affects the operation of the electronic devices connected to the UPS device 100. Optionally, the UPS device may include other remote capabilities, such as noise filtering. An exemplary circuit for filtering noise is discussed in more detail below with reference to
Before continuing, it is noted that the UPS device 100 may be used with any of a wide variety of computing systems or other electronic devices, such as a stand-alone personal desktop or laptop computer (PC), workstation, personal digital assistant (PDA), consumer electronic (CE) devices, or appliance, to name only a few examples.
The circuitry may include a processor 210 (or processing units) operatively associated with computer readable storage 220 or memory. During operation, computer readable program code (e.g., firmware and/or software) may be stored in memory 220 and executed by the processor 210 to implement one or more of the remote capabilities.
In an exemplary embodiment, the processor 210 may control a switching device 230. The switching device 230 is provided in-line with power being provided from the UPS device 100 (e.g., from the primary and/or auxiliary power source) to the one or more electronic devices connected to the UPS device 100.
The program code may include an optional sensing module. In an exemplary embodiment, the sensing module monitors the quality of the power signal being provided by the UPS device 100. If the quality of the power signal satisfies a noise threshold, the switching device 230 operates in a pass-through mode, allowing electrical power from the power source to be provided directly to the electronic devices connected to the UPS device 100. If the quality of the power signal fails to satisfy the noise threshold, power is filtered, e.g., by passing at least part of the power signal through a noise filter 240.
Although noise filters may take any suitable form, and will depend at least in part on various design considerations, exemplary noise filter 240 may include a capacitor 241 (or capacitors) in parallel with a resistor 242 (or resistors) in parallel with an inductor 243. The sizing of the various components, again, depends on various design considerations.
It is noted that the noise threshold may be determined based on any of a wide variety of design considerations, such as operating parameters, type of equipment being operated, number of electronic devices connected to the UPS device, desired noise reduction, etc. The noise threshold may be either constant or variable, again depending on these or other design considerations. It is also noted that the remote capabilities may be implemented using any of a wide variety of different circuitry. In an alternative embodiment, for example, the functions of the program code may be implemented by logic circuitry.
In operation 310, a power signal is received at the remote unit for the UPS device. In operation 320, a determination is made whether a quality threshold is satisfied. If the quality threshold is satisfied, the electrical power may be passed through to the device(s) connected to the UPS device in operation 330. If the quality threshold is not satisfied, the electrical power may be passed through a noise filter in the remote unit of the UPS device in operation 340.
If continuous monitoring is not enabled in operation 350, the electrical power continues to be passed through to the device in operation 330 via the noise filter. If continuous monitoring is enabled in operation 350, the electrical power continues to be checked against the quality threshold by returning to operation 320. For example, if the noise is migrant, the electrical signal does not need to be continuously filtered for noise. However, if the noise is recurring, continuous filtering for noise may be desired.
The operations shown and described herein are provided to illustrate exemplary implementations for providing remote capabilities in a UPS. It is noted that the operations are not limited to the ordering shown. For examples, operations may be ordered one before the other or performed simultaneously with one another. Still other operations not shown may also be implemented. For example, operations may further include notifying the user if the quality threshold is not met in operation 320 (e.g., via the display at the remote unit).
The exemplary embodiments shown and described are provided for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting. Still other embodiments are also contemplated for providing remote capabilities in a UPS.
