Reserve power supply for computers

Claim 2

A power supply comprising: a first source of electrical energy; a second source of electrical energy; switch means for connecting said first source in electrical series with said second source when said switch means is in a first selectable state and for connecting said first source in electrical parallel with said second source when said switch means is in a second selectable state; and coupling means for coupling said first and second sources to a first output of a primary power supply so that said sources provide electrical power to a load connected to the primary power supply when said sources are connected in series and the voltage at the first output of said primary power supply is a predetermined amount below a first voltage output of said serially connected first and second sources and so that the primary power supply provides a charging current to said first and second sources when said sources are connected in electrical parallel.

Claim 3

A power supply as recited in claim 1, further comprising indicator means for generating a signal indicating when said first and second sources are providing electrical power to the load connected to the primary power supply.

Claim 4

A power supply as recited in claim 2, wherein said indicator means includes a visual display means for displaying a first intensity level of light when said sources are connected in series and the voltage of the first output of the primary power supply is less than the predetermined amount below the voltage output of said serially connected sources and for displaying a second intensity level of light when said sources are connected in series and the voltage at the first output of the primary power supply is the predetermined amount below the first voltage output of said serially connected sources.

Claim 5

A power supply as recited in claim 3, wherein said indicator means further includes an audio signaling means for generating an audible signal when said sources are connected in series and the voltage at the first output of the primary power supply is the predetermined amount below the first voltage output of said serially connected sources.

Claim 6

A power supply as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for providing a plurality of other voltages to loads connected to the primary power supply when said first and second sources are connected in series and the voltage at the first output of the primary power supply is the predetermined amount below the first voltage output by said serially connected sources.

Claim 7

A power supply as recited in claim 5, further comprising indicator means for generating a signal indicating when said first and second sources are providing electrical power to the load connected to the primary power supply.

Claim 8

A power supply as recited in claim 6, wherein said indicator means includes a visual display means for displaying a first intensity level of light when said sources are connected in series and the voltage at the first output of the primary power supply is less than the predetermined amount below the first voltage output of said serially connected sources and for displaying a second intensity level of light when said sources are connected in series and the voltage at the first output of the primary power supply is the predetermined amount below the first voltage output of said serially connected sources.

Claim 9

A power supply as recited in claim 7, wherein said indicator means further includes an audio signaling means for generating an audible signal when said sources are connected in series and the voltage at the first output of the primary power supply is the predetermined amount below the first voltage output of said serially connected sources.

Claim 10

A reserve power supply for providing auxiliary power to a computer, which computer is normally energized by a primary power supply, when the voltage at a first output of the primary power supply is a predetermined amount below a first voltage of said reserve power supply, said reserve power supply comprising: a first battery having a negative terminal and a positive terminal; a second battery having a negative terminal and a positive terminal; first switch means for connecting the negative terminal of said first battery to the positive terminal of said second battery when said switch means is in a first state and for both connecting the positive terminal of said first battery to the positive terminal of said second battery and connecting the negative terminal of said first battery to the negative terminal of said second battery when said switch means is in a second state; and coupling means for coupling the positive terminal of said first battery to the first output of the primary power supply when said switch means is in the first state so that said first and second batteries provide electrical power to the computer when the voltage at the first output of the primary power supply is the predetermined amount below the first voltage and for coupling the positive terminals of said first and second batteries to the first output of the primary power supply when said switch means is in the second state so that the primary power supply provides a charging current to said first and second batteries.

Claim 11

A reserve power supply for providing auxiliary power to a computer, which computer is normally energized by a primary power supply, when the voltage at a first output of the primary power supply is a predetermined amount below a first voltage of said reserve power supply, said reserve power supply comprising: a first battery having a negative terminal and a positive terminal; a second battery having a negative terminal and a positive terminal; first switch means for connecting the negative terminal of said first battery to the positive terminal of said second battery when said switch means is in a first state and for both connecting the positive terminal of said first battery to the positive terminal of said second battery and connecting the negative terminal of said first battery to the negative terminal of said second battery when said switch means is in a second state; and coupling means for coupling the positive terminal of said first battery to the first output of the primary power supply when said switch means is in the first state so that said first and second batteries provide electrical power to the computer when the voltage at the first output of the primary power supply is the predetermined amount below the first voltage and for coupling the positive terminals of said first and second batteries to the first output of the primary power supply when said switch means is in the second state so that the primary power supply provides a charging current to said first and second batteries.

Claim 12

A reserve power supply as recited in claim 9, further comprising indicator means for generating a signal indicating when said first and second batteries are providing electrical power to the computer.

Claim 13

A reserve power supply as recited in claim 10, wherein said indicator includes: a transistor connected to said coupling means; a light-emitting diode connected to said transistor; and a sound generating member connected to said transistor.

Claim 14

A reserve power supply as recited in claim 9, further comprising means for providing a plurality of other voltages to the computer when said first and second batteries are connected in series and the voltage of the first output of the primary power supply is the predetermined amount below the first voltage.

Claim 15

A reserve power supply as recited in claim 12, wherein said means for providing a plurality of other voltages includes: a second switch means for switchably connecting the positive terminal of said second battery to a second output of the primary power supply when said first and second batteries are connected in series and the voltage of the first output of the primary power supply is the predetermined amount below the first voltage output by said serially connected batteries; and voltage converter means, connected to said second switch means, for converting the voltage level at the positive terminal of said second battery to a plurality of other voltage levels and for supplying the other voltage levels to the computer.

Claim 16

A reserve power supply as recited in claim 9, wherein said coupling means includes: a first resistor; a first diode having an anode end connected to a first end of said first resistor and further having a cathode end; and a second diode having an anode end connected to the cathode end of said first diode and to the positive terminal of said first battery and further having a cathode end connected to a second end of said first resistor and to the first output of the primary power supply.

Claim 17

A reserve power supply as recited in claim 14, wherein said coupling means further includes a second resistor connected in parallel across said second diode.

Claim 18

A reserve power supply as recited in claim 9, wherein said switch means includes a tandem switch having a first wiper arm electrically connected to the negative terminal of said first battery and movably mounted within said tandem switch to switchalby coact with a first contact terminal, a second contact terminal and a third contact terminal, which third contact terminal is electrically connected to the negative terminal of said second battery, and said tandem switch also having a second wiper arm electrically connected to the positive terminal of said second battery and movably mounted within said tandem switch for synchronous movement with the first wiper arm to switchably coact with a fourth contact terminal, which fourth contact terminal is electrically connected to the first contact terminal, and to switchably coact with a fifth contact terminal and a sixth contact terminal, which sixth contact terminal is electrically connected to the positive terminal of said first battery.

Claim 19

A reserve power supply as recited in claim 16, wherein said coupling means includes: a first resistor; a first diode having an anode end connected to a first end of said first resistor and further having a cathode end; and a second diode having an anode end connected to the cathode end of said first diode and to the positive terminal of said first battery and further having a cathode end connected to a second end of said first resistor and to the first output of the primary power supply.

Claim 20

A reserve power supply as recited in claim 17, wherein said coupling means further includes a second resistor connected in parallel across said second diode.

Claim 21

A reserve power supply as recited in claim 16, further comprising indicator means for generating a signal indicating when said first and second batteries are providing electrical power to the computer.

Claim 22

A reserve power supply as recited in claim 19, wherein said indicator means includes: a transistor connected to said coupling means; a light-emitting diode connected to said transistor, and a sound generating member connected to said transistor.

Claim 23

A reserve power supply as recited in claim 19, wherein said means for providing a plurality of other voltages includes: a second switch means for switchably connecting the positive terminal of said second battery to a second output of the primary power supply when said first and second batteries are connected in series and the voltage of the first output of the primary power supply is the predetermined amount below the first voltage; and voltage converter means, connected to said second switch means, for converting the voltage level at the positive terminal of said second battery to a plurality of other voltage levels and for supplying the other voltage levels to the computer.

Claim 24

A reserve power supply as recited in claim 9, wherein said first switch means includes a manually operable switch for directly connecting the negative terminal of said first battery to the positive terminal of said second battery so that the first voltage is established by the addition of the voltages of said first and second batteries.

Claim 25

A reserve power supply as recited in claim 9, wherein said first switch means includes: means for connecting the negative terminal of said first battery to a second output of the primary power supply to establish the first voltage; and an electronic switch means for electrically coupling the negative terminal of said first battery to the positive terminal of said second battery when the voltage at the first output of the primary power supply is the predetermined amount below the first voltage established by the voltage of said first battery and the voltage of the second output of the primary power supply.