US5237258A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Unique computer power system with backup power
Assignee: Applied Res and Tech Inc
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Filing: 1989-09-07
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Granted: 1993-08-17
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Expires: 2009-09-07
Abstract
Abstract A computer power system comprises an AC-to-DC power supply for providing DC power to the computer during the presence of AC line power and a backup power supply for providing DC power from batteries directly to the DC operated components of the computer system, completely bypassing the AC to DC power supply, when AC line voltage is absent or low.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy P. Crampton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:05
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J9/00; H02J9/04; H02J9/06; H02J9/062; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S320/00; Y10S320/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
263 words
A power supply for supplying DC power to the DC bus of a computer device, or like load, said power supply comprising: a rectifier means for receiving, as input, AC current, and providing, as output, rectified AC current; a first DC branch circuit receiving rectified AC current from said rectifier means, said first DC branch circuit comprising, at least: a first voltage regulating means for providing a first stage regulation of voltage within said first DC branch, at least one rechargeable DC battery positioned electrically within said first DC branch circuit after said first stage regulation, second voltage regulation means, positioned electrically within said first DC branch circuit between said battery and the load, for providing a second stage of regulation within said first DC branch, and first branch output terminal means for communicating current and voltage to the load after said second stage regulation; and a second DC branch circuit receiving rectified AC current from said rectifier means, said second DC brance circuit comprising, at least: a first voltage regulating means for providing a first stage regulation of voltage within said second DC branch, at least one rechargeable DC battery positioned electrically within said second DC branch circuit after said first stage regulation, second voltage regulation means, positioned electrically within said second DC branch circuit between said battery and the load, for providing a second stage of regulation within said second DC branch, and second branch output terminal means for communicating current and voltage to the load after said second stage regulation, whereby a plurality of voltages are provided to the load.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
263 words
A power supply for supplying DC power to the DC bus of a computer device, or like load, said power supply comprising: a rectifier means for receiving, as input, AC current, and providing, as output, rectified AC current; a first DC branch circuit receiving rectified AC current from said rectifier means, said first DC branch circuit comprising, at least: a first voltage regulating means for providing a first stage regulation of voltage within said first DC branch, at least one rechargeable DC battery positioned electrically within said first DC branch circuit after said first stage regulation, second voltage regulation means, positioned electrically within said first DC branch circuit between said battery and the load, for providing a second stage of regulation within said first DC branch, and first branch output terminal means for communicating current and voltage to the load after said second stage regulation; and a second DC branch circuit receiving rectified AC current from said rectifier means, said second DC brance circuit comprising, at least: a first voltage regulating means for providing a first stage regulation of voltage within said second DC branch, at least one rechargeable DC battery positioned electrically within said second DC branch circuit after said first stage regulation, second voltage regulation means, positioned electrically within said second DC branch circuit between said battery and the load, for providing a second stage of regulation within said second DC branch, and second branch output terminal means for communicating current and voltage to the load after said second stage regulation, whereby a plurality of voltages are provided to the load.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
Power supply of claim 1, wherein said second voltage regulation means of said first DC branch circuit and said second voltage regulation means of said second DC branch circuit each comprises, at least: current-pass transistor means for conveying current and regulated voltage to the respective said output terminal means; transistor regulating means for sensing the output voltage at said output terminal means and for controlling the operation of the current-pass transistor means in response to the sensed output voltage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
Power supply of claim 2, wherein said current-pass transistor means is characterized by a low input to output ratio such that the minimum allowable input voltage is less than or equal to the output voltage plus two volts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
Power supply of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first DC branch circuit and said second DC branch circuit further comprises voltage conversion means whereby said one of said branch circuits provides DC power at a plurality of voltages to the respective said output terminal means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
Power supply of claim 1, wherein said first DC branch circuit and said second DC branch circuit each further comprises means for providing DC power at a plurality of voltage and current combinations to its respective said output terminal means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
Power supply of claim 5, further comprising connection means, to which said output terminal means of said first DC branch circuit is connected and also said output terminal means of said second DC branch circuit is connected, for communicating said plurality of voltage and current combinations from both said DC branch circuits to the load, simultaneously, in a predefined arrangement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
Power supply of claim 1, further comprising connection means, to which said output terminal means of said first DC branch circuit is connected and also said output terminal means of said second DC branch circuit is connected, for communicating voltages and currents from both said DC branch circuits to the load, simultaneously, in a predefined arrangement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
Power supply of claim 1, wherein each said battery is defined by a discharge voltage and a charging voltage; wherein each said first stage regulation provides charging voltage for said battery in the respective said DC branch circuit; and wherein each said second stage regulation is capable of accepting input in a range of voltages including at least both the charging voltage and the discharging voltage of the respective said battery of the respective said DC branch circuit and regulating said input to provide a predetermined output voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
Power supply of claim 8, wherein said second voltage regulation means of said first DC branch circuit and said second voltage regulation means of said second DC branch circuit each comprises, at least: current-pass transistor means for conveying current and regulated voltage to the respective said output terminal means; transistor regulating means for sensing the output voltage at the respective said output terminal means and for controlling the operation of the current-pass transistor means in response to the sensed output voltage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
118 words
Power supply of claim 8, wherein said second voltage regulation means of each of said first DC Branch circuit and said second DC branch circuit is characterized by a low input to output ratio such that the minimum allowable input voltage is less than or equal to the output voltage plus two volts; wherein said battery of each of said first and said second DC branch circuit is characterized (i) by a discharge voltage which is less than or equal to the output voltage of the respective said second voltage regulation means plus two volts, and (ii) by a charging voltage which is less than or equal to one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of said battery discharge voltage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
204 words
A power supply for providing DC power to a computer device, or like load, at a plurality of bus voltages in a plurality of voltage and current combinations, said power means comprising, at least: first DC battery means for providing DC power at a first discharge voltage, said first DC battery means including at least one 12 volt, rechargeable battery; first circuit means for generating at least one of said bus voltages from said first discharge voltage, said first circuit means including, at least, voltage regulation means for regulating said first discharge voltage to maintain said at least one of said bus voltages at a predefined first target voltage; second DC battery means for providing DC power at a second discharge voltage, said second DC battery means including, at least, one 6 volt, rechargeable battery; second circuit means for generating at least one of said bus voltages from said second discharge voltage, said second circuit means including, at least, voltage regulation means for regulating said second discharge voltage to maintain said at least one bus voltage at a predefined second target voltage; and power connect means for communicating said plurality of bus voltages from said power means to the DC bus of a load.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
204 words
A power supply for providing DC power to a computer device, or like load, at a plurality of bus voltages in a plurality of voltage and current combinations, said power means comprising, at least: first DC battery means for providing DC power at a first discharge voltage, said first DC battery means including at least one 12 volt, rechargeable battery; first circuit means for generating at least one of said bus voltages from said first discharge voltage, said first circuit means including, at least, voltage regulation means for regulating said first discharge voltage to maintain said at least one of said bus voltages at a predefined first target voltage; second DC battery means for providing DC power at a second discharge voltage, said second DC battery means including, at least, one 6 volt, rechargeable battery; second circuit means for generating at least one of said bus voltages from said second discharge voltage, said second circuit means including, at least, voltage regulation means for regulating said second discharge voltage to maintain said at least one bus voltage at a predefined second target voltage; and power connect means for communicating said plurality of bus voltages from said power means to the DC bus of a load.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
Power supply of claim 17, wherein said voltage regulation means of said first circuit means and said voltage regulation means of said second circuit means each comprises, at least: current-pass transistor means for conveying current and regulated voltage to said power connect means; and transistor regulating means for sensing the output voltage at said power connect means and for controlling the operation of the current-pass transistor means in response to the sensed output voltage, whereby said target voltage is maintained.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
Power supply of claim 11, wherein said current-pass transistor means is characterized by a low input to output ratio such that the minimum allowable input voltage is less than or equal to the output voltage plus two volts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
Power supply of claim 11, further comprising battery charging means for providing charging voltage to said first battery means and for providing charging voltage to said second battery means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
89 words
Power supply of claim 14, wherein said first DC battery means comprises at least one DC battery; and wherein said second DC battery means comprises at least one DC battery; and wherein said battery charging means comprises, at least, AC/DC converter means for converting AC power input to DC power at a first charging voltage at least sufficient to charge said DC battery of said first DC battery means and at a second charging voltage at least sufficient to charge said DC battery of said second DC battery means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
70 words
Power supply of claim 15, wherein said first circuit means comprises, at least, voltage regulation means for regulating said first discharge voltage to maintain said at least one of said bus voltages at a predefined first target voltage, and wherein said second circuit means comprises, at least, voltage regulation means for regulating said second discharge voltage to maintain said at least one bus voltage at a predefined second target voltage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
96 words
Power supply of claim 16, wherein said voltage regulation means of said first circuit means is capable of accepting input in a range of voltages including at least both the first charging voltage and the first discharging voltage and regulating said input to provide said first target voltage as output; and wherein said voltage regulation means of said second circuit means is capable of accepting input in a range of voltages including at least both the second charging voltage and the second discharging voltage and regulating said input to provide said second target voltage as output.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
82 words
Power supply of claim 17, wherein said voltage regulation means of said first circuit means and said voltage regulation means of said second circuit means each comprises, at least: current-pass transistor means for conveying current and regulated voltage to said power connect means; and transistor regulating means for sensing the output voltage at said power connect means and for controlling the operation of the current-pass transistor means in response to the sensed output voltage, whereby the respective said target voltage is maintained.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
Power supply of claim 18, wherein said current-pass transistor means is characterized by a low input to output ratio such that the minimum allowable input voltage is less than or equal to the output voltage plus two volts.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-16 | 1997-02-15 | 1997-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-16 | 2001-02-15 | 2001-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-16 | 2005-02-15 | 2005-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |