US5764504A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Uninterruptible power supply with fault tolerance in a high voltage environment
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
•
Filing: 1997-03-13
•
Granted: 1998-06-09
•
Expires: 2017-03-13
Abstract
Abstract An architecture, module set and platform to provide total power protection from utility disturbances. Power supplies employing the invention are built on power buses for utility AC input, battery DC input and conditioned AC output housed in the platform and employ modular line-to-AC-or-DC power-factor-correcting converters and battery/charger sets either housed in the platform or integrated as part of the front end power supply for a critical load such as a computer.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald J. Brand
- 👤 Don L. Drinkwater
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:06
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J9/00; H02J9/04; H02J9/06; H02J9/061; G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/30; H02J9/062; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
An uninterruptible electrical power supply having as an input N phases of AC input, where N is an integer greater than one, said power supply comprising: N conversion modules, each of said N conversion modules containing circuitry for selectably converting to DC output power either one of said N phases of AC input power or DC input power both provided to that module, each of said conversion modules containing means for converting the DC output power to regulated AC output power, wherein each said conversion module provides power factor correction when it converts one of said N phases of AC input power and accepts DC input power for conversion to DC output power when said one of said N phases of AC input power falls below a predetermined level; control circuitry sending a signal to each said conversion module to control each said conversion module such that the AC output power provided by each of said conversion modules can be combined together in N phases; and an output bus, each conversion module being connected to the output bus, the output bus receiving the regulated AC output power from each conversion module to provide N phases of AC output power for powering an electrical device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
An uninterruptible electrical power supply having as an input N phases of AC input, where N is an integer greater than one, said power supply comprising: N conversion modules, each of said N conversion modules containing circuitry for selectably converting to DC output power either one of said N phases of AC input power or DC input power both provided to that module, each of said conversion modules containing means for converting the DC output power to regulated AC output power, wherein each said conversion module provides power factor correction when it converts one of said N phases of AC input power and accepts DC input power for conversion to DC output power when said one of said N phases of AC input power falls below a predetermined level; control circuitry sending a signal to each said conversion module to control each said conversion module such that the AC output power provided by each of said conversion modules can be combined together in N phases; and an output bus, each conversion module being connected to the output bus, the output bus receiving the regulated AC output power from each conversion module to provide N phases of AC output power for powering an electrical device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 1 wherein each of said conversion modules is substantially identical.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 2 further comprising: N AC input bus bars each carrying one phase of said N phases of said AC input and one neutral bus bar relative to such phases and wherein each of said N conversion modules may be connected either (a) to a unique one of said N AC input bus bars and to said neutral bus bar or (b) to a unique pair of said N AC input bus bars.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 1 wherein each of said N conversion modules is capable of converting at least 1000 watts of power.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 1 further comprising: a first set of battery modules connected in a series, said first set connected through battery transfer means to one or more of said conversion modules, said battery transfer means including means for providing battery voltage to one or more external devices.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 5 further comprising: a second set of battery modules connected in a series, said second set of battery modules connected in parallel with said first set of battery modules.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 6 wherein said second set of battery modules is located in an external battery expander cabinet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
174 words
An uninterruptible electrical power supply comprising: an AC input power bus supplying AC input power with at least one phase; a DC input power bus supplying DC input power; a plurality of conversion modules, each of said conversion modules containing circuitry for selectably converting to DC output power either AC input power provided on said AC input power bus or DC input power provided on said DC input power bus, each said conversion module including an inverter for converting said DC output power to regulated AC output power with one phase, each said conversion module being connected in parallel to said AC input power bus and said DC input power bus; control circuitry sending a signal to the inverter of each conversion module to control the inverters such that the AC output power provided by each of said conversion modules can be combined together in one or more phases; and an output bus, to which the conversion modules are connected in parallel, receiving the AC output power provided by each of the conversion modules.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
174 words
An uninterruptible electrical power supply comprising: an AC input power bus supplying AC input power with at least one phase; a DC input power bus supplying DC input power; a plurality of conversion modules, each of said conversion modules containing circuitry for selectably converting to DC output power either AC input power provided on said AC input power bus or DC input power provided on said DC input power bus, each said conversion module including an inverter for converting said DC output power to regulated AC output power with one phase, each said conversion module being connected in parallel to said AC input power bus and said DC input power bus; control circuitry sending a signal to the inverter of each conversion module to control the inverters such that the AC output power provided by each of said conversion modules can be combined together in one or more phases; and an output bus, to which the conversion modules are connected in parallel, receiving the AC output power provided by each of the conversion modules.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 8 wherein the DC input power is supplied by batteries external to the cabinet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 8 wherein the DC input power is supplied by one or more battery modules mounted within the cabinet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 8, wherein the AC input bus has a input bus bar for each of the phases of AC input power, the AC output bus has an output bus bar for each particular phase of AC output power, and each conversion module is connected to the same one of the input bus bars and to the same one of the output bus bars, the same one of the output bus bars receiving AC output power from each conversion module to provide an overall AC output power having one phase.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
83 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 8, wherein the AC input bus has an input bus bar for each phase of the AC input power, the AC output bus has an output bus bar for each particular phase of the AC output power, and each conversion module is connected to a different input bus bar and a different output bus bar than each other conversion module, the output bus receiving from the conversion modules AC output power having more than one phase.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 12 wherein a DC input voltage supplied on the DC input bus is between 200 and 300 volts, inclusive.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 8, further comprising: a cabinet; and means for mounting the plurality of conversion modules within the cabinet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 8 wherein each conversion module includes a power factor correcting circuit for conditioning either the AC input power or the DC input power.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 8, further comprising: AC input circuitry for conditioning utility AC power to be provided to the AC input power bus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 8, further comprising: one or more battery modules for supplying the DC input power bus with battery power, each battery module including one or more batteries.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 17, further comprising: battery transfer circuitry for transferring DC input power from the battery modules to the DC input bus whenever said AC input power drops below a threshold level.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 18, further comprising: static switching circuitry for bypassing the conversion modules when an overload condition or a conversion module failure is detected.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 19, further comprising: maintenance bypass switching circuitry manually engageable for bypassing the conversion modules for servicing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 17, further comprising: a cabinet; and means for mounting each of the battery modules within the cabinet.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 8 wherein said DC output power is greater than 1000 watts.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
148 words
An uninterruptible electrical power supply, comprising: an AC input power bus supplying AC input power; a DC input power bus supplying DC input power; one or more conversion modules connected to the AC and DC input power busses, each of the conversion modules selectably converting either AC input power provided on an AC input power bus or DC input power provided on a DC input power bus to AC output power; one or more battery modules for supplying the DC input power bus with battery power, each battery module containing one or more batteries; battery transfer circuitry for transferring DC input power to the DC input power bus from the battery modules whenever the AC input power drops below a threshold level; and static switching circuitry coupled to the AC input bus for bypassing the conversion modules when an overload condition or a conversion module failure is detected.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
148 words
An uninterruptible electrical power supply, comprising: an AC input power bus supplying AC input power; a DC input power bus supplying DC input power; one or more conversion modules connected to the AC and DC input power busses, each of the conversion modules selectably converting either AC input power provided on an AC input power bus or DC input power provided on a DC input power bus to AC output power; one or more battery modules for supplying the DC input power bus with battery power, each battery module containing one or more batteries; battery transfer circuitry for transferring DC input power to the DC input power bus from the battery modules whenever the AC input power drops below a threshold level; and static switching circuitry coupled to the AC input bus for bypassing the conversion modules when an overload condition or a conversion module failure is detected.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
52 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 23 wherein each of the conversion modules includes: circuitry for selectably converting either the AC input power or the DC input power to DC output power; and means responsive to the DC output power for converting the DC output power to the AC output power.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 23, further comprising: maintenance bypass switching circuitry manually engageable for bypassing the conversion modules for servicing.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 25, further comprising: AC input circuitry for conditioning utility AC input power to be provided to the AC input power bus.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 23, further comprising: control circuitry for controlling the battery transfer circuitry and the conversion modules.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
52 words
The uninterruptible electrical power supply of claim 23 wherein each of the conversion modules includes: circuitry for selectably converting either the AC input power or the DC input power to DC output power; and means responsive to the DC output power for converting the DC output power to the AC output power.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-08 | 2001-12-08 | 2002-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-08 | 2005-12-08 | 2006-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-08 | 2009-12-08 | 2010-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |