(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2005/0052085A1
`Chang et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Mar. 10, 2005
`
`US 200500.52085A1
`
`(54) UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLY
`CIRCUIT HAVING HOT SWAPPABLE
`BATTERY MODULE
`(76) Inventors: Herlin Chang, Township (TW);
`Min-Huang Huang, Taoyuan (TW)
`Correspondence Address:
`ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
`3458 ELLCOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUTE 101
`ELLICOTT CITY, MD 21043 (US)
`(21) Appl. No.:
`10/653,948
`(22) Filed:
`Sep. 4, 2003
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl. ..................................................... H02.J 7/00
`
`(52) U.S. Cl. ................................................................ 307/66
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An improved uninterruptible power Supply circuit having a
`hot Swappable battery module is connected with internal
`connectors of a UPS power Supply circuit via external
`connectors of the power Supply circuit. When the Supply of
`the commercial AC power is abnormal, the backup battery
`provides power to the power Supply circuit via the internal
`connectors in response to signals from the UPS power
`Supply circuit, thereby instantly providing power to the
`computer and avoiding power interruption, wherein the
`backup battery is provided in a removable battery box, and
`Several backup batteries can be connected in parallel by
`means of the removable battery box So as to provide power
`to the computer in case of long-term power failure.
`
`
`
`Precision Power, LLC Exhibit 1004, Page 1 of 10
`Precision Power, LLC v. PowerTech Solutions International, LLC
`PGR2021-00043
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Mar. 10, 2005 Sheet 1 of 5
`
`US 2005/0052085A1
`
`&
`
`a.
`
`s
`
`5.
`
`:
`
`3
`
`|
`
`CN
`
`... :)
`
`y
`to
`
`s
`
`5
`
`Precision Power, LLC Exhibit 1004, Page 2 of 10
`Precision Power, LLC v. PowerTech Solutions International, LLC
`PGR2021-00043
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Mar. 10, 2005 Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 2005/0052085 A1
`
`
`
`Precision Power, LLC Exhibit 1004, Page 3 of 10
`Precision Power, LLC v. PowerTech Solutions International, LLC
`PGR2021-00043
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Mar. 10, 2005 Sheet 3 of 5
`
`US 2005/0052085A1
`
`<
`N
`
`
`
`Precision Power, LLC Exhibit 1004, Page 4 of 10
`Precision Power, LLC v. PowerTech Solutions International, LLC
`PGR2021-00043
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Mar. 10, 2005 Sheet 4 of 5
`
`US 2005/0052085A1
`
`11 AC
`
`
`
`B
`
`9
`
`l
`
`7
`
`7
`
`7
`
`Precision Power, LLC Exhibit 1004, Page 5 of 10
`Precision Power, LLC v. PowerTech Solutions International, LLC
`PGR2021-00043
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Mar. 10, 2005 Sheet 5 of 5
`
`US 2005/0052085 A1
`
`AC
`
`
`
`11
`
`B
`
`9
`
`Precision Power, LLC Exhibit 1004, Page 6 of 10
`Precision Power, LLC v. PowerTech Solutions International, LLC
`PGR2021-00043
`
`

`

`US 2005/0052085 A1
`
`Mar. 10, 2005
`
`UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLY CIRCUIT
`HAVING HOT SWAPPABLE BATTERY MODULE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0001) 1. Field of the Invention
`0002 This invention relates to an improved uninterrupt
`ible power Supply circuit having a hot Swappable battery
`module, which is connected with internal connectors of a
`UPS power supply circuit via external connectors of the
`power supply circuit. The UPS power supply circuit can be
`separated from the battery system, and several UPS power
`Supply circuits can be connected in parallel, thereby increas
`ing UPS capacity. When the UPS power supply circuit
`malfunctions, the other UPS power Supply circuits continu
`ously operate in order to increase reliability of the computer
`System.
`0003) When the commercial AC power is inputted, the
`UPS power Supply circuit activates the AC detecting and
`charging circuit by means of the UPS controlling and circuit
`managing System, when the Supply of the commercial AC
`power is normal, the battery detecting circuit transmits a
`Signal to the charging circuit, thereby charging the backup
`battery, when the charging operation is completed, the
`charging circuit automatically interrupts the operation of the
`charging circuit, thereby avoiding damage of the backup
`battery due to saturation of the backup battery; the UPS
`controlling and circuit managing System transmits a signal to
`the AC detecting and charging circuit, the AC detecting and
`charging circuit is connected to the power Supply circuit via
`the internal connector, thereby detecting anytime whether
`the Supply of the commercial AC power is normal, when the
`Supply of the commercial AC power is abnormal, by means
`of the DC TO DC boosting circuit, the UPS power supply
`circuit instantly uses the power of the backup battery to
`provide a Stable current to the power Supply circuit via the
`internal connector, thereby instantly providing power to
`maintain normal operation of the computer.
`0004 2. Description of the Prior Art
`0005 Nowadays, the prevalence of a computer provides
`convenient lifestyles and rapid data transmission for us.
`However, due to a very long power line and a complex
`power network for Supplying the commercial AC power to
`the computer, the commercial AC power is very Sensitive to
`many variations Such as under-Voltage, Over-Voltage, inruch,
`noise, distorted waveform, frequency variation, etc., which
`Severely impair the power Stability and quality. In particular,
`for a computer which requests high Stability, Sudden varia
`tions may lead to damage, crash or even breakdown of the
`computer. The Service cost thereof is unexpectedly high
`accordingly. On the other hand, although the failure of
`hardware can be overcome by means of maintenance or
`replacement of components, the lost data Stored therein are
`invaluable and hard to be refreshed.
`0006 The so-called uninterruptible power supply,
`referred hereinafter to UPS, becomes essential equipment
`for a computer. The commercially available UPS appara
`tuses are divided into on-line and off-line configurations.
`Although the on-line UPS apparatus can be installed on the
`housing of the computer So as to make use of Space, it is
`difficult to be disassembled/assembled. When the battery for
`providing power of the UPS apparatus malfunctions, the
`
`housing of the computer needs to be opened in order to
`change the battery therein. Furthermore, an example of an
`off-line UPS apparatus is a removable UPS apparatus
`described in Taiwanese Patent Application No. 483626.
`Although such off-line UPS apparatus is easily disas
`Sembled/assembled for changing batteries, the power needs
`to be switched off and the UPS power and battery module
`thereof are not hot Swappable, which is not user-friendly.
`0007 Thus, when the power of the battery malfunctions,
`either the on-line or the off-line configuration should inter
`rupt power Supply of the computer in order to replace
`battery. After the battery is replaced, the computer can be
`restarted, which adversely affects power Stability and qual
`ity.
`0008 Accordingly, the above-described prior art product
`is not a perfect design and has still many disadvantages to be
`solved. In views of the above-described disadvantages
`resulted from the conventional rotary Safety cutter, the
`applicant keeps on carving unflaggingly to develop an
`improved uninterruptible power Supply circuit having a hot
`Swappable battery module according to the present invention
`through wholehearted experience and research.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0009. An object of the invention is to provide an
`improved uninterruptible power Supply circuit having a hot
`Swappable battery module, which can be connected with
`Several UPS power Supply circuits in parallel so as to
`maintain normal operation of the computer in case of
`long-term power failure.
`0010 Another object of the invention is to provide an
`improved uninterruptible power Supply circuit having a hot
`Swappable battery module, which can be connected with at
`least one removable battery box So as to maintain normal
`operation of the computer in case of long-term power
`failure.
`0011) Another object of the invention is to provide an
`improved uninterruptible power Supply circuit having a hot
`swappable battery module, in which the UPS power supply
`circuit can instantly realize Supply conditions of the com
`mercial AC power via connectors So as to provide power of
`the backup battery.
`0012. A still another object of the invention is to provide
`an improved uninterruptible power Supply circuit having a
`hot Swappable battery module, in which by means of hot
`Swappable batteries, the batteries can be replaced without
`Switching off the computer.
`0013 The present invention relates to an improved unin
`terruptible power Supply circuit having a hot Swappable
`battery module, which comprises a UPS power supply
`circuit for providing power of a backup battery to a load via
`connectors, wherein the backup battery provides power to
`the load by parallel connection of removable battery boxes.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0014. The drawings disclose an illustrative embodiment
`of the present invention which serves to exemplify the
`various advantages and objects hereof, and are as follows:
`0015 FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a power supply circuit
`according to the present invention;
`
`Precision Power, LLC Exhibit 1004, Page 7 of 10
`Precision Power, LLC v. PowerTech Solutions International, LLC
`PGR2021-00043
`
`

`

`US 2005/0052085 A1
`
`Mar. 10, 2005
`
`0016 FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a UPS power supply
`circuit according to the present invention;
`0017 FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a removable battery
`box according to the present invention;
`0.018
`FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment
`of the present invention; and
`0.019
`FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a second embodi
`ment of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`0020 FIG. 1 illustrates an improved uninterruptible
`power Supply circuit having a hot Swappable battery mod
`ule, wherein the power Supply circuit B comprises essen
`tially of:
`0021 a voltage regulator circuit 81, comprising at least a
`rectifier circuit 82 for accepting power, filtering and con
`Verting the power into a direct current to be outputted;
`0022 a DCTO DC converting circuit 84;
`0023 an external power 83;
`0024 a standby power 85;
`0.025
`a computer power Switch 86; and
`0.026 an external connector 11, connected to power Sup
`ply signals, load Signals, computer power Switch 86 Signals
`and relay Switch Signals, respectively, and connected with
`the internal connector 1 of the UPS power supply circuit A
`(FIG. 2), such that the UPS power supply circuit A realizes
`Supply conditions of the commercial AC power via the
`internal connector 1. Accordingly, when the Supply of the
`commercial AC power is abnormal, the UPS power supply
`circuit A can instantly provide power to the computer So as
`to maintain normal operation of the computer.
`0.027
`FIG. 2 illustrates an improved uninterruptible
`power Supply circuit having a hot Swappable battery mod
`ule, wherein the UPS power Supply circuit A comprises
`essentially of:
`0028 an internal connector 1, connected with the exter
`nal connector 11 of the power Supply circuit B;
`0029 an AC detecting and charging circuit 2, for detect
`ing whether the Supply of the commercial AC power is
`normal and charges to the backup battery 7 via the external
`connector 11,
`0030) a battery detecting circuit 5, for detecting whether
`the power of the backup battery 7 is sufficient, wherein when
`the power of the backup battery 7 is full, the charging circuit
`of the AC detecting and charging circuit 2 is Switched off;
`0.031) a backup battery 7, provided in a removable battery
`box 7A, wherein the backup battery 7 is charged by the AC
`detecting and charging circuit 2,
`0.032
`a monitoring signal 6, for displaying a control
`Signal;
`0033 a DCTO DC boosting circuit 3, connected to the
`external connector 11 of the power Supply circuit B via the
`internal connector 1, and instantly providing power to the
`Voltage regulator circuit 81 when the Supply of the com
`
`mercial AC power is abnormal, thereby maintaining normal
`operation of the Voltage regulator circuit 81;
`0034) a UPS controlling and circuit managing system 4,
`for controlling Signals from the power Supply circuit B, the
`UPS power supply circuit A and the removable battery box
`7A,
`0035 wherein when the commercial AC power is input
`ted, the UPS power supply circuit A activates the AC
`detecting and charging circuit 2 by means of the UPS
`controlling and circuit managing System 4, when the Supply
`of the commercial AC power is normal, the battery detecting
`circuit 5 transmits a Signal to the AC detecting and charging
`circuit 2, thereby detecting and charging the backup battery
`7, when the charging operation is completed, the AC detect
`ing and charging circuit 2 automatically interrupts the opera
`tion of the charging circuit, thereby avoiding damage of the
`backup battery 7 due to saturation of the backup battery 7;
`the UPS controlling and circuit managing System 4 transmits
`a signal to the AC detecting and charging circuit 2, and the
`AC detecting and charging circuit 2 is connected to the
`external connector 11 of the power Supply circuit B via the
`internal connector 1, thereby detecting anytime whether the
`Supply of the commercial AC power is normal, when the
`Supply of the commercial AC power is abnormal, by means
`of the DCTO DC boosting circuit 3, the UPS power supply
`circuit A instantly uses the power of the backup battery 7 to
`provide a stable current to the power Supply circuit B via the
`internal connector 1, thereby instantly providing power to
`maintain normal operation of the computer.
`0036 FIG. 3 illustrates an improved uninterruptible
`power Supply circuit having a hot Swappable battery mod
`ule, wherein the removable battery box 7A has therein the
`backup battery 7, and the removable battery box 7A is
`provided thereon with an inserting terminal, wherein a
`contact element extends from the front end of the inserting
`terminal, and the contact element is connected with the UPS
`power Supply circuit A and provides the power to the
`computer by the UPS controlling and circuit managing
`system 4 of the UPS power supply circuit A, wherein the
`removable battery box 7A can be provided with a handle for
`facilitating drawing-out/installing the removable battery box
`7A during the hot Swapping operation. Furthermore, each of
`the bilateral sides of the removable battery box 7A can be
`provided with a gliding track for facilitating easily position
`ing and Smoothly drawing-out/installing the removable bat
`tery box 7A during the hot Swapping operation.
`0037 FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate embodiments of an
`improved uninterruptible power Supply circuit B having a
`hot Swappable battery module. The power supply circuit B
`of the computer 9 is connected to one or more internal
`connectors 1 of the UPS power supply circuit A via the
`external connector 11, and they are connected in parallel So
`as to maintain normal operation in case of long-term power
`failure. Furthermore, another UPS power Supply circuit A
`can be drawn out/installed in a hot Swappable mode without
`Switching off the computer 9, such that the battery of the
`computer 9 can be replaced without Switching off the
`computer 9.
`0038. The improved uninterruptible power supply circuit
`having a hot Swappable battery module, when comparing
`with other previous conventional technologies, has follow
`ing advantages:
`
`Precision Power, LLC Exhibit 1004, Page 8 of 10
`Precision Power, LLC v. PowerTech Solutions International, LLC
`PGR2021-00043
`
`

`

`US 2005/0052085 A1
`
`Mar. 10, 2005
`
`0039) 1. The present invention uses connectors to connect
`the UPS power Supply circuit and the power Supply circuit,
`and uses the AC detecting and charging circuit to realize AC
`power conditions and instantly provides the power of the
`backup battery in case of abnormal power condition.
`0040 2. The present invention uses connectors to connect
`the power Supply circuit with one or more UPS power
`Supply circuits So as to maintain normal operation in case of
`long-term power failure.
`0041) 3. By means of parallel connection and fault tol
`erance, the UPS power Supply circuit is connected with at
`least one backup battery in parallel, and via power lines of
`the removable battery box in Serial/parallel connection So as
`to expand shelf life thereof.
`0.042
`4. By means of the parallel connection, the UPS
`power Supply circuit and the removable battery box can be
`drawn out/installed without Switching off the computer.
`0043. While the invention has been described in terms of
`what is presently considered to be the most practical and
`preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the
`invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment.
`On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications
`and Similar arrangements included within the Spirit and
`Scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with
`the broadest interpretation So as to encompass all Such
`modifications and Similar Structures.
`0044. Many changes and modifications in the above
`described embodiment of the invention can, of course, be
`carried out without departing from the Scope thereof.
`Accordingly, to promote the progreSS in Science and the
`useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be
`limited only by the Scope of the appended claims.
`
`What is claimed is:
`1. An improved uninterruptible power Supply circuit
`having a hot Swappable battery module, comprising a UPS
`power Supply circuit for providing power of a backup
`battery to a load via connectors, wherein Said backup battery
`provides power to Said load by parallel connection of
`removable battery boxes.
`2. An improved uninterruptible power Supply circuit
`having a hot Swappable battery module, comprising essen
`tially of:
`a power Supply circuit, comprising at least an external
`connector connected with internal connectors, wherein
`backup power of Said internal connectors instantly
`provides power to a computer when external power is
`abnormal;
`a UPS power Supply circuit, comprising at least an
`internal connector connected with Said external con
`nector, wherein backup power of Said internal connec
`tors instantly provides power to Said computer when
`external power is abnormal, wherein one end thereof is
`connected to a backup battery; and
`a removable battery box, comprising Said backup battery
`disposed therein for providing power to Said circuits
`and Said computer;
`wherein Said power Supply circuit is connected to Said
`internal connector of said UPS power supply circuit via
`Said external connector thereof for providing commer
`
`cial AC power to Said computer via Said power Supply
`circuit, and when said commercial AC power is abnor
`mal, said backup battery of said UPS power supply
`circuit instantly provides power to Said computer via
`Said internal connector, thereby maintaining normal
`operation of Said computer.
`3. The improved uninterruptible power Supply circuit
`having a hot Swappable battery module according to claim
`2, Said power Supply circuit comprising essentially of:
`a Voltage regulator circuit, comprising at least a rectifier
`circuit for accepting power, filtering and converting
`Said power into a direct current to be outputted;
`a DC TO DC converting circuit;
`a Standby power;
`a computer power Switch; and
`an external connector, connected to power Supply signals,
`load Signals, computer power Switch Signals and relay
`Switch Signals, respectively, and connected with Said
`internal connector, Such that Said UPS power Supply
`circuit instantly realizes Supply conditions of Said com
`mercial AC power via Said internal connector, thereby
`instantly providing power to Said computer to maintain
`normal operation of Said computer when the Supply of
`Said commercial AC power is abnormal.
`4. The improved uninterruptible power Supply circuit
`having a hot Swappable battery module according to claim
`2, said UPS power Supply circuit comprising essentially of:
`an internal connector connected with Said external con
`nector of Said power Supply circuit;
`an AC detecting and charging circuit for detecting
`whether the Supply of Said commercial AC power is
`normal and charges to Said backup battery via Said
`external connector;
`a battery detecting circuit for detecting whether the power
`of said backup battery is sufficient, wherein when the
`power of Said backup battery is full, Said charging is
`Switched off;
`a backup battery provided in Said removable battery box,
`wherein Said backup battery is charged by Said charging
`circuit;
`a monitoring Signal;
`a DC TO DC boosting circuit, connected to said power
`Supply circuit via Said internal connector, and instantly
`providing power to Said Voltage regulator circuit when
`the Supply of Said commercial AC power is abnormal,
`thereby maintaining normal operation of Said Voltage
`regulator circuit;
`a UPS controlling and circuit managing System for con
`trolling Signals from Said power Supply circuit, Said
`UPS power supply circuit and said removable battery
`box;
`wherein when Said commercial AC power is inputted, Said
`UPS power Supply circuit activates Said AC detecting
`and charging circuit by means of Said UPS controlling
`and circuit managing System, when the Supply of Said
`commercial AC power is normal, Said battery detecting
`circuit transmits a Signal to Said charging circuit,
`thereby charging Said backup battery, when the charg
`
`Precision Power, LLC Exhibit 1004, Page 9 of 10
`Precision Power, LLC v. PowerTech Solutions International, LLC
`PGR2021-00043
`
`

`

`US 2005/0052085 A1
`
`Mar. 10, 2005
`
`ing operation is completed, Said charging circuit auto
`matically interrupts the operation of Said charging
`circuit, thereby avoiding damage of Saidbackup battery
`due to saturation of said back-up battery; said UPS
`controlling and circuit managing System transmits a
`Signal to Said AC detecting and charging circuit, Said
`AC detecting and charging circuit is connected to Said
`power Supply circuit via Said internal connector,
`thereby detecting anytime whether the Supply of Said
`commercial AC power is normal, when the Supply of
`Said commercial AC power is abnormal, by means of
`said DC TO DC boosting circuit, said UPS power
`Supply circuit instantly uses the power of Said backup
`battery to provide a stable current to Said power Supply
`circuit via Said internal connector, thereby instantly
`providing power to maintain normal operation of Said
`computer.
`5. The improved uninterruptible power supply circuit
`having a hot Swappable battery module according to claim
`2, wherein said removable battery box has therein said
`backup battery and provided thereon with an inserting
`terminal, wherein a contact element extends from the front
`end of Said inserting terminal, and Said contact element is
`connected with the UPS power supply circuit and provides
`the power to said computer by said UPS controlling and
`circuit managing System of Said UPS power Supply circuit.
`6. The improved uninterruptible power Supply circuit
`having a hot Swappable battery module according to claim
`
`2, wherein said removable battery box is provided on said
`computer by means of parallel connection and fault toler
`ance, thereby providing power to Said computer in case of
`long-term power failure.
`7. The improved uninterruptible power supply circuit
`having a hot Swappable battery module according to claim
`2, wherein said removable battery box is provided with a
`display light for displaying power Statuses, wherein Said
`display light is a light emitting diode (LED).
`8. The improved uninterruptible power supply circuit
`having a hot Swappable battery module according to claim
`2, wherein said removable battery box is provided with a
`handle for facilitating drawing-out/installing Said removable
`battery box during the hot Swapping operation.
`9. The improved uninterruptible power supply circuit
`having a hot Swappable battery module according to claim
`2, wherein each of the bilateral sides of said removable
`battery box is provided with a gliding track for facilitating
`easily positioning and Smoothly drawing-out/installing Said
`removable battery box during the hot Swapping operation.
`10. The improved uninterruptible power Supply circuit
`having a hot Swappable battery module according to claim
`2, wherein said removable battery box has positive and
`negative terminals to be connected with another removable
`battery box in parallel, thereby maintaining normal opera
`tion of Said computer in case of long-term power failure.
`
`k
`
`k
`
`k
`
`k
`
`k
`
`Precision Power, LLC Exhibit 1004, Page 10 of 10
`Precision Power, LLC v. PowerTech Solutions International, LLC
`PGR2021-00043
`
`