Reconfigurable backup battery unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9891685-B1
Application number	US-201313865094-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Apr 17, 2013
Priority date	Apr 17, 2013
Publication date	Feb 13, 2018
Grant date	Feb 13, 2018

Abstract

A backup battery unit that can be reconfigured to provide different currents and/or voltages depending upon load conditions. The backup battery unit can be reconfigured, for example, between a configuration in which battery cells for the battery unit are wired in series to a configuration where the battery cells are wired in parallel. Additional embodiments are directed to a backup battery unit that can isolate a battery cell and remove the cell from a circuit for the battery while the battery is under load or being charged. The isolated cell can then be serviced or tested.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for managing a backup battery unit, the backup battery unit comprising a plurality of battery cells, the method comprising:
under the control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,
determining at least one component included in at least one load powered by the backup battery unit;
receiving, directly from each component included in the at least one load, operational characteristics of the component that include an indication of power consumption requirements based on a current processing load for that component;
calculating, based on the received operational characteristics, a level of current necessary to maintain each component included in the at least one load;
calculating, based on the level of current necessary to maintain each component included in the at least one load, a level of current necessary to maintain the at least one load;
determining a voltage level that will result in the level of current necessary to maintain the at least one load being generated, the level of current being generated by supplying power from the backup battery unit to a DC to DC converter at the voltage level;
receiving information about a change in operating environment for the backup battery unit, the change in operating environment resulting in a voltage of the backup battery unit falling below the voltage level;
in response to receiving the information, determining a second combination of parallel or series to which the backup battery unit is to change configuration based at least in part on a first combination of parallel or series in which the backup battery unit is currently configured;
upon determining that the second combination of parallel or series is available to return the voltage of the backup battery unit above the voltage level, instructing the backup battery unit to change configuration from the plurality of battery cells being wired in the first combination of parallel or series to being wired in the second combination of parallel or series;
upon determining that the second combination of parallel or series is unavailable, causing one or more components of the load to be removed from the load based on a criticality of the one or more components, the criticality of each of the one or more components determined automatically based on the operational characteristics of the component; and
instructing the backup battery unit to provide backup power to the at least one load.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to receiving information that the voltage of the battery backup unit has dropped below the voltage level after instructing the backup battery unit to change configuration to being wired in the second combination, further instructing the backup battery unit to change configuration to the battery cells being wired in a third combination of parallel or series, the third combination of parallel or series being configured to return the voltage of the backup battery unit above the voltage level.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the first combination of parallel or series is the plurality of battery cells being fully wired in parallel.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to receiving information about a load reduction on the battery backup unit, providing instructions for changing the configuration of the backup battery unit from an at least partly parallel circuit where at least some of the battery cells of the battery backup unit are wired in parallel to a series circuit where battery cells of the battery backup unit are wired in series.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising, instructing the backup battery unit to switch configuration of the battery cells to being wired in parallel so that the battery cells can be charged with the cells being wired in parallel.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein instructing the backup battery unit to change configuration comprises causing switches on a circuit of the backup battery unit to actuate to change the configuration.

7. A battery backup unit, comprising:
a plurality of battery cells;
a circuit connecting the plurality of battery cells;
a switch mechanism for the circuit, actuation of the switch mechanism causing the circuit to change a number of battery cells from being wired in parallel to being wired in series, the switch mechanism for the circuit being actuated in response to detecting a decrease in a voltage level produced by the plurality of battery cells, and the number of battery cells being configured to restore the voltage level to a threshold voltage level, the threshold voltage level determined to be sufficient to generate an amount of current required to power a particular load based on a composition of the particular load and operational characteristics received from each component in the particular load, the operational characteristics including an indication of current power usage for that component, wherein the switch mechanism is configured to, upon determining that the number of battery cells needed to restore the voltage level to the threshold voltage level is more than a total number of battery cells available, provide instructions to the particular load to cause the composition of the particular load to be altered based on a criticality level of components of the particular load, the criticality level of components of the particular load determined automatically based on the operational characteristics; and
a DC to DC converter configured to receive power from the battery backup unit at the threshold voltage level and supply the amount of current required to power the particular load.

8. The battery backup unit of claim 7 , wherein actuation of the switch mechanism causes all battery cells in the battery backup unit to change from being wired in parallel to being wired in series.

9. The battery backup unit of claim 7 , wherein different actuation of the switch mechanism causes said plurality of battery cells in the battery backup unit to change from being wired in series to being wired in parallel.

10. The battery backup unit of claim 7 , wherein different actuation of the switch mechanism causes all battery cells in the battery backup unit to change from being wired in series to being wired in parallel.

11. The battery backup unit of claim 7 , wherein different actuation of the switch mechanism causes said plurality of battery cells in the battery backup unit to change to being wired partly in series and partly in parallel.

12. The battery backup unit of claim 7 , further comprising a charger for the battery backup unit, and wherein different actuation of the switch mechanism causes all battery cells in the battery backup unit to change from being wired in parallel to being wired in series, and wherein the circuit in configured to charge the battery cells when wired in parallel.

13. A computer-implemented method for managing a backup battery unit, the backup battery unit comprising a plurality of battery cells connected by a circuit, the method comprising:
under the control of one or more computer systems configured with executable instructions,
receiving information about a battery cell in the backup battery unit that indicates the battery cell requires repairs, the battery cells of the battery backup unit being in a first configuration;
instructing the backup battery unit to disconnect the battery cell from the circuit;
receiving, from each component in at least one load, operational characteristics related to current power usage requirements o

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Marr Michael David
• Ross Peter George
• Bryan David Edward
• Mckelvie Samuel J

Classifications

• H02J7/855

  with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery · CPC title

• G06F1/32

  Means for saving power · CPC title

• G06F1/30 Primary

  Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations (for resetting only G06F1/24) · CPC title

• H02J9/061 Primary

  for DC powered loads · CPC title