Abstract:
An apparatus for providing battery power to a telecommunication system having a plurality of components mounted in an equipment rack that presents a standard width for receiving the components. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: ( 1 ) a housing configured for mounting above at least some of the plurality of components in the equipment rack and ( 2 ) at least one battery pack contained within the housing and consisting of sealed unit battery cells. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes: ( 1 ) a housing configured for mounting anywhere in the equipment rack and ( 2 ) at least one battery pack contained within the housing and consisting of sealed unit battery cells that employ lithium battery technology.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present application is related to and claims priority based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/505,610, filed by Davis, et al., on Sep. 24, 2003, entitled “Apparatus for Providing Battery Power to a Telecommunication System,” commonly owned herewith and incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention is directed to electrical power sources, and especially to battery power sources for providing power to telecommunication systems.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     It is common in the telecommunication industry to employ lead-acid batteries for providing reserve backup battery power. Typical installations of such lead-acid batteries are embodied in a plurality of battery cells externally connected in series to present or produce the desired system bus voltage, usually 48 volts direct current (DC). Additional pluralities of battery cells may be added in parallel to provide additional capacity and system reserve time. The lead-acid batteries employed are heavy, large and unwieldy. Lead-acid batteries require various levels of ventilation and spill containment to meet industry safety standards. Lead-acid batteries are generally installed on a shelf (usually a bottom shelf, to avoid damaging other equipment in the event of a leak or spill of electrolyte) in an equipment cabinet or in a separate battery cabinet and arranged to ensure that adequate ventilation and spill containment are provided. Location at the bottom of a cabinet is also driven by the weight of the batteries since they are generally the heaviest of the system components. Lead-acid batteries must be handled, stored, shipped and disposed of as hazardous material. Identifying a bad or degraded lead acid battery among a plurality of batteries connected together is difficult, often amounting to an art form in itself. Generally, external discharge equipment or conductance measurement devices must be utilized in the process to determine the weak or bad battery or batteries. Many telecommunication system installations requiring battery power are constrained in their design alternatives because they must accommodate the strict requirements involved in using lead-acid batteries.  
         [0004]     A need exists for an apparatus for providing battery power to a telecommunication system that avoids having to meet requirements for hazardous material handling. A need exists for an apparatus for providing battery power to a telecommunication system that may be mounted freely in an equipment rack among other components. A need exists for an apparatus for providing battery power to a telecommunication system that may be integrated into the telecommunication system and may be controlled and monitored remotely by a system control apparatus in the telecommunication system. A need exists for an apparatus for providing battery power to a telecommunication system that is lightweight with improved energy density over lead-acid batteries. A need exists for an apparatus for providing battery power to a telecommunication system that provides interconnection for presenting a desired system bus voltage in a modular arrangement. A need exists for an apparatus for providing battery power to a telecommunication system that displays an indication of battery power state of operation for quick identification in the field.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides an apparatus for providing battery power to a telecommunication system having a plurality of components mounted in an equipment rack that presents a standard width for receiving the components. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: (1) a housing configured for mounting above at least some of the plurality of components in the equipment rack and (2) at least one battery pack contained within the housing and consisting of sealed unit battery cells.  
         [0006]     In another embodiment, the apparatus includes: (1) a housing configured for mounting anywhere in the equipment rack and (2) at least one battery pack contained within the housing and consisting of sealed unit battery cells that employ lithium battery technology. For purposes of the present invention, “telecommunications” is defined as including voice communications and data communications.  
         [0007]     The foregoing has outlined preferred and alternative features of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic drawing of one embodiment of a telecommunication system employing an apparatus constructed according to the principles of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of an apparatus constructed according to the principles of the present invention installed in a telecommunication equipment rack with other components; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates a detail perspective view of one embodiment of an electrical connecting structure and securing projection constructed according to the principles of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , illustrated is a schematic drawing of one embodiment of a telecommunication system employing an apparatus constructed according to the principles of the present invention. In  FIG. 1 , a telecommunication system  10  comprises a system control apparatus  12  and a plurality of system units  14  (“Unit 1”),  16  (“Unit 2”),  18  (“Unit n”). The system control apparatus  12  preferably also carries out monitoring functions regarding the operation of the telecommunication system  10 . The indicator “n” is employed to signify that any number of units may be contained in the telecommunication system  10 . The inclusion of the three units  14 ,  16 ,  18  in  FIG. 1  is illustrative only and does not constitute any limitation regarding the number of units that may be included in the telecommunication system  10 . The system control apparatus  12  is coupled with the units  14 ,  16 ,  18  via a control bus  19 . Alternatively, the system control apparatus  12  may be independently coupled with each respective unit  14 ,  16 ,  18 . Under most practical circumstances, the telecommunication system  10  is significantly more complex than illustrated in  FIG. 1 , but more detailed representation of telecommunication system  10  would not add to an understanding the present invention.  
         [0013]     The telecommunication system  10  receives battery power at output loci  30 ,  32  from a battery power apparatus  20  that includes a housing  21 . Details of connections between various portions of the telecommunication system  10  (e.g., the system control apparatus  12  and the units  14 ,  16 ,  18 ) and the output loci  30 ,  32  are not illustrated in detail in  FIG. 1  to avoid making  FIG. 1  more complex than it needs to be. The battery power apparatus  20  includes a battery pack  22  and a control interface device  24 . The control interface device  24  is coupled via a control lead  25  with an electrical connecting structure  26  that traverses the housing  21 . The system control apparatus  12  may be coupled via the electrical connecting structure  26  and a connecting lead  27  to the control interface device  24 . Alternatively, the control bus  19  may be coupled with the electrical connecting structure  26  to effect coupling between the system control apparatus  12  and the control interface device  24 . Connection with the electrical connecting structure  26  is advantageously carried out using a plug (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). The control interface device  24  may be powered from the battery pack  22  (not shown in detail in  FIG. 1 ) or from the system control apparatus  12  via the control lead  25  and the connecting lead  27 . The control bus  19  connects to other controlled and monitored devices in telecommunication system  10  including, for example, system rectifiers (not shown in  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0014]     The battery pack  22  includes a plurality of battery cells  40  (cell C 1 ),  42  (cell C 2 ),  44 , (cell C 3 ),  46  (cell Cm). The indicator “m” is employed to signify that there can be any number of battery cells in the battery pack  22 . The inclusion of four battery cells  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  in  FIG. 1  is illustrative only and does not constitute any limitation regarding the number of battery cells that may be included in the battery pack  22 . The battery cells  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  are electrically coupled in any combination of series or parallel connection (not shown in detail in  FIG. 1 ) to ensure presenting a predetermined output voltage at output terminals  34 ,  36 . It is preferred that the battery cells  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  be sealed unit battery cells employing a dry technology and having a substantially uniform voltage output per cell. One technology that is particularly suitable for the battery cells  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  is lithium battery technology, such as employed in lithium-ion batteries. The signals between the control interface device  24  and the system control apparatus  12  via the leads  25 ,  27  may be at voltages greater than, equal to or less than the predetermined output voltage presented at the output terminals  34 ,  36 .  
         [0015]     The output terminals  34 ,  36  are coupled with the output loci  30 ,  32  via the electrical connecting structure  26 . The output terminals  34 ,  36  could alternatively be coupled with the output loci  30 ,  32  by another arrangement penetrating the housing  21  without involving the electrical connecting structure  26 . In the illustrated embodiment, the electrical connecting structure  26  is integral, effecting all electrical and control connections from outside the housing  21  to components within the housing  21 . The electrical connecting structure  26  advantageously effects connections using a plug connector for connections by electrical devices outside the housing  21  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) with connection the output loci  30 ,  32  and uses a plug connector for coupling the control lead  25  to the connecting lead  27 . It is preferred that the electrical connecting structure  26  be embodied in a single connecting structure for all external connections with the battery power apparatus  20 .  
         [0016]     The battery power apparatus  20  preferably also includes a plurality of monitoring units  50  (which monitors cell balance),  52  (which monitors temperature),  54  (which monitors current),  56  (which monitors voltage). A greater or lesser number of monitoring units relating to a greater or lesser plurality of parameters may be employed. The monitoring units  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  are representative only. The monitoring units  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  are coupled with the battery pack  22  appropriately to carry out the intended monitoring. Thus, some monitoring units (e.g., the monitoring unit  50 , which monitors cell balance) may be coupled with individual battery cells  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  (not shown in detail in  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0017]     The monitoring units  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  are also coupled with the control interface device  24 . The control interface device  24  may be configured for carrying out some actions regarding the battery pack  22  that the monitoring units  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  may indicate are necessary, thereby exercising some local control over the battery pack  22 . The monitoring units  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  may cooperate with the control interface device  24  to effect some control functions with respect to the battery pack  22 . That is, the control interface device  24  may provide information from the monitoring units  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  to the system control apparatus  12  and respond to orders from the system control apparatus  12  to effect changes in operation of the battery pack  22  in response to indications from the monitoring units  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 . Further, the control interface device  24  may provide information from the monitoring units  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  to the system control apparatus  12  to actively change the operation of the DC power system rectifiers (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) to optimize performance of the battery pack  22  in response to indications from the monitoring units  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 .  
         [0018]     Configuring the battery power apparatus  20  for cooperation with the system control apparatus  12  (via the control interface device  24 ) advantageously provides an improved power supply arrangement having additional monitoring and control features that are more integrated into a host telecommunication system than is attainable by systems employing prior art technology. By way of example and not by way of limitation, such an improved integration with a host telecommunication system permits the battery power apparatus  20  to internally monitor and report charge and discharge currents to the system control apparatus  12 . The integrated arrangement disclosed herein avoids requiring an external shunt or Hall Effect current monitoring transducer required by prior art systems. Reduced complexity, fewer system components, less space and less cost are often consequent results of the integrated arrangement embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]     By way of example and not by way of limitation, the integrated arrangement permits the system control apparatus  12  to remotely monitor and gather data that is obtained manually in prior art power supply systems. Such data includes “inventory items” such as battery serial number, manufacture date, capacity rating, discharge rate, part number, model, type of technology, software version number used in the control interface device  24  and other data. Other data relating to operation of the battery power apparatus  20  may also be monitored and gathered such as, by way of example and not by way of limitation, operating temperature range, maximum discharge current, state of charge, time to full recharge, optimum float voltage, number of discharges, reserve time and other operational information.  
         [0020]     The integrated system arrangement further permits the system control apparatus  12  to use monitored values received from the control interface device  24  dynamically to adjust DC voltage in the telecommunication system  10  to minimize current into the battery power apparatus  20 .  
         [0021]     A display unit  60  may be mounted for external viewing from outside the housing  21 . The display unit  60  is coupled with the control interface device  24 . The control interface device  24 , the monitoring units  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56  and the display device  60  cooperate to indicate to an operator certain aspects of operation of the battery pack  22 , such as state of charge, lack of power, capacity, loss of communication, failed battery and other parameters and conditions. Information provided by the display device  60  avoids the inconvenience of having to the open housing  21  and visually inspect the battery cells  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  as is required, for example, in the case of lead-acid batteries when operators have to carry out maintenance actions. The display unit  60  may be embodied in any indicating structure, such as light- emitting diode (LED) indicators, dials, gauges or other visually indicative devices.  
         [0022]     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , illustrated is a perspective view of one embodiment of an apparatus constructed according to the principles of the present invention installed in a telecommunication equipment rack with other components. In  FIG. 2 , an equipment rack assembly  70  includes vertical rails  72 ,  74  and a horizontal member  76 . The vertical rail  72  is formed to present mounting sections  80 ,  82  facing in opposite directions depending from a central section  83 . The vertical rail  74  is formed to present mounting sections  84 ,  86  facing in opposite directions depending from a central section  87 . Each of the mounting sections  80 ,  82 ,  84 ,  86  has a plurality of spaced apertures (not individually indicated by an element number identifier) arrayed along its respective length. The battery power apparatus  20  includes a housing  21  that is configured to fit between the vertical rails  72 ,  74  and presents mounting brackets or securing projections  90  (only one securing projection  90  is visible in  FIG. 2 ) for securing the battery power apparatus  20  to the equipment rack assembly  70 . The securing projections  90  may be situated anywhere on the housing  21  to accommodate any mounting arrangement required by the rails  72 ,  74  or another rail or rack arrangement (not shown in  FIG. 2 ).  
         [0023]     The equipment rack assembly  70  is a standard rack configured for mounting other components thereto, such as a distribution apparatus  100  and an equipment shelf  102  holding system components  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 . The system components  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110  may embody the units  14 ,  16 ,  18  of  FIG. 1 . The battery power apparatus  20  is configured for mounting anywhere along the length of the rack assembly  70  so that the distribution apparatus  100 , the equipment shelf  102  and the battery power apparatus  20  may be mounted to the rack assembly  70  in any order and in any combination. There is no need to require that a battery power apparatus be mounted at the bottom of the rack assembly  70  with sufficient space between the battery power apparatus  20  and the next adjacent component to permit ample ventilation for the battery power apparatus  20 . Such requirements were a fact of design life when lead-acid batteries were used. No such mounting limitations apply to the apparatus of the present invention. Preferably, the housing  21  of the battery power apparatus  20  is an integer multiple of a standard height employed for designing other components for use in the rack assembly  70 . For example, if a standard height unit for components is “U,” then it is preferred that housing  21  be (n×U), where n is an integer&gt;0. Preferably battery power apparatus  20  presents a predetermined voltage output for use by other components in the telecommunication system  10 . A plurality of the battery apparatus  20  may be affixed to the rack assembly  70  and connected in parallel or in series if another voltage is desired or if greater battery capacity is required.  
         [0024]     The illustrated embodiment of the electrical connecting structure  26  is situated on one side of the housing  21  of the battery power apparatus  20  to facilitate easy access to the electrical connecting apparatus  26  by human operators.  
         [0025]     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , illustrated is a detail perspective view of one embodiment of an electrical connecting structure and securing projection constructed according to the principles of the present invention. In  FIG. 3 , the housing  21  is traversed by the electrical connecting structure  26  to provide electrical access to interior portions of the housing  21 . As mentioned earlier herein, it is preferred that the electrical connecting structure  26  is embodied in a plug connecting structure such as a plug arrangement having a female plug member  28  and a male plug portion  29  to facilitate use by human operators. Also illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in an exploded orientation with respect to the housing  21  is a mounting bracket or securing projection  90 . The securing projection  90  is generally L-shaped having a first leg  92  with first apertures  96  for mounting the securing projection  90  to the housing  21 , such as by welding, adhesive, threaded fasteners or another mounting arrangement. The securing projection  90  also has a second leg  94  with second apertures  98  for mounting the securing projection  90  to equipment rack assembly ( FIG. 2 ), such as by using threaded fasteners within the second apertures  98  and apertures on the mounting sections  80 ,  84  ( FIG. 2 ). The second apertures  98  are preferably arranged in the second leg  94  so that one or two of the second apertures  98  align for the mounting housing  21  to variously configured versions of the equipment rack assembly  70  having different aperture-spacing in their respective mounting sections  80 ,  84 . By selecting such multiple-use spacing for the second apertures  98 , one can use one version of the housing  21  to accommodate a plurality of designs of the rack assembly  70 . Such multiple-use spacing thereby reduces inventory requirements for numbers of different models of the housing  21 . Making fewer different models of the housing  21  lowers cost of manufacture to accommodate various models of the equipment rack  70 .  
         [0026]     Although the present invention has been described in detail, those skilled in the art should understand that they can make various changes, substitutions and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.