U.S. patent application number 16/742335 was filed with the patent office on 2020-05-14 for power supply unit.
The applicant listed for this patent is IPS Group Inc.. Invention is credited to Stephen John HUNTER, Andre Malan JOUBERT.
Application Number | 20200153270 16/742335 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40294641 |
Filed Date | 2020-05-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200153270 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HUNTER; Stephen John ; et
al. |
May 14, 2020 |
POWER SUPPLY UNIT
Abstract
A power supply unit for supplying power to a device has a
rechargeable, main battery; a charging arrangement for charging the
main battery; a non-rechargeable back-up battery; load terminals
for connection to a load; and a control unit for controlling supply
of power to the load primarily from the main battery and
secondarily from the back-up battery. The device is, in particular,
a single bay, stand alone parking meter. In the event that the main
battery runs low, the control unit is configured to supply power to
the load from both the main battery and the back-up battery or only
from the back-up battery. The back-up battery is easily
replaceable, and the power supply unit has a bay, with connectors
for receiving the back-up battery. The main battery is charged from
solar panels. A communication device is provided to communicate
status messages wirelessly to a control system.
Inventors: |
HUNTER; Stephen John; (San
Diego, CA) ; JOUBERT; Andre Malan; (Edenvale,
ZA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
IPS Group Inc. |
San Diego |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
40294641 |
Appl. No.: |
16/742335 |
Filed: |
January 14, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15599827 |
May 19, 2017 |
10574085 |
|
|
16742335 |
|
|
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|
15160646 |
May 20, 2016 |
9692256 |
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|
15599827 |
|
|
|
|
13928058 |
Jun 26, 2013 |
9391474 |
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15160646 |
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|
12059909 |
Mar 31, 2008 |
8513832 |
|
|
13928058 |
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60909209 |
Mar 30, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02J 9/06 20130101; Y10T
307/625 20150401; H02J 7/0026 20130101; G07F 17/24 20130101; H02J
9/061 20130101; H02J 7/0029 20130101; H02J 7/0044 20130101; H02J
7/35 20130101; H02J 7/0024 20130101; H02J 7/0021 20130101; H02J
7/00302 20200101 |
International
Class: |
H02J 9/06 20060101
H02J009/06; H02J 7/00 20060101 H02J007/00; G07F 17/24 20060101
G07F017/24; H02J 7/35 20060101 H02J007/35 |
Claims
1.-27. (canceled)
28. A parking meter comprising: a) a rechargeable battery; b) a
charging arrangement comprising one or more terminals for
connecting the rechargeable battery to one or more charging
sources; c) at least one capacitor; d) a wireless communication
device; e) a control unit for monitoring the status of the
rechargeable battery and signaling the wireless communication
device to communicate a status message regarding the status of the
rechargeable battery to a control system external to the parking
meter; and f) a housing at least partially enclosing one or more
of: the rechargeable battery, the charging arrangement, the at
least one capacitor, the wireless communication device, and the
control unit.
29. The parking meter of claim 28, wherein the rechargeable battery
consists of one to five cells.
30. The parking meter of claim 28, wherein the control unit
monitors the status of the voltage across the rechargeable
battery.
31. The parking meter of claim 30, wherein the control unit signals
the wireless communication device to communicate the status message
when the voltage across the rechargeable battery drops below a
predetermined level.
32. The parking meter of claim 31, wherein the predetermined level
is 5.5V.
33. The parking meter of claim 28, wherein the status message
comprises: voltage across the battery, remaining battery charge,
remaining battery life, error message indicating battery failure,
or a combination thereof.
34. The parking meter of claim 28, wherein the wireless
communication device communicates the status message over a
telecommunications network.
35. The parking meter of claim 28, wherein the parking meter is a
single space parking meter or a dual space parking meter.
36. The parking meter of claim 28, wherein the parking meter is a
multi-space parking meter.
37. The parking meter of claim 28, wherein the at least one
capacitor provides power during a peak power demand.
38. A power supply for a parking meter comprising: a) a
rechargeable battery; b) a charging arrangement comprising one or
more terminals for connecting the rechargeable battery to one or
more charging sources; c) at least one capacitor; d) a connection
to a wireless communication device; and e) a connection to a
control unit for monitoring the status of the rechargeable battery
and signaling the wireless communication device to communicate a
status message regarding the status of the rechargeable battery to
a control system external to the parking meter.
39. The power supply of claim 38, wherein the rechargeable battery
consists of one to five cells.
40. The power supply of claim 38, wherein the control unit monitors
the status of the voltage across the rechargeable battery.
41. The power supply of claim 40, wherein the control unit signals
the wireless communication device to communicate the status message
when the voltage across the rechargeable battery drops below a
predetermined level.
42. The power supply of claim 41, wherein the predetermined level
is 5.5V.
43. The power supply of claim 38, wherein the status message
comprises: voltage across the battery, remaining battery charge,
remaining battery life, error message indicating battery failure,
or a combination thereof.
44. The power supply of claim 38, wherein the wireless
communication device communicates the status message over a
telecommunications network.
45. The power supply of claim 38, wherein the parking meter is a
single space parking meter or a dual space parking meter.
46. The power supply of claim 38, wherein the parking meter is a
multi-space parking meter.
47. The power supply of claim 38, wherein the at least one
capacitor provides power during a peak power demand.
48. A method for managing the supply of power to a parking meter
comprising: a) monitoring, by a control unit, the status of a
rechargeable battery; b) signaling, by the control unit, a wireless
communication device to communicate a status message to a control
system external to the parking meter regarding the status of the
rechargeable battery; and c) providing, by at least one capacitor,
power during a peak power demand; wherein at least one of: the
rechargeable battery, the wireless communication device, the
control unit, and the at least one capacitor are within the parking
meter.
49. The method of claim 48, wherein the rechargeable battery
consists of one to five cells.
50. The method of claim 48, wherein the status of the rechargeable
battery monitored comprises the voltage across the rechargeable
battery.
51. The method of claim 50, wherein the signaling is triggered by
the voltage across the rechargeable battery dropping below a
predetermined level.
52. The method of claim 51, wherein the predetermined level is
5.5V.
53. The method of claim 48, wherein the status message comprises:
voltage across the battery, remaining battery charge, remaining
battery life, error message indicating battery failure, or a
combination thereof.
54. The method of claim 48, wherein the wireless communication
device communicates the status message over a telecommunications
network.
55. The method of claim 48, wherein the parking meter is a single
space parking meter or a dual space parking meter.
56. The method of claim 48, wherein the parking meter is a
multi-space parking meter.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/599,827 filed May 19, 2017, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/160,646 filed
May 20, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,692,256, which is a continuation
of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/928,058 filed Jun. 26, 2013,
now U.S. Pat. No. 9,391,474, which is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/059,909 filed Mar. 31, 2008, now U.S. Pat.
No. 8,513,832, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/909,209 filed Mar. 30, 2007, each of which is
incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] THIS INVENTION relates to a power supply unit and to a
device, in particular a single bay parking meter, having the power
supply unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] According to the invention, there is provided a power supply
unit for supplying power to a device, the power supply unit
including
[0004] a rechargeable, main battery;
[0005] a charging arrangement for charging the main battery;
[0006] a set of connectors for connection to a back-up battery;
[0007] a set of load terminals for connection to a load; and
[0008] a control unit for controlling supply of power to the load
primarily from the main battery and secondarily from the back-up
battery.
[0009] In an embodiment of the invention the power supply unit has
the main battery and the back-up battery. The back-up battery is
preferably non-rechargeable.
[0010] It will be appreciated that power is taken, in use, from the
backup battery in the event that the main battery is
inadequate.
[0011] Further according to the invention there is provided a
device, in particular a parking meter, which has a power supply
unit in accordance with the invention.
[0012] In the event that the main battery runs low, the control
unit is configured to supply power to the load from both the main
battery and the back-up battery or only from the back-up
battery.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the back-up battery is easily
replaceable. In this embodiment, the power supply unit has a bay
for receiving the back-up battery and the connectors are spaced and
are such as to permit easy removal and replacement of the back-up
battery.
[0014] In another embodiment of the invention, the power supply
unit further includes a communication device, for communicating
messages to a control system. Such messages are selected from the
group consisting of: notification that the main battery has been
insufficiently recharged, and a notification that power is being
supplied from the backup battery.
[0015] In a further embodiment of the invention, the communication
device may be operable in a wireless manner, and utilizes a
cellular telephone network. Thus, with this embodiment, the
communication device may have a cellular telephone module.
[0016] In an embodiment of the invention, the charging arrangement
includes charging terminals for connecting the unit to a solar
panel. The device then incorporates the solar panel.
[0017] It will be appreciated that in normal operation power is
supplied only from the main battery. However, if the main battery
is insufficiently recharged, or it is unable to supply the power
required by the load, then supplementary power is supplied,
partially or totally, from the backup battery, as determined by the
control unit.
[0018] Preferably, the nominal supply voltage of the backup battery
is slightly greater than that of the main battery.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Embodiments of the invention is now described, by way of
example only and without limiting the scope of the invention, with
reference to the accompanying figures, wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a power supply unit in
accordance with the invention, shown in alignment with part of a
parking meter body;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the part of the parking meter body,
depicting the power supply unit when inserted fully therein;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectioned view of the power supply
unit; and
[0023] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the power supply unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] In the accompanying figures, the power supply unit is
generally designated by reference numeral 10 and comprises a
rechargeable, main battery 12, a charging arrangement in the form
of a diode 34 for charging the main battery 12, a replaceable
back-up battery 14, load terminals 19 and a control unit 16 for
controlling supply of power to a load 20 connected via the load
terminals 19 primarily from the main battery 12 and secondarily
from the back-up battery 14 in the event that the main battery 12
is inadequate. The power supply unit 10 further has a solar panel
terminal 33 and an auxiliary charging terminal 28.
[0025] The power supply unit 10 further includes a bay 17 which
contains the replaceable backup battery 14. The bay 17 is
illustrated in FIG. 3, where it is seen to be defined by a
compartment 21 with a lid 23 within the power supply unit 10. The
bay 17 has spaced connectors 15 for the backup battery 14. Also
shown in FIG. 3 is a communication device 24 with a cellular
telephone module 26.
[0026] More specifically, in a preferred embodiment of the
invention, the main battery 12 comprises an arrangement of five
"AA" size nickel cadmium rechargeable cells, which cells are
coupled to each other and recharged by solar panels 18 via the
solar panel terminal 33. The backup battery 14 comprises a coupled
arrangement of two non-rechargeable, disposable "C" size
lithium-thionyl chloride cells, and the control unit 16 is a
conventional linear, low dropout control unit, known in the trade
as the Linear Technology.TM. model LT1529-5. The control unit 16
controls the supply of power to the load 20 from the main battery
12 and the backup battery 14, in the manner described below.
[0027] It is not only the power supply unit 10 itself that is the
subject of this invention. This invention extends to include a
device, in particular a single bay stand alone parking meter 50,
having the power supply unit 10 as described above. This is
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, in which FIG. 1 depicts the power
supply unit 10 aligned for insertion into a complementary
dimensioned and configured recess 40 within parking meter 50. The
power supply unit 10 is moved into position, in the direction of
arrow "A," to fit snugly within the recess 40, as is depicted in
FIG. 2. A coin validation unit 45 of the parking meter 50 is not a
part of the present invention, but is mentioned for completeness,
since the validation unit 45, and other components, such as a timer
and a display (not shown) are powered by the power supply unit 10,
being connected thereto via the load terminals 19. The parking
meter 50 has the solar panels 18 which are connected to the solar
panel terminal 33.
[0028] The power supply unit 10 is operated as follows. Under
favorable conditions, with the main battery 12 being sufficiently
charged and with the voltage across the main battery 12 being
greater than a predetermined threshold value, the control unit 16
is configured to permit only the main battery 12 to supply power to
the load 20. Conversely, under unfavorable conditions, when the
main battery is not sufficiently charged, the supply voltage of the
main battery 12 is lower than the threshold value, and in such
conditions, the control unit 16 is configured to permit power to be
supplied also, or only, from the backup battery 14 to the load. It
will be appreciated that, in this way, use of the backup battery 14
occurs only when strictly necessary, namely when the voltage across
the main battery 12 falls below a predetermined level.
[0029] In the particular instance where the power supply unit 10 is
for a stand alone parking meter, the nominal supply voltage of the
main battery 12 is 6.0V and of the back-up battery 14 7.2V. The
control unit 16 is configured to permit power to be supplied from
the backup battery 14 when the voltage across the main battery 12
measures 5.5 V or less.
[0030] Capacitor 30 is provided to assist during peak power demand
and capacitor 22 assists with stability of the regulator 16 and
with peak power demand. In alternative embodiments of the
invention, a further, external recharging source, such as a
portable charger, may be connected via terminal 28. It will be
appreciated that the extent of reliance on the backup battery 14 to
supply current to circuit 20, is minimized. This, in turn, extends
the lifespan of the backup battery 14.
[0031] The power supply unit 10 further includes diodes 34 and 36,
which serve to prevent reverse current from flowing into the solar
panels 18 and an external auxiliary recharging source via terminal
28 respectively.
[0032] The communication device 24 communicates notifications to a
control system (not shown). Typically, such notifications relate to
the state of the main battery 12 and of the backup battery 14.
Notifications that are communicated are that the voltage across the
main battery 12 has fallen below the predetermined minimum level,
and that power is being supplied from the backup battery 14. The
communication device 24 communicates these notifications in a
wireless manner across a telecommunications network via the
cellular telephone module 26.
[0033] It will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that
application of this invention is not limited to parking meters
only, but that this invention also has application to a multitude
of power supply units used to supply current to electrical
circuits.
* * * * *