A system for accessible mounting of backup battery for rack-mounted power supply

Abstract

A backup battery module for a rack-mounted power supply, comprising a backup battery; a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) with ventilation holes / openings, for enabling airflow in and out of the power supply; a battery holder, attached to the PCB, for holding the backup battery; a module cover, attached to the front panel by fastening means. The backup battery module is located in the front panel and in an airflow path generated by heat evacuation ventilators of the rack-mounted power supply, to allow access to the battery holder by removing the module cover and to further allow cooling of the backup battery by the one or more ventilators, and evacuation of the heat generated in the power supply during its operation, via openings in the front panel.

Description

[0001] A SYSTEM FOR ACCESSIBLE MOUNTING OF BACKUP BATTERY FOR RACK-MOUNTED POWER SUPPLY

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of power supplies. More particularly, the present invention relates to a rack-mounted power supply with a system that enables accessible mounting and / or replacement of a backup battery.

[0004] Background for the Invention

[0005] Nowadays, many applications incorporate the use of rack-mounted power supplies, assembled in a cabinet with additional devices, such as: switches, routers, communication boxes, etc. The proper operation of power supplies requires maintaining a minimum amount of data / setups (for example: date, time, user interface settings, etc.), even in a situation where the power supply is in "stand-by" mode or in a power shutdown. Saving this data and setups is important so that when the power supply returns back to work after turning it off (and on again), all its settings will be saved and there will be no need to reconfigure it every time it is turned on (or exited from a "standby mode"). For this purpose, there is a backup battery in the power supply (for example, a coin cell battery), which supplies voltage to memory components that save the data of the settings defined for the power supply (by the user and / or the manufacturer).

[0006] In conventional power supplies, the backup battery is placed inside the power supply among its other components, where there is an available space. Since the backup battery has a limited lifetime, it must be replaced from time to time. The replacement operation of the battery requires shutting down the power supply, and requires sending the power supply back to the manufacturer to replace the battery. This is because replacing the backup battery requires opening and disassembling the power supply main cover and removing the battery from it, mounting a new backup battery inside the power supply, closing it again, and at the end, when it is ready, bringing it back from the laboratory and reassembling it in the rack. These actions cause the power supply to be disabled for a relatively long time (it can take even a month or more until it will be ready in the laboratory) and require the use of an alternative power supply, until the battery of the original power supply is replaced. In addition, relatively high internal heat is generated inside the power supply during its operation (around 150° C), which shortens the lifetime of the backup battery.

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a system that enables easy access to mount and / or replace the backup battery of rack-mounted power supplies.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a system that enables to mount and / or replace the backup battery of rack-mounted power supplies, without the need to disable or disassemble the power supply.

[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system that enables to extend the lifetime of the backup battery of rack-mounted power supplies.

[0010] Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

[0011] Summary of the Invention

[0012] A backup battery module for a rack-mounted power supply, comprising: a) a backup battery (such as a CR2032 coin cell battery); b) a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) with ventilation holes / openings, for enabling airflow in and out of the power supply; c) a battery holder, attached to the PCB, for holding the backup battery; d) a module cover, attached to the front panel by fastening means (e.g., screws); and wherein the backup battery module is located in the front panel and in an airflow path generated by one or more heat evacuation ventilators of the rack-mounted power supply, to allow access to the battery holder by removing the module cover and to further allow cooling of the backup battery by the one or more ventilators, and evacuation of the heat generated in the power supply during its operation, via openings in the front panel.

[0013] A rack-mounted power supply with a backup battery module, comprising: a) a chassis, which contains all the internal components of the power supply; b) a package, for packaging all the power supply's elements; c) a printed circuit board (PCB) with ventilation holes / openings, for enabling airflow in and out of the power supply; d) a front panel with ventilation holes / openings, connected to the chassis and package by fastening means; e) a power button, for turning the power supply on and off; f) one or more rack-mounting brackets with mounting holes / grooves, for enabling mounting the power supply in a rack; g) one or more carrying handles, for enabling easy carry of the power supply, which are connected to the rack-mounting brackets; h) a backup battery; i) a battery holder, attached to the PCB for holding the backup battery (e.g., by screws); j) a detachable module cover, attached to the front panel by fastening means; and k) one or more ventilators, for heat evacuation and cooling the backup battery and the power supply elements, wherein the backup battery module is located in the front panel and in an airflow path generated by one or more heat evacuation ventilators of the rack-mounted power supply, to allow access to the battery holder by removing the module cover and to further allow cooling of the backup battery by the one or more ventilators, and evacuation of the heat generated in the power supply during its operation, via openings in the front panel.

[0014] Preferably, the backup battery module is located in the front panel of the power supply, above the ventilation holes.

[0015] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] The above and other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limitative detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

[0017] Fig. 1A shows a perspective view of a rack-mount power supply, according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. IB shows a front view of a rack-mount power supply, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Fig. 2A shows an enlarged front view of the backup power module's cover, which is located on the front panel, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Fig. 2B shows an enlarged front view of the backup power module, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Fig. 3A shows an enlarged front-perspective view of the backup power module 10, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Fig. 3B shows an enlarged back-perspective view of the backup power module 10, according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the PCB soldered to the battery holder;

[0022] Fig. 3C shows an enlarged back-perspective view of the backup power module 10, according to an embodiment of the present invention, without the PCB soldered to the battery holder;

[0023] Fig. 4A shows an exploded right-perspective view of the front panel with the backup power module's cover, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Fig. 4B shows an exploded left-perspective view of the front panel with the backup power module's cover, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Fig. 5A shows an illustration of a simulation of airflow streams around the battery, for heat evacuation, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 5B shows a cross-section view of the backup power module, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0027] The present invention provides a rack-mounted power supply with a backup system (a backup power module) that enables accessible mounting and / or replacing of a backup battery.

[0028] Figs. 1A and IB show a perspective and a front view of a rack-mount power supply, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The rack-mounted power supply 100 comprises a chassis 1 (that contains all the internal elements of the power supply 100), a main cover 2 with two carrying handles 3 which are connected to two rack-mounting brackets 4 with mounting holes / grooves 5. The power supply 100 further comprises a power button 6 for turning the power supply on and off, a front panel 7 with ventilation openings 7a, a user interface 8, for operating and controlling the various functions of the power supply, and a detachable backup power module front cover 9. The backup power module's front cover 9 includes holes for fastening means 9a (such as screws), for easily attaching or removing the module's front cover 9, and getting easy access to the backup battery module 10 ( later shown in Figs. 3A-3C). The backup battery module 10 is located in the front panel 7 of the power supply above the ventilation openings 7a (for enabling maximum heat evacuation and as a result, maximum cooling of the power supply 100). The backup battery module 10 comprises a backup battery 11 (for example, a CR2032 coin cell battery, which is shown in Fig. 2B), a battery holder 11a (shown in Figs. 2B, 3A, and 3C) which is soldered to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 12. The power supply 100 has one or more ventilators inside it, and ventilation holes / openings 7a and 12a, which enable the air to flow in and out of the power supply 100. The airflow enables heat evacuation for cooling the power supply, which accumulates a lot of heat inside during its operation (the heat is generated as a result of power dissipation and is around 120° C). The easy and external access to the backup battery module 10 and the backup battery 11 is therefore very important, because it allows replacing the backup battery 11 without opening and disassembling the power supply main cover, without removing it from its rack. Therefore, there is no need to send it to a laboratory for replacing the backup battery (and using an alternate power supply until the original power supply will come back from the laboratory). In addition, cooling the power supply 100, its components, and specifically the backup battery 11, extends the lifetime of the power supply 100 and its backup battery 11.

[0029] Fig. 2A shows an enlarged front view of the backup battery module's front cover 9, which is located on the front panel 7, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The backup battery module 10 is located in an airflow path (of the air which flows from the ventilators of the power supply 100), to allow cooling of the backup battery 11 and evacuation of the heat generated inside the power supply 100 during its operation. The front cover 9 of the backup battery module 10 is attached to the front panel of the power supply 100 in front of the backup battery module 10, by fastening means (screws, for example). This allows easily removing front cover 9 and replacing the backup battery 11 without opening the chassis 1 of the power supply 100, and at the end, easily attaching front cover 9 to the front panel 7 after replacing the backup battery.

[0030] Fig. 2B shows an enlarged front view of the backup battery module 10, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The backup battery 11 is located in the backup battery holder 11a (which is soldered to the PCB 12) by fastening means (screws, for example), and in case there is a need to mount and / or replace the backup battery 11, the user can easily remove front cover 9 and get external and comfortable access to the backup battery 11, without opening and / or disassembling the main cover 2 of the power supply 100.

[0031] Fig. 3A shows an enlarged front-perspective view of the backup battery module 10, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The module's front cover 9 is detached from the front panel 7, and there is free access to the backup battery 11. After the backup battery 11 mounting or replacement, the user can easily attach the backup battery front cover 9 to the front panel 7, by screwing the front cover 9 back to its place in the front panel 7, using the screws 9a.

[0032] Fig. 3B shows an enlarged back-perspective view of the backup battery module 10, according to an embodiment of the present invention, with the PCB 12 soldered to the backup battery holder 11a. The PCB 12 has soldering legs 12a for soldering the backup battery holder 11a to the PCB 12. As mentioned before, cooling the power supply 100, its components, and specifically the backup battery 11, the PCB and the backup battery module 10 extends the lifetime of the power supply 100 and its backup battery 11.

[0033] Fig. 3C shows an enlarged back-perspective view of the backup battery module 10, according to an embodiment of the present invention, without the PCB 12 soldered to the backup battery holder 11a. The backup battery 11 is located inside the battery holder 11a, and module 10 is attached to the front panel 7 by screws 9a. Figs. 4A and 4B show an exploded right-perspective view and an exploded left-perspective view of the front panel 7, respectively, with the backup battery module's front cover 9, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The backup battery module's front cover 9 can be easily removed from the front panel 7 by screwing out the screws 9a. This way, the user can easily remove the backup battery 11 from its battery holder 11a (using the external comfortable access to the backup battery module 10), put a new backup battery 11 in the battery holder 11a and at the end, screw the screws 9a back to the screwing holes in the front panel 7 (through the holes in front cover 9) for covering again the backup battery module 10.

[0034] Fig. 5A shows an illustration of a simulation of airflow streams around the battery, for heat evacuation, according to an embodiment of the present invention. From Fig. 5A it is seen that the air enters the battery area through opening in the cover holder and flows inside the power supply 100.

[0035] Fig. 5B shows a cross-sectional view of the assembly of the backup battery module 10 with the backup battery holder 11a that holds the backup battery 11, the PCB 12 mounted by screws 9a and the front cover 9.

[0036] As various embodiments and examples have been described and illustrated, it should be understood that variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art without departing from the principles herein. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments described and illustrated in the drawings.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A backup battery module for a rack-mounted power supply having an accessible front panel, comprising: a) a backup battery; b) a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) with ventilation holes / openings, for enabling airflow in and out of said rack-mounted power supply; c) a battery holder, attached to said PCB, for holding said backup battery; d) a module cover, attached to said front panel by fastening means, for proteting said battery holder; wherein said backup battery module is located in said front panel and in an airflow path generated by one or more heat evacuation ventilators of said rack-mounted power supply, to allow access to said battery holder by removing said module cover and to further allow cooling of said backup battery by said one or more ventilators, and evacuation of the heat generated in the power supply during its operation, via openings in said front panel.

2. A rack-mounted power supply with a backup battery module of claim 1, comprising: a) a chassis, which contains all the internal components of said power supply; b) a package, for packaging all said power supply's elements; c) a printed circuit board (PCB) with ventilation holes / openings, for enabling airflow in and out of said power supply; d) a front panel with ventilation holes / openings, connected to said chassis and package by fastening means; e) a power button, for turning said power supply on and off; f) one or more rack-mounting brackets with mounting holes / grooves, for enabling mounting said power supply in a rack; g) one or more carrying handles, for enabling easy carry of said power supply, which are connected to said rack-mounting brackets; h) a backup battery; i) a battery holder, attached to said PCB for holding said backup battery; j) a detachable module cover, attached to said front panel by fastening means; andk) one or more ventilators, for heat evacuation and cooling said backup battery and said power supply elements, wherein said backup battery module is located in said front panel and in an airflow path generated by one or more heat evacuation ventilators of said rack-mounted power supply, to allow access to said battery holder by removing said module cover and to further allow cooling of said backup battery by said one or more ventilators, and evacuation of the heat generated in the power supply during its operation, via openings in said front panel.

3. A backup battery module according to claim 1, wherein the backup battery is a CR2032 coin cell battery.

4. A backup battery module according to claim 1, wherein the fastening means for attaching the module cover to the front panel of the power supply are screws.

5. A backup battery module according to claim 1, wherein the fastening means for attaching the battery holder to the PCB are screws.

6. A rack-mounted power supply according to claim 2, wherein the backup battery module of claim 1 is located in the front panel of the power supply and above ventilation holes.

Images