Document Version 1.2
4132 – Short Time UPS (STUPS)
Specifications
4132 – STUPS – Specifications
Overview
Short Time UPS (STUPS) is a device designed to provide protection against unexpected power
loss and consequent potential loss of data or integrity of the system. STUPS was specifically
designed to meet the requirements of embedded applications where high reliability of
unsupervised systems is required.
The main purpose of the device is to provide back-up power to allow the embedded system to
finish any active transactions, save data and shut down the operating system. An embedded
system equipped with the STUPS is guaranteed to execute proper shutdown sequence every
time when power is accidentally or purposely disconnected. This significantly simplifies power
on/off procedures for the system. When STUPS is integrated, it is acceptable for a user to
simply flick the on/off switch or unplug the unit if he desires to turn off the system - STUPS will
handle the shutdown sequence properly in any situation.
As an option, it is possible to apply delay between the moment power level drops below limit
and the moment when system starts shutdown. This makes allowances for short power glitches
without any disruption to the service or operation of the embedded system. This feature is
beneficial in industrial environments where short power blips are common and low quality of
power causes high failure rates of embedded systems.
Secondary features of STUPS include auxiliary power output (3.3V/5A or 5V/4A), system
diagnostics (voltage, current and temperature measurements) and system start-stop
management.
STUPS can also be used to turn ? the power to the powered device after a specified time has
elapsed. This can be useful, as an example, in battery powered data acquisition systems that
need to perform some measurement in periodic intervals, for example one (1) hour. After initial
start-up, the device would perform the measurement task and then send a request to STUPS to
enter a hibernate state. Device would then start its operating system shutdown. STUPS would
detect when the device has finished shutdown (by time or output current measurement) and turn
off power to the device. After the time specified in the hibernate message has elapsed, the
STUPS would turn the power back on, device would boot up, perform it’s measurement task
and repeat the process again. Assuming 1.5A power consumption of device, 25mA
consumption of STUPS in hibernate state, task duration including boot up and shutdown of 5
minutes and 1 hour task interval, the average system power consumption would drop from
18W/hour to 1.78W/h. The battery would last 10 times longer!
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4132 – STUPS – Specifications
Features
• Super-capacitor backup source of energy is more reliable than other battery technologies
and provides:
• Higher number of charging cycles: 500,000
• Longer life cycle
• Excellent performance at low temperatures
• Faster charging
• Very high efficiency when running on main power to minimize power loss and limit
dissipated heat
• Fast switch over to backup power to minimize output voltage drop
• Reliable switch over from backup to main power through gradual current ramp-up and
input voltage confirmation sequence
• High speed, high efficiency charging circuitry results in quick charging time
• Adjustable charging current setting ensures current (Amperes) capacity of external power
supply is not exceeded.
• Active, non-dissipative cell balancing maximizes charging efficiency, minimizes charge
time and dissipated heat, and provides long term life of super-capacitors
• Flexible communication scheme for host system notification
• RS-232, polled or interrupt modes, STUPS can provide interrupt on DSR, RI or CTS
line to notify that the main power is off or user pressed the start-stop button
• USB (uses virtual COM port driver)
• Opto-isolated digital outputs
• System power diagnostics
• STUPS can provide current and voltage readings of main and auxiliary outputs, and
system temperature to host
• Start-Stop management feature ensures proper system shutdown procedures and data
integrity. System can be configured, for example, to provide complete start-stop sequence
as in a laptop:
• Initial button press (power on): STUPS will turn on internal circuits and turn on
power to host device. Device boots up.
• Second button press: STUPS will communicate to the host that the user pressed the
button again to shut down the system. Host will save data, confirm shutdown with
STUPS and start system shutdown. Once STUPS detects that system shutdown
has finished and output current to the device has dropped, STUPS will turn off
power to the host and turn itself off. System is now completely off. Other power
management modes are available.
• Auxiliary opto-isolated input for general use.
• PC-104 compatible physical form factor and mounting holes
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4132 – STUPS – Specifications
Specifications
Initial Usable Backup Capacity
P/N 41321201: 1000 Watt seconds
P/N 41321202: 3500 Watt seconds
Operating Temperature Range
Extended temperature models
0 to 60 Deg.C
-40 to 80 Deg.C
Input voltage
8.5 to 20V (11.5V or higher is required to
reach full backup capacity)
Main Output Voltage
When running on main input
When running on backup source
same as input voltage
12V nominal
Auxiliary Output Voltage
3.0 to 5.5V, software adjustable
Maximum Continuous Output Current
Main output @ 12V
Auxiliary Output @ 5V
Auxiliary Output @ 3.3V
3.5A
4A
5A
Maximum Total Continuous Output Power
(sum of Main and Auxiliary
outputs power)
42W
Maximum Peak Power
Battery charge more then 50%, max 10 seconds,
non-repeatable, auxiliary output not used
Peak Main Output Current @ 12V
Peak Total Output Power
5.0A
60W
Charging Time
(empty to 99% capacity, 2A charging current)
P/N 41321201: 120 seconds
P/N 41321202: 420 seconds
Charger Input Current
0.2 to 2A, software adjustable
Switchover time
Main to backup switchover
8 microseconds max.
Output Voltage drop below preset threshold
Main to backup switch, max load
0.2V max. (with 11.0V switch-over
threshold the output will not drop
below 10.8V)
Efficiency
On main power
Backup converter efficiency
Auxiliary output converter efficiency
Charging efficiency
STUPS quiescent current 60 mA typ
95% typ
94% typ
93% typ
Communication with host system
RS-232, USB and opto-isolated DIO
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4132 – STUPS – Specifications
Part Numbers
Part Number
Description
Size WxDxH (mm)
41321201
STUPS-C10 w. 1000Ws, 0 to +60
90 x 96 x 32
41321202
STUPS-C35 w. 3500Ws, 0 to +60
90 x 96 x 74
41321203
STUPS-EC10 w. 1000Ws, -40 to +80
90 x 96 x 32
41321204
STUPS-EC35 w. 3500Ws, -40 to +80
90 x 96 x 74
41321205
STUPS-BC10 w. 1000Ws, 0 to +60, no 3.3V/5V output, no DIO
90 x 96 x 32
41321206
STUPS-BC35 w. 3500Ws, 0 to +60 no 3.3V/5V output, no DIO
90 x 96 x 74
41321207
STUPS-EBC10 w. 1000Ws, -40 to +80, no 3.3V/5V output, no DIO
90 x 96 x 32
41321208
STUPS-EBC35 w. 3500Ws, -40 to +80, no 3.3V/5V output, no DIO
90 x 96 x 74
Figure 1 - PN: 41321201
Figure 2 - PN: 41321202
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4132 – STUPS – Specifications
Typical Embedded System Configuration
Figure 3 – Embedded System without STUPS
• Host starts to boot up immediately when external AC power is connected
• Host is up while the AC power is present
• Uncontrolled shutdown happens when external power goes off
Figure 4 - Embedded System with STUPS configured in Start/Stop mode
• When Start/Stop button is pressed, STUPS turns on power to host. Host boots up.
• If main power goes off, STUPS switches to backup power and notifies Host that main
power is off. Host application saves data and starts proper shutdown. Once current
flowing to host decreases after shutdown is complete, STUPS turns off power to host.
• If user presses Start/Stop button during operation, STUPS will notify host that button is
pressed. Host will save data and start shutdown.
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4132 – STUPS – Specifications
Application Considerations
This section includes a list of items to consider when evaluating if STUPS is right for your
application or project.
Output voltages
Vin Main input
J1 - Pin 2
Fast Switch
vin
Main Output
J1 - Pin 3
iout
vout
icharger
iout2
vboost
sc4
Battery Charger
Step Down
Converter
Boost converter
vout2
Auxiliary Output
J1 - Pin 4
iauxout
sc3
Supercap Battery
sc2
sc1
STUPS block diagram
GND
Main Output
When running on main input, the Main Output is connected to main input and output voltage is
very close to the input voltage (except for the small voltage drop on connectors, internal traces,
current measurement shunt and output switch resistance). Thus, Output voltage is not regulated
and will change if input voltage changes.
When running on backup source, the main output voltage is generated by the boost converter
and is regulated to a value specified by BackupOutputVoltage parameter. With the current
version of firmware, the value can be set between 10.2 and 13 Volts. Default Value is 12 Volts.
If your project needs a different backup voltage, please contact Linear Computing.
Auxiliary Output
Auxiliary output voltage is generated by the step-down converter and is regulated to a value
specified by AuxOutputVoltage parameter. With the current version of firmware, the value
can be set between 3.0 and 5.5 volts. By default the auxiliary output is set to 0 Volts and user
must set the voltage to desired value to enable the output. If your project needs a different
auxiliary voltage, please contact Linear Computing.
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4132 – STUPS – Specifications
Maximum power consumed by device(s)
Please verify that STUPS can provide enough output current to safely power your device(s).
The sum of current flowing to main output and current flowing to auxiliary output step-down
converter (iout + iout2) must be less or equal to 3.5A @12V (42W) in average. While the
battery is charged more then 50%, STUPS can safely provide higher output current 5A @ 12V
(60W) for short duration of time - this provides some contingency in case your system demands
more power. If you are not using auxiliary output, then iout2 is practically equal to zero and all
the current can be used by the device connected to main output.
If auxiliary output is used then you need to verify that the device connected to auxiliary output
does not require more than 4A @ 5V (20W) or 5A @ 3.3V (16.5W). The auxiliary power is
generated from the main output by the step-down converter, so you need to subtract the current
floating to the step-down converter from the budget of main output:
Step-Down Converter input current estimate: iout2 = iauxout * vout2 / (vout * 0.94),
where iout2 is current flowing to step-down converter, iauxout is current flowing to auxiliary
output device, vout2 is voltage of auxiliary output and vout is voltage of main output. Iout2,
vout and vout2 are measured by STUPS, you can use StupsView applications to read these
values.
Backup Run-time
Please verify that STUPS can provide enough run-time for your application. To calculate the
maximum duration of backup power that the STUPS will provide:
First, calculate the power consumption of your system (in Watts) by multiplying the device input
voltage in Volts (V) by the current flowing to the device in Amperes (A).
Then, divide the STUPS capacity (Watt-Seconds) by your calculated power consumption to get
the run time in seconds.
Example:
A device with an input voltage of 12V and 2 amperes of current has a power consumption of
24W, 12V * 2A = 24W.
With 1000 Watt-seconds capacity, the run time is: 1000Ws / 24W = 42 seconds.
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4132 – STUPS – Specifications
Output Current [A]
Output Power [W]
41321201 Runtime [sec]
0.5
6
1
12
1.5
18
2
24
2.5
30
3
36
3.5
42
Figure 5 - Runtime for 12V System
41321202 Runtime [sec]
2 min 47 sec
1 min 23 sec
56 sec
42 sec
33 sec
27 sec.
23 sec.
9 min 43 sec
4 min 52 sec
3 min 14 sec
2 min 26 sec
1 min 57 sec
1 min 37 sec
1 min 23 sec
Examples of embedded systems:
1. Intel Atom N270/D525 1.6GHz SBC, 8’’ LCD display, 2.5’’ SSD HD
Power: 12V, 1.5A: 18W
Run time P/N 41321201: 56 seconds
Run time P/N 41321202: 3 minutes, 14 seconds
2. ARM A9 1.0GHz, 6’’ LCD display
Power: 12V, 0.6A: 7.2W
Run time P/N 41321201: 2 minutes 18 seconds
Run time P/N 41321202: 8 minutes, 6 seconds
Estimated run-time is calculated by STUPS based on capacity of that particular unit
(programmed during factory calibration) and actual power consumption. Value can be read
using provided StupsView application.
Please note that backup capacity in the specifications is the initial capacity available at the time
of STUPS manufacturing. The value will slowly decrease over time. The rate of decrease is
predominantly affected by operating temperature.
Effect of Time and Temperature on Capacity
Supercapacitors have a lot of advantages compared to batteries – they offer practically
unlimited number of recharge cycles, are relatively small and light, charge extremely fast and
perform great at very low temperatures. These features make them considerably more reliable
for a long term use in UPS applications.
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4132 – STUPS – Specifications
However, if they are exposed to high temperatures for a long time, their capacity decreases
over time rapidly. This makes the STUPS impractical to use in application where it would be
exposed to high temperatures constantly. It is OK if high temperatures are present occasionally
as long as the majority of the operation time is at typical industrial temperatures.
Please note that all super capacitors available in the market today (Jan 2014) suffer from this
trait even though this fact is not readily advertised by super capacitor manufacturers or
manufacturers of devices that use super capacitors. We believe that we selected the best
performing super capacitor in this respect for STUPS.
Approximate number of years of continuous operation for 30% decrease of initial capacity based
on operating temperature:
25 DegC
40 DegC
34 years
60 DegC
45 DegC
12.9 years
70 DegC
3.4 years
50 DegC
6.4 years
9 years
85 DegC
1.8 years
55 DegC
4.5 years
70% @ 40 DegC
90% @ 40 DegC
30% @ 60 DegC
10% @ 85 DegC
0.6 years
7 years
4.2 years
If 30% decrease of initial run time is acceptable for your device, then STUPS should provide 9
years or continuous operation at 45 DegC. If your device requires only one third of the initial
STUPS capacity then you should get approximately double the life-time as in the table above.
Thermal Management
All current consumed by the STUPS internal circuitry will be converted to heat which will cause
temperature increase. Amount of this increase depends on amount of dissipated heat of STUPS
and other installed devices and thermal configuration of the system.
If auxiliary output is not used, the power dissipated by STUPS is approximately 0.8W @
Vin=12V in normal operation and 0.3W in hibernated state. These values are a small fraction of
power dissipated by other products that use converters to generate main output power –
inefficiency of converter would be directly converted to heat.
If the auxiliary output is used, it generates additional dissipated heat of approximately 6% of
auxiliary output power, e.g. 1.2W with 5V/4A aux. output consumption.
The simplest method to find out what this means for your particular configuration might be to
use the STUPS built-in temperature sensor. Assemble a prototype of your system will all
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4132 – STUPS – Specifications
components, enclosures and typical loads, turn it on and leave it running for a few hours in
typical configuration that you would use. Read the temperature from the STUPS before and
during the operation to find the approximate temperature difference. You can then use this
difference to estimate what will be STUPS' internal components temperature at various ambient
temperatures. You can use provided StupsView application, send command read temp to get
temperature in DegC.
Communication Method
At minimum, the STUPS will have to communicate to the powered device that it switched to
battery backup source, so that the device can act accordingly. Following communication
methods are available:
• Opto-isolated digital outputs (not available on “B” version of devices)
• Serial port (RS-232)
• USB using Virtual Comm. Port
Opto-isolated Digital Outputs
Please note that the “B” version of devices do not include digital outputs.
Two outputs are available; mode of operation of each can be configured using parameters
DO1Mode and DO2Mode. One output is typically used to report “on main” versus “on backup”
operation, the other typically reports state of start/stop push button – this can be used to notify
the application that the user wants to turn the system off.
State of each output can be set using setdo command.
Serial Port (RS-232) and USB
Virtual Comm. Port is created when STUPS is connected to the host using USB. Both serial port
and USB offer the same communication format and features.
If your host device includes a free native RS-232 port and also a free USB port, we recommend
choosing RS-232. In our experience, RS-232 ports are more reliable compared to USB in
industrial settings as the hardware, microcontroller firmware and especially the driver code
running on host are significantly simpler. In general, we do not recommend a USB to RS-232
dongles or converters; quality of implementation and reliability of drivers vary widely.
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