Power managers and methods for operating power managers
Inventors
Robinson, Philip T. • Dziengeleski, Seth M. • Kazmierczak, James D. • Holigan, David J.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10333315-B2
Publication Date
2019-06-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
Various aspects of invention provide portable power manager operating methods. One aspect of the invention provides a method for operating a power manager having a plurality of device ports for connecting with external power devices and a power bus for connecting with each device port. The method includes: disconnecting each device port from the power bus when no external power device is connected to the device port; accessing information from newly connected external power devices; determining if the newly connected external power devices can be connected to the power bus without power conversion; if not, determining if the newly connected external power devices can be connected to the power bus over an available power converter; and if so, configuring the available power converter for suitable power conversion.
Core Innovation
A power manager operates a power bus at a DC bus voltage and includes a data processing device and a memory device. A sensor monitors power amplitude of the power bus and generates a low power signal in response to a low power condition. The power manager includes a plurality of device ports configured to electrically interface with different external power devices and a plurality of first power channels extending from the power bus to the device ports.
The power manager includes a plurality of first switches disposed along the first power channels between the power bus and corresponding device ports. At least one device port includes a hot-change-over circuit associated with its first switch. The hot-change-over circuit comprises a plurality of logic elements disposed between the data processing device and the first switch and between the sensor and the first switch, where the logic elements and the digital data processor open the first switch to set an initial state and close the first switch to connect the corresponding device port to the power bus in response to the logic elements receiving the low power signal from the sensor.
The system further includes a portable power manager and a power network operating method in which a data processing device polls device ports, characterizes external DC power devices, determines total input power available and total power demand associated with DC power loads and energy storage devices, and selects a primary power source and a secondary power source. The data processing device allocates total power available from the primary power source to DC power loads and energy storage devices that can be powered, sets a hot-change-over circuit to connect the secondary power supply to the power bus in response to a low power condition detected by a power amplitude sensor, connects device ports associated with powerable devices, and disconnects device ports associated with devices that cannot be powered.
The hot-change-over behavior supports switching between primary and secondary external DC power devices when a low power condition occurs on the DC power bus. The portable power manager includes device ports operable to be connected and disconnected from the power bus, a sensor configured to monitor power amplitude for generating a power signal, and a hot-change-over circuit assembly operable to connect the secondary power supply to the power bus in response to receiving the power signal from the sensor when the low power condition occurs.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes four independent claims covering a hot-change-over switch architecture driven by a bus power-amplitude sensor and logic elements, operating methods that select primary and secondary power sources with amplitude-threshold hot switching, a portable power network operating method that polls and allocates power to loads and energy storage devices, and a portable power manager with a hot-change-over assembly responsive to a sensor power condition signal. Overall, the inventive features are organized around DC bus power amplitude monitoring, hot-change-over switching between primary and secondary sources, and power allocation/disconnection based on total available power versus total demand.
Logic-element-driven hot-change-over using low power signal
A power manager with a DC power bus; a sensor configured to monitor power amplitude and generate a low power signal in response to a low power condition; device ports with first power channels and first switches; and at least one hot-change-over circuit associated with a first switch, where the hot-change-over circuit includes logic elements disposed between the data processing device and the first switch and between the sensor and the first switch, and wherein the logic elements and the digital data processor open the first switch to set an initial state and close the first switch to connect the corresponding device port to the power bus in response to receiving the low power signal from the sensor.
Primary and secondary power selection with amplitude-threshold hot switching
A method for operating a power manager that selects from external power devices a primary power source and a secondary power source for powering the power bus, connects the primary power device to the power bus and disconnects the secondary power source, provides a hot-change-over circuit for the device port to which the secondary power source is connected, senses power amplitude at the power bus, and connects the secondary power source to the power bus in response to power amplitude falling below an acceptable threshold.
Total input power and total power demand power allocation with hot-change-over
A power network operating method that connects external DC power devices to different device ports, polls each device port to characterize each external DC power device, determines total input power available from DC power and energy sources, determines total power demand associated with DC power loads and energy storage devices, selects a primary power source and a secondary power source, allocates total power available from the primary power source to as many DC power loads and energy storage devices as can be powered, sets a hot-change-over circuit for a device port so that it operates to connect the secondary power supply to the power bus in response to sensing a low power condition on the power bus, connects device ports associated with the primary power source and powerable devices, and disconnects device ports associated with devices that cannot be powered by the total power available from the primary source.
Sensor-monitored DC bus hot-change-over circuit assembly for secondary source connection
A portable power manager comprising a DC power bus and plurality of device ports that can be connected to and disconnected from the power bus; one or more external DC power devices each connected to a different device port, including at least one primary power source and at least one secondary power source; a sensor configured to monitor power amplitude of the power bus to generate a power signal based on a power condition; and a hot-change-over circuit assembly operable in response to receiving the power signal from the sensor to connect the secondary power supply to the power bus when a low power condition occurs.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage centers on hot-change-over switching controlled by a sensor monitoring DC power bus power amplitude, with logic elements and a hot-change-over circuit assembly to connect a secondary power source when a low power condition occurs. The methods additionally cover selecting primary and secondary sources, polling and characterizing connected external DC power devices, determining total available power and total power demand, allocating available power from the primary source to powerable loads and energy storage devices, connecting ports for powerable devices, and disconnecting ports for devices that cannot be powered.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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