Power manager with reconfigurable power converting circuits
Inventors
Long, David N. • Piela, Nicholas J. • Butler, David J.
Assignees
Galvion Solider Power LLC • Galvion Ltd • Galvion Soldier Power LLC
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Publication Number
US-11258366-B2
Publication Date
2022-02-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
A reconfigurable power circuit (400) includes a single one-way DC to DC power converter (220, 221). The reconfigurable power circuit is configurable by a digital data processor as one of three different power channels (230, 232, and 234). Power channel (230) provides output power conversion. Power channel (232) provides input power conversion. Power channel (234) provides bi-directional power exchange without power conversion.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a power manager architecture for exchanging electrical power between two external DC power devices over a reconfigurable power circuit. The reconfigurable power circuit includes three power channels formed by a plurality of conductive pathways between first and second electrical connection interfaces, together with a one-way DC-to-DC power converter, a programmable logic device, and a memory module operating an energy management schema program.
The energy management schema determines DC power characteristics of both external DC power devices, selects one device as a DC power source and the other as a DC power load, and selects one of the three different power channels to electrically couple the source with the load. Independently operable configurable switches disposed along each power channel are actuated by the energy management schema to reconfigure the reconfigurable power circuit so the electrical coupling is performed over the selected conductive pathway.
The three selectable channel modes include a bidirectional bus-compatible channel configured for bidirectional current flow between the source and load without power conversion, and additional channels configured for one-way current flow through the one-way DC-to-DC power converter for voltage conversion and/or current modulation. The architecture further supports selecting operating settings for the one-way DC-to-DC power converter, including voltage conversion settings and current modulation set points, with associated measurement and reconfiguration support.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims provide a method for exchanging electrical power between two DC power devices over a reconfigurable power circuit, using energy management to determine DC power characteristics, select source versus load, and select one of three conductive pathways while independently actuating configurable switches. Across the independent claims, the inventive features focus on the three-channel reconfigurable architecture, energy-management-driven source/load selection and channel selection, sensor- or communication-based power-characteristics determination, and channel-specific coupling.
Three power channels with independently operable configurable switches
A reconfigurable power circuit comprising three power channels formed by a plurality of conductive pathways between a first electrical connection interface and a second electrical connection interface, wherein a configurable switch is disposed along each power channel and each configurable switch is independently operable by the energy management schema to reconfigure the reconfigurable power circuit.
Energy management schema determines DC characteristics of both devices
Determining, by the energy management schema, first DC power characteristics of a first external DC power device electrically coupled with the first electrical connection interface, and determining, by the energy management schema, second DC power characteristics of a second external DC power device electrically coupled with the second electrical connection interface.
Select source vs load then select one of three power channels
Selecting, by the energy management schema, the first external power device or the second external power device as a DC power source, and the other of the first external power device and the second external power device as a DC power load, and selecting, by the energy management schema, one of the three different power channels over which to electrically couple the DC power source with the DC power load.
Power-node measurement at device ports with energy-management channel selection
Measuring, by a first power sensor associated with the first device port, and by a second power sensor associated with the second device port, one or more power characteristics of each of the first external DC power device and the second external DC power device; selecting, by the energy management schema, based on the measured power characteristics, one of the three different power channels over which to electrically couple the first external DC power device with the second external DC power device; and actuating, by the energy management schema, one or more of the configurable switches to electrically couple the first device port with the second device port over the selected one of the three different power channels to exchange electrical power.
Bidirectional no-conversion channel versus converter-mediated conversion/modulation channel
Selecting a first conductive pathway configured for bidirectional current flow between the DC power source and the DC power load without a power conversion, or selecting a second conductive pathway configured for a voltage conversion or for current modulation by the DC to DC power converter.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is a reconfigurable three-channel power exchange architecture in which an energy management schema determines DC power characteristics for two external DC power devices, selects which device operates as source versus load, and reconfigures independently operable switches to couple the devices over a selected one of three conductive pathways, either a bidirectional without power conversion channel or a channel that uses the one-way DC-to-DC power converter for voltage conversion and/or current modulation.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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