Power manager with reconfigurable power converting circuits
Inventors
Long, David N. • Flathers, Richard • McConnell, Gregory D. • Piela, Nicholas J.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12119642-B2
Publication Date
2024-10-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
A distributed power network includes a power bus infrastructure distributed over a region with node points provided to interface with controllable power nodes. Each power node can be connected to an external power device such as a DC power sources, a DC power load, or a rechargeable DC battery. The power nodes form a communication network and cooperate with each other to receive input power from DC power sources and or rechargeable DC batteries connected to the power bus infrastructure and distribute the power received therefrom to the power bus infrastructure for distribution to the DC power loads and to rechargeable DC batteries.
Core Innovation
A power node includes a first device port coupled to a power bus infrastructure and a second device port coupled to an external power device, and includes a processor and a first communication module coupled to the processor and the external power device, and a second communication module coupled to the processor and at least one other processor operating on at least one other power node. The power node uses a reconfigurable power channel coupled between the first device port and the second device port, and the reconfigurable power channel comprises a one-way DC to DC power converter and circuitry comprising a plurality of switches.
The processor operates the one-way DC to DC power converter and the plurality of switches to connect the output side to the first device port, connect the output side to the second device port, or connect the first device port to the second device port without connecting the first device port or the second device port to the input side or the output side. A power network includes power bus infrastructure and a plurality of power nodes coupled to the power bus infrastructure, where each power node includes a first device port coupled to the power bus infrastructure and a second device port coupled to an external power device.
Each power node includes a processor for controlling power between the external power device and the power bus infrastructure and enabling functions comprising determining power characteristics of the external power device, distributing the power characteristics to another power node, and determining an instantaneous configuration of the power network. A method and system couple multiple power nodes to a power bus infrastructure and couple an external power device to each power node, where node processors determine power characteristics of the external power device and distribute the power characteristics via a communication network using a network interface device.
An energy management schema operating on each node processor determines an instantaneous configuration of a power network comprising the plurality of power nodes, including selecting power characteristics to be distributed and determining the instantaneous configuration based on those distributed characteristics.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims specify four inventive features centered on processor-controlled routing and communication-driven network configuration.
Processor-controlled reconfigurable one-way DC power routing between first port and second port
A power node comprising a first device port coupled to a power bus infrastructure, a second device port coupled to an external power device, a processor, and a reconfigurable power channel coupled between the first device port and the second device port, wherein the reconfigurable power channel comprises a one-way DC to DC power converter and circuitry comprising a plurality of switches; and wherein the processor operates the one-way DC to DC power converter and the plurality of switches to connect the output side to the first device port, connect the output side to the second device port, or connect the first device port to the second device port without connecting the first device port or the second device port to the input side or the output side.
Distributed power characteristics determination, distribution, and instantaneous network configuration
A power network comprising a power bus infrastructure and a plurality of power nodes coupled to the power bus infrastructure, wherein each power node includes a first device port coupled to the power bus infrastructure, a second device port coupled to an external power device, and a processor for controlling power between the external power device and the power bus infrastructure and enabling functions comprising determining power characteristics of the external power device, distributing the power characteristics to another power node, and determining an instantaneous configuration of the power network.
Networked distribution of power characteristics via node processors and energy management instantaneous configuration
A method comprising determining, via a node processor operating on each power node, power characteristics of the external power device coupled to the node processor; distributing the power characteristics of each external power device to each node processor via the communication network; and determining, via an energy management schema operating on each node processor, an instantaneous configuration of a power network comprising the plurality of power nodes.
System-wide energy management schema determining instantaneous configuration from distributed power characteristics
A system comprising a plurality of power nodes coupled to a power bus infrastructure, an external power device coupled to each power node, a node processor operating on each power node, a network interface device coupled to the node processor operating on each power node, and energy management schema operating on each node processor, wherein the energy management schema is configured to determine power characteristics of the external power device coupled to each power node via the node processor; couple each power node to a communication network via the network interface device; distribute the power characteristics of each external power device to each node processor via the network interface device; and determine an instantaneous configuration of a power network comprising the plurality of power nodes.
The claims center on processor-controlled routing of one-way DC power through a reconfigurable power channel, and on determining and distributing power characteristics among node processors over a communication network, with an energy management schema determining an instantaneous configuration of the power network.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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