Autonomous battery charging system and related methods
First Claim
1. A system for charging at least one battery and comprising:
- a power and data communication bus comprisinga plurality of AC power lines to distribute AC power from an AC power source,a plurality of DC power lines to aggregate DC power to the at least one battery,a plurality of data communication lines, anda plurality of modular ports each coupled to the plurality of AC power lines, the plurality of DC power lines, and the plurality of data communication lines;
a plurality of charging power modules each coupled to a respective modular port of the power and data communication bus;
at least one inverter module coupled to a respective modular port to convert DC power from the at least one battery into AC power and provide the AC power back to the AC source; and
a central controller configured tocommunicate with the charging power modules and the at least one inverter module through the plurality of data communication lines of the power and data communication bus,identify the charging power modules and the at least one inverter module coupled to the modular ports, along with respective functions and power ratings associated therewith, andselectively control the charging power modules and the at least one inverter module based upon their identified functions and power ratings to charge the at least one battery via the DC power lines and provide AC power back to the AC source.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for charging at least one battery may include a power and data communication bus including a plurality of AC and DC power lines and data communication lines, and a plurality of modular ports coupled thereto. Charging power modules and an inverter module(s) may be coupled to respective modular ports of the power and data communication bus. A central controller may be configured to communicate with the charging power modules and the inverter module(s) through the data communication lines, identify the charging power modules and the inverter module(s) coupled to the modular ports, along with respective functions and power ratings associated therewith, and selectively control the charging power modules and the inverter module(s) based upon their identified functions and power ratings to charge the at least one battery via the DC power lines and provide AC power back to the AC source.
5 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A system for charging at least one battery and comprising:
-
a power and data communication bus comprising a plurality of AC power lines to distribute AC power from an AC power source, a plurality of DC power lines to aggregate DC power to the at least one battery, a plurality of data communication lines, and a plurality of modular ports each coupled to the plurality of AC power lines, the plurality of DC power lines, and the plurality of data communication lines; a plurality of charging power modules each coupled to a respective modular port of the power and data communication bus; at least one inverter module coupled to a respective modular port to convert DC power from the at least one battery into AC power and provide the AC power back to the AC source; and a central controller configured to communicate with the charging power modules and the at least one inverter module through the plurality of data communication lines of the power and data communication bus, identify the charging power modules and the at least one inverter module coupled to the modular ports, along with respective functions and power ratings associated therewith, and selectively control the charging power modules and the at least one inverter module based upon their identified functions and power ratings to charge the at least one battery via the DC power lines and provide AC power back to the AC source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A system for charging at least one battery and comprising:
-
a power and data communication bus comprising a plurality of AC power lines to distribute AC power from an AC power source, a plurality of DC power lines to aggregate DC power to the at least one battery, a plurality of data communication lines, and a plurality of modular ports each coupled to the plurality of AC power lines, the plurality of DC power lines, and the plurality of data communication lines; a plurality of charging power modules each coupled to a respective modular port of the power and data communication bus; at least one filter module coupled to a respective modular port to filter input AC power from the AC power source and provide the filtered input AC power to the plurality of charging power modules; and a central controller configured to communicate with the charging power modules and the at least one filter module through the plurality of data communication lines of the power and data communication bus, identify the charging power modules and the at least one filter module coupled to the modular ports, along with respective functions and power ratings associated therewith, and selectively control the charging power modules and the at least one filter module based upon their identified functions and power ratings to charge the at least one battery via the DC power lines. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method for charging at least one battery comprising:
-
coupling the at least one battery to a power and data communication bus comprising a plurality of AC power lines to distribute AC power from an AC power source, a plurality of DC power lines to aggregate DC power to the at least one battery, a plurality of data communication lines, and a plurality of modular ports each coupled to the plurality of AC power lines, the plurality of DC power lines, and the plurality of data communication lines, wherein a plurality of charging power modules are each coupled to a respective modular port of the power and data communication bus, and wherein at least one inverter module is coupled to a respective modular port to convert DC power from the at least one battery into AC power and provide the AC power back to the AC source; using a central controller coupled to the plurality of data communication lines to communicate with the charging power modules and the at least one inverter module through the plurality of data communication lines of the power and data communication bus; using the central controller to identify the charging power modules and the at least one inverter module coupled to the modular ports, along with respective functions and power ratings associated therewith; and using the central controller to selectively control the charging power modules and the at least one inverter module based upon their identified functions and power ratings to charge the at least one battery via the DC power lines and provide AC power back to the AC source. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification