Power managers and methods for operating power managers
First Claim
1. A power manager comprising:
- a power bus operable at a DC bus voltage;
a data processing device and a memory device associated with the data processing device;
a sensor configured to monitor power amplitude of the power bus and to generate a low power signal in response to sensing a low power condition of the power bus;
a plurality of device ports each configured to electrically interface with a different external power device;
a plurality of first power channels each extending from the power bus to a different one of the plurality of device ports; and
a plurality of first switches each disposed along a different one of the plurality of first power channels between the power bus and a corresponding device port, wherein at least one of the plurality of device ports includes a hot-change-over circuit associated with first switch thereof, the hot-change-over-circuit comprising;
a plurality of logic elements disposed between the data processing device and the first switch and between the sensor and the first switch,wherein the logic elements and the digital data processor are configured to open the first switch to disconnect the corresponding device port from the power bus to set an initial state of the hot-change-over circuit and to close the first switch to connect the corresponding device port to the power bus in response to one of the plurality of logic element receiving the low power signal from the sensor.
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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.
209 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A power manager comprising:
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a power bus operable at a DC bus voltage; a data processing device and a memory device associated with the data processing device; a sensor configured to monitor power amplitude of the power bus and to generate a low power signal in response to sensing a low power condition of the power bus; a plurality of device ports each configured to electrically interface with a different external power device; a plurality of first power channels each extending from the power bus to a different one of the plurality of device ports; and a plurality of first switches each disposed along a different one of the plurality of first power channels between the power bus and a corresponding device port, wherein at least one of the plurality of device ports includes a hot-change-over circuit associated with first switch thereof, the hot-change-over-circuit comprising;
a plurality of logic elements disposed between the data processing device and the first switch and between the sensor and the first switch,wherein the logic elements and the digital data processor are configured to open the first switch to disconnect the corresponding device port from the power bus to set an initial state of the hot-change-over circuit and to close the first switch to connect the corresponding device port to the power bus in response to one of the plurality of logic element receiving the low power signal from the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for operating a power manager that includes, a power bus and a plurality of device ports wherein each device port is configured to electrically interface with an external power device and wherein each device port is connected to the power bus, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting, by the power manager, from each external power device connected to one of the plurality of device ports, a primary power source for powering the power bus; selecting, by the power manager, from each external power device connected to one of the plurality of device ports, a secondary power source for powering the power bus; connecting, by the power manager, the primary power device to the power bus and disconnecting, by the power manager, the secondary power source from the power bus; providing a hot-change-over circuit for the device port that the secondary power source is connected to; sensing a power amplitude at the power bus; and connecting, by the hot-change-over circuit, the secondary power source to the power bus in response to the power amplitude falling below an acceptable threshold. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A power network operating method comprising the steps of:
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a) connecting a plurality of external DC power device each to a different device ports of a portable power manager; b) polling by a data processing device operating on the portable power manager each device port to characterized each of the plurality of external DC power devices; c) determining, by the data processing device, a total input power available from one or more DC power and energy sources connected to the power manager; d) determining, by the data processing device, a total power demand associated with one or more DC power loads and energy storage devices connected to the power manager; e) selecting, by the data processing device, from the from one or more DC power and energy sources connected to the power manager a primary power source and a secondary power source; f) allocating, by the data processing device, the total power available from the primary power source to as many of the one or more DC power loads and energy storage devices connected to the power manager as can be powered by the total power available from the primary source; g) setting, by the data processing device, a hot-change-over circuit associated with the device port that the secondary power source is connect to wherein the hot-change-over circuit operates to connect the secondary power supply to the power bus in response to sensing, by a power amplitude sensor, a low power condition on the power bus; h) connecting, by the data processing device, each of the device ports associated with the primary power source and each of the one or more DC power loads and energy storage devices connected to the power manager that can be powered by the total power available from the primary source to the power bus; and
,i) disconnecting, by the data processing device, each of the device ports associated with the one or more DC power loads and energy storage devices connected to the power manager that cannot be powered by the total power available from the primary source, from the power bus. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A portable power manager comprising:
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a power bus operable at a DC bus voltage and a plurality of device ports that can be connected to the power bus and disconnected from the power bus; one or more external DC power devices each connected to a different one of the plurality of device ports, wherein the external DC power devices include at least one primary power sources and at least one secondary power source; a sensor configured to monitor power amplitude of the power bus for generating a power signal based on a power condition of the power bus; 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. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification