Auxiliary power circuit and method of use
First Claim
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1. An auxiliary power circuit comprising:
- a plurality of auxiliary loads coupled in parallel, said plurality of auxiliary loads including an impedance circuit;
a plurality of respective switches serially coupled to said plurality of auxiliary loads, said plurality of respective switches configured to selectively couple the plurality of auxiliary loads to a power source; and
a controller coupled to said plurality of respective switches, said controller configured to;
select said impedance circuit from among the plurality of auxiliary loads based on the output voltage; and
close a first switch of the plurality of respective switches upon selection of said impedance circuit.
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Abstract
An auxiliary power circuit includes an impedance circuit, a switch, and a controller. The switch is coupled in series with the impedance circuit. The switch is configured to selectively couple the impedance circuit to a power source. The controller is coupled to the switch. The controller is configured to close the switch when an output voltage of the power source exceeds a voltage threshold.
13 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An auxiliary power circuit comprising:
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a plurality of auxiliary loads coupled in parallel, said plurality of auxiliary loads including an impedance circuit; a plurality of respective switches serially coupled to said plurality of auxiliary loads, said plurality of respective switches configured to selectively couple the plurality of auxiliary loads to a power source; and a controller coupled to said plurality of respective switches, said controller configured to; select said impedance circuit from among the plurality of auxiliary loads based on the output voltage; and close a first switch of the plurality of respective switches upon selection of said impedance circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 16)
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8. An electrical system comprising:
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a power source; an auxiliary power circuit configured to power an auxiliary load, said auxiliary power circuit coupled to said power source and configured to selectively couple said power source to a load, said auxiliary power circuit comprising; a plurality of auxiliary loads coupled in parallel with each other and the load, said plurality of auxiliary loads including an impedance circuit; and a plurality of respective switches serially coupled to said plurality of auxiliary loads, said plurality of respective switches configured to selectively couple the plurality of auxiliary loads to the power source; and a controller coupled to said auxiliary power circuit, said controller configured to operate said auxiliary power circuit to draw a predetermined current through a first auxiliary load of the plurality of auxiliary loads when an output voltage of said power source exceeds a voltage threshold, said controller further configured to; select said impedance circuit from among the plurality of auxiliary loads based on the output voltage; and close said switch upon selection of said impedance circuit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of operating an auxiliary power circuit to power an auxiliary load, said method comprising:
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measuring an output voltage of a power source, wherein measuring the output voltage comprises receiving an output voltage measurement from a voltage sensor at a controller; closing a switch of the auxiliary power circuit to couple an auxiliary load of the auxiliary power circuit to the power source when the output voltage exceeds a first voltage threshold; drawing a predetermined current from the power source through the auxiliary load to reduce the output voltage; opening the switch to decouple the auxiliary load when the output voltage falls below a second voltage threshold; and comparing the output voltage measurement to the second voltage threshold, wherein the second voltage threshold is defined as less than the first voltage threshold.
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17. A method of operating an auxiliary power circuit to power an auxiliary load, said method comprising:
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measuring an output voltage of a power source, wherein measuring the output voltage comprises receiving an output voltage measurement from a voltage sensor at a controller; closing a switch of the auxiliary power circuit to couple an auxiliary load of the auxiliary power circuit to the power source when the output voltage exceeds a first voltage threshold; drawing a predetermined current from the power source through the auxiliary load to reduce the output voltage; opening the switch to decouple the auxiliary load when the output voltage falls below a second voltage threshold; and selecting, by the controller and based on the output voltage measurement, the auxiliary load and the switch from among a plurality of different auxiliary loads and a plurality of respective switches. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification