Apparatus and method for providing temporary power

• US 20030231003A1
• Filed: 06/14/2002
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dynavair LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ballard, Gary L., Crouch, Dell Albert Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,774,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/116
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

A backup power supply, comprising: a storage medium for holding an electrical charge and being configured to be connected and disconnected from an electrical device; a source of intermittent power coupled to a power supply and the electrical device being configured to provide an amount of power to the electrical device for a period of time long enough to connect the storage medium to the electrical device. An operating system for determining whether the electrical device requires power from the storage medium. In one embodiment the operating system monitors the current of the source of intermittent power and if the current exceeds a predetermined limit the operating system couples the storage medium to the electrical device by manipulating the position of a switching device disposed between the electrical storage medium and the electrical device.

Claims

1. A backup power supply, comprising:

a storage medium for holding an electrical charge being configured to connected and disconnected from an electrical device;

a source of intermittent power coupled to a power supply and said electrical device, said source of intermittent power being configured to provide an amount power to said electrical device for a period of time long enough to connect said storage medium to said electrical device; and

an operating system for determining whether said electrical device requires power from said storage medium.

2. The backup power supply as in claim 1, wherein said operating system monitors the current of said source of intermittent power and if said current of said source of intermittent power exceeds a predetermined limit said operating system couples said storage medium to said electrical device by manipulating the position of a switching device disposed between said electrical storage medium and said electrical device.

3. The backup power supply as in claim 2, wherein said switching device is either a mechanical or electronic switching device.

4. The backup power supply as in claim 1, wherein said operating system is a controller employing a control algorithm for determining whether the backup power supply is in one of a plurality of states.

5. The backup power supply as in claim 4, wherein said plurality of states includes a discharge state, a float state and a recharge state.

6. The backup power supply as in claim 5, wherein said operating system monitors the current of said source of intermittent power and if said current of said source of intermittent power supply exceeds a predetermined limit said operating system couples said storage medium to said electrical device and the backup power supply is in said discharge state.

7. The backup power supply as in claim 6, wherein said source of intermittent power is a plurality of capacitors connected to each other in series.

8. The backup power supply as in claim 7, wherein said plurality of capacitors are capable of providing at least 100 amps for a period of 1-5 seconds.

9. The backup power supply as in claim 8, wherein said electrical device requires up 12-54 volts.

10. The backup power supply as in claim 6, wherein said float state corresponds to an acceptable state of charge of said electrical storage medium and said recharge state corresponds to an unacceptable state of charge of said electrical storage medium.

11. The backup power supply as in claim 10, wherein said electrical storage medium is a plurality of lead-acid batteries coupled to said switching device.

12. The backup power supply as in claim 10, wherein said recharge state is the default state of said operating system.

13. A control system for a backup power supply, comprising:

a control algorithm for continuously monitoring a plurality of states of said backup power supply, said backup power supply comprising a plurality of capacitors, said plurality of capacitors being coupled to a power supply and an electrical load and a plurality of batteries being adapted to be coupled and uncoupled from said power supply and said electrical load, said control algorithm determining which of said plurality of states said backup power supply should be in.

14. The control system as in claim 13, wherein said plurality of states comprises a float state corresponding to said plurality of batteries being at a sufficient charge level wherein said batteries are uncoupled from said power supply and said electrical load.

15. The control system as in claim 14, wherein said plurality of states comprises a discharge state corresponding to an interruption to said power supply wherein said batteries are coupled to said electrical load.

16. The control system as in claim 15, wherein said discharge state is determined by monitoring the current in said plurality of capacitors.

17. The control system as in claim 16, wherein said plurality of states comprises a recharge state corresponding to said plurality of batteries being below a sufficient charge level wherein said batteries are coupled to said power supply.

18. The control system as in claim 16, wherein said plurality of states comprises a recharge state, said recharge state being determined by the amount of time elapsed since said plurality of batteries were coupled to said power supply.

19. A method for providing uninterrupted power, comprsing:

montitoring the current of a plurality of capacitors connected in series to each other and being electrically coupled to a power supply and an electrical load;

connecting a storage medium to said electrical load when the current in said plurality of capacitors exceeds a predetermined value, said storage medium being adapted to provide a secondary source power in the event of a power interruption in said power supply.

20. A backup power supply, comprising:

a storage medium for holding an electrical charge, said storage medium being adapted to be coupled to a DC bus by a switching device, said DC bus having an output end and an input end, said input end being coupled to a permanent power grid and said output end being configured to provide a source of power;

a source of intermittent power coupled to said DC bus; and

an operating system for determining whether said output end requires power from said storage medium, said operating system monitors the current of said source of intermittent power and if said current of said source of intermittent power exceeds a predetermined limit said operating system couples said storage medium to said DC bus by manipulating the position of said switching device, said operating system comprises a controller for determining which of a plurality of states said backup power supply should be in.

21. The backup power supply as in claim 20, wherein said switching device is either a mechanical or electronic switching device.

22. The backup power supply as in claim 20, wherein said plurality of states includes a discharge state, a float state and a recharge state.

23. The backup power supply as in claim 20, wherein said source of intermittent power is a plurality of capacitors connected to each other in series.

24. The backup power supply as in claim 22, wherein said recharge state is the default state of said backup power supply.

25. The backup power supply as in claim 23, wherein said plurality of states includes a discharge state, a float state and a recharge state, and a manual state and said recharge state is the default state of said backup power supply.

26. The backup power supply as in claim 25, wherein said float state is only reached after said recharge state has been reached.

27. The backup power supply as in claim 25, wherein said controller simultaneously determines whether said backup power supply should be in said float state and whether said backup power supply should be in said discharge state.