Power management system

• US 20040189098A1
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Akasam, Sivaprasad, Algrain, Marcelo C., Johnson, Kris W., Hoff, Brian D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,276,815 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/80
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 5/02 Conditioning lubricant for aiding engine starting, e.g. heating

Abstract

A method of managing power resources for an electrical system of a vehicle may include identifying enabled power sources from among a plurality of power sources in electrical communication with the electrical system and calculating a threshold power value for the enabled power sources. A total power load placed on the electrical system by one or more power consumers may be measured. If the total power load exceeds the threshold power value, then a determination may be made as to whether one or more additional power sources is available from among the plurality of power sources. At least one of the one or more additional power sources may be enabled, if available.

Claims

1. A method of managing power resources for an electrical system of a vehicle, comprising:

identifying enabled power sources from among a plurality of power sources in electrical communication with the electrical system;

calculating a threshold power value for the enabled power sources;

measuring a total power load placed on the electrical system by one or more power consumers;

determining, if the total power load exceeds the threshold power value, whether one or more additional power sources is available from among the plurality of power sources; and

automatically enabling at least one of the one or more additional power sources, if available.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

determining, if the total power load does not exceed the threshold power value, whether any of the enabled power sources may be disabled; and

disabling one or more of the enabled power sources.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring step further includes measuring a power load value placed on the electrical system by each of the one or more power consumers and calculating the total power load by summing each of the power loads of the one or more power consumers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power sources includes a low voltage battery, a high voltage battery, and a starter generator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power sources includes a low voltage battery, a high voltage battery, a starter generator, an auxiliary power unit, and a shore power interface.

6. The method of claim 1, further including:

determining an operating mode of the electrical system;

and basing the determination of whether one or more additional power sources is available at least partially on the operating mode.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the determining an operating mode step includes determining the position of a key switch of the vehicle.

8. A method of managing power resources for an electrical system of a vehicle, comprising:

identifying enabled power sources from among a plurality of power sources in electrical communication with the electrical system;

calculating a threshold power value for the enabled power sources;

measuring a total power load placed on the electrical system by one or more power consumers; and

decreasing a power load value for at least one of the one or more power consumers if the total power load exceeds the threshold power value.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of power sources includes a low voltage battery, a high voltage battery, a starter generator, an auxiliary power unit, and a shore power interface.

10. The method of claim 8, further including:

assigning a priority rank to each of the one or more power consumers; and

identifying a low priority consumer from among the one or more power consumers based on which of the one or more power consumers has the lowest priority rank.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the decreasing a power load value step is performed on the low priority consumer.

12. A method of managing power resources for an electrical system of a vehicle, comprising:

identifying enabled power sources from among a plurality of power sources in electrical communication with the electrical system;

calculating a threshold power value for the enabled power sources;

measuring a total power load placed on the electrical system by one or more power consumers;

determining whether a power load value of any of the one or more power consumers may be decreased;

assigning a priority rank value to each of the one or more power consumers if at least one power load value of the one or more power consumers may be decreased;

identifying a low priority consumer according to which of the one or more power consumers has the lowest priority rank; and

decreasing a power load value of the low priority consumer.

13. The method of claim 12, further including:

decreasing a power load value for one or more power consumers having a priority rank higher than the low priority consumer.

14. The method of claim 12, further including:

repeating the determining, assigning, identifying the low priority consumer, and decreasing steps until the total power load is less than the threshold power value.

15. The method of claim 12, further including:

repeating the determining, assigning, identifying the low priority consumer, and decreasing steps until no further reductions in power load values of the one or more power consumers are allowable.

16. The method of claim 15, further including:

issuing an error signal.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of power sources includes a low voltage battery, a high voltage battery, a starter generator, an auxiliary power unit, and a shore power interface.

18. A controller for an electrical system of a vehicle, comprising:

at least one processor;

a storage device including one or more instructions for performing the steps of;

identifying enabled power sources from among a plurality of power sources in electrical communication with the electrical system;

calculating a threshold power value for the enabled power sources; and

measuring a total power load placed on the electrical system by one or more power consumers;

wherein the one or more instructions are further configured to perform at least one of the steps of;

decreasing a power load value for at least one of the one or more power consumers if the total power load exceeds the threshold power value, and

enabling at least one additional power source from among the plurality of power sources.

19. The controller of claim 18, wherein the plurality of power sources includes a low voltage battery, a high voltage battery, a starter generator, an auxiliary power unit, and a shore power interface.

20. A vehicle including the controller of claim 18.