Electrical energy source
First Claim
1. An electrical energy source, comprising:
- an enclosure;
at least two batteries electrically connected in series and being disposed in the enclosure;
at least one battery charger being disposed in the enclosure;
at least one DC to AC power inverter being disposed in the enclosure;
a DC driver circuit having an input connected to the batteries;
the DC driver circuit having an output responsive to battery current detected at the DC driver circuit input;
a DC output stage having a DC driver receiving input and a low voltage, high current output, the DC output stage being provided to perform a DC to DC conversion to reduce a voltage produced by the at least two batteries connected in series;
the DC output stage DC driver receiving input having a connection to the DC driver circuit output, the connection being provided to control the DC to DC conversion;
the low voltage, high current output of the DC output stage being connected to an input of a DC filter;
a first output of the DC filter being connected to an input of the at least one DC to AC power inverter;
a second output of the DC filter being connected to a DC filter input of a control unit;
a switch control output of the control unit being connected to an AC control switch in order to provide a switch control signal;
an AC power output of the at least one DC to AC power inverter being connected to the AC control switch, the AC control switch having the capability to connect and disconnect the AC power output of the inverter to and from an AC outlet port responsive to the switch control signal from the control unit, the AC outlet port being disposed on the enclosure;
the control unit having an AC input from an external source, the control unit having the capability to route the external source AC input to the charger for a predetermined charging time period;
a timer, being operably connected to the charger and to the control unit in order to set the predetermined charging time period;
an on/off switch provided for powering up the electrical power source, and alternatively powering down the electrical power source; and
, wherein when the electrical energy source is powered up and delivering electrical power to a load, the control unit, responsive to a change in the second output from the DC filter, interrupts electrical power delivery from the electrical energy source to the load and initiates recharging of the batteries for a predetermined time determinable by the timer after which predetermined time the control unit reestablishes power delivery to the load by the electrical energy source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The electrical energy source includes a portable enclosure that houses at least one battery pack, at least one battery charger, at least one AC inverter and, optionally, a regeneration device that can power the battery charger. Operation of batteries, AC inverters and regeneration unit is coordinated by a control circuit. During operations under a load, the batteries supply an input to AC inverters which in turn provide voltage regulated AC power to the load. When the batteries have discharged to a predetermined level, the load is removed from the AC inverters, and a dedicated on-board inverter is used to power the regeneration unit which recharges the batteries. Once the batteries have been recharged, the AC inverters are again made available to the load.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electrical energy source, comprising:
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an enclosure;
at least two batteries electrically connected in series and being disposed in the enclosure;
at least one battery charger being disposed in the enclosure;
at least one DC to AC power inverter being disposed in the enclosure;
a DC driver circuit having an input connected to the batteries;
the DC driver circuit having an output responsive to battery current detected at the DC driver circuit input;
a DC output stage having a DC driver receiving input and a low voltage, high current output, the DC output stage being provided to perform a DC to DC conversion to reduce a voltage produced by the at least two batteries connected in series;
the DC output stage DC driver receiving input having a connection to the DC driver circuit output, the connection being provided to control the DC to DC conversion;
the low voltage, high current output of the DC output stage being connected to an input of a DC filter;
a first output of the DC filter being connected to an input of the at least one DC to AC power inverter;
a second output of the DC filter being connected to a DC filter input of a control unit;
a switch control output of the control unit being connected to an AC control switch in order to provide a switch control signal;
an AC power output of the at least one DC to AC power inverter being connected to the AC control switch, the AC control switch having the capability to connect and disconnect the AC power output of the inverter to and from an AC outlet port responsive to the switch control signal from the control unit, the AC outlet port being disposed on the enclosure;
the control unit having an AC input from an external source, the control unit having the capability to route the external source AC input to the charger for a predetermined charging time period;
a timer, being operably connected to the charger and to the control unit in order to set the predetermined charging time period;
an on/off switch provided for powering up the electrical power source, and alternatively powering down the electrical power source; and
,wherein when the electrical energy source is powered up and delivering electrical power to a load, the control unit, responsive to a change in the second output from the DC filter, interrupts electrical power delivery from the electrical energy source to the load and initiates recharging of the batteries for a predetermined time determinable by the timer after which predetermined time the control unit reestablishes power delivery to the load by the electrical energy source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification