ENERGY CONSERVING (STAND-BY MODE) POWER SAVING DESIGN FOR BATTERY CHARGERS AND POWER SUPPLIES

• US 20090224603A1
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chemtron Research LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Harry Leonard Perper, James Randall Beckers
• Inventors: Perper, Harry Leonard, Beckers, James Randall
• Granted Patent: US 7,843,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3212 Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/108 using diodes blocking reverse current flow H02J1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A system is described that turns off a high power, power supply when a device no longer needs high power. A low power, power supply or a rechargeable battery provides power to determine when the device again needs high power. The low power supply consumes a minimum possible power when the device does not need high power and the power rechargeable battery is not charged. That is, the high power and low power, power supplies are turned on or off based on the real time power consumption of the device and the charged state of the battery. The power need of the device is monitored by a current shunt monitoring circuit.

Claims

1. A power supply apparatus connectable/disconnectable to a DC device at a single output, comprising:

a first AC to DC power supply for supplying power to the device, producing a first power level and having an AC power source input; and

a control circuit for turning the first power supply on and off when the device is disconnected from the apparatus and when the device is recharged said control circuit comprising;

a second AC to DC power supply producing a second power level less than the first power level;

a first diode (anode) connected to the first power supply;

a shunt resistor connected between the first diode (cathode) and the output;

a second diode connected between the second power supply (anode side) and both the shunt resistor and the first diode (cathode side), second diode cathode;

a current shunt monitoring circuit connected across the shunt resistor and producing a control signal; and

a solid state normal open relay connected to the AC power source input of the first power supply, connected to the current shunt monitoring circuit and controlled by the control signal.

2. A power supply apparatus connectable/disconnectable to a DC device at a single output, comprising:

a first AC to DC power supply for supplying power to the device, producing a first power level and having an AC power source input; and

a control circuit comprising;

a second AC to DC power supply producing a second power level less than the first power level;

a first diode (anode) connected to the first power supply;

a shunt resistor connected between the first diode (cathode) and the output;

a second diode connected between the second power supply (anode side) and both the shunt resistor and the first diode (cathode side), second diode cathode;

a current shunt monitoring circuit connected across the shunt resistor and producing a control signal;

a first solid state normally open relay connected to the AC power source input of the first power supply and connected to the current shunt monitoring circuit;

a second solid state normally open relay connected to the AC power source input of the second AC to DC power supply;

a charging unit connected to the AC power source input of the second AC to DC power supply;

a rechargeable power supply connected to the charging unit;

a third diode connected between the rechargeable power supply and the second diode; and

a controller controlling the first and second solid state normally open relays responsive to a state of the device as determined by the current monitoring circuit and a state of rechargeable power supply.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the rechargeable device comprises an ultra capacitor.

4. A power supply apparatus for a DC device, comprising:

an actuable AC to DC power supply for supplying power to the device; and

a control circuit for turning the power supply on/off when the device is connected/disconnected from the apparatus and when the device is does not need power.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the device is a rechargeable device and the power supply is turned off when the rechargeable device is charged

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the control circuit senses current drawn by the device.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the control circuit comprises a solid state AC relay and a current shunt monitoring circuit.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the power supply produces a DC output.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the apparatus has a single output.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein a power level of a first value is supplied to the device when the device is discharged and a power level of a second level less than the first level is supplied to the device when device is charged

11. A method of DC power control for a device, comprising:

turning off an AC to DC power supply when the device is charged;

turning on the power supply when the device is partially discharged;

turning off the power supply when the device is disconnected from the power supply; and

turning on the power supply when the device is connected and the device is partially discharged.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein a power level of a first value is supplied to the device when the device is discharged and a power level of a second level less than the first level is supplied to the device when device is charged.

13. A method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

charging a rechargeable device for monitoring power supply need; and

turning off the power supply when rechargeable device is charged.