Adaptive power system

• US 20090326727A1
• Filed: 04/27/2009
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Gothard, Joseph A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,103,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/292
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/102 being switching converters H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/40 The network being an on-board power network, i.e. within a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure provides an adaptive power system to relieve manual efforts for performing appropriate power procedures. The adaptive power system can include a power source unit including a plurality of power sources and a power bus. The power source unit can be configured to provide electrical power from one or more of the power sources to the power bus. Further, the adaptive power system can include a power distribution unit configured to distribute electrical power from the power bus to a plurality of electrical devices. In addition, the adaptive power system can include a power control unit configured to control a power sequence for the power distribution unit to distribute electrical power from the power bus to the plurality of electrical devices in a coordinated manner consistent with load or time interval for each of the electrical devices.

Claims

1. An integrated adaptive power system, comprising:

a power source unit including a plurality of power sources and a power bus, the power source unit being configured to provide electrical power from one or more of the power sources to the power bus;

a power distribution unit configured to distribute electrical power from the power bus to a plurality of electrical devices; and

a power control unit configured to control a power sequence for the power distribution unit to distribute electrical power from the power bus to the plurality of electrical devices in a coordinated manner consistent with load or time interval for each of the electrical devices.

2. The integrated adaptive power system according to claim 1, wherein the power bus is a DC power bus, and the power source unit further comprises:

an AC/DC converter configured to convert AC power to DC power.

3. The integrated adaptive power system according to claim 1, wherein the power source unit further comprises:

an interface to receive at least one of external AC power and external DC power.

4. The integrated adaptive power system according to claim 1, wherein the power distribution unit further comprises:

a DC/AC converter configured to convert DC power to AC power to provide to at least a subset of the plurality of electrical devices.

5. The integrated adaptive power system according to claim 1, wherein the power distribution unit further comprises:

a filter configured to reduce electrical spurs in the distributed electrical power.

6. The integrated adaptive power system according to claim 1, wherein the power distribution unit further comprises:

a circuit breaker configured to cut off power distribution to an electrical device.

7. The integrated adaptive power system according to claim 1, wherein the power control unit further comprises:

an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) configured to provide power to the power bus when none of the power sources is available.

8. The integrated adaptive power system according to claim 1, wherein the power sequence is based on loads.

9. A method for distributing power, comprising:

receiving a start signal;

determining whether a plurality of power sources coupled to a power bus is available; and

sequentially providing power from the power bus to a plurality of electrical devices in a coordinated manner consistent with load or time interval of the electrical devices, if a first power source is available.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

converting power from AC to DC if the first power source provides AC power.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

providing power using an uninterruptible power supply to a subset of the plurality of electrical devices if none of the power sources is available.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

delaying providing the power until a temperature is within a pre-defined range.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

providing power from an uninterruptible power supply if the first power source failed.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

determining whether a power source is available if the first power source is failed; and

switching the plurality of electrical devices to a second power source if the second power source is available.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

alerting if no power source is available; and

providing power using the uninterruptible power supply to a subset of the plurality of electrical devices.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

storing a last-known status of an electrical device before stopping the power to the electrical device.

17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

stopping the power to the plurality of electrical devices in a sequence based on loads of the plurality of electrical devices.