CELL SITE POWER GENERATION
First Claim
1. A system for generating power, comprising:
- a communications interface configured to communicatively couple a wireless interface to a telecommunications back-haul;
multiple power sources, including;
a primary power interface configured to provide power from a primary power source to the communications interface;
a back-up generator, wherein the back-up generator is configured to be selectively enabled to generate power and to provide generated power to the communications interface, to a battery circuit, or both; and
the battery circuit, wherein the battery circuit is configured to selectively provide power to the communications interface;
a rectifier and switch circuit configured to selectively switch power between the multiple power sources and from the multiple power sources to the communications interface; and
a power controller configured to individually enable and disable multiple rectifiers based, at least in part, on an availability status of the primary power source; and
wherein the power controller is configured to control the switching of the rectifier and switch circuit and to enable and disable the back-up generator.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system, apparatus, method, and manufacture for generating backup power in a wireless communications system such as a wireless communications service base station. The system includes a communications interface, a primary power interface, a generator, rectifiers, and a battery circuit. During normal operation, the communications interface is powered from the primary power interface. During a power outage, the communications interface is powered from either the generator or the battery circuit. The generator is cycled on and off during power outages to charge the battery circuit while conserving fuel. To decrease rectification loss, rectifiers are run near full load while rectifying the generator output.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A system for generating power, comprising:
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a communications interface configured to communicatively couple a wireless interface to a telecommunications back-haul; multiple power sources, including; a primary power interface configured to provide power from a primary power source to the communications interface; a back-up generator, wherein the back-up generator is configured to be selectively enabled to generate power and to provide generated power to the communications interface, to a battery circuit, or both; and the battery circuit, wherein the battery circuit is configured to selectively provide power to the communications interface; a rectifier and switch circuit configured to selectively switch power between the multiple power sources and from the multiple power sources to the communications interface; and a power controller configured to individually enable and disable multiple rectifiers based, at least in part, on an availability status of the primary power source; and
wherein the power controller is configured to control the switching of the rectifier and switch circuit and to enable and disable the back-up generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for providing generated power to a wireless communications system, comprising:
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a rectifier and switch circuit configured to selectively switch power between multiple power sources and from the multiple power sources to a system interface, wherein the rectifier and switch circuit includes;
multiple rectifiers each configured to selectively rectify power from at least two power sources of the multiple power sources; anda power controller configured to individually enable and disable each of the multiple rectifiers based, at least in part, on an availability status of at least one power source of the multiple power sources; and
further configured to control the switching of the rectifier and switch circuit. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of providing generated power to a wireless communications cell site having a transceiver and associated telecommunications components, the method comprising:
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receiving power from a primary power source to power the cell site; while receiving power from the primary power source, employing a first number of rectifiers to rectify the power received from the primary power source; determining an availability status of the primary power source; selectively enabling and disabling a generator to generate power based, at least in part, on the availability status; and while employing the generator to generate power, employing a second number of rectifiers to rectify the generated power, wherein the first number is less than the second number. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A tangible computer-readable medium for executing a method of providing generated power to a wireless communications system, the method comprising:
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receiving power from a primary power source; determining an availability status of the primary power source; employing a battery circuit to store generated power; determining a charge level of the battery circuit; selectively enabling and disabling a generator to generate power based, at least in part, on the availability status and the charge level including; enabling the generator if reduced availability is detected and the determining charge level is less than a lower threshold; and disabling the generator if reduced availability is not detected or if the determining charge level is greater than an upper threshold. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A system for generating power, comprising:
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means for communicatively coupling a wireless interface to a back-haul; means for providing power from a primary power source to the means for communicatively coupling; means for selectively generating power; means for storing power, wherein power from the means for selectively generating power is routable to the means for storing power and to the means for communicatively coupling, and wherein power from the means for storing power is routable to the means for communicatively coupling; multiple means for rectifying power from the means for providing power from a primary power source and from the means for selectively generating power; and means for controlling the generation, routing, and rectification of power, including means for individually enabling and disabling each of the multiple means for rectifying power based, at least in part, on an availability status of the primary power source. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A system for controlling power generation, comprising:
a communications systems base station, including; a communications interface configured to communicatively couple a wireless interface to a back-haul; a switch circuit that is configured to selectively switch power between multiple power sources and from the multiple power sources to the communications interface, wherein the multiple power sources, include; a primary power interface configured to provide power from a primary power source to the communications interface; a battery circuit interface configured to provide power to a battery circuit and to receive power from the battery circuit; and a generator interface configured to provide power from a generator to the communications interface, to the battery circuit interface, or both; and a power controller that is configured to enable a generator when reduced availability of the primary power source is detected and a sensed voltage of the battery circuit is below a first threshold and that is configured to disable the generator when reduced availability of the primary power source is not detected or when the sensed voltage of the battery circuit is above a second threshold. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A system for generating power, comprising:
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a communications interface configured to communicatively couple a wireless interface to a telecommunications back-haul; multiple power sources, including; a primary power interface configured to provide power from a primary power source to the communications interface; a back-up generator; and a battery circuit, wherein the back-up generator is configured to be selectively enabled to generate power and to provide generated power to the communications interface, to the battery circuit, or both; and
wherein the battery circuit is configured to selectively provide power to the communications interface;a power controller configured to intermittently operate the back-up generator based, at least in part, on a charge level of the battery circuit, wherein during reduced availability of the primary power source, operation of the communications interface system is enabled by consumption of at least 30 percent less fuel than required by another system having a back-up generator that is operated continuously during the reduced availability of the primary power source.
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Specification