Power supply method and apparatus for radio access network nodes/sites

• US 20100016034A1
• Filed: 06/09/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Svensson, Anders, Holmström, Per, Jonasson, Sten-Magnus, Lindqvist, Dan, Osterling, Jacob
• Application Number:
  US12/481,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20100016034A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/573
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• 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 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

Nodes/sites of a radio access network have power utilization and power backup facilities and capabilities suitable for particularized node operation. Features of the nodes/sites and/or of the radio access network include power load control; intermittent charging of batteries; controlled (e.g., slow) charging of batteries; and multiple power backup banks.

Claims

1. A node of a radio access network comprising:

at least one power consuming unit involved in operation of the radio access network node;

a power supply source configured to supply direct current power to the at least one power consuming unit;

plural battery units, each configured for selective connection to the at least one power consuming unit for selectively supplying direct current power to the at least one power consuming unit;

plural temperature sensors configured to measure temperatures of the respective plural battery units;

a charging unit configured for selective connection to each of the plural battery units;

a controller connected to the plural temperature sensors and configured to charge essentially concurrently the battery units having an essentially same temperature.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plural battery units comprises a single battery.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plural battery units comprises a bank of plural batteries.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plural battery units comprises one or more batteries residing in a same radio access network node cabinet structure.

5. A method of operating a node of a radio access network comprising:

measuring temperatures of plural battery units, each of the plural battery units being configured for selective connection to at least one power consuming unit involved in operation of the radio access network node for selectively supplying direct current power to the at least one power consuming unit;

determining a first subset of battery unit(s) having temperature(s) in essentially a first temperature range;

essentially concurrently charging the battery units of the first subset; and

thereafter

determining a further subset of battery unit(s) having temperature(s) in essentially a further temperature range;

essentially concurrently charging the battery units of the second subset.

6. A method of operating a node of a radio access network, the radio access network node comprising at least one power consuming unit involved in operation of the radio access network node and plural battery units (204), each of the plural battery units being configured for selective connection to the at least one power consuming unit for selectively supplying direct current power to the at least one power consuming unit, the method comprising:

grouping the plural battery units into plural subsets whereby battery unit(s) of the same subset have essentially a same temperature;

essentially concurrently charging the battery unit(s) of the each subset; and

separately charging differing subsets.

7. A node of a radio access network comprising:

at least one power consuming unit involved in operation of the radio access network node;

a power supply source configured to supply direct current power to the at least one power consuming unit;

a battery unit configured for selective connection to the at least one power consuming unit for selectively supplying direct current power to the at least one power consuming unit;

a current limiter;

a charging unit configured for selective connection to the battery unit;

a sensor configured to make a determination of a voltage level of the battery unit;

a controller configured to selectively connect the current limiter between the charging unit and the battery unit in accordance with the voltage level determination.

8. The radio access network node of claim 7, further comprising a switch connected between the battery unit and the charging unit and in parallel to the current limiter, and wherein the controller is configured to close the switch and thereby bypass the current limiter when the voltage level is above a predetermined level.

9. The radio access network node of claim 7, wherein the current limiter is a passive resistance.

10. The radio access network node of claim 7, wherein the current limiter is an electronic switch, and wherein the controller is configured to turn the switch on and off to obtain an average load current within a predetermined limit.

11. A method of operating a node of a radio access network, the radio access network comprising at least one power consuming unit involved in operation of the radio access network node;

a power supply source configured to supply direct current power to the at least one power consuming unit;

a battery unit configured for selective connection to the at least one power consuming unit for selectively supplying direct current power to the at least one power consuming unit;

a charging unit configured for selective connection to the battery unit;

the method comprising;

making a determination of a voltage level of the battery unit;

selectively connecting a current limiter between the charging unit and the battery unit in accordance with the voltage level determination.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising closing a switch connected between the battery unit and the charging unit and in parallel to the current limiter when the voltage level is above a predetermined level.

13. A node of a radio access network comprising:

at least one power consuming unit involved in operation of the radio access network node;

a power supply source configured to supply direct current power to the at least one power consuming unit;

a battery unit configured for selective connection to the at least one power consuming unit for selectively supplying direct current power to the at least one power consuming unit;

a charging unit configured for selective connection to the battery unit;

an electronic switch connected between the charging unit and the battery unit;

a controller connected to the electronic switch and configured to operate the electronic switch in event of a disruption of direct current power to the at least one power consuming unit.

14. The radio access network node of claim 13, further comprising a sensor configured to sense a mains voltage applied to the power supply source and to apply a signal to the controller indicative of the disruption of direct current power to the at least one power consuming unit.

15. The radio access network node of claim 13, further comprising a sensor configured to sense the direct current power supplied by the power supply source and to apply a signal to the controller indicative of the disruption of direct current power to the at least one power consuming unit.

16. A method of operating a node of a radio access network comprising at least one power consuming unit involved in operation of the radio access network node;

a power supply source configured to supply direct current power to the at least one power consuming unit;

a battery unit configured for selective connection to the at least one power consuming unit for selectively supplying direct current power to the at least one power consuming unit; and

a charging unit configured for selective connection to the battery unit;

the method comprising;

connecting an electronic switch connected between the charging unit and the battery unit;

using a controller connected to the electronic switch to operate the electronic switch in event of a disruption of direct current power to the at least one power consuming unit.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising sensing a mains voltage applied to the power supply source and applying a signal to the controller indicative of the disruption of direct current power to the at least one power consuming unit.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising sensing the direct current power supplied by the power supply source and applying a signal to the controller indicative of the disruption of direct current power to the at least one power consuming unit.

19. A node of a radio access network comprising:

at least one power consuming unit involved in operation of the radio access network node;

a power conveyance element connected on a path of supply of direct current power to the at least one power consuming unit;

a node controller configured to operate the power conveyance element in accordance with signals communicated with a controller which is remote from the node.

20. The node of claim 19, wherein the power conveyance element is a power supply unit configured to convert an input electrical supply to an electrical output usable by the node, and wherein the node controller is a power supply controller.

21. The node of claim 20, further comprising plural power supply units configured whereby the node can be operated with selected ones but not all of the plural power supply units.

22. The node of claim 20, further comprising a monitor configured to monitor at least one of the following at the power supply unit:

DC output voltage;

DC output current;

mains input voltage;

main current consumption.

23. The node of claim 20, wherein the power supply controller is further configured to control at least one of maximum DC output current and maximum mains current input.

24. A node of claim 19, wherein the power conveyance element is a fuse for the at least one power consuming unit, and wherein the node controller is a node fuse controller configured to operate the fuse.

25. The node of claim 24, wherein the fuse comprises an electronic fuse.

26. The node of claim 24, wherein node fuse controller is configured to operate the fuse by performing at least one of the following functions:

turn the fuse on;

turn the fuse off;

monitor status of the fuse;

reactivate the fuse when tripped;

monitor fuse current; and

monitor fuse trip value.

27. The node of claim 24, further comprising a fuse switch configured to selectively allow remote operation of the fuse.

28. The node of claim 19, further comprising plural power consuming units with one of the plural power consuming units being a heater, and wherein the node controller is configured to operate the power conveyance element for the heater in accordance with signals communicated with the controller which is remote from the node in order to accelerate start up time for another power consuming unit, the power conveyance element for the another power consuming unit having been turned off in view of temperature of the another power consuming unit.

29. The node of claim 19, further comprising plural power consuming units with one of the plural power consuming units being a cooling device, and wherein the node controller is configured to operate the power conveyance element for the cooling device in accordance with signals communicated with the controller which is remote from the node until another power consuming device attains a predetermined temperature, the power conveyance element for the another power consuming unit having been turned off in view of temperature of the another power consuming unit.

30. A node of a radio access network comprising:

plural power consuming units involved in operation of the radio access network node;

plural power conveyance elements connected on respective paths of supply of direct current power to the respective plural power consuming units;

a node controller configured to discriminately operate the power conveyance elements in accordance with respective preference characteristics of the respective power consuming units.

31. The node of claim 30, further comprising a backup battery for the node, and wherein the node controller is configured to discriminately operate the power conveyance elements when the plural power consuming units require power from the backup battery.

32. The node of claim 30, wherein the plural power conveyance elements comprise plural fuses.

33. The node of claim 30, wherein the respective preference characteristics are respective priority levels.

34. The node of claim 30, wherein the respective preference characteristics are respective temperature measurements.

35. The node of claim 30, wherein the preference characteristic of at least one of the power consuming units is the fact that the at least one of the power consuming unit is a heater, and wherein the node controller operates the power conveyance element for the heater in order to accelerate start up time for another power consuming unit.

36. The node of claim 30, wherein the preference characteristic of at least one of the power consuming units is the fact that the at least one of the power consuming unit is a cooling device.

37. A method of operating a node of a radio access network, the node comprising plural power consuming units involved in operation of the radio access network node and plural power conveyance elements connected on respective paths of supply of direct current power to the respective plural power consuming units, the method comprising:

establishing respective preference characteristics of the respective power consuming units; and

using a node controller to discriminately operate the power conveyance elements in accordance with the respective preference characteristics of the respective power consuming units.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the node further comprises a backup battery for the node, and wherein the method further comprises using the node controller to discriminately operate the power conveyance elements when the plural power consuming units require power from the backup battery.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the respective preference characteristics are respective priority levels, and wherein the method further comprises using the node controller to discriminately operate the power conveyance elements in accordance with respective priority levels of the respective power consuming units.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the respective preference characteristics are respective temperature measurements of the respective power consuming units, and wherein the method further comprises using the node controller to discriminately operate the power conveyance elements in accordance with respective temperature measurements.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the preference characteristic of at least one of the power consuming units is the fact that the at least one of the power consuming unit is a heater, and wherein the method further comprises using the node controller to operate the power conveyance element for the heater in order to accelerate start up time for another power consuming unit.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the preference characteristic of at least one of the power consuming units is the fact that the at least one of the power consuming unit is a cooling device, and wherein the method further comprises:

using the node controller to operate the power conveyance element for the cooling device;

using the node controller to turn off the power conveyance element for another power consuming unit until the another power consuming device attains a predetermined temperature.