POWER DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENT

• US 20100027169A1
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Schmidt, Daniel, Zuckmantel, Stefan, Knott, Arnold
• Granted Patent: US 8,432,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/18
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network

Abstract

An arrangement and a method for distributing power supplied by a power source to two or more of loads (e.g., electrical vehicular systems) is disclosed, where a representation of the power taken by a particular one of the loads from the source is measured. The measured representation of the amount of power taken from the source by the particular one of the loads is compared to a threshold to provide an overload signal in the event the representation exceeds the threshold. Control signals dependant on the occurring of the overload signal are provided such that the control signal decreases the output power of the power circuit in case the overload signal occurs.

Claims

1. A power distribution system comprising an input connected to a power source, two or more outputs, each output connected to one of a plurality of loads, and at least one power limiting unit connected between the input and one of the outputs, the power limiting unit comprising:

a power sensor connected between the input and the particular one of the outputs, and adapted to measure a representation of the power supplied by the source to the respective load connected to the particular one of the outputs;

a power circuit connected in series to the power sensor, and supplies a regulated electrical output to a respective one of the loads, the power circuit comprising a control element that receives a control signal;

a comparison unit coupled to the power sensor to receive the measured representation of the power supplied to the particular one of the outputs, and compare the measured representation to a threshold for providing an overload signal in case the measured representation exceeds the threshold; and

a control unit connected to the comparison unit for receiving the overload signal and to the power circuit for providing the control signal and limiting the control signal to a given value in case the overload signal is received.

2. The arrangement of claim 1, where the power sensor comprises a current sensor and the measured representation of the power supplied to the load connected to the particular one of the outputs is a voltage that is proportional to the current measured.

3. The arrangement of claim 2, where the comparison unit compares the voltage representing the current measured to a threshold voltage.

4. The arrangement of claim 1, where the control signal provided to the power circuit is a reference voltage.

5. The arrangement of claim 4, where, in case the measured representation exceeds the threshold, the value of the control signal, is lower than in a non-overload mode of operation.

6. The arrangement of claim 1, where the power circuit comprises a DC-DC converter.

7. The arrangement of claim 1, where the power circuit comprises a switch-mode power amplifier.

8. The arrangement of claim 1, where the regulated electrical output of the power circuit is set by the control signal in case of an occurrence of an overload signal to a value below the power represented by the threshold.

9. The arrangement of claim 1, where at least two power limiting units are connected between the input and each of the at least two power limiting units uniquely therewith;

each power limiting unit having a particular threshold corresponding to characteristics of the respective load and a priority assigned to the load.

10. The arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a power management unit that provides the threshold to the power limiting units.

11. The arrangement of claim 10, where the power management unit evaluates the total power supplied by the power source and sets the thresholds according to the priority and the power available.

12. The arrangement of claim 9, where the thresholds are fixed.

13. The arrangement of claim 1, where the control signal is such that the control element is switched off.

14. The arrangement of claim 1, where the power sensor is connected electrically upstream of the power circuit.

15. A method for distributing power supplied by a power source to a plurality of electrical vehicular systems, comprising:

measuring a representation of the power taken by a particular one of the vehicular systems from the source;

regulating an output power dependant on a control signal;

comparing the measured representation of the power taken from the source by the particular one of the vehicular systems to a threshold for providing an overload signal when the measured representation exceeds the threshold; and

providing control signals dependant on the occurring of the overload signal such that the control signal decreases the output power of the power circuit where the overload signal occurs.

16. A power limiting unit for coupling a power source to at least one electrical vehicular system, the power limiting unit comprising:

a power sensor that measures current and/or voltage supplied to the electrical vehicular system from the power source, and provides a measurement signal indicative thereof;

a comparator that receives and compares the measurement signal and a threshold signal, and provides an overload signal when the measurement signal is greater than the threshold signal;

a controller that receives the overload signal and provides a control signal associated with a command for less electrical power; and

a power circuit that includes a control element that receives the control signal, which power circuit regulates the supplied current and/or voltage to the vehicular system in response to the control signal.

17. The power limiting unit of claim 16, where the power circuit comprises a DC-DC converter.

18. The power limiting unit of claim 16, where the power circuit comprises a switch-mode power amplifier.

19. The power limiting unit of claim 16, where the power circuit is configured to maintain the supplied current and/or voltage below the threshold signal where the measurement signal is greater than the threshold signal.

20. A power distribution system for coupling a power source to a plurality of electrical vehicular systems which includes first and second vehicular systems, the power distribution system comprising:

a power management unit that provides a threshold signal; and

a plurality of power limiting units each uniquely associated with one of the plurality of electrical vehicular system, each unit comprising

a power sensor that measures electrical power supplied to the associated one of the electrical vehicular systems from the power source, and provides a measurement signal indicative thereof;

a comparator that receives and compares the measurement signal and the threshold signal, and provides an overload signal when the measurement signal is greater than the threshold signal;

a controller that receives the overload signal and provides a control signal; and

a power circuit that includes a control element that receives the control signal, which power circuit regulates the electrical power to the one of the vehicular systems in response to the control signal.

21. The power distribution system of claim 20, where the power circuit comprises a DC-DC converter.

22. The power distribution system of claim 20, where the power circuit comprises a switch-mode power amplifier.

23. The power distribution system of claim 20, where the plurality of power limiting units includes first and second power limiting units, and where the threshold received by the comparator in the first power limiting unit is different than the threshold received by the comparator in the second power limiting unit.

24. The power distribution system of claim 20, further comprising a total power sensor that measures electrical power collectively supplied to the plurality of vehicular systems from the power source, and provides a total measurement signal indicative thereof.

25. The power distribution system of claim 24, where the power management unit sets the thresholds received by the comparators in the power limiting units according to priority assigned to each of the power limiting units and the total measurement signal.

26. The power distribution system of claim 24, where the total power sensor is located upstream of the power circuits in the power limiting units.

27. The power distribution system of claim 20, where the power management unit provides a threshold signal to each power limiting unit.

28. The power distribution system of claim 27, where at least one of the threshold signals is fixed.