AIRBORNE POWER SYSTEM DISCONNECT SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100079003A1
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aspen Avionics, Inc. (The AIRO Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Aspen Avionics, Inc. (The AIRO Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bethel, Jeffrey D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,231,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2221/00 Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/04 by static converters

Abstract

An system and method to automatically disconnect a retrofit electrical unit from an electrical system in the event of an emergency situation and maintain power to the retrofit electrical unit.

Claims

1. A power control system to control power to an electrical unit, the system comprising:

a first battery and a second battery to store power;

an alternator to generate power;

an electrical component powered by one of the first battery, the second battery, and the alternator;

a first switch to selectively connect the electrical component to one of the first battery and the alternator; and

a second switch to selectively connect the electrical component to one of the first battery, the alternator, and the second battery.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a controller to compare a first factor to a predetermined second factor, and to change a state of the second switch if the first factor is less than the predetermined second factor.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a controller to compare a first factor to a predetermined second factor, and to change a state of the second switch if the first factor is greater than the predetermined second factor.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first switch is a manual switch and the second switch is an automatic switch.

5. An electrical unit adapted to connect to an electrical system having a primary power source, the electrical unit having a safety means to automatically disconnect the electrical unit from the primary power source if an emergency event occurs, the electrical unit comprising:

a controller to monitor and compare a first factor to a predetermined second factor;

a switch to electrically connect the electrical unit to the primary power source in a first position and a secondary power source in a second position,

wherein if the first factor is less than the predetermined second factor, then the controller generates a signal to move the switch from the first position to the second position.

6. The electrical unit according to claim 5, wherein if the switch is in the second position and the first factor becomes more than the predetermined second factor, then the controller generates another signal to move the switch from the second position to the first position.

7. The electrical unit according to claim 5, wherein the first factor is an amount of power received from the primary power source.

8. The electrical unit according to claim 5, wherein the electrical unit is a motor vehicle component.

9. The electrical unit according to claim 5, further comprising:

a computer readable recording medium comprising computer readable codes to store and process data for the controller such that the predetermined second factor can be set, the first factor can be monitored, and the signal can be generated to control the switch.

10. The electrical unit according to claim 5, wherein the emergency event is a decrease in voltage received from the electrical system.

11. A method to adapt a retrofit apparatus to an electrical system and to control a transfer of power from the electrical system to the retrofit apparatus, the method comprising:

programming a factor into a controller of the retrofit apparatus;

monitoring power received from the electrical system to the retrofit apparatus;

comparing the power received from the electrical system to the factor; and

generating a signal to move a switch from a first position to a second position if the power received falls below the factor.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the second position connects the retrofit apparatus to a secondary power source contained within the retrofit apparatus.

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

reconnecting the retrofit apparatus to the electrical system if the switch is in the second position and the power received rises above the factor.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the secondary power source is a battery.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the power received is continuously monitored.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the factor is a voltage level of 13.2 volts.