HYBRID LOAD SYSTEMS INCLUDING A DYNAMIC ELECTRONIC LOAD AND PASSIVE RESISTIVE LOAD MODULES

• US 20100194424A1
• Filed: 02/03/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transistor Devices Incorporated (Astrodyne Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: TDI Power
• Inventors: O'Connor, Kevin, Lysiak, Andrew, Palatini, Lance
• Granted Patent: US 8,242,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/764.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/203 Resistors used for electric measuring, e.g. decade resistors standards, resistors for comparators, series resistors, shunts resistors in general H01C; microwave or radiowave terminations H01P1/26; coupling devices H01R
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/40 Testing power supplies testing photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 50/10 Testing of PV devices, e.g. of PV modules or single PV cells testing of semiconductor devices during manufacturing H01L22/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/40 Fuel cell technologies in production processes

Abstract

A hybrid load system includes a dynamic electronic load module, and a plurality of passive resistive modules coupled with the dynamic electronic load module. The hybrid system includes a control system in communication with the dynamic electronic load module and the passive resistive modules for determining when and how many of the passive resistive modules should be applied in parallel with the dynamic electronic load module for creating a desired load.

Claims

1. A hybrid load system comprising:

a dynamic electronic load module;

a plurality of passive resistive modules coupled with said dynamic electronic load module;

a control system in communication with said dynamic electronic load module and said passive resistive modules for determining when and how many of said passive resistive modules should be applied in parallel with said dynamic electronic load module for creating a desired load.

2. The hybrid load system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control system is disposed within said dynamic electronic load module.

3. The hybrid load system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dynamic electronic load module comprises a master module for controlling operation of said hybrid load system and said passive resistive modules are slave modules adapted to receive orders from said master, dynamic electronic load module.

4. The hybrid load system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dynamic electronic load module comprises one or more field effect transistor (FET) circuits.

5. The hybrid load system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dynamic electronic load module includes a front panel having an operator interface for controlling operation of said hybrid load system.

6. The hybrid load system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said operator interface includes at least one visual display and at least one engageable element for controlling operation of said hybrid load system.

7. The hybrid load system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said passive resistive modules has a capacity of between about 10 KW-100 KW.

8. The hybrid load system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said passive resistive modules are connected in parallel with one another.

9. The hybrid load system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said passive resistive modules are connected in parallel with said dynamic electronic load module.

10. The hybrid load system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a measurement circuit and switches for selectively applying one or more of said passive resistive modules with said measurement circuit.

11. An electronic load comprising:

a measurement circuit;

a dynamic electronic load module coupled with said measurement circuit and adapted to operate over a range of load levels;

a plurality of passive resistive modules in parallel with one another and in parallel with said dynamic electronic load module via said measurement circuit, wherein each of said passive resistive modules has a fixed load level;

a controller for selectively applying one or more of said passive resistive modules with said measurement circuit for achieving a desired load.

12. The electronic load of claim 11, wherein said dynamic electronic load module comprises a central processing unit for controlling operation of said electronic load.

13. The electronic load as claimed in claim 12, wherein said dynamic electronic load module comprises a front panel including a control interface for conducting a load test.

14. The electronic load as claimed in claim 13, wherein said central processing unit includes one or more logic routines that apply one or more of said passive resistive modules to said measurement circuit including said dynamic electronic load for achieving a desired load.

15. The electronic load as claimed in claim 14, wherein said dynamic electronic load comprises field effect transistor (FET) circuits.

16. The electronic load as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of said passive resistive modules comprises at least one resistor having a fixed resistance.

17. A method of testing a power source comprising:

providing a measurement circuit including a dynamic electronic load capable of operating over a range of loads;

providing a plurality of passive resistive load modules having fixed load levels, wherein said passive resistive load modules are in parallel with said dynamic electronic load;

adding one or more of said passive resistive loads to said measurement circuit for attaining a desired load.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising providing a system controller in communication with said dynamic electronic load for determining how many of said passive resistive load modules are to be coupled with said dynamic electronic load.