SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROL FOR REGENERATIVE ENERGY GENERATORS
First Claim
1. A system that manages power output from one or more energy generators, the system comprising:
- at least one power controller having an input for connection to an energy generator to receive electrical power generated by the energy generator and an output for connection to an electrical load to provide electrical power to the electrical load, the power controller including;
switching circuitry to set a kinematic characteristic for the energy generator that influences motion of a mechanical system, andcircuitry arranged to provide, while maintaining the set kinematic characteristic for the energy generator, an amount of power to the electrical load that meets a demand of the electrical load but is unequal to an amount of power provided by the energy generator to the power controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device and system that can dynamically provide variable load on a generator and intelligently distribute generated power to loads and energy storage devices is disclosed. One system includes load profile controllers that employ a switching strategy to dynamically vary the load the generator induces while producing regenerative energy. This switching strategy may allow for a wide dynamic range of configurable damping characteristics, as well as decouple generator damping and the system output power. Multiple load profile controllers can be used together via a communications network, such as a vehicle controller area network (CAN) bus. A central regeneration controller or existing electronic control unit (ECU) can issue commands to change damping performance in different load profile controllers. By networking multiple load profile controllers together in either a distributed or centralized manner, the system may allow for intelligent power routing, coordination of multiple energy-generating devices (such as regenerative shocks and brakes), and improved utilization of on-board energy storage devices.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. A system that manages power output from one or more energy generators, the system comprising:
at least one power controller having an input for connection to an energy generator to receive electrical power generated by the energy generator and an output for connection to an electrical load to provide electrical power to the electrical load, the power controller including; switching circuitry to set a kinematic characteristic for the energy generator that influences motion of a mechanical system, and circuitry arranged to provide, while maintaining the set kinematic characteristic for the energy generator, an amount of power to the electrical load that meets a demand of the electrical load but is unequal to an amount of power provided by the energy generator to the power controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A power electronics system for use with a system including an electrical power generator and an electrical load, the power electronics system comprising:
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one or more circuits having different impedance states; one or more switches that connect the electrical power generator to any one of the circuits having different impedance states; and a controller that selectively operates the one or more switches to selectively connect the electrical power generator to one of the circuits to control the average impedance on the electrical power generator, and simultaneously selectively operates the switches to control an amount of electrical power delivered to the electrical load where the amount of electrical power delivered to the electrical load is controlled independently of the average impedance on the electrical power generator. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system comprising:
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at least one electrical power generator operatively linked to a movable component of the system such that adjustment of a kinematic characteristic of the electrical power generator affects movement of the movable component; at least one electrical load including one or more electrical components of the system; and a control circuit having an electrical power output to deliver energy to the at least one electrical load and at least one input connected to the at least one electrical power generator, the control circuit including one or more circuits that set an average load across terminals of the at least one electrical power generator, wherein the average load across terminals of the at least one electrical power generator is set independently of an impedance of the at least one electrical load. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A method for controlling power generation and output in a system, comprising:
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providing at least one electrical power generator that is coupled to a moveable component of a mechanical system, wherein adjusting a kinematic characteristic of the at least one electrical power generator influences motion of the moveable component; selecting one of a plurality of different kinematic characteristics for the at least one electrical power generator; receiving electrical power generated by the at least one electrical power generator where the received electrical power is unequal to electrical power output to the electrical load; and controlling a connection of each of the at least one electrical power generator to a plurality of different impedance states so as to both maintain the selected kinematic characteristic for the at least one electrical power generator and provide a controllable amount of electrical power to the electrical load.
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55. A method for controlling a plurality of regenerative power generators, comprising:
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providing a plurality of electrical power generators that are each coupled to a respective moveable component of a mechanical system, wherein adjusting a kinematic characteristic of an electrical power generator influences motion of the respective moveable component; selecting a kinematic characteristic for each of the electrical power generators; controlling an effective impedance on each of the electrical power generators based on the selected kinematic characteristic; and providing electrical power produced by the electrical power generators to one or more electrical loads such that control of the effective impedance for each electrical power generator is independent of electrical power provided to the one or more electrical loads. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57)
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58. A system that optimizes and coordinates power recovery from a plurality of regenerative energy sources, comprising:
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one or more electrical power regenerative energy sources; one or more electrical loads; one or more energy storage devices; a controller that can sense electrical characteristics of the one or more regenerative energy sources, one or more electrical loads, and one or more energy storage devices; and one or more switches that provide a connection between any of the regenerative energy sources, electrical loads, and energy storage devices.
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59. A method for optimizing and coordinating power recovery from a plurality of regenerative energy sources, comprising:
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providing a plurality of electrical power regenerative energy sources; providing electrical power produced by the electrical power regenerative energy sources to one or more electrical loads; providing energy storage in one or more energy storage devices; providing a controller that can sense electrical characteristics of the regenerative energy sources, electrical loads, and energy storage device devices; and connecting any of the regenerative energy sources, one or more electrical loads, and energy storage devices.
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Specification