Method, a system, a computer-readable medium, and a power controlling apparatus for applying and distributing power

• US 20120290143A1
• Filed: 12/23/2011
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Embedded Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Global Embedded Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Stanczak, Mark Stanley, Smutek, Louis Stephen, Brown, Alan Wayne, Backus, David Allen
• Granted Patent: US 8,588,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/292
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0866 comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0888 DC/DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 3/02 Regulating voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0092 concerning the data processing means, e.g. expert systems, neural networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/10 additionally responsive to some other abnormal electrical conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/207 also responsive to under-voltage window comparators for indication G01R19/165
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/04 responsive to abnormal temperature specially adapted for electric machines H02H7/0852
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/32 Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/36 Means for starting or stopping converters

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to power management and the like, and more particularly, to an apparatus, a system, a method, and a computer-readable medium for providing power controlling functionality to generate configurable power signals and to deliver power during fault conditions. In at least some embodiments, a power control unit can generate power signals having configurable attributes as a function of a mode of operation, a fault type, and the like.

Claims

1. A system for distributing power comprising:

a plurality of power control units coupled to one or more communication links, at least one of the power control units comprising;

a first portion of memory configured to store data representing operational profiles for generating a power signal as a function of a parameter;

a mode controller configured to select an operational profile from the operational profiles to establish a selected operational profile;

a waveform control module configured to generate the power signal in accordance with the selected operational profile;

a second portion of memory configured to store data representing fault profiles that include thresholds for determining types of faults; and

a fault detector configured to;

detect a fault based on the fault profiles, and to

determine whether the fault is associated with a first subset of faults or a second subset of faults, and to

perform a fault action.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a master controller configured to communicate with a power control unit via the one or more communication links,

wherein the power control unit operates in a dependent mode,

wherein the master controller includes either the at least one of the power control units or a power management application (“

PMA”

).

3. The system of claim 1 further comprises:

a power management application (“

PMA”

); and

one or more processors configured to execute instructions of the power management application to;

receive a message indicating detection of the fault, and

transmit another message to the at least one of the power control units to perform the fault action.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the power control units is configured to operate independent of a master controller in an independent mode.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a peer-to-peer arrangement for the plurality of power control units to communication to each other via one or more communication links.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a power source input terminal configured to receive power, wherein the waveform control module is further configured to;

modify an amount of the power to provide a portion of the power in association with the power signal.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the waveform control module is further configured to modulate a duty cycle of the power signal to provide the portion of the power as specified by the selected operational profile.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the waveform control module is further configured to include a power-on portion of a waveform for the power signal and a power-off portion of the waveform for the power signal.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the first subset of faults includes magnitude-based faults and the second subset of faults includes time-based faults.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the waveform control module is configured to generate another power signal as the fault action.

11. A method of applying power to a power sink comprising:

selecting at a first power control unit an operational profile to form a selected operational profile to deliver power to a power sink;

transmitting a message from the first power control unit to a second power control unit to deliver the power to the power sink;

causing the second power control unit to generate a power signal having a waveform shaped as a function of the selected operational profile;

transmitting the power signal from the second power control unit to the power sink;

characterizing one or more parameters associated with the power sink to determine a characterized parameter, the one or more parameters influencing the operation of the power sink; and

determining whether the characterized parameter is associated with an alternate mode of operation.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first power control unit is configured as either a master controller or a peer in a peer-to-peer arrangement between the first and the second power control units.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein generating the power signal comprises:

shaping a portion of the waveform for the power signal to have a rate of change specified by the operational profile; and

forming another portion of the waveform for the power signal to include an amplitude specified by the operational profile.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein generating the power signal comprises:

generating a periodic waveform or a pulse width modulated signal for the power signal as specified by the operational profile.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

accepting an input to modify the waveform to form a modified waveform.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the alternate mode of operation includes a fault action.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein determining whether the characterized parameter is associated with the alternate mode of operation comprises:

determining that the value of the characterized parameter is non-compliant;

determining a level of performance of the power sink; and

initiating a corrective action to resolve the level of performance.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein initiating a corrective action comprises:

selecting an alternate operational profile to form an alternate waveform that is configured to influence the power sink to operate in a normal mode of operation; and

applying the alternate operational profile.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein applying the alternate operational profile further comprises:

modifying the value of another characterized parameter to modify the level of performance.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein modifying the value of the another characterized parameter further comprises:

stopping the generation of the power signal.