SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ALTERNATING CURRENT POWER INVERTER

• US 20170253132A1
• Filed: 03/07/2017
• Published: 09/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MCE Purkey's FE LLC
• Original Assignee: MCE Purkey's FE LLC
• Inventors: Henningson, Dale B., Purkey, Bruce A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,518,647 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A system for controlling an AC power inverter has a charging power source (e.g., vehicle alternator), a battery (e.g., vehicle crank battery), a DC to AC power inverter, a shunt or current-measuring device (which may either be internal to, or external to, the AC power inverter), electrical connections (i.e., cables and connections between the charging power source, battery, AC power inverter, and shunt), and a control module; wherein the control module is capable of measuring shunt voltage, battery voltage, elapsed time, and is capable of turning the AC power inverter On and Off based upon certain criteria (i.e., control logic).

Claims

1. A system configured on a vehicle for controlling the On/Off status of an AC power inverter, the system having a control module, wherein the control module comprises:

a microcontroller configured to read the voltages of a vehicle battery, a current-measuring device, a charging power source, and an override switch; and

wherein the microcontroller is configured to send a signal to the AC power inverter to turn it Off in response to determining that;

a. the voltage of the battery is below a predetermined value;

or

b. the energy used has met a predetermined allotment.

2. The control module of the system of claim 1, wherein the energy usage of the AC power inverter is calculated by measuring the current at set time intervals, multiplying each current reading by the time interval, and summing up the product of the currents and time intervals.

3. The control module of the system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller, upon determining that an alternator is Off, is configured to calculate and monitor the energy that the AC power inverter draws from the battery and is configured to display the used energy or the available energy on a display to a user.

4. The control module of the system of claim 1, further comprising a voltage regulator, a program port, and communication port.

5. A system configured on a vehicle for controlling the On/Off status of an AC power inverter, the system comprising:

a charging power source;

a battery

an AC power inverter;

a current-measuring device; and

a control module;

wherein the control module is configured to selectively turn On or Off the AC power inverter.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the control module is configured to measure the voltages of the current-measuring device and the battery, measures elapsed time, and, based upon programmed logic, is configured to turn the AC power inverter On or Off.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the control module is configured to calculate the energy used by the AC power inverter, estimates the dynamic state of charge of the battery, and is configured to turn On or Off the AC power inverter.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the current-measuring device is a shunt.

9. The system of claim 5, further comprising a display indicating to a user the energy used or the available energy.

10. A system configured on a vehicle for controlling the On/Off status of an AC power inverter, the system comprising:

a control module comprising a microcontroller, a voltage regulator, a program port, and a communication port;

wherein the control module is configured to receive signals from a shunt, a vehicle battery, an alternator, and an override On/Off switch;

wherein the microcontroller, using programmed logic, displays to a user the current energy status of the battery and, upon determining that;

a. the energy used has reached a predetermined allotment, or

b. the state of charge has reached a predetermined set-point the microcontroller sends a signal to turn Off the AC power inverter; and

upon determining that the alternator is running and that the energy state of the vehicle battery is above a minimum threshold, the microcontroller is configured to send a signal to the AC power inverter to turn the AC power inverter On.