Spacecraft power system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A spacecraft power system comprising:
- a power bus having a first node coupled to a set of batteries supplying power to said power bus, and having a second node coupled to a solar array alternatively supplying power to said power bus;
switching means for disconnecting the set of batteries from said power bus allowing said set of batteries to be charged to a fully charged voltage that exceeds a maximum voltage value allowed by said power bus; and
means for reducing said fully charged voltage to a voltage acceptable by said power bus before reconnecting said set of batteries to said power source.
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Abstract
A spacecraft power system having an increased number of battery cells that is charged to the battery'"'"'s full capacity, which exceeds a predetermined maximum voltage allowed by a bus. The battery can be disconnected from the bus during charging. The battery is then partially discharged to accommodate the bus before being reconnected. This provides a reduced voltage range experienced by the bus, as the minimum battery voltage is increased by the increased number of cells. A tap is provided to supply the bus with power when the battery is disconnected from the bus, and when a solar array powering the bus fails to supply current to the bus.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A spacecraft power system comprising:
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a power bus having a first node coupled to a set of batteries supplying power to said power bus, and having a second node coupled to a solar array alternatively supplying power to said power bus; switching means for disconnecting the set of batteries from said power bus allowing said set of batteries to be charged to a fully charged voltage that exceeds a maximum voltage value allowed by said power bus; and means for reducing said fully charged voltage to a voltage acceptable by said power bus before reconnecting said set of batteries to said power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for charging a spacecraft power system to a voltage level above a predetermined maximum voltage allowed by a power bus comprising the steps of:
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determining at least one condition for disconnecting the power bus from a battery; disconnecting the battery from the power bus; charging the battery to a full capacity having a voltage that exceeds the predetermined maximum voltage allowed by the power bus; partially discharging -he battery thereby reducing the battery voltage to a level allowed by the power bus; determining at least one condition for reconnecting the battery to the power bus; and reconnecting the battery to the power bus.
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6. A spacecraft power system comprising:
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a power bus having a first node coupled to a set of batteries supplying power to said power bus, and having a second node coupled to a solar array alternatively supplying power to said power bus; switching means for coupling and decoupling said set of batteries to said power bus; and an emergency power supply, said emergency power supply comprising; a tap coupled to said set of batteries in such a way that said tap'"'"'s voltage stays within a predetermined range utilizing part of the power derived from said set of batteries supplying power to said power bus when needed; and a diode which only allows current to pass through said tap to said bus when said solar array power is less than required by said bus. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A spacecraft power system comprising a power bus having a predetermined maximum bus voltage value X, said power bus having a first node coupled to a battery with a predetermined number n of series connected cells, having a maximum voltage value Y, where Y>
- X, and a second node coupled to a solar array, said power system comprising;
a battery tap located at n-m cells and having a voltage Vn-m, where Vn-m ≦
X; andat least one diode for selectively coupling and decoupling said tap from said bus. - View Dependent Claims (10)
- X, and a second node coupled to a solar array, said power system comprising;
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11. A spacecraft power system comprising a power bus with a first node coupled to a set of batteries supplying power to said power bus, and a second node coupled to a solar array alternatively supplying power to said power bus, wherein there is a predetermined power bus voltage X, a value Y denotes a maximum voltage of said set of batteries supplying power to said power bus, where Y>
- X, a variable VB denotes the voltage value of said set of batteries supplying power to said power bus, where VB ≦
Y, said power system further comprising switching means for disconnecting said set of batteries from said power bus allowing said set of batteries to be charged to Y, and reconnecting said set of batteries to said power bus when VB ≦
X;
means for reducing VB from X<
VB ≦
Y to VB ≦
X; and
control means for coordinating said switching means and said means for reducing VB. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
- X, a variable VB denotes the voltage value of said set of batteries supplying power to said power bus, where VB ≦
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16. A method for charging a spacecraft power system to a voltage level above a predetermined maximum voltage allowed by a power bus, comprising the steps of:
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in response to determining at least one condition for disconnecting the power bus from a battery, disconnecting the power bus from the battery; charging the battery to a full capacity having a voltage that exceeds the predetermined maximum voltage allowed by the power bus; partially discharging the battery thereby reducing the battery voltage to a level allowed by the power bus; determining at least one condition for reconnecting the battery to the power bus; and reconnecting the battery to the power bus.
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17. A method for applying emergency power to a spacecraft power bus, comprising steps of:
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providing a tap coupled to a set of batteries in such a way that a voltage of said tap stays within a predetermined voltage range; and in response to a condition wherein the set of batteries is disconnected from said power bus and wherein an electric current supplying said power bus is below a predetermined level, supplying emergency power to the poser bus through the tap.
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Specification