Intelligent switch for power management

• US 6,377,031 B1
• Filed: 09/01/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Intra International AB (Midtronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thomsen, Jes, Karuppana, Samy V., Jetha, Aly Amirali
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MATTHEW VAN
• Application Number:
  US09/653,823
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 363/40, 363/41, 363/56.01, 363/95, 363/97, 363/131, 323/220, 323/282
• US Class Current: 323/220
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network

Abstract

A method and system for managing power in a device having a power source is described. The system includes a switch and at least one controller. The switch is coupled with the power source and a portion of the device. The at least one controller is coupled with the switch and is for controlling the switch to be open or closed based on instructions provided to the controller. Thus, the switch and controller can manage the power provided to the portion of the device.

Claims

1. A system for managing power in a device having a power source, the system comprising:

a switch coupled with the power source and a portion of the device;

at least one controller, coupled with the switch, for controlling the switch to be open or closed based on instructions provided to the at least one controller; and

at least one internal sensor coupled with the switch and the at least one controller, the at least one internal sensor for monitoring at least one property of the switch and allowing the at least one controller to control the switch based on the at least one property;

wherein the switch and the at least one controller can manage the power provided to the portion of the device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the switch further includes a solid-state switch.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the switch further includes a mosfet.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a control gate for controlling the switch, the control gate being controlled by the at least one controller.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one controller controls the switch to provide pulse-width modulation of the power provided to the portion of the device.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the at least one controller controls the switch to provide pulse-width modulation to provide a particular voltage to the portion of the device.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a manual switch coupled with the switch, the manual switch for allowing a user to ensure that the switch cannot be closed to cut off power to the portion of the device.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one controller controls the switch based on at least one signal input to the at least one controller.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one controller and the switch are integrated together into a module.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one controller is capable of controlling the switch to cut off the power to the portion of the device based on a priority for the portion of the device.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one controller controls the switch based on at least one instruction provided to the at least one controller.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the at least one controller is a programmable microcomputer.

13. A method for managing power in a device having a power source, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a switch coupled with the power source and a portion of the device;

providing at least one controller, coupled with the switch, for controlling the switch to be open or closed based on instructions provided to the at least one controller;

providing at least one internal sensor coupled with the switch and the at least one controller, the at least one internal sensor for monitoring at least one property of the switch and allowing the at least one controller to control the switch based on the at least one property; and

allowing the at least one controller to be used to control the switch in order to manage the power provided to the portion of the device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the switch further includes a solid-state switch.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the switch further includes a mosfet.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of:

providing a control gate for controlling the switch, the control gate being controlled by the at least one controller.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one controller controls the switch to provide pulse-width modification of the power provided to the portion of the device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the at least one controller controls the switch to provide pulse-width modification to provide a particular voltage to the portion of the device.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising a manual switch coupled with the switch, the manual switch for allowing a user to ensure that the switch cannot be closed to cut off power to the portion of the device.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one controller controls the switch based on at least one signal input to the at least one controller.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one controller and the switch are integrated together into a module.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one controller is capable of controlling the switch to cut off the power to the portion of the device based on a priority for the portion of the device.

23. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one controller controls the switch based on at least one instruction provided to the at least one controller.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the at least one controller is a programmable microcomputer.

25. A method for managing power in a device having a power source utilizing a system, the system comprising a switch coupled with the power source and a portion of the device and at least one controller, coupled with the switch, for controlling the switch to be open or closed based on instructions provided to the at least one controller, the method comprising the steps of

providing a instructions to the at least one controller, at least a portion of the instructions indicating how the switch is to be controlled;

providing data to the controller from at least one internal sensor coupled with the switch and the at least one controller, the at least one internal sensor for monitoring at least one property of the switch and allowing the at least one controller to control the switch based on the at least one property; and

managing the power provided to the portion of the device using the switch and the at least one controller.