Intelligent power management system

• US 6,465,908 B1
• Filed: 09/07/2000
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (AB Volvo), Westmont Venture Partners, LLC, CNF Ventures, LLC (XPO, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intra International AB (Midtronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thomsen, Jes, Karuppana, Samy V., Jetha, Aly Amirali
• Primary Examiner(s): Sterrett, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laxton, Gary L.
• Application Number:
  US09/659,024
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 307/30, 307/31, 307/38-41, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/10.6, 307/10.7, 307/10.8, 307/140, 307/155, 395/750.01, 395/750.03, 395/750.06, 713/300, 713/330, 713/380, 323/908, 323/140
• US Class Current: 307/31
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/28 for indicating front of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/40 The network being an on-board power network, i.e. within a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/42 for ships or vessels
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles

Abstract

A method and system for managing power in a device having a power source is disclosed. The power source includes a power storage unit capable of storing a particular amount of power. The device is capable of performing a plurality of functions using the power storage unit alone. The method and system include providing a plurality of switches, a plurality of signal inputs and at least one controller. The plurality of switches are coupled with the power source. Each of the plurality of switches is coupled with a portion of the device and thus can cut off power to that portion of the device. The plurality of signal inputs is for receiving information from the device. The at least one controller is coupled with the plurality of switches and the plurality of signal inputs. The at least one controller is for controlling the plurality of switches to be open or closed based on software provided to the at least one controller. The at least one controller is also capable of controlling the plurality of switches based upon the information provided by the plurality of signal inputs.

Claims

1. A system for managing power in a device having a power source, the power source including a power storage unit capable of storing an amount of power, the device capable of performing a plurality of functions using the power storage unit alone, the system comprising:

a plurality of switches coupled with the power source, each of the plurality of switches being coupled with a portion of the device;

a plurality of signal inputs for receiving information from the device; and

at least one controller, coupled with the plurality of switches and the plurality of signal inputs, for controlling the plurality of switches to be open or closed based on software provided to the at least one controller, the at least one controller capable of controlling the plurality of switches based upon the information provided by the plurality of signal inputs;

wherein the at least one controller further can control the plurality of switches to control power generation and storage in the power storage unit and to allow power to flow to a first portion of the device only if a signature of the power source and/or the power storage unit is within a deviation of a known signature for the power source and/or the power storage unit.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the device is an automotive system.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the automotive system includes a truck tractor.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the device includes a satellite.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the device includes a boat.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of switches include a plurality of solid state switches.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the plurality of solid state switches include a plurality of MOSFETs.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of internal sensors coupled with the at least one controller, the at least one controller capable of controlling the plurality of switches based on data from the plurality of internal sensors.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of signal outputs for providing a plurality of control signals to the device.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one controller toggles the plurality of switches.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the at least one controller toggles the plurality of switches to eliminate in-rush current.

12. A method for managing power in a device having a power source, the power source including a power storage unit capable of storing an amount of power, the device capable of performing a plurality of functions using the power storage unit alone, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of switches coupled with the power source, each of the plurality of switches being coupled with a portion of the device;

providing a plurality of signal inputs for receiving information from the device; and

providing at least one controller, coupled with the plurality of switches and the plurality of signal inputs, for controlling the plurality of switches to be open or closed based on software provided to the at least one controller, the at least one controller capable of controlling the plurality of switches based upon the information provided by the plurality of signal inputs;

wherein the at least one controller further can control the plurality of switches to control power generation and storage in the power storage unit and to allow power to flow to a first portion of the device only if a signature of the power source and/or the power storage unit is within a deviation of a known signature for the power source and/or the power storage unit.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the device is an automotive system.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the automotive system includes a truck tractor.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the device includes a satellite.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the device includes a boat.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the plurality of switches include a plurality of solid state switches.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the plurality of solid state switches include a plurality of MOSFETs.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

providing a plurality of internal sensors coupled with the at least one controller, the at least one controller capable of controlling the plurality of switches based on data from the plurality of internal sensors.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

providing a plurality of signal outputs for providing a plurality of control signals to the device.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the at least one controller toggles the plurality of switches.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the at least one controller toggles the plurality of switches to eliminate in-rush current.

23. A method for managing power in a device having a power source, the power source including a power storage unit capable of storing an amount of power, the device capable of performing a plurality of functions using the power storage unit alone, the method comprising the steps of:

utilizing a plurality of switches and at least one controller to control power being stored by the power source, each of the plurality of switches being coupled with the power source and a portion of the device, the at least one controller being coupled with the plurality of switches and a plurality of signal inputs, the plurality of signal inputs a plurality of signal inputs for receiving information from the device, the at least one controller controlling the plurality of switches to be open or closed based on software provided to the at least one controller, the at least one controller capable of controlling the plurality of switches based upon the information provided by plurality of signal inputs;

wherein the at least one controller further can control the plurality of switches to control power generation and storage in the power storage unit and to allow power to flow to a first portion of the device only if a signature of the power source and/or the power storage unit is within a deviation of a known signature for the power source and/or the power storage unit.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the device is an automotive system.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the automotive system includes a truck tractor.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the device includes a satellite.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein the device includes a boat.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein the plurality of switches include a plurality of solid state switches.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the plurality of solid state switches include a plurality of MOSFETs.

30. The method of claim 23 wherein the controlling step further includes the step of:

utilizing the at least one controller to control the a plurality of switches using data from a plurality of internal sensors coupled with the at least one controller.

31. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of:

controlling a plurality of sections of the device by providing a plurality of control signals to the plurality of sections of the device using a plurality of signal outputs.

32. The method of claim 23 wherein the at least one controller toggles the plurality of switches.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the at least one controller toggles the plurality of switches to eliminate in-rush current.