Self-learning power management system and method

• US 6,635,974 B1
• Filed: 09/01/2000
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated, Westmont Venture Partners, LLC, CNF Ventures, LLC (XPO, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Midtronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Thomsen, Jes, Karuppana, Samy V., Jetha, Aly Amirali
• Primary Examiner(s): Toatley, Jr., Gregory J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DeBeradinis, Robert L
• Application Number:
  US09/653,682
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 307/140, 307/134, 307/10.1, 361/62, 361/63, 361/64, 361/66
• US Class Current: 307/140
• 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 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters

Abstract

A method and system for controlling power to a cranking subsystem in a device having a power source is disclosed. The method and system include providing at least one switch and providing at least one controller. The switch is coupled with the power source. The at least one controller is coupled with the switch. The at least one controller is for controlling the at least one switch to be open or closed based on a signature of a behavior of a portion of the device. Thus, power is controlled to the portion of the device based on the signature of the portion of the device. In one aspect, the method and system include monitoring a portion of the device to determine a behavior of the portion of the device. In this aspect, the method and system include comparing the behavior of the portion of the device to a signature for the portion of the device. The method and system also include utilizing the at least one controller to operate at least one switch based on the behavior of the portion of the device and the signature of the portion of the device.

Claims

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

at least one switch coupled with the power source; and

at least one controller coupled with the switch, the at least one controller for controlling the at least one switch to be open or closed based on a signature of a behavior of a portion of the device, thereby controlling power to the portion of the device based on the signature of the portion of the device;

at least one signal input for receiving data relating to the behavior of the portion of the device, the at least one signal input allowing the at least one controller to monitor the portion of the device and compare the data to the signature for the portion of the device; and

wherein the signature of the portion of the device is determined by monitoring the portion of the device remote from the at least one switch while power is provided to the portion of the device, thereby allowing the system to learn the signature of the portion of the device;

wherein the portion of the device includes a battery.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the signature of the portion of the device is loaded into the at least one controller.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the portion of the device further includes an alternator and wherein the data includes current through the alternator for particular time.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the portion of the device further includes an alternator and wherein the data includes voltage output by the alternator for particular time.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one controller operates the at least one switch based upon the deviation between the data and the signature for the portion of the device.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the signature further includes an ideal charge for the battery.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the power supply further includes an alternator, wherein the at least one switch is coupled between the alternator and the battery, and wherein the at least one switch is toggled in order to provide the ideal charge for the battery.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the device is an automotive system and the power supply includes at least one alternator.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein an alarm can be provided based upon the signature.

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

(a) providing at least one switch coupled with the power source; and

(b) providing at least one controller coupled with the switch, the at least one controller for controlling the at least one switch to be open or closed based on a signature of a behavior of a portion of the device, thereby controlling power to the portion of the device based on the signature of the portion of the device;

(c) monitoring the behavior of the portion of the device remote from the at least one switch while power is provided to the portion of the device to obtain the signature;

(d) providing at least one signal input for receiving data relating to the behavior of the portion of the device, the at least one signal input allowing the at least one controller to monitor the portion of the device and compare the data to the signature for the portion of the device; and

(e) wherein the portion of the device further includes a battery.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the signature of the portion of the device is loaded into the at least one controller.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the portion of the device further includes an alternator and wherein the data includes current through the alternator for particular time.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the portion of the device further includes an alternator and wherein the data includes voltage output by the alternator for particular time.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one controller operates the at least one switch based upon the deviation between the data and the signature for the portion of the device.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the signature further includes an ideal charge for the battery.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the power supply further includes an alternator, wherein the at least one switch is coupled between the alternator and the battery, and wherein the at least one switch is toggled in order to provide the ideal charge for the battery.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein an alarm can be provided based upon the signature.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the device is an automotive system and the power supply includes at least one alternator and at least one battery.

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

at least one switch coupled with the power source;

at least one controller coupled with the switch, the at least one controller for controlling the at least one switch to be open or closed based on a signature of a behavior of a portion of the device, thereby controlling power to the portion of the device based on the signature of the portion of the device;

wherein the signature of the portion of the device is determined by monitoring the portion of the device remote from the at least one switch while power is provided to the portion of the device, thereby allowing the system to learn the signature of the portion of the device; and

wherein an alarm can be provided based upon the signature.

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

(a) monitoring a portion of the device to determine a behavior of the portion of the device;

(b) comparing the behavior of the portion of the device to a signature for the portion of the device; and

(c) utilizing at least one controller to operate at least one switch based on the behavior of the portion of the device and the signature of the portion of the device, the at least one switch being coupled with the power source, the at least one controller and the portion of the device;

(d) determining the signature of the portion of the device, the signature being obtained by monitoring the behavior of the portion of the device remote from the at least one switch while power is supplied to the portion of the device; and

(e) wherein the portion of the device further includes a battery.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the signature of the portion of the device is loaded into the at least one controller.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the signature determining step (d) further includes the steps of:

(d1) obtaining a sample of the behavior of the portion of the device;

(d2) determining whether a sufficient number of samples have been obtained;

(d3) providing the signature of for the portion of the device using the sample if the sufficient number of samples have been obtained; and

(d4) repeating steps (d1) and (d2) if the sufficient number samples have not been obtained.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the comparing step (c) further includes the steps of:

(c1) determining whether a particular deviation exists between the behavior of the portion of the device and the signature of the portion of the device.

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

(e) providing an alarm if the particular deviation exists.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the utilizing step (c) further includes the step of,

(c1) utilizing the at least one controller to open or close the at least one switch based upon the deviation between the data and the signature for the portion of the device.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein the portion of the device further includes an alternator and wherein the monitoring step (a) monitors a current through the alternator for particular time.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein the portion of t he device further includes an alternator and wherein the monitoring step (a) monitors voltage output by the alternator for particular time.

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

(e) using the controller to provide an alarm can be provided based upon the signature and the behavior.

29. The method of claim 20 wherein the signature further includes an ideal charge for the battery.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the power supply further includes an alternator, wherein the at least one switch is coupled between the alternator and the battery, and wherein the at least one switch is toggled in order to provide the ideal charge for the battery.

31. The method of claim 20 wherein the device is an automotive system and the power supply includes at least one alternator and at least one battery.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the comparing step (c) can detect a loss of phase of the at least one alternator.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the comparing step (c) can detect an electrical short or open circuit of the at least one alternator.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein the at least one alternator includes at least one belt and pulley system and wherein the comparing step (c) can detect a failure of the belt and pulley system.

35. The method of claim 20 wherein the portion of the device includes a cranking subsystem and wherein the comparing step (c) can detect a failure of the cranking subsystem.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the comparing step (c) can detect freewheeling of the cranking subsystem.

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

(a) monitoring a portion of the device to determine a behavior of the portion of the device;

(b) comparing the behavior of the portion of the device to a signature for the portion of the device; and

(c) utilizing at least one controller to operate at least one switch based on the behavior of the portion of the device and the signature of the portion of the device, the at least one switch being coupled with the power source, the at least one controller and the portion of the device;

(d) determining the signature of the portion of the device, the signature being obtained by monitoring the behavior of the portion of the device remote from the at least one switch while power is supplied to the portion of the device; and

(e) using the controller to provide an alarm can be provided based upon the signature and the behavior.

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

(a) monitoring a portion of the device to determine a behavior of the portion of the device;

(b) comparing the behavior of the portion of the device to a signature for the portion of the device; and

(c) utilizing at least one controller to operate at least one switch based on the behavior of the portion of the device and the signature of the portion of the device, the at least one switch being coupled with the power source, the at least one controller and the portion of the device;

(d) determining the signature of the portion of the device, the signature being obtained by monitoring the behavior of the portion of the device remote from the at least one switch while power is supplied to the portion of the device; and

wherein the portion of the device includes a cranking subsystem and wherein the comparing step (c) can detect a failure of the cranking subsystem.