Power sharing system including rechargeable power source

• US 6,680,547 B1
• Filed: 08/01/2002
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovations Electrical LC
• Original Assignee: Innovations Electrical LC
• Inventors: Dailey, Christopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhane, Adolf D.
• Application Number:
  US10/210,721
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 307/18, 307/22, 307/23, 307/24, 307/29, 307/52, 307/62, 307/31
• US Class Current: 307/31
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/28 Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems

Abstract

A power sharing system is provided for powering a plurality of loads using line voltage and a rechargeable source. Each load can be coupled to either the line voltage or the rechargeable source by means of a power source selector switch coupled to each load. A programmable controller is coupled to each power source selector switch to control a position thereof to maximize usage of the rechargeable source based on power requirements of the loads. The power sharing system can also recharge its rechargeable source during prescribed “off peak” times, and can provide power to the loads during times of power outages.

Claims

1. A system for powering a plurality of loads, comprising:

a power supply including rechargeable DC batteries coupled to an inverter/charger circuit that converts a supplied AC voltage to a DC voltage to charge said DC batteries, and that converts a DC output voltage from said DC batteries to an AC output voltage when said DC batteries are discharging;

first means having an input port coupled to an AC voltage source and having an output port, said first means being programmable with at least one selected time period, said first means coupling said AC voltage source to said output port during a non-selected time period that is different than said selected time period and said first means uncoupling said AC voltage source from said output port during said selected time period;

second means coupled to said output port for sensing thereon one of a normal AC voltage and an inadequate AC voltage, said second means including a switch coupled between said output port and said inverter/charger circuit for selectively being placed in one of a first position when said normal AC voltage is sensed and a second position when said inadequate AC voltage is sensed wherein, in said first position, said switch is positioned to supply said normal AC voltage to said inverter/charger circuit as said supplied AC voltage wherein said normal AC voltage is available across said switch, and wherein, in said second position, said switch is positioned to receive said AC output voltage from said inverter/charger circuit as said DC batteries discharge wherein said AC output voltage is available across said switch; and

third means coupled to said AC voltage source, said switch in said second position, and the plurality of loads,

said third means including a power source selector switch coupled to each of the plurality of loads and positioned to be coupled to one of said AC voltage source and said switch in said second position, wherein one of said normal AC voltage and said AC output voltage is available across said power source selector switch,

said third means further including a programmable means coupled to each said power source selector switch for controlling a position thereof based on power requirements of the plurality of loads, wherein each said power source selector switch is individually controlled to maximize usage of said AC output voltage supplied by said power supply.

2. A system as in claim 1 further comprising at least one auxiliary charging circuit coupled directly to said DC batteries for coupling an auxiliary source of current to said DC batteries for charging said DC batteries.

3. A system as in claim 2 wherein said auxiliary source is a DC source, and wherein said auxiliary charging circuit is a DC-to-DC charging circuit.

4. A system as in claim 2 wherein said auxiliary source is an AC source, and wherein said auxiliary charging circuit is an AC-to-DC charging circuit.

5. A system as in claim 1 wherein said DC batteries comprise at least one deep cycle battery.

6. A system as in claim 1 further comprising a modem coupled to said first means for enabling remote programming of said at least one selected period of time.

7. A system for powering a plurality of loads, comprising:

a power supply including rechargeable DC batteries coupled to an inverter/charger circuit that converts a supplied AC voltage to a DC voltage to charge said DC batteries, and that converts a DC output voltage from said DC batteries to an AC output voltage when said DC batteries are discharging;

first means having an input port coupled to an AC voltage source and having an output port, said first means being programmable with at least one selected time period, said first means coupling said AC voltage source to said output port during a non-selected time period that is different than said selected time period and said first means uncoupling said AC voltage source from said output port during said selected time period;

second means coupled to said output port for sensing thereon one of a normal AC voltage and an inadequate AC voltage, said second means including a switch coupled between said output port and said inverter/charger circuit for selectively being placed in one of a first position when said normal AC voltage is sensed and a second position when said inadequate AC voltage is sensed wherein, in said first position, said switch is positioned to supply said normal AC voltage to said inverter/charger circuit as said supplied AC voltage wherein said normal AC voltage is available across said switch, and wherein, in said second position, said switch is positioned to receive said AC output voltage from said inverter/charger circuit as said DC batteries discharge wherein said AC output voltage is available across said switch;

a power source selector switch coupled to each of the plurality of loads and positionable to be coupled to one of said AC voltage source and said switch in said second position, wherein one of said normal AC voltage and said AC output voltage is available across each said power source selector switch; and

a programmable device coupled to each said power source selector switch, said programmable device further being coupled to said switch in said second position to monitor said AC output voltage provided by said power supply, said programmable device individually controlling each said power source selector switch to maximize usage of said AC output voltage based on power requirements of each of the plurality of loads requiring power and said AC output voltage.

8. A system as in claim 7 further comprising means coupled to each of the plurality of loads for measuring said power requirements upon activation thereof.

9. A system as in claim 7 wherein said power requirements are known power requirements and wherein said programmable device is programmed with said known power requirements.

10. A system as in claim 9 further comprising a sensing means coupled to at least one of the plurality of loads for detecting a power draw thereby and for generating a signal indicative thereof, said sensing means being coupled to said programmable device for providing said signal thereto wherein said programmable device evaluates said known power requirements of the one of the plurality of loads experiencing said power draw in order to determine a position of said power source selector switch associated with the one of the plurality of loads experiencing the power draw.

11. A system as in claim 10 wherein said sensing means comprises a current transformer.

12. A system as in claim 7 wherein each said power source selector switch has a bias to be coupled to said AC voltage source, and wherein said bias can be overcome by said programmable device whereby said power source selector switch is coupled to said switch in said second position.

13. A system as in claim 7 further comprising at least one auxiliary charging circuit coupled directly to said DC batteries for coupling an auxiliary source of current to said DC batteries for charging said DC batteries.

14. A system as in claim 13 wherein said auxiliary source is a DC source, and wherein said auxiliary charging circuit is a DC-to-DC charging circuit.

15. A system as in claim 13 wherein said auxiliary source is an AC source, and wherein said auxiliary charging circuit is an AC-to-DC charging circuit.

16. A system as in claim 7 wherein said DC batteries comprise at least one deep cycle battery.

17. A system as in claim 7 further comprising a modem coupled to said first means for enabling remote programming of said at least one selected period of time.

18. A system for powering a plurality of loads with each of the plurality of loads having a priority assigned thereto, said system comprising:

a power supply including rechargeable DC batteries coupled to an inverter/charger circuit that converts a supplied AC voltage to a DC voltage to charge said DC batteries, and that converts a DC output voltage from said DC batteries to an AC output voltage when said DC batteries are discharging;

first means having an input port coupled to an AC voltage source and having an output port, said first means being programmable with at least one selected time period, said first means coupling said AC voltage source to said output port during a non-selected time period that is different than said selected time period and said first means uncoupling said AC voltage source from said output port during said selected time period;

second means coupled to said output port for sensing thereon one of a normal AC voltage and an inadequate AC voltage, said second means including a switch coupled between said output port and said inverter/charger circuit for selectively being placed in one of a first position when said normal AC voltage is sensed and a second position when said inadequate AC voltage is sensed wherein, in said first position, said switch is positioned to supply said normal AC voltage to said inverter/charger circuit as said supplied AC voltage wherein said normal AC voltage is available across said switch, and wherein, in said second position, said switch is positioned to receive said AC output voltage from said inverter/charger circuit as said DC batteries discharge wherein said AC output voltage is available across said switch;

a power source selector switch coupled to each of the plurality of loads and normally coupled to said AC voltage source wherein said normal AC voltage is available thereacross, each said power source selector switch being positionable for coupling to said switch in said second position wherein said AC output voltage is available thereacross; and

a programmable device coupled to each said power source selector switch, said programmable device further being coupled to said switch in said second position to monitor said AC output voltage provided by said power supply, said programmable device individually controlling a position of each said power source selector switch to maximize usage of said AC output voltage based on i) the priority of each of the plurality of loads requiring power, ii) power requirements of each of the plurality of loads requiring power, and iii) said AC output voltage.

19. A system as in claim 18 wherein the priority associated with each of the plurality of loads is indicative of a time delay, and wherein said programmable device keeps said power source selector switch coupled to said AC voltage source for at least as long said time delay every time each of the plurality of loads initially requires power.

20. A system as in claim 18 further comprising means coupled to each of the plurality of loads for measuring said power requirements upon activation thereof.

21. A system as in claim 18 wherein said power requirements are known power requirements and wherein said programmable device is programmed with said known power requirements.

22. A system as in claim 21 further comprising a sensing means coupled to at least one of the plurality of loads for detecting a power draw thereby and for generating a signal indicative thereof, said sensing means being coupled to said programmable device for providing said signal thereto wherein said programmable device evaluates said known power requirements of the one of the plurality of loads experiencing said power draw in order to determine said position of said power source selector switch associated with the one of the plurality of loads experiencing the power draw.

23. A system as in claim 22 wherein said sensing means comprises a current transformer.

24. A system as in claim 18 further comprising at least one auxiliary charging circuit coupled directly to said DC batteries for coupling an auxiliary source of current to said DC batteries for charging said DC batteries.

25. A system as in claim 24 wherein said auxiliary source is a DC source, and wherein said auxiliary charging circuit is a DC-to-DC charging circuit.

26. A system as in claim 24 wherein said auxiliary source is an AC source, and wherein said auxiliary charging circuit is an AC-to-DC charging circuit.

27. A system as in claim 18 wherein said DC batteries comprise at least one deep cycle battery.

28. A system as in claim 18 further comprising a modem coupled to said first means for enabling remote programming of said at least one selected period of time.

29. A system as in claim 18 further comprising means, coupled between said AC voltage source and said DC batteries, for bypassing said first means to permit charging of said DC batteries using said AC voltage source.