System and method for providing step-down power conversion using an intelligent switch

• US 6,744,149 B1
• Filed: 09/01/2000
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• 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): Patel, Rajnikant B.
• Application Number:
  US09/654,217
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 323/282, 323/283, 323/284, 323/286, 323/222, 363/131, 363/16, 307/30, 307/31, 307/36-38, 307/10.1, 307/10.7, 307/10.8, 361/63
• 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 1/06 Two-wire systems
• 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 7/1438 in combination with power supplies for loads other than batteries

Abstract

A method and system for managing power in a device having a power source is described. The method and 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. The controller toggles the switch to provide pulse-width modulation, thereby stepping-down a first power to a desired power provided to the portion of the device. In another aspect, the method and system include loading software for providing pulse width modulation in at least one controller of a system. The system includes at least one switch coupled with the power source, a portion of the device and the controller. In this aspect, the method and system also include utilizing the at least one controller for toggling the switch to provide pulse-width modulation based on the software. Thus, a first power is stepped down to a desired 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:

at least one 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 software provided to the controller; and

at least one internal sensor coupled with the at least one switch and the at least one controller, the at least one internal sensor for determining a state of the at least one switch;

wherein the controller toggles the switch to provide pulse-width modulation, thereby stepping-down a first power to a desired power provided to the portion of the device; and

wherein the controller controls the switch based on the state.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one signal input for receiving information relating to the device.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the power source includes an alternator.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the portion of the device includes a battery.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising at least one signal input for receiving information relating to the battery and the alternator.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the pulse width modulation provided by the controller reduces the first power provided by a spike to the desired power.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein the pulse width modulation provided by the alternator prevents a second power from being drawn from the alternator, the second power capable of damaging the alternator.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one switch, the at least one controller and the at least one internal sensor are integrated into a single module.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the at least one internal sensor includes a temperature sensor.

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

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

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

(c) providing at least one internal sensor coupled with the at least one switch and the at least one controller, the at least one internal sensor for determining a state of the at least one switch;

wherein the controller toggles the switch to provide pulse-width modulation, thereby stepping-down a first power to a desired power provided to the portion of the device; and

wherein the controller controls the switch based on the state.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:

(c) providing at least one signal input for receiving information relating to the device.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the power source includes an alternator.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the portion of the device includes a battery.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

(c) providing at least one signal input for receiving information relating to the battery and the alternator.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the pulse width modulation provided by the controller reduces the first power provided by a spike to the desired power.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the pulse width modulation provided by the alternator prevents a second power from being drawn from the alternator, the second power capable of damaging the alternator.

18. The method of claim 8 wherein the at least one switch, the at least one controller and the at least one internal sensor are integrated into a single module.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the at least one internal sensor includes a temperature sensor.

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

(a) loading software for providing pulse width modulation in at least one controller of a system, the system including at least one switch coupled with the power source, a portion of the device and the controller, the system also including at least one internal sensor coupled with the at least one switch and the at least one controller, the at least one internal sensor for determining a state of the at least one switch; and

(b) utilizing the at least one controller for toggling the switch to provide pulse-width modulation based on the software, thereby stepping-down a first power to a desired power provided to the portion of the device and to control the switch based on the state.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one switch, the at least one controller and the at least one internal sensor are integrated into a single module.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the at least one internal sensor includes a temperature sensor.