Power supply methods and configurations

• US 7,002,265 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Patrick Henry Potega
• Original Assignee: Patrick Henry Potega
• Inventors: Potega, Patrick Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): DeBeradinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US10/262,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20030085621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 307/149, 307/66, 340/636, 320/134, 320/136, 702/66
• US Class Current: 307/149
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/36 Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3835 involving only voltage measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/40 The network being an on-board power network, i.e. within a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00041 in response to measured battery parameters, e.g. voltage, current or temperature profile
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A look-up table assists a source of logic of an apparatus in determining the power requirements of an unknown battery-powered device, so that a configurable power supply adjusts its output to provide the correct power to the device. The functions of the look-up table, in conjunction with generic templates and update-able historical information, if available, are substantially based on determining a “power signature” of the device. As a secondary function, the look-up table enables detection of battery charging activity and, when necessary, provides various means of disabling charging operations. More than one look-up table is available, and a look-up table can be located at any inter-connected device, apparatus, or power source. Inter-device communications further enhance the functionality of the look-up table, especially for collaborative data-acquisition.

Claims

1. A method of creating a look-up table for use with a processor-controllable-output-voltage power supply based on observable power characteristics of hardware devices within an electrical device, said look-up table being used to assist in determining the optimal output voltage of a connected power supply, and to determine battery charging activity in an electrical device in order to prevent said battery charging, comprising:

configuring a power supply to vary its output voltage by using a source of logic;

turning on an electrical device by supplying voltage from the processor-controlled power supply;

monitoring changes in current-load along a set of conductors from the output of the power supply to an input power port of the electrical device;

capturing detected changes in current-load during a predicted sequence of hardware events occurring within the electrical device;

logging the acquired current values to a first look-up table in the order each of the associated hardware events occur;

comparing the values in the first look-up table to known equivalent historical values;

determining if there is battery charging activity, based on values captured and compared;

issuing a first warning whenever battery charging activity is detected, causing the removing of the battery associated with the electrical device by a user, thus preventing further battery charging;

issuing a second warning whenever battery charging activity is detected, said warning advising a user of the electrical device that the output of the power supply will be discontinued if the battery pack is not removed, so that the user responds to this warning by removing the battery, thus preventing further battery charging;

issuing an alert to the battery or its charging system whenever battery charging activity is detected, said alert causing the charging circuit to shut down, thus preventing further battery charging,

optional supplementing of the first look-up table with a software utility in the electrical device that is capable of operating associated hardware devices in the electrical device;

running the software utility in the electrical device to turn ON and OFF in a pre-determined series known to equivalent software in the processor-equipped power supply;

communicating the turning ON and OFF of associated hardware devices within the electrical device so that the processor associated with the power supply monitors the sequence of turnings ON and OFF;

capturing at the processor detected changes in current-load during the turning ON and OFF of associated hardware devices within the electrical device;

logging the captured current-load values to a second look-up table in the order each of the associated hardware events occur;

comparing the second look-up table to the first look-up table;

comparing the second and first look-up tables to known equivalent historical values;

updating known historical values, if necessary;

applying the results of the comparing of all look-up tables to the power supply, thus optimizing the output voltage of the power supply;

applying the results of the comparing of all look-up tables, thus determining whether the battery charging circuit in the electrical device is active;

issuing a first warning whenever battery charging activity is detected, causing the removing of the battery associated with the electrical device by a user, thus preventing further battery charging;

issuing a second warning whenever battery charging activity is detected, said warning advising a user of the electrical device that the output of the power supply will be discontinued if the battery pack is not removed, so that the user responds to this warning by removing the battery, thus preventing further battery charging;

issuing an alert to the battery or its charging system whenever battery charging activity is detected, said alert causing the charging circuit to shut down, thus preventing further battery charging,

monitoring the ongoing activities of hardware devices in the electrical device;

comparing of the current-loads generated by the ongoing hardware activities to values in all look-up tables, thus determining whether the battery charging circuit later becomes active;

reactivating software on the electrical device, if necessary, to re-capture baseline data to be logged into additional updated look-up tables, as an optional means;

issuing a first warning whenever battery charging activity is detected, causing the removing of the battery associated with the electrical device by a user, thus preventing further battery charging;

issuing a second warning whenever battery charging activity is detected, said warning advising a user of the electrical device that the output of the power supply will be discontinued if the battery pack is not removed, so that the user responds to this warning by removing the battery, thus preventing further battery charging;

issuing an alert to the battery or its charging system whenever battery charging activity is detected, said alert causing the charging circuit to shut down, thus preventing further battery charging.

2. The method set forth in claim 1, further including said processor issuing a warning to a user of the electrical device whenever battery charging activity is detected, said processor displaying the warning on a screen located either at the electrical device, or at the power supply, said warning indicating to said user that said power supply will shut down.

3. The method set forth in claim 1, wherein said comparing and determining further includes said processor executing program instructions based on an intelligent logic platform selected from the group consisting of fuzzy logic, and adaptive neural processing, and a rules-based expert system.

6. The method set forth in claim 1, further including said logic source issuing a warning to a user of the device that, because battery charging activity has been detected, said power supply will shut down.

4. The method set foth in claim, wherein said monitoring and capturing changes in current includes an analog-to-digital converter which delivers computer-readable power-related values to said processor.

5. A method of applying a look-up table for determining the output of a configurable power supply for delivering an initial voltage signal to a previously unknown battery-powered device, comprising:

providing a source of logic for varying the configurable output of said power supply, said logic source also for transferring data;

monitoring current changes along a set of conductors that electrically couple the output of the said power supply to an input power port at the electrical device, said port further providing power and data access to at least one of one or more internal circuits and sub-systems of said device;

acquiring detected changes in current during an anticipated sequence of electrically distinguishable operations of said circuits and sub-systems at the device, and one of the anticipated operations being an activation of the devices'"'"'s battery-charging sub-system;

storing in a memory-based template an acquired value for each detected change in current, and

comparing the template values to a substantial matrix of load values expressed as input-voltage values of known device classes and their anticipated sequential operations in said look-up table;

thereby determining the initial voltage signal for the power supply to deliver to the now known device, and further,

if the anticipated battery-charging sub-system is detected as being active, the logic source transfers an alert signal to the device, thereby disabling the charging sub-system.

7. The method set forth in claim 5, wherein said acquiring detected changes in current further including a utility program at the device for providing a predictable sequence of turning said circuits and sub-systems ON and OFF.

8. The method set forth in claim 5, further including said look-up table'"'"'s matrix being updated by program instructions based on an intelligent logic system selected from the group consisting of fuzzy logic, and adaptive neural processing, and a rules-based expert system.

9. The method set forth in claim 5, wherein said logic source is at device, instead of at said apparatus, for performing said monitoring, acquiring, storing, comparing, and determining;

said device being capable of disabling its battery-charging sub-system, and

said logic source further including a communications sub-system for transferring signals to said apparatus, said sub-system selected from the group consisting of infrared, and acoustics, and radio frequency, and powerline modulaion;

whereby said device remotely configures the output of said power supply.

10. An apparatus for modifying a memorized template into a device-specific look-up table for delivering an optimized power signal to a previously unknown battery-powered device, comprising:

a processor-controlled power supply capable of being configured to output a wide range of power signals;

said process also provisioned for acquiring power signals along conductors terminating at an interface for electrically coupling said power supply to an input power port at the device;

program instructions at the device for controlling its associated circuits and sub-systems, turning each ON and OFF in a pre-determined sequence;

said template primarily comprised of a memorized matrix of generic pre-determined sequences of current-based values, each sequence representing a distinguishable class of devices from which said processor is anticipated acquiring power signals so that, as said devices'"'"'s, program instructions cause each circuit and sub-system to sequentially turn ON and OFF, the processor acquires each change in current and stores the value therefrom in said template;

said processor executing further program instructions for applying the stored current values to said look-up table, based on pre-defined rules for comparing acquired values and their sequential order to both the pre-determined values and sequences, as well as any known equivalent historical values from stored templates of specific previously-powered devices, in order to identify a characteristic profile of input voltages unique to said device;

said processor performing a computation for modifying said template into a look-up table based on most-recently-acquired current values and said pre-defined rules for determining a voltage value to which to configure the optimized outpu signal of said power supply;

said look-up table also providing at least one anticipated change in current as an alert state based on detecting an active charging circuit at the device, and

as said power supply delivers its power signal to the now-known device, the processor continues to acquire current values and compares them to anticipated changes thereto.

11. The apparatus set forth in claim 10, wherein said processor detects a change in current attributable to said active charging circuit and said program instructions thereupon determine that battery charging is allowed, thereby providing said device with a reliable alternative power source to supplement said power supply.

12. The apparatus set forth in claim 10, further including a processor at said device for executing program instructions that perform bi-directional communication with said apparatus, said program instructions supporting a communications protocol selected from the group consisting of infrared, and acoustics, and radio frequency, and powerline modulation.

13. The apparatus set forth in claim 10, wherein said known equivalent historical values further include a memorized second look-up table of generic voltage values.

14. The apparatus set forth in claim 10, further including said battery providing power to said device while said processor incrementally increases the output of said power supply until a voltage is achieved that turns on the device.

15. The apparatus set forth in claim 10, wherein said performing a computation further includes said processor executing program instructions based on additive or subtractive mathematical constructs.

16. A method of applying a look-up table for detecting battery charging activity at a previously unknown battery-powered device, comprising:

providing a source of logic for controlling the configurable output power signals of an external power supply,

providing program instructions at said logic source for controlling said output;

providing further program instructions for inter-device data communications;

providing an A/D converter accessible to the logic circuit;

providing further program instructions for acquiring analog signals;

monitoring current flow along a set of conductors that electrically couples the output of the said power supply to an input power port at the electrical device, said port further providing power and data access to internal circuits and sub-systems of said device;

acquiring detected changes in current at the A/D converter as said power supply delivers its power signal to said device, said changes being anticipated by a look-up table comprised of a substantial matrix of memorized current values representing known sequences of electrically distinguishable operations of said circuits and sub-sytems, and a generic battery-charging template;

anticipating a specific device operation characterized by a distinct voltage and current spike that the look-up table identifies as an alert state resulting from activation of the device'"'"'s battery-charging sub-system;

comparing the acquired current values to those of the look-up table; and

continuing said monitoring, acquiring, and comparing;

whereby, if said battery-charging sub-system activates, said distinct spike is thereupon detected and, by being identified in the look-up table as said alert state, is distinguished as actual battery charging activity at the now-known device.

17. The method set forth in claim 16, wherein, upon said anticipated battery charging operation being detected, said program instructions for controlling said power supply shut down the output therefrom, causing said device'"'"'s battery to operate as a backup power source of the device.

18. The method set forth in claim 16, wherein said alert results in said charging activity being disabled by said logic source transferring said alert to said device via a communication sub-system selected from the group consisting of infrared, and radio frequency, and powerline modulation, and acoustics.

19. The method set forth in claim 16, wherein said anticipated battery charging activity based on values acquired and compared further including said logic source comparing known generic current values to those in a second look-up table, then performing additive or subtractive computations for determining a result which indicates that the additional power being drawn in attributed to the activated battery charging sub-system.