Voltage controller

• US 7,705,560 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2006
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NP Johnson Family Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: NP Johnson Family Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Johnson, Neldon P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Berhanu; Samuel
• Application Number:
  US11/504,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20080054327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 320117-127, 307/110
• US Class Current: 320/117
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/16 against electric overloads, e.g. including fuses
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0024 Parallel/serial switching of connection of batteries to charge or load circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/07 using capacitors charged and discharged alternately by semiconductor devices with control electrode , e.g. charge pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A voltage controller having an input distribution network with imbedded input switches, a number of charge storage elements such as capacitors, an output distribution network with imbedded output switches, and a switch actuator which controls the input switches and output switches to provide for the controlled charging and discharging of the charge storage elements.

Claims

1. A voltage controller providing for automated step up or step down of a variable input voltage of an input DC power source to a desired output voltage with a desired output voltage tolerance, the voltage controller comprising:

a) input voltage interface for receiving DC power from the input source at the input voltage;

b) input voltage sensor;

c) plurality of variable voltage, transient charge storage elements;

d) input distribution network;

e) plurality of input switches embedded in the input distribution network providing for each charge storage element to be selectively operated in one of four input operating configurations, input individual configuration with connection of the charge storage element alone to the input voltage interface, input parallel configuration with connection of the charge storage element to the input voltage interface in parallel with one or more other charge storage elements, input series configuration with connection of the charge storage element to the input voltage interface in series with one or more other charges storage elements, or input disconnected configuration with disconnection of the charge storage element from the input voltage interface;

f) output voltage interface;

g) output distribution network;

h) plurality of output switches imbedded in the output distribution network providing for each charge storage element to be selectively operated in on of four output operating configurations, output individual configuration with connection of the charge storage element alone to the output voltage interface, output parallel configuration with connection of the charge storage element to the output voltage interface in parallel with one or more other charge storage elements, output series configuration with connection of the charge storage element to the input voltage interface in series with one or more other charge storage elements, or output disconnected configuration with disconnection of the charge storage element from the output voltage interface; and

i) automated switch actuator communicating with the input voltage sensor and communicating with and controlling the input switches and the output switches and providing for producing the desired output voltage with the desired output voltage tolerance for an output time, based upon the input voltage as measured by the input voltage sensor, the automated switch actuator comprising a digital computer with a stored control algorithm program.

2. Voltage controller as recited in claim 1 further comprising an output voltage sensor in communication with the switch actuator.

3. Voltage controller as recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of storage voltage sensors, one or more storage voltage sensors being installed for each charge storage element.

4. Voltage controller as recited in claim 1 wherein one or more of the charge storage elements is a capacitor.

5. Voltage controller as recited in claim 1 wherein the output switches further comprise a plurality of first polarity switches and a plurality of second polarity switches providing for reversal of polarity of the output voltage.

6. Voltage controller as recited in claim 5 wherein the output switches further comprise a plurality of first output switches and a plurality of second output switches and the switch actuator further provides for the alternating engagement and disengagement of one or more selected first output switches and the corresponding second output switches, and the coordinated alternating disengagement and engagement of corresponding first polarity switches and corresponding second polarity switches, providing for the output voltage to be transformed from DC output to AC output.

7. A voltage controller providing for automated step up or step down of a variable input DC power source to a desired output voltage with a desired output voltage tolerance, the voltage controller comprising:

a) input voltage interface for receiving DC power from an input source at the input voltage;

b) input voltage sensor;

c) plurality of variable voltage, transient charge storage elements;

d) input distribution network connecting the input voltage interface to each charge storage element;

e) plurality of input switches embedded in the input distribution network providing for each charge storage element to be selectively operated in one of four input operating configurations, input individual configuration with connection of the charge storage element alone to the input voltage interface, input parallel configuration with connection of the charge storage element to the input voltage interface in parallel with one or more other charge storage elements, input series configuration with connection of the charge storage element to the input voltage interface in series with one or more other charge storage elements, or input disconnected configuration with disconnection of the charge storage element from the input voltage interface;

f) output voltage interface;

g) output distribution network connecting each of the charge storage elements to the output voltage interface;

h) plurality of output switches imbedded in the output distribution network providing for each charge storage element to be selectively operated in one of four output operating configurations, output individual configuration with connection of the charge storage element alone to the output voltage interface, output parallel configuration with connection of the charge storage element to the output voltage interface in parallel with one or more other charge storage elements, output series configuration with connection of the charge storage element to the input voltage interface in series with one or more other charge storage elements, or output disconnected configuration with disconnection of the charge storage element from the output voltage interface, the output switches further comprising a plurality of first polarity switches and a plurality of second polarity switches providing for reversal of polarity of the output voltage, and the output switches further comprising a plurality of first output switches and a plurality of second output switches; and

i) automated switch actuator communicating with and controlling the input switches and the output switches and providing for producing the desired output voltage with the desired output voltage tolerance for an output time, based upon the input voltage as measured by the input voltage sensor, the automated switch actuator comprising a digital computer with a stored control algorithm program, and the switch actuator further providing for the alternating engagement and disengagement of one or more selected first output switches and the corresponding second output switches, and the coordinated alternating disengagement and engagement of corresponding first polarity switches and corresponding second polarity switches, providing for the output voltage to be transformed from DC output to AC output.

8. Voltage controller as recited in claim 7 further comprising an output voltage sensor in communication with the switch actuator.

9. Voltage controller as recited in claim 7 further comprising a plurality of storage voltage sensors, one or more storage voltage sensors being installed for each charge storage element.

10. Voltage controller as recited in claim 7 wherein one or more of the charge storage elements is a capacitor.