Method, a system, a computer-readable medium, and a power controlling apparatus for applying and distributing power

• US 8,086,355 B1
• Filed: 02/27/2008
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Embedded Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Global Embedded Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Stanczak, Mark Stanley, Smutek, Louis Stephen, Brown, Alan Wayne, Backus, David Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): HARTMAN JR, RONALD D
• Application Number:
  US12/072,688
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 363/21.11, 363/21.18, 700/286, 700/291, 700/297, 323282-283
• US Class Current: 700/286
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0866 comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0888 DC/DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 3/02 Regulating voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0092 concerning the data processing means, e.g. expert systems, neural networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/10 additionally responsive to some other abnormal electrical conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/207 also responsive to under-voltage window comparators for indication G01R19/165
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/04 responsive to abnormal temperature specially adapted for electric machines H02H7/0852
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/32 Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/36 Means for starting or stopping converters

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to power management and the like, and more particularly, to an apparatus, a system, a method, and a computer-readable medium for providing power controlling functionality to generate configurable power signals and to deliver power during fault conditions. In at least some embodiments, a power control unit can generate power signals having configurable attributes as a function of a mode of operation, a fault type, and the like.

Claims

1. A power control unit comprising:

a first portion of memory configured to store data representing operational profiles for generating a power signal as a function of a parameter;

a mode controller configured to select an operational profile from the operational profiles to establish a selected operational profile;

a waveform control module configured to generate the power signal in accordance with the selected operational profile;

a second portion of memory configured to store data representing fault profiles that include thresholds for determining types of faults; and

a fault detector configured to;

detect a fault based on the fault profiles, and to

determine whether the fault is associated with a first subset of faults or a second subset of faults, and to

perform a fault action.

2. The power control unit of claim 1 further comprising:

a power source input terminal configured to receive power, wherein the waveform control module is further configured to;

modify an amount of the power to provide a portion of the power in association with the power signal.

3. The power control unit of claim 2 wherein the waveform control module is further configured to modulate a duty cycle of the power signal to provide the portion of the power as specified by the selected operational profile.

4. The power control unit of claim 1 wherein the waveform control module is further configured to include a power-on portion of a waveform for the power signal and a power-off portion of the waveform for the power signal.

5. The power control unit of claim 1 wherein the first subset of faults includes magnitude-based faults and the second subset of faults includes time-based faults.

6. The power control unit of claim 1 further comprising:

a waveform control module configured to generate another power signal as the fault action.

7. A method of applying power to a power sink comprising:

selecting an operational profile to form a selected operational profile to deliver power to a power sink;

generating a power signal having a waveform shaped as a function of the selected operational profile;

transmitting the power signal to the power sink;

characterizing one or more parameters associated with the power sink to determine a characterized parameter, the one or more parameters influencing the operation of the power sink; and

determining whether the characterized parameter is associated with an alternate mode of operation.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein transmitting the power signal comprises:

applying the power signal to one or more output terminals configured to provide power to the power sink.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein generating the power signal comprises:

shaping a portion of the waveform for the power signal to have a rate of change specified by the operational profile; and

forming another portion of the waveform for the power signal to include an amplitude specified by the operational profile.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein generating the power signal comprises:

generating a periodic waveform for the power signal as specified by the operational profile.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein generating the power signal comprises:

generating a pulse width modulated signal for the power signal as specified by the operational profile.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein selecting the operational profile comprises:

selecting a first operational profile for shaping the waveform for applying power to a motor.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein generating the power signal comprises:

shaping the waveform to include a power-on portion of the waveform and a power-off portion of the waveform as specified by the operational profile.

14. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

accepting an input to modify the waveform to form a modified waveform.

15. The method of claim 7 wherein the alternate mode of operation includes a fault action.

16. The method of claim 7 wherein determining whether the characterized parameter is associated with the alternate mode of operation comprises:

determining that the value of the characterized parameter is non-compliant;

determining a level of performance of the power sink; and

initiating a corrective action to resolve the level of performance.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein initiating a corrective action comprises:

selecting an alternate operational profile to form an alternate waveform that is configured to influence the power sink to operate in a normal mode of operation; and

applying the alternate operational profile.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein applying the alternate operational profile further comprises:

modifying the value of another characterized parameter to modify the level of performance.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein modifying the value of the another characterized parameter further comprises:

stopping the generation of the power signal.

20. A method of applying power to a power sink comprising:

selecting an operational profile to form a selected operational profile to deliver power to a power sink;

generating a power signal having a waveform shaped as a function of the selected operational profile;

transmitting the power signal to the power sink;

determining that a power control unit is in a test mode of operation;

selecting a test mode profile as the operational profile;

generating a test mode waveform as the waveform; and

applying the test mode waveform to the power sink.