System and method for control for regenerative energy generators
First Claim
1. A system that manages power output from one or more energy generators, the system comprising:
- at least one power controller having an input for connection to an energy generator to receive electrical power generated by the energy generator and an output for connection to an electrical load to provide electrical power to the electrical load, the power controller including;
switching circuitry to set an effective impedance of the energy generator to control a kinematic characteristic of the energy generator that influences motion of a mechanical system, and wherein the switching circuitry is arranged to provide an amount of power to the electrical load that meets a demand of the electrical load while maintaining the set effective impedance of the energy generator, wherein the amount of power provided to the electrical load is unequal to an amount of power provided by the energy generator to the power controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device and system that can dynamically provide variable load on a generator and intelligently distribute generated power to loads and energy storage devices is disclosed. One system includes load profile controllers that employ a switching strategy to dynamically vary the load the generator induces while producing regenerative energy. This switching strategy may allow for a wide dynamic range of configurable damping characteristics, as well as decouple generator damping and the system output power. Multiple load profile controllers can be used together via a communications network, such as a vehicle controller area network (CAN) bus. A central regeneration controller or existing electronic control unit (ECU) can issue commands to change damping performance in different load profile controllers. By networking multiple load profile controllers together in either a distributed or centralized manner, the system may allow for intelligent power routing, coordination of multiple energy-generating devices (such as regenerative shocks and brakes), and improved utilization of on-board energy storage devices.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A system that manages power output from one or more energy generators, the system comprising:
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at least one power controller having an input for connection to an energy generator to receive electrical power generated by the energy generator and an output for connection to an electrical load to provide electrical power to the electrical load, the power controller including; switching circuitry to set an effective impedance of the energy generator to control a kinematic characteristic of the energy generator that influences motion of a mechanical system, and wherein the switching circuitry is arranged to provide an amount of power to the electrical load that meets a demand of the electrical load while maintaining the set effective impedance of the energy generator, wherein the amount of power provided to the electrical load is unequal to an amount of power provided by the energy generator to the power controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A power electronics system for use with a system including an electrical power generator and an electrical load, the power electronics system comprising:
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one or more circuits having different impedance states; one or more switches that connect the electrical power generator to any one of the circuits having different impedance states; and a controller that selectively operates the one or more switches to selectively connect the electrical power generator to one of the circuits to control the average impedance on the electrical power generator, and simultaneously selectively operates the switches to control an amount of electrical power delivered to the electrical load, wherein the amount of electrical power delivered to the electrical load is controlled independently of the average impedance on the electrical power generator. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system comprising:
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at least one electrical power generator operatively linked to a movable component of the system such that adjustment of an effective impedance of the at least one electrical power generator controls the kinematic characteristic of the at least one electrical power generator which affects movement of the movable component; at least one electrical load including one or more electrical components of the system; and a control circuit having an electrical power output to deliver energy to the at least one electrical load and at least one input connected to the at least one electrical power generator, the control circuit including one or more circuits that set an average load across terminals of the at least one electrical power generator, wherein the average load across terminals of the at least one electrical power generator is set independently of an impedance of the at least one electrical load, and wherein the control circuit selectively operates one or more switches to control an amount of electrical power delivered to the electrical load, wherein the amount of electrical power delivered to the electrical load is controlled independently of the effective impedance on the electrical power generator. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A method for controlling power generation and output in a system, comprising:
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providing at least one electrical power generator coupled to a moveable component of a mechanical system, wherein adjusting an effective impedance of the at least one electrical power generator controls a kinematic characteristic of the at least one electrical power generator which influences motion of the moveable component; receiving electrical power generated by the at least one electrical power generator where the received electrical power is unequal to electrical power output to the electrical load; and controlling a connection of each of the at least one electrical power generator to a plurality of different impedance states so as to independently control the effective impedance of the at least one electrical power generator and provide a controllable amount of electrical power to the electrical load.
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55. A method for controlling a plurality of regenerative power generators, comprising:
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providing at least one electrical power generator coupled to a respective moveable component of a mechanical system, wherein adjusting an effective impedance of the at least one electrical power generator controls a kinematic characteristic of the at least one electrical power generator which influences motion of the moveable component; selecting a desired kinematic characteristic for the at least one electrical power generator; controlling an effective impedance on each of the at least one electrical power generator based on the selected desired kinematic characteristic; and providing electrical power produced by the at least one electrical power generator to one or more electrical loads such that control of the effective impedance for the at least one electrical power generator is independent of electrical power provided to the one or more electrical loads. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57)
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Specification