Power managers and methods for operating power managers
First Claim
1. A power manager comprising:
- a power bus;
a plurality of device ports each configured to operably connect with an external power device;
a first power channel comprising a first conductive path disposed between each device port and the power bus;
a first controllable switching element disposed along the first conductive path for selectively connecting and disconnecting each device port to and from the power bus over the first power channel;
a second power channel comprising a second conductive path disposed between each device port and the power bus and a second controllable switching element disposed along the second conductive path for selectively connecting and disconnecting each device port to and from the power bus over the second power channel;
a data processing device and associated memory in communication with each of the first and second controllable switches; and
,energy management schema operating on the power manager for independently operating each of the first and second controllable switches.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various aspects of invention provide portable power manager operating methods. One aspect of the invention provides a method for operating a power manager having a plurality of device ports for connecting with external power devices and a power bus for connecting with each device port. The method includes: disconnecting each device port from the power bus when no external power device is connected to the device port; accessing information from newly connected external power devices; determining if the newly connected external power devices can be connected to the power bus without power conversion; if not, determining if the newly connected external power devices can be connected to the power bus over an available power converter; and if so, configuring the available power converter for suitable power conversion.
69 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A power manager comprising:
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a power bus; a plurality of device ports each configured to operably connect with an external power device; a first power channel comprising a first conductive path disposed between each device port and the power bus; a first controllable switching element disposed along the first conductive path for selectively connecting and disconnecting each device port to and from the power bus over the first power channel; a second power channel comprising a second conductive path disposed between each device port and the power bus and a second controllable switching element disposed along the second conductive path for selectively connecting and disconnecting each device port to and from the power bus over the second power channel; a data processing device and associated memory in communication with each of the first and second controllable switches; and
,energy management schema operating on the power manager for independently operating each of the first and second controllable switches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for operating a power manager having a plurality of device ports, a power bus, two or more power channels disposed between each device port and the power bus, controllable switches disposed along each power channel for connecting and disconnecting the device port to the power bus over each power channel, a processing device for controlling the controllable switches and a communication channel disposed between each device port and the processing device for communicating with external power devices connected with each device port, the method comprising the steps of:
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identifying power sources connected to device ports; selecting a power source for powering the power bus; connecting the selected power source to the power bus; and
,disconnecting any non-selected power sources from the power bus. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method for operating a power manger having a plurality of device ports for connecting with external power devices and a power bus for connecting with each device port comprising the steps of:
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accessing information from each external power device connected to one of the plurality of device ports; characterizing each external power device as one of a power load and a power or energy source; assigning each power or energy source a source priority; using the source priority assignment to select one or more power or energy sources to connect to the power bus; disconnecting any non-selected power or energy sources from the power bus; and exclusively using the selected power or energy sources to deliver power to the power bus. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification