Portable power manager operating methods

• US 8,638,011 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2010
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Revision Military Soldier Power, LLC
• Original Assignee: Protonex Technology Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Robinson, Philip T., Dziengeleski, Seth M., Kazmierczak, James D., Holigan, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): AMAYA, CARLOS DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/816,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20110006603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 307/19, 307/23, 307/31, 307/115, 713/300
• US Class Current: 307/115
• 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: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4022 using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network G06F13/4009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• 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 7/02 for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/04 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/04 by static converters controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, e.g. by tap changing H02P13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/04 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

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.

Claims

1. 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 comprising the steps of:

disconnecting each device port from the power bus when no external power device is connected to the device port by operating a different controllable switch to interrupt each power channel disposed between the device port and the power bus;

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;

if so, configuring the available power converter for suitable power conversion, and

connecting selected external devices to the power bus by operating a different controllable switch to complete each power channel disposed between device ports associated with the selected external devices and the power bus.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of generating an error signal for each newly connected external power device that is not compatible for connection to the power bus.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the power manager includes two power channels disposed between each device port and the power bus and wherein one of the two power channels includes a power converter disposed between the device port and the power bus further comprising the steps of:

connecting the newly connected external power devices that can be connected to the power bus without power conversion over a first power channel by operating a first controllable switch to complete the first power channel; and

connecting the newly connected external power devices that can be connected to the power bus over an available power converter over a second power channel that includes the power converter by operating a second controllable switch to complete the second power channel;

wherein the first and second controllable switches are independently operable and only one of the first and second channels is complete.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the newly connected external power devices include a rechargeable energy source and the method further comprises the steps of:

determining if a power source suitable for recharging the rechargeable energy source is operably connected to the power manager; and

one of;

connecting the rechargeable energy source to the power bus for recharging;

connecting the rechargeable energy source to the power bus for discharging; and

not connecting the rechargeable energy source to the power bus.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of connecting the rechargeable energy source to the power bus for recharging further comprises the steps of:

determining if a plurality of rechargeable energy storage devices are operably connected to the power manager; and

if so;

selecting one of the plurality of rechargeable energy storage devices for recharging;

connecting the selected rechargeable energy storage device to the power bus; and

disconnecting the non-selected rechargeable energy storage devices from the power bus.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of connecting the rechargeable energy source to the power bus for recharging further comprises the steps of:

determining if a plurality of rechargeable energy storage devices are operably connected to the power manager; and

if so;

determining a remaining charge value for each of the plurality of rechargeable energy storage devices connected to the power manager;

selecting one of the plurality of rechargeable energy storage devices for recharging according the determined remaining charge values;

connecting the selected rechargeable energy source to the power bus; and

disconnecting the non-selected rechargeable energy storage devices from the power bus.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the selecting step selects the rechargeable energy source with the highest remaining charge value.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of connecting the rechargeable energy storage device to the power bus for discharging further comprises the steps of:

determining if a plurality of rechargeable energy storage devices are operably connected to the power manager; and

if so;

selecting one of the plurality of rechargeable energy storage devices for discharging;

connecting the selected rechargeable energy storage devices to the power bus; and

disconnecting the non-selected rechargeable energy storage devices from the power bus.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of connecting the rechargeable energy source to the power bus for discharging further comprises the steps of:

determining if a plurality of rechargeable energy storage devices are operably connected to the power manager; and

if so;

determining a remaining charge value for each of the plurality of rechargeable energy storage devices connected to the power manager;

selecting one of the plurality of rechargeable energy storage devices for discharging according the determined remaining charge values;

connecting the selected rechargeable energy source to the power bus; and

disconnecting the non-selected rechargeable energy storage devices from the power bus.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the selecting step selects the rechargeable energy source with the lowest remaining charge value.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the newly connected external power devices include a power or energy source and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

determining if a plurality of power and energy sources are operably connected to the power manager; and

if not, connecting the power or energy source to the power bus for powering power loads.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the newly connected external power devices include a power or energy source, the method further comprising the steps of:

determining if a plurality of power and energy sources are operably connected to the power manager; and

if so;

determining a source priority for each of the plurality of power and energy sources;

connecting the power or energy source with the highest source priority to the power bus for powering power loads; and

not connecting the power and energy sources having lower source priorities from the power bus.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

sensing a power characteristic of the power bus;

generating a low power signal in response to the power bus power characteristic falling below a threshold value; and

connecting one or more of the not connected power or energy sources to the power bus in response to the low power signal.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the newly connected external power devices include a power load, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

connecting the power load to the power bus for powering; and

not connecting the power load to the power bus.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the newly connected external devices include a non-rechargeable energy source, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

connecting the non-rechargeable energy source to the power bus for discharging; and

not connecting the non-rechargeable energy source to the power bus.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of accessing information includes:

establishing a network connection and exchanging bi-directional digital data between the newly connected external power devices and a data processing device operating on the power manager; and

,

using the digital data to manage power distribution by the power manager.

17. 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:

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, a power or energy source and a rechargeable energy source and if no rechargeable energy sources are connected;

associating external devices characterized as power loads with a power allocation interface;

associating external devices characterized as power or energy sources with a source allocation interface;

calculating a total power available from the source allocation interface;

allocating the total power available to the power allocation interface;

connecting as many power loads to the power bus as can be powered by the total power available by operating a controllable switch to complete power channels disposed between each power load that can be powered and the power bus; and

,

disconnecting power loads that cannot be powered by the total power available from the power bus by operating a controllable switch to interrupt power channels disposed between each power loads that cannot be powered and the power bus.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein one or more rechargeable energy sources are connected, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

determining if a power source suitable for recharging the connected rechargeable energy sources is operably connected to the power manager;

if a suitable power source is operably connected, characterizing the rechargeable energy sources as power loads for association with the power allocation interface; and

if a suitable power source is not operably connected, characterizing the rechargeable energy sources as energy sources for association with the source allocation interface.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein each power source and each energy source has a source priority and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

selecting the power source or the energy source with the highest source priority for connection to the power bus;

connecting the power source or the energy source with the highest source priority to the power bus;

disconnecting any non-selected power sources or energy sources from the power bus; and

powering all of the power loads connected to the power bus with the power source or the energy source having the highest source priority.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

sensing voltage on the power bus;

generating a low voltage signal in response to the power bus voltage falling below a threshold value; and

connecting at least one of the disconnected power sources or energy sources to the power bus in response to the low voltage signal.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of connecting one or more of the disconnecting power or energy sources to the power bus in response to the low voltage signal comprises:

communicating the low voltage signal to a semiconductor switch disposed between at least one disconnected source and the power bus wherein the low voltage signal is communicated over a conductive path disposed to directly connect a voltage sensor measuring bus voltage and the semiconductor switch.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising repeating all of the steps of claim 19 at a refresh rate ranging from once every hour to 10,000 times every second.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein each power load has a load priority and the step of allocating the total power available to the power allocation interface is performed in priority order from a highest priority power load to a lowest priority power load.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of one of:

connecting power loads that are allocated power to the power bus;

leaving power loads that are already connected to the power bus and that are allocated power connected to the power bus;

disconnecting power loads that are not allocated power from the power bus; and

leaving power loads that are already disconnected from the power bus and that are not allocated power disconnected from the power bus.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising repeating all of the steps of claim 24 at a refresh rate ranging from once every 10 minutes to 10,000 times every second.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising repeating all of the steps of claim 24 in response to an external power device being one of connected and disconnected from one of the plurality of device ports.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising repeating all of the steps of claim 24 in response to an external power device being one of connected and disconnected from one of the plurality of device ports.

28. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of calculating the total power available includes calculating a total average power available and a total peak power available and the step of allocating the total power available to the power allocation interface includes allocating the total average power and the total peak power.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein a second power manager is connected to one of the plurality of device ports over a cable connected at each end to a device port of a different power manager and wherein the method includes the step of:

establishing a network connection between the connected power managers;

exchanging information between digital data processing devices operating on each of the connected power managers;

wherein the cable and each of the device ports the cable is connected to includes a communication channel suitable for exchanging digital data formatted in a network communication protocol and a power channel suitable for exchanging power signals between the connected power managers.

30. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of accessing information includes:

establishing a network connection and exchanging bi-directional digital data between the newly connected external power devices and a data processing device operating on the power manager; and

,

using the digital data to manage power distribution by the power manager.

31. A method for operating a power network comprising the steps of:

connecting a plurality of substantially identical power managers together with a cable extending between device ports of each pair of connected power managers wherein the cable, the device port and each power manager includes a power channel and a data communication channel;

establishing a network connection and exchanging bi-directional data between the connected power managers;

connecting at least one power load to a power bus operating on any one of the connected power managers;

connecting at least one power or energy source to a power bus operating on any other of the connected power managers; and

powering the power load by exchanging power between by exchanging power signals between the connected power managers over the power channel; and

,

managing the exchange of power signals by exchanging the bi-directional data over the data communication channel.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of power converting the power or energy source prior to exchange power signals between the connected powers managers.

33. The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of power converting the power load after exchanging power signals between the connected power managers.

34. The method of claim 31 further comprising the steps of:

power converting the power or energy received from the power or energy source in the power manager associated with the power or energy source; and

,

power converting the power being delivered to the power load in the power manager associated with the power load.