Vehicle electrical power management and distribution
First Claim
1. A vehicle comprising:
- a power distribution grid comprising a plurality of power sources and a plurality of distribution buses configured to distribute power from the plurality of power sources, wherein the plurality of power sources include;
an engine-driven power source configured to provide first power, the first power having first power characteristics;
a plurality of engine-independent power sources including;
a first alternate power source configured to provide first alternate power, the first alternate power having first alternate power characteristics that are different than the first power characteristics; and
a second alternate power source configured to provide second alternate power, the second alternate power having second alternate power characteristics that are different from the first power characteristics and different from the first alternate power characteristics; and
a global controller that sends power control signals to control first total output power of the first alternate power source, second total output power of the second alternate power source, and a third total output power of the engine-driven power source supplied to the plurality of distribution buses responsive to demand on the power distribution grid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Vehicles, systems, and methods are disclosed for providing and directing first power, such as vehicle generator power, and alternate sources of power. In a particular embodiment, a vehicle includes a power distribution grid that includes a plurality of power sources and a plurality of distributions buses configured to distribute power from the plurality of power sources. The plurality of power sources include an engine-driven power source is configured to provide first power where the first power has first power characteristics. The plurality of power sources also includes a plurality of engine-independent power sources including a first alternate power source configured to provide first alternate power. The first alternate power has first alternate power characteristics that are different than the first power characteristics. The plurality of engine-independent power sources also includes a second alternate power source configured to provide second alternate power. The second alternate power has second alternate power characteristics that are different from the first power characteristics and different from the first alternate power characteristics. The vehicle also includes a global controller that sends control signals to control generation of power by the engine-driven power source, the first alternate power source and the second alternate power source via the plurality of distribution buses responsive to power demand of the power distribution grid.
206 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle comprising:
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a power distribution grid comprising a plurality of power sources and a plurality of distribution buses configured to distribute power from the plurality of power sources, wherein the plurality of power sources include; an engine-driven power source configured to provide first power, the first power having first power characteristics; a plurality of engine-independent power sources including; a first alternate power source configured to provide first alternate power, the first alternate power having first alternate power characteristics that are different than the first power characteristics; and a second alternate power source configured to provide second alternate power, the second alternate power having second alternate power characteristics that are different from the first power characteristics and different from the first alternate power characteristics; and a global controller that sends power control signals to control first total output power of the first alternate power source, second total output power of the second alternate power source, and a third total output power of the engine-driven power source supplied to the plurality of distribution buses responsive to demand on the power distribution grid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method comprising:
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receiving a first signal indicating a first amount of first power having first power characteristics, the first power supplied from a first power source to a first bus of a power distribution system; receiving a second signal indicating a second amount of first alternate power supplied from a first alternate power source, the second amount of the first alternate power having first alternate power characteristics used by a first subsystem, wherein the second signal is received from a first local controller configured to control an output of the first alternate power source to the power distribution system, and wherein the first alternate power source is an engine-independent power source; generating, at a global controller of the power distribution system, a first command based on a comparison of the second amount indicated by the second signal to a demand of the first subsystem; and converting, at a first converter, a first portion of the first amount of the first power from the first bus to produce a third amount of power based on the first command, the third amount of power having the first alternate power characteristics and supplied to the first subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A system comprising:
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a local controller coupled to an engine-independent power source and configured to; generate a first signal corresponding to an available amount of first power from the engine-independent power source aboard a vehicle, and control an output of the first power from the engine-independent power source to a vehicle subsystem, the first power having first power characteristics; and a global controller configured to; receive the first signal, receive a second signal corresponding to a power demand at the vehicle subsystem, determine whether the available amount of the first power at the engine-independent power source is less than the power demand of the vehicle subsystem, and generating a first control signal to initiate conversion of second power having second power characteristics from an engine-driven power source into additional power having the first power characteristics, wherein the additional power is available to the vehicle subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification