Electrical load management system and method
First Claim
1. An electrical load management system for charging batteries, comprising:
- an electrical power input configured to couple the load management system with a common power source;
a plurality of electrical power outputs configured to couple the load management system with a plurality of electrical loads, each electrical load comprising a battery to be charged;
a plurality of switches coupled between the power input and the power outputs;
a first current sensor coupled to the power outputs for sensing a current drawn by one or more of the power outputs; and
a controller coupled to the plurality of switches and the first current sensor, the controller configured to;
determine a switched current limit defining a limit for current drawn by the electrical power outputs;
carry out an iterative grouping process in which the controller is configured tomeasure with the first current sensor a current drawn by each of a plurality of electrical loads respectively coupled to the plurality of electrical power outputs, each electrical load comprising a battery to be charged,group the plurality of power outputs and respective electrical loads into a plurality of load groups such that a sum of the measured currents of the electrical loads in each load group does not exceed the switched current limit, the grouping comprisingforming a first load group with a maximum number of the power outputs and respective electrical loads,then forming a second load group with a maximum number of the power outputs and respective electrical loads not in the first load group, andthen continuing to form additional load groups as long as any of the power outputs and respective electrical loads remain ungrouped, each successive additional load group having a maximum number of the currently ungrouped power outputs and respective electrical loads,operate the plurality of switches to apply electrical power from the common power source to each of the load groups to charge the batteries forming at least part of the electrical loads within each of the load groups, and to apply the electrical power to only one load group at a time while removing the electrical power from the other load groups, andrestart the iterative grouping process after applying electrical power to each of the load groups; and
continue the iterative grouping process at least until all of the plurality of power outputs and respective electrical loads are combined in one load group.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A load management system provides an interface between a power input and several switched power outputs and un-switched power outputs. A controller groups the switched power outputs into one or more load groups based on a switched current limit determined for the system and the measured currents of the electrical loads. The load groups are defined so that the sum of electrical load currents in each load group does not exceed the switched current limit. The controller also activates one or more switches to apply electrical power to the load groups according to a power sequence. A method for distributing electrical power to electrical loads using load groups is also provided.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An electrical load management system for charging batteries, comprising:
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an electrical power input configured to couple the load management system with a common power source; a plurality of electrical power outputs configured to couple the load management system with a plurality of electrical loads, each electrical load comprising a battery to be charged; a plurality of switches coupled between the power input and the power outputs; a first current sensor coupled to the power outputs for sensing a current drawn by one or more of the power outputs; and a controller coupled to the plurality of switches and the first current sensor, the controller configured to; determine a switched current limit defining a limit for current drawn by the electrical power outputs; carry out an iterative grouping process in which the controller is configured to measure with the first current sensor a current drawn by each of a plurality of electrical loads respectively coupled to the plurality of electrical power outputs, each electrical load comprising a battery to be charged, group the plurality of power outputs and respective electrical loads into a plurality of load groups such that a sum of the measured currents of the electrical loads in each load group does not exceed the switched current limit, the grouping comprising forming a first load group with a maximum number of the power outputs and respective electrical loads, then forming a second load group with a maximum number of the power outputs and respective electrical loads not in the first load group, and then continuing to form additional load groups as long as any of the power outputs and respective electrical loads remain ungrouped, each successive additional load group having a maximum number of the currently ungrouped power outputs and respective electrical loads, operate the plurality of switches to apply electrical power from the common power source to each of the load groups to charge the batteries forming at least part of the electrical loads within each of the load groups, and to apply the electrical power to only one load group at a time while removing the electrical power from the other load groups, and restart the iterative grouping process after applying electrical power to each of the load groups; and continue the iterative grouping process at least until all of the plurality of power outputs and respective electrical loads are combined in one load group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A battery charging station, comprising:
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an electrical power input configured to couple the charging station with a common power source; a plurality of switched electrical power outputs configured to couple the charging station with a plurality of electrical loads comprising batteries to be charged; a plurality of switches coupled between the power input and the switched power outputs; a first current sensor coupled to the switched power outputs for sensing a current drawn by one or more of the switched power outputs; an un-switched power output coupled to the electrical power input and configured to couple the charging station with an un-switched electrical load; a second current sensor coupled to the un-switched power output for sensing a current drawn by the un-switched power output; and a controller coupled to the plurality of switches, the first current sensor, and the second current sensor, the controller configured to; determine a switched current limit based on the current drawn by the un-switched power output and a current limit of the common power source; carry out an iterative grouping process in which the controller is configured to measure with the first current sensor a current drawn by each of the electrical loads respectively coupled to the switched power outputs, each electrical load comprising a battery to be charged, group the plurality of switched power outputs and respective electrical loads into a plurality of load groups such that a sum of the measured currents of the electrical loads in each load group does not exceed the switched current limit, comprising forming a first load group with a maximum number of the switched power outputs and respective electrical loads, then forming a second load group with a maximum number of the switched power outputs and respective electrical loads not in the first load group, and then continuing to form additional load groups as long as any of the switched power outputs and respective electrical loads remain ungrouped, each successive additional load group having a maximum number of the currently ungrouped power outputs and respective electrical loads, operate the plurality of switches to apply electrical power from the common power source to each of the load groups to charge the batteries forming at least part of the electrical loads within each of the load groups, and to apply the electrical power to only one load group at a time while removing the electrical power from the other load groups, and restart the iterative grouping process after applying electrical power to each of the load groups; and continue the iterative grouping process at least until all of the plurality of switched power outputs and respective electrical loads are combined in one load group. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for distributing electrical power to electrical loads for charging batteries, comprising:
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determining a switched current limit defining a limit for current drawn by a plurality of electrical loads coupled to a common power source through a load management system; carrying out an iterative grouping process, comprising; measuring a current drawn by each of the plurality of electrical loads, each electrical load comprising a battery to be charged; forming a first load group comprising a maximum number of the electrical loads without a sum of the measured currents of the electrical loads in the first load group exceeding the switched current limit; then forming a second load group comprising a maximum number of the electrical loads not in the first load group without a sum of the measured currents of the electrical loads in the second load group exceeding the switched current limit; and then continuing to form additional load groups as long as any of the electrical loads remain ungrouped, each successive additional load group having a maximum number of the currently ungrouped electrical loads without a sum of the measured currents of the electrical loads exceeding the switched current limit; charging the batteries within each of the first, second, and additional load groups by switching electrical power from the common power source to each of the load groups thereby applying the electrical power to only one load group at a time while removing the electrical power from the other load groups; and restarting the iterative grouping process after charging the batteries within each load group; and continuing the iterative grouping process at least until all of the plurality of electrical loads are combined in one load group. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification