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Electrical load management system and method

  • US 8,935,011 B2
  • Filed: 06/30/2011
  • Issued: 01/13/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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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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