Systems and methods for delivering power in response to a connection event

• US 9,214,807 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Hicks, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Duc M
• Application Number:
  US13/689,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20130082533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 307/126
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/00 Circuit arrangements for dc mains or dc distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/108 using diodes blocking reverse current flow H02J1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for delivering power from a first energy source to a second energy source. An electrical system for delivering power from a first energy source to a second energy source comprises an interface configured to be coupled to the second energy source, a switching element coupled between the first energy source and the interface, and a processing system coupled to the switching element and the interface. The processing system is configured to identify a connection event based on an electrical characteristic of the interface that is indicative of the interface being coupled to the second energy source and operate the switching element to provide a path for current from the first energy source in response to identifying the connection event.

Claims

1. An electrical system for delivering power from a first energy source to a second energy source, the electrical system comprising:

a first interface configured to be coupled to the first energy source;

a second interface configured to be coupled to the second energy source;

a switching element coupled between the first interface and the second interface; and

a processing system coupled to the switching element and the second interface, wherein the processing system is configured to;

identify a connection event based on an electrical characteristic of the second interface that is indicative of the second interface being coupled to the second energy source; and

in response to identifying the connection e vent, operate the switching element to provide a path for current from the first energy source;

a third energy source;

a switch, the third energy source being coupled to power the processing system via the switch in a closed switch state when the switching element is operated to remove the path for current from the first energy source, wherein the switch is in an open switch state when the switching element is operated to provide the path for current from the first energy source.

2. The electrical system of claim 1 wherein the switching element includes a first pole switch and a second pole switch, the first pole switch coupled between the first interface and the second interface, wherein the switch is implemented with the second pole switch, wherein processing system is configured to in response to identifying the connection event, operate the first pole switch to provide the path for current from the first energy source.

3. The electrical system of claim 2 wherein:

the second pole switch is a double throw switch having a first terminal coupled to the third power source, a second terminal coupled to the processing system, and a third terminal coupled to circuitry that receives power via the first pole switch from the first energy source for charging the third energy source when the first switching element is operated to provide the path for current from the first energy source in a first switch state;

wherein in the first switch state of the switching element, the third terminal is connected to the first terminal;

wherein in a second switch state of the switching element, the second terminal is connected to the first terminal and the first pole switch is operated not to provide the path for current from the first energy source;

wherein the first switch state of the switching element corresponds to the open switch state of the switch and the second switch state of the switching element corresponds to the close switch state of the switch.

4. The electrical system of claim 2 wherein the third energy source is a battery.

5. The electrical system of claim 1 wherein the third energy source is a battery.

6. The electrical system of claim 1 wherein:

the switch is a double throw switch having a first terminal coupled to the third energy source, a second terminal coupled to the processing system, and a third terminal coupled to circuitry that receives power via the switching element from the first energy source for charging the third energy source when the first switching element is operated to provide the path for current from the first energy source in a first switch state;

wherein in the first switch state of the switching element, the third terminal is connected to the first terminal, wherein the third terminal being connected to the first terminal corresponds to the open switch state of the switch;

wherein in a second switch state of the switching element, the second terminal is connected to the first terminal and the switching element is operated not to provide the path for current from the first energy source, wherein the second terminal being connected to the first terminal corresponds to the closed switch state of the switch.

7. The electrical system of claim 6 wherein the third energy source is a battery.

8. The electrical system of claim 6 wherein the processing system is powered from the first energy source when the first energy source is providing current via the path.

9. The electrical system of claim 1 wherein the processing system is powered from the first energy source when the first energy source is providing current via the path.

10. The electrical system of claim 9 wherein the third energy source is a battery.

11. An electrical system for delivering power from a first energy source to a second energy source, the electrical system comprising:

a first interface configured to be coupled to the first energy source;

a second interface configured to be coupled to the second energy source;

a switching element coupled between the first interface and the second interface; and

a processing system coupled to the switching element and the second interface, wherein the processing system is configured to operate the switching element to provide a path for current from the first energy source for charging the second energy source and operate the switching element to remove the path for current from the first energy source;

a third energy source;

a switch, the third energy source being coupled to power the processing system via the switch in a closed switch state when the switching element is operated to remove the path for current from the first energy source, wherein the switch is in an open switch state when the switching element is operated to provide the path for current from the first energy source.

12. The electrical system of claim 11 wherein the switching element includes a first pole switch and a second pole switch, the first pole switch coupled between the first interface and the second interface, wherein the switch is implemented with the second pole switch, wherein processing system is configured to in response to identifying the connection event, operate the first pole switch to provide the path for current from the first energy source.

13. The electrical system of claim 12 wherein:

the second pole switch is a double throw switch having a first terminal coupled to the third energy source, a second terminal coupled to the processing system, and a third terminal coupled to circuitry that receives power via the first pole switch from the first energy source for charging the third energy source when the first switching element is operated to provide the path for current from the first energy source in a first switch state;

wherein in the first switch state of the switching element, the third terminal is connected to the first terminal;

wherein in a second switch state of the switching element, the second terminal is connected to the first terminal and the first pole switch is operated not to provide the path for current from the first energy source;

wherein the first switch state of the switching element corresponds to the open switch state of the switch and the second switch state of the switching element corresponds to the close switch state of the switch.

14. The electrical system of claim 11 wherein the processing system is powered from the first energy source when the first energy source is providing current via the path.

15. The electrical system of claim 11 wherein the third energy source is a battery.

16. The electrical system of claim 11 wherein:

the switch is a double throw switch having a first terminal coupled to the third energy source, a second terminal coupled to the processing system, and a third terminal coupled to circuitry that receives power via the switching element from the first energy source for charging the third energy source when the first switching element is operated to provide the path for current from the first energy source in a first switch state;

wherein in the first switch state of the switching element, the third terminal is connected to the first terminal, wherein the third terminal being connected to the first terminal corresponds to the open switch state of the switch;

wherein in a second switch state of the switching element, the second terminal is connected to the first terminal and the switching element is operated not to provide the path for current from the first energy source, wherein the second terminal being connected to the first terminal corresponds to the closed switch state of the switch.

17. The electrical system of claim 16 wherein the third energy source is a battery.

18. The electrical system of claim 16 wherein the processing system is powered from the first energy source when the first energy source is providing current via the path.

19. An electrical system for delivering power from a first energy source to a second energy source, the electrical system comprising:

a first interface configured to be coupled to the first energy source;

a second interface configured to be coupled to the second energy source;

a switching element coupled between the first interface and the second interface; and

a processing system coupled to the switching element and the second interface, wherein the processing system is configured to;

identify a connection event based on an electrical characteristic of the second interface that is indicative of the second interface being coupled to the second energy source; and

in response to identifying the connection event, operate the switching element to provide a path for current from the first energy source;

a battery, the battery being coupled to power the processing system when the switching element is operated to remove the path for current from the first energy source, wherein the battery does not provide power to the processing system when the switching element is operated to provide the path for current from the first energy source.

20. The electrical system of claim 19 wherein the processing system is powered from the first energy source when the first energy source is providing current via the path.