Method, a system, a computer-readable medium, and a power controlling apparatus for applying and distributing power

• US 9,244,475 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2014
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Embedded Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Global Embedded Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Stanczak, Mark Stanley, Smutek, Louis Stephen, Brown, Alan Wayne, Backus, David Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): HARTMAN JR, RONALD D
• Application Number:
  US14/148,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20140195061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700293-295, 700/297
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0866 comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0888 DC/DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 3/02 Regulating voltage or current
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0092 concerning the data processing means, e.g. expert systems, neural networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/10 additionally responsive to some other abnormal electrical conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/207 also responsive to under-voltage window comparators for indication G01R19/165
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/04 responsive to abnormal temperature specially adapted for electric machines H02H7/0852
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/32 Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/36 Means for starting or stopping converters

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to power management and the like, and more particularly, to an apparatus, a system, a method, and a computer-readable medium for providing power controlling functionality to generate configurable power signals and to deliver power during fault conditions. In at least some embodiments, a power control unit can generate power signals having configurable attributes as a function of a mode of operation, a fault type, and the like.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to control a power source including a generator, the apparatus comprising:

a first sensor input configured to receive a current magnitude of the generator;

a second sensor input configured to receive a voltage magnitude of the generator;

a third sensor input configured to receive a speed magnitude of the generator;

a first portion of memory configured to store data representing operational profiles to generate a power signal based on one or more sensed parameters including the generated current magnitude, the voltage magnitude, and the speed magnitude, the operational profiles include data specifying a plurality of operating modes including a normal operating mode, at least one of the plurality of operating modes specifying values for one or more of the current magnitude and the voltage magnitude that are to be controlled, and a plurality of operational fault mode;

a mode controller configured to select a first operational profile and a first operational fault mode profile;

a waveform generator configured to generate the power signal with a first pulse width modulated signal in accordance with the operational profile;

a second portion of memory configured to store data representing fault profiles to determine types of faults based on the values for the one or more of the current magnitude, the voltage magnitude, and the speed magnitude; and

a fault detector configured to;

detect a first fault type and a second fault type based on a first fault profile and a second fault profile, respectively, and to perform a first fault action based on the first fault type or a second fault action based on the second fault type.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a four sensor input configured to receive a temperature magnitude, wherein the first fault profile comprises data representing a threshold value indicating an over-temperature fault condition.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first fault profile comprises data representing a threshold value indicating an over-current fault condition.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second fault profile comprises data to classify the over-current fault condition as an extreme fault condition.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the extreme fault condition is a short circuit condition.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the extreme fault condition is the second fault type, wherein the fault detector is further configured to eliminate current as the second fault action.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fault detector is further configured to detect the over-current fault condition as the first fault condition, and the waveform generator configured to generate the power signal with a second pulse width modulated signal in accordance with the operational fault mode profile.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first fault profile comprises data representing a threshold value indicating an over-voltage fault condition.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second fault profile comprises data to classify the over-voltage fault condition as an extreme fault condition.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first fault profile comprises data representing a threshold value indicating a speed fault condition.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the fault detector is further configured to detect the speed fault condition as the first fault condition, and the waveform generator configured to generate the power signal with a third pulse width modulated signal in accordance with the operational fault mode profile.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second fault profile comprises data to classify the speed fault condition as an extreme fault condition.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operational profile is configured to provide a soft-ramp mode of operation in which the waveform generator is configured to modify a rate at which power is applied to the generator.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operational profile is configured to provide a soft-ramp mode of operation in which the waveform generator is configured to modify a rate at which the power signal is applied to the generator.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first fault profile includes data representing one or more subtle fault types.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication module configured to exchange communications data via a network.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the network comprises:

a CAN network.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the communications data comprises another value of speed.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 is further configured to detect a drop in communications to at least one of the first sensor input, the second sensor input, and the third sensor input, and to operate in independent mode in accordance to instructions stored in memory.