Portable hybrid applications for AC/DC load sharing

• US 20060087800A1
• Filed: 10/27/2005
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nextek Power Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nextek Power Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Savage, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,701,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/601
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/10 Arrangements incorporating converting means for enabling loads to be operated at will from different kinds of power supplies, e.g. from ac or dc

Abstract

Portable hybrid applications for AC/DC load sharing includes circuitry for simultaneously using at least one of external AC, internal DC power and/or external DC power. The apparatus also includes an input power receptacle for receiving at least one of AC power and external DC power. A power router inside the apparatus routes at least one of AC power, internal DC power, and external DC power to provide power for an application. An apparatus for providing DC to DC conversion includes a tip and a DC to DC whip connected to the tip. A male plug is connected to the second end of the whip. A buck converter within the male plug converts DC power to a DC power level associated with the whip and transmits the converted DC power along the DC to DC whip to the tip. Alternatively, an internal DC source provides internal DC power.

Claims

1. A DC hybrid office module comprising:

a work station pre-wired for AC and DC power distribution;

an input power receptacle for receiving AC and DC power input;

a power router for receiving AC and DC power from said input power receptacle for providing for DC outputs to DC loads of said workstation and AC outputs for AC loads of said workstation through a duplex AC/DC power outlet, said power router having a microprocessor control unit for controlling at least one voltage regulator; and

an interactive display for providing input to said module and displaying use of said AC and DC power.

2. The office module of claim 1 in which said power router includes a ganged AC/DC circuit breaker with reset switch for tripping in the event of an AC short circuit or a malfunction in DC power input or overload in either AC or DC loads for isolating said module.

3. The office module of claim 2 in which the AC input includes a neutral line having DC blocked by a blocking capacitor which is of sufficient size as to allow low loss passage of unbalanced AC in a typical 3-wire supply system.

4. The office module of claim 3 in which said DC power input includes a renewable power source.

5. The office module of claim 4 in which said renewable power source is one or more of solar panels or wind turbines, or combinations thereof.

6. The office module of claim 3 in which said DC power input is at least one of a battery and/or a fuel cell, or combination thereof.

7. The office module of claim 3 in which said touch screen display reports renewable energy, AC usage and state of battery charge.

8. The office module of claim 3 in which said at least one voltage regulator outputs constant DC voltage through a blocking diode to DC loads of said module.

9. The office module of claim 8 having a battery as a source of DC power in and a battery charger controlled by said microprocessor control unit.

10. The office module of claim 9 having a filter capacitor across said battery to provide sufficiently low impedance to trip said ganged circuit breaker in the event of an AC short circuit or malfunction while said battery is disconnected.

11. The office module of claim 10 in which a DC portion of said ganged AC/DC circuit breaker is wired in series with a negative leg of a DC output line to a neutral connector of said duplex AC/DC power outlet.

12. The office module of claim 11 having a switch assembly under network control for selecting input or output direction of DC where there is sharing of resources with another module.

13. The office module of claim 11 having a controller for sharing dynamically multiple DC inputs among multiple modules.

14. The office module of claim 11 having at least one of integrated LED'"'"'s or DC ballasted fluorescent lamps for lighting.

15. The office module as in claim 1 wherein said interactive display for providing control input to said module and displaying use of said AC and DC power is a touch screen display.

16. The office module as in claim 1 wherein said interactive display for providing control input to said module and displaying use of said AC and DC power is a keyboard responsive display.

17. Apparatus comprising:

an internal DC source for providing internal DC power;

circuitry for simultaneously using external AC and at least one of said internal DC power and external DC power;

an input power receptacle receiving at least one of said AC power and said external DC power;

a power router routing at least one of said AC power, said internal DC power, and said external DC power to provide power for an application of said apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said apparatus is a laptop computer.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said apparatus is a workstation.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising at least one output power receptacle receiving output DC power from said power router.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said at least one output power receives AC independently from the received output DC power.

22. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:

a power regulator optimizing the external DC power received and charging said internal DC source.

23. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising an AC power source for supplying said AC power and for charging said internal DC power source.

28. The portable AC/DC load sharing application as in claim 17 wherein said device is a personal digital assistant.

29. The portable AC/DC load sharing application as in claim 17 wherein said device is a handheld electronic device.

30. The portable AC/DC load sharing application as in claim 17 wherein said device is a recreational appliance.

31. The portable AC/DC load sharing application as in claim 17 wherein said device is a marine electronic device.

32. The portable AC/DC load sharing application as in claim 17 wherein said device is a desk top computer.

33. The portable AC/DC load sharing application as in claim 17 wherein said device is a household appliance.

34. The portable AC/DC load sharing application as in claim 17 wherein said device is exterior landscape lighting.

35. The portable AC/DC load sharing application as in claim 17 wherein said device is interior lighting.

24. Apparatus comprising:

a tip;

a DC to DC whip having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is connected to said tip;

a male plug connected to said second end of said whip; and

a buck converter within said male plug, wherein said buck converter converts DC power to a DC power level associated with said tip and transmits said converted DC power along said DC to DC whip towards said tip.

25. A portable AC/DC load sharing application comprising:

a DC load application;

an AC/DC converter module being included as an integral part of a power router module;

a meter control module measuring voltages and currents in selected portions of a DC power network working in conjunction with microprocessor controls to maximize power transfer from at least one remote DC power source.

26. The portable AC/DC load sharing application as in claim 26 further comprising:

an enhanced DC power extension cord capable of being plugged into an outlet that provides a standard low voltage DC power,

said extension cord having a three-prong plug with a built-in DC/DC converter.

27. The portable AC/DC load sharing application as in claim 26 wherein said device is a resistor whose value is interrogated by the DC/DC converter within said plug to adjust output voltage.