ADAPTIVE POWER SUPPLY

• US 20110210607A1
• Filed: 11/04/2009
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Bauer, Hans-Achim, Zybala, Andre
• Granted Patent: US 9,088,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/08 Three-wire systems; Systems having more than three wires
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc

Abstract

A voltage supply unit for providing an adaptive voltage supply to a consumer in a means of transport, wherein the voltage supply unit comprises a voltage output device and an output control device. The output control device and the voltage output device are designed to set an output voltage of the voltage supply unit adaptively in a consumer-dependent manner.

Claims

1. A voltage supply unit for providing an adaptive voltage supply to a consumer in an aircraft, with the voltage supply unit comprising:

a voltage output device;

an output control device; and

wherein the output control device and the voltage output device are designed to set an output voltage of the voltage supply unit adaptively in a consumer-dependent manner.

2. The voltage supply unit of claim 1, wherein the output control device is connected to the voltage output device and for controlling the voltage output device is designed in such a manner that the output voltage is set based on a signal communicated by the consumer.

3. The voltage supply unit of claim 1, wherein the voltage supply unit is designed for dynamically controlling the output voltage according to the requirements of the consumer.

4. The voltage supply unit of claim 1, wherein the voltage supply unit is designed to dynamically control the output voltage according to a demand of the consumer after a main voltage supply of the aircraft has been switched on.

5. The voltage supply unit of claim 1, wherein the voltage supply unit is designed to supply several consumers or consumer groups by way of a supply line.

6. The voltage supply unit of claim 1, wherein the voltage supply unit is designed to set the output voltage during operation of the voltage supply unit on demand from the connected consumer.

7. The voltage supply unit of claim 2, wherein the voltage supply unit is designed to output an activation voltage to the consumer for activating a circuit of the consumer is activated, whereupon the consumer transmits the signal back to the voltage supply unit.

8. The voltage supply unit of claim 1, wherein the voltage supply unit is designed to communicate with the consumer by way of the supply line.

9. The voltage supply unit of claim 1, further comprising:

an emergency voltage supply;

wherein the emergency voltage supply is connected to the voltage output device so that, in the case of failure of a main voltage supply, the consumer is supplied with voltage by the emergency voltage supply so that important functions of the consumer are maintained.

10. The voltage supply unit of claim 1, wherein the aircraft is an airplane.

11. A consumer for connection to the voltage supply unit claim 1, with the consumer comprising:

an input control device for determining a voltage required by the consumer, and for communicating with the voltage supply unit.

12. The consumer of claim 11, wherein the consumer designed as an illumination unit or as an aircraft passenger seat.

13. An aircraft comprising a voltage supply unit of claim 1.

14. A method for providing an adaptive voltage supply to a consumer in an aircraft, the method comprising:

adaptive consumer-dependent setting of an output voltage of a voltage supply unit using an output control device and a voltage output device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing an activation voltage to the consumer;

receiving a signal from the consumer;

wherein adaptively setting the output voltage is based on the signal.