Method and apparatus for providing energy to a lighting system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for supplying energy to a load comprising:
- an energy storage devices source;
an energy storage device coupled to said energy source via a first energy converter;
a second energy converter coupled to said energy storage device;
an energy inverter coupled to said second energy converter and the load;
a sensor capable of sensing discharging of said energy storage device; and
a controller coupled to said first energy converter, said second energy converter, and said energy inverter, and said energy inverter, and further wherein said controller slows or stops operation of said second energy converter when estimated state of charge in said energy storage device drops below a threshold limit, whereby said controller maintains actual state of charge in said energy storage device within a state of charge range.
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Abstract
A system for delivering power to a battery and to a load includes a power source that supplies energy to the battery and the load. The battery can be charged by the power source and used to supply energy or power to the load when the power source is unable to provide sufficient energy and power to the load. The system reduces injection of DC current into the load and, as a result, extends the operation life of the load, particularly if the load is an AC lighting or lamp system. The system operates the load in an optimal manner such that battery storage is maintained at near full charge, yet the lighting load operates for a maximum number of hours per night. The benefit of the system is to prevent early failure of either the lighting load or the battery.
451 Citations
67 Claims
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1. An apparatus for supplying energy to a load comprising:
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an energy storage devices source; an energy storage device coupled to said energy source via a first energy converter; a second energy converter coupled to said energy storage device; an energy inverter coupled to said second energy converter and the load; a sensor capable of sensing discharging of said energy storage device; and a controller coupled to said first energy converter, said second energy converter, and said energy inverter, and said energy inverter, and further wherein said controller slows or stops operation of said second energy converter when estimated state of charge in said energy storage device drops below a threshold limit, whereby said controller maintains actual state of charge in said energy storage device within a state of charge range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for delivering energy to a lighting system susceptible to damage when supplied with DC current, said method comprising:
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charging a chargeable energy storage source; boosting a first voltage signal from said chargeable energy storage source to or above a first voltage level, wherein said first voltage signal is a DC voltage signal and said first voltage level is greater than about 120 volts; converting said first voltage signal to a second voltage signal having a second voltage level, wherein said second voltage level is less than about said first voltage level and wherein said converting includes blocking DC current in said first voltage signal such that said second voltage signal is substantially only an AC voltage signal; and supplying said second voltage signal to the lighting system. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 58)
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40. A method of delivering energy to a chargeable energy source and a load, comprising:
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converting energy received from an energy source into energy receivable by the chargeable energy source; estimating state of charge of the chargeable energy source, wherein said estimating includes measuring charging current into said chargeable energy source, measuring discharging current from said chargeable energy source, and computing state of charge for the chargeable energy source based upon accumulated charging current, accumulated discharging current, and estimated capacity of said chargeable energy source; and converting energy from the chargeable energy source into energy receivable by the load when said charge level of the chargeable energy source is at or above a threshold charge level; wherein load operation duration is a function of estimated charge level of said chargeable energy source. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 60)
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61. A method for use in operating a chargeable energy source and providing energy to a load to adaptively maintain a state of charge of said chargeable energy source in a high state of charge range, comprising the steps of:
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storing initial settings for control variables in memory of a controller, said control variables including an estimated state of charge of said chargeable energy source, a time interval between adjustments of said control variables, a target time period for operating said load based on said chargeable energy source having a maximum state of charge, and a nominal discharge to charge ratio; operating said controller during said time interval to compute accumulated charging current available for charging said chargeable energy source and accumulated discharging current being discharged from said chargeable energy source; using said controller to determine an adjusted state of charge based on said estimated state of charge and a product of said nominal discharge to discharge ratio and said accumulated charging current less said accumulated discharging current; and determining with said controller a load operating time period based on a product of said adjusted state of charge and said target operating time period. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. Apparatus for adaptively controlling charging of a chargeable energy source by an energy source and discharging of energy from said chargeable energy source to provide energy to a load, comprising:
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a current sensor for sensing charging current flowing to the chargeable energy source from the energy source; a current sensor for sensing discharging current flowing from the chargeable energy source to the load; and a programmable controller coupled to said current sensors for receiving signals corresponding to said sensed charging and discharging of the chargeable energy source from said sensors, wherein said programmable controller is programmed to; compute accumulated charging current and accumulated discharging current from said signals received during a predetermined time interval; determine an adjusted state of charge based on a preset state of charge and a product of a nominal discharge to charge ratio for the chargeable energy source and said accumulated charging current less said accumulated discharging current; determine a load operating time period based on a product of said adjusted state of charge and a target time period for operating the load preset based on the chargeable energy source having a maximum state of charge; and operate the load by discharging current from the chargeable energy source for said load operating time. - View Dependent Claims (67)
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Specification