Apparatus and method for providing temporary power

• US 6,774,602 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2002
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dynavair LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Crouch, Jr., Dell Albert, Ballard, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LUK, LAWRENCE W
• Application Number:
  US10/172,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20030231003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320/112, 320/120, 320/121, 320/122, 320/126, 320/127, 320/132, 320/137, 320/152, 320/101, 307/46, 307/66
• US Class Current: 320/103
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007182 in response to battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads

Abstract

A backup power supply, comprising: a storage medium for holding an electrical charge and being configured to be connected and disconnected from an electrical device; a source of intermittent power coupled to a power supply and the electrical device being configured to provide an amount of power to the electrical device for a period of time long enough to connect the storage medium to the electrical device. An operating system for determining whether the electrical device requires power from the storage medium. In one embodiment the operating system monitors the current of the source of intermittent power and if the current exceeds a predetermined limit the operating system couples the storage medium to the electrical device by manipulating the position of a switching device disposed between the electrical storage medium and the electrical device.

Claims

1. A backup power supply for an electrical device, comprising:

a storage medium for holding an electrical charge being configured to be connected and disconnected from the electrical device;

a source of intermittent power coupled to a power supply and the electrical device, said source of intermittent power being configured to provide an amount power to the electrical device for a period of time long enough to connect said storage medium to the electrical device;

an operating system for determining whether the electrical device requires power from said storage medium, said operating system comprises a controller employing a control algorithm for determining whether the backup power supply is in one of a plurality of states;

said plurality of states comprises a discharge state, a float state and a recharge state; and

wherein said operating system monitors the current of said source of intermittent power and if said current of said source of intermittent power supply exceeds a predetermined limit said operating system couples said storage medium to said electrical device and the backup power supply is in said discharge state, wherein said source of intermittent power is a plurality of capacitors connected to each other in series.

2. The backup power supply as in claim 1, wherein said operating system monitors the current of said source of intermittent power and if said current of said source of intermittent power exceeds a predetermined limit said operating system couples said storage medium to said electrical device by manipulating the position of a switching device disposed between said electrical storage medium and said electrical device.

3. The backup power supply as in claim 2, wherein said switching device is either a mechanical or electronic switching device.

4. The backup power supply as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of capacitors are capable of providing at least 100 amps for a period of 1-5 seconds.

5. The backup power supply as in claim 4, wherein said electrical device requires up 12-54 volts.

6. The backup power supply as in claim 1, wherein said float state corresponds to said storage medium being at a sufficient charge level wherein said storage medium is electrically uncoupled from said power supply and said electrical device.

7. The backup power supply as in claim 6, wherein said discharge state corresponds to an interruption to said power supply wherein said storage medium is electrically coupled to said electrical device.

8. A backup power supply for an electrical device, comprising:

a storage medium for holding an electrical charge being configured to be connected and disconnected from the electrical device;

a source of intermittent power coupled to a power supply and the electrical device, said source of intermittent power being configured to provide an amount power to the electrical device for a period of time long enough to connect said storage medium to the electrical device;

an operating system for determining whether the electrical device requires power from said storage medium, said operating system comprises a controller employing a control algorithm for determining whether the backup power supply is in one of a plurality of states;

said plurality of states comprises a discharge state, a float state and a recharge state; and

wherein said operating system monitors the current of said source of intermittent power and if said current of said source of intermittent power supply exceeds a predetermined limit said operating system couples said storage medium to said electrical device and the backup power supply is in said discharge state, wherein said float state corresponds to an acceptable state of charge of said electrical storage medium and said recharge state corresponds to an unacceptable state of charge of said electrical storage medium.

9. The backup power supply as in claim 8, wherein said electrical storage medium is a plurality of lead-acid batteries coupled to said switching device.

10. The backup power supply as in claim 8, wherein said recharge state is the default state of said operating system.

11. The backup power supply as in claim 8, wherein said control algorithm continuously monitors said plurality of states of said backup power supply and said control algorithm determines which of said plurality of states said backup power supply should be in.

12. The backup power supply as in claim 8, wherein said source of intermittent power is a plurality of capacitors and said discharge state is determined by monitoring the current in said plurality of capacitors.

13. The backup power supply as in claim 12, wherein said recharge state is determined by the amount of time elapsed since said electric storage medium is electrically coupled to said power supply.

14. The backup power supply as in claim 8, wherein said recharge state corresponds to said storage medium being below a sufficient charge level wherein said storage medium is electrically coupled to said power supply.

15. A backup power supply for use with a permanent power grid, comprising:

a storage medium for holding an electrical charge, said storage medium being coupled to a DC bus by a switching device, said DC bus having an output end and an input end, said input end being coupled to the permanent power grid and said output end being configured to provide a source of power;

a source of intermittent power comprising a plurality of capacitors connected to each other in series, said source of intermittent power being coupled to said DC bus; and

an operating system for determining whether said output end requires power from said storage medium, said operating system monitors the current of said source of intermittent power and if said current of said source of intermittent power exceeds a predetermined limit said operating system couples said storage medium to said DC bus by manipulating the position of said switching device, said operating system comprises a controller for determining which of a plurality of states said backup power supply should be in.

16. The backup power supply as in claim 15, wherein said plurality of states includes a discharge state, a float state and a recharge state, and a manual state and said recharge state is the default state of said backup power supply.

17. The backup power supply as in claim 16, wherein said float state is only reached after said recharge state has been reached.

18. The backup power supply as in claim 16, wherein said controller simultaneously determines whether said backup power supply should be in said float state and whether said backup power supply should be in said discharge state.

19. A backup power supply for use with a permanent power grid, comprising:

a storage medium for holding an electrical charge, said storage medium being coupled to a DC bus by a switching device, said DC bus having an output end and an input end, said input end being coupled to the permanent power grid and said output end being configured to provide a source of power;

a source of intermittent power coupled to said DC bus; and

an operating system for determining whether said output end requires power from said storage medium, said operating system monitors the current of said source of intermittent power and if said current of said source of intermittent power exceeds a predetermined limit said operating system couples said storage medium to said DC bus by manipulating the position of said switching device, said operating system comprises a controller for determining which of a plurality of states said backup power supply should be in, said plurality of states comprising a discharge state, a float state and a recharge state, wherein said recharge state is the default state of said backup power supply.

20. A backup power supply for use with a permanent power grid, comprising:

a storage medium for holding an electrical charge, said storage medium being coupled to a DC bus by a switching device, said DC bus having an output end and an input end, said input end being coupled to the permanent power grid and said output end being configured to provide a source of power;

a source of intermittent power coupled to said DC bus; and

an operating system for determining whether said output end requires power from said storage medium, said operating system monitors the current of said source of intermittent power and if said current of said source of intermittent power exceeds a predetermined limit said operating system couples said storage medium to said DC bus by manipulating the position of said switching device, said operating system comprises a controller for determining which of a plurality of states said backup power supply should be in, wherein said plurality of states comprises a discharge state, a float state and a recharge state, and a manual state and said recharge state is the default state of said backup power supply.