Adaptive power supply

• US 9,088,177 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2009
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): DHILLON, JAGDEEP S
• Application Number:
  US13/127,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20110210607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,085 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 307/66, 307/18, 307/147, 307/104, 700/292, 700/291, 701/3, 701/29, 701/117, 323/234, 244/118.5, 340/425.5, 363/125
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 multitude of consumers in an aircraft, with the voltage supply unit comprising:

a voltage output device; and

an output control device;

wherein the output control device and the voltage output device are configured to set an output voltage of the voltage supply unit adaptively in a consumer-dependent manner by adjusting to the voltage requirements of the multitude of consumers;

wherein the voltage supply unit is configured to evaluate information relating to a required supply voltage of the consumer in an emergency situation, and to provide preset supply voltages to operate systems vital to passengers in the aircraft;

wherein each of the multitude of consumers is connected to a converter integrated in the voltage supply unit;

wherein the voltage output device is configured such that the output voltage is set on the basis of a signal communicated by a consumer; and

wherein each of the multitude of consumers is configured to request an individual operating voltage from the voltage supply unit.

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

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

4. The voltage supply unit of claim 1, wherein the voltage supply unit is configured to set the output voltage during operation of the voltage supply unit on demand from the multitude of connected consumers.

5. The voltage supply unit of claim 1, wherein the voltage supply unit is configured to output an activation voltage to each consumer for activating a circuit of a consumer, whereupon the consumer transmits the signal back to the voltage supply unit.

6. The voltage supply unit of claim 1, wherein the voltage supply unit is configured to communicate with the consumer by way of a supply line.

7. 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.

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

9. An aircraft comprising a voltage supply unit for providing an adaptive voltage supply to a multitude of consumers in an aircraft, with the voltage supply unit comprising:

a voltage output device; and

an output control device;

wherein the output control device and the voltage output device are configured to set an output voltage of the voltage supply unit adaptively in a consumer-dependent manner by adjusting to the voltage requirements of the multitude of consumers;

wherein the voltage supply unit is configured to evaluate information relating to a required supply voltage of a consumer in an emergency situation, and to provide preset supply voltages to operate systems vital to passengers in the aircraft;

wherein each of the multitude of consumers is connected to a converter integrated in the voltage supply unit;

wherein the voltage output device is configured such that the output voltage is set on the basis of a signal communicated by the consumer; and

wherein each of the multitude of consumers is configured to request an individual operating voltage from the voltage supply unit.

11. The aircraft of claim 9, wherein the consumer comprises:

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

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

10. A method for providing an adaptive voltage supply to a multitude of consumers 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 by adjusting to voltage requirements of the multitude of consumers;

evaluating information relating to a required supply voltage of each consumer in an emergency situation;

requesting, by each one of the multitude of consumers, an individual operating voltage from the voltage supply unit;

setting the output voltage on the basis of a signal communicated by a consumer;

providing preset supply voltages to operate systems vital to passengers in the aircraft and the requested individual operating voltage to the multitude of consumers.