Method and apparatus for regulating an electrical power source based on global and local maximum load power

An electrical power regulating apparatus comprising:

• a controller module arranged to detect one or more predetermined conditions associated with the load power of an electrical power source regulated by the electrical power regulating apparatus;
• a global maximum search module that, when the one or more predetermined conditions is detected, is arranged to acquire electrical characteristics including an input current-voltage characteristic of the electrical power source to determine a global maximum load power value arranged to represent a true maximum load power of the electrical power source, wherein the input current-voltage characteristic includes a unified current-voltage profile of the electrical power source;
• a local maximum search module arranged to process the global maximum load power value to determine a local maximum load power value of the electrical power source;
• wherein the local maximum load power value is arranged to be more accurate in representing the true maximum load power of the electrical power source when compared with the global maximum load power value;
• wherein the global maximum search module is arranged to acquire the electrical characteristics by reducing a deviation of the input current-voltage characteristic caused by a parasitic capacitance in the electrical power source by sweeping and acquiring the input current-voltage characteristic of the electrical power source upon charging and discharging the electrical power source;
• wherein the input current-voltage characteristic includes a unified current-voltage profile determined by averaging a charging characteristic and a discharging characteristic of the electrical power source, such that the electrical power regulating apparatus reduces a deviation of the input current-voltage characteristic caused by a parasitic capacitance in the electrical power source;
• and
• wherein the local maximum search module is arranged to update an input voltage reference value Vref with the global maximum load power value determined, wherein the load power of the power source is varied in association with the input voltage reference value Vref;
• wherein the local maximum search module is further arranged to determine the local maximum load power by the steps of:
• providing a plurality of discretized parameters of the current-voltage characteristic associated with the Thévenin equivalent circuit of the power source;
• providing a temporary reference voltage Vtemp_ref after determining if the condition for the local maximum load power value is reached;
• and upon determining that the local maximum load power value is not reached:
• if the next input voltage reference value Vref is determined to be greater than the current value of Vref, the temporary reference voltage Vtemp_ref is equal to Vref+ΔVref;
• or
• if the next input voltage reference value Vref is determined to be smaller than the current value of Vref, the temporary reference voltage Vtemp_ref is equal to Vref−ΔVref, wherein ΔVref is a predetermined step size for varying the input voltage reference value Vref;
• providing a virtual quadratic profile associated with the discretized parameters of the current-voltage characteristic associated with the Thévenin equivalent circuit of the power source;
• and
• determining and validating an interception point between the virtual quadratic profile and the quadratic profile;
• and
• wherein the local maximum search module is further arranged to update Vref to a value equal to Vtemp_ref if no valid interception point between the virtual quadratic profile and the quadratic profile has been determined.