Cell site power generation
AssigneeT-Mobile USA, Inc.
InventorSteve Fischer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system, apparatus, method, and manufacture for generating backup power in a wireless communications system such as a wireless communications service base station. The system includes a communications interface, a primary power interface, a generator, rectifiers, and a battery circuit. During normal operation, the communications interface is powered from the primary power interface. During a power outage, the communications interface is powered from either the generator or the battery circuit. The generator is cycled on and off during power outages to charge the battery circuit while conserving fuel. To decrease rectification loss, rectifiers are run near full load while rectifying the generator output.
Claims20
A system for controlling power generation, comprising:
- a communications systems base station, including:
- a communications interface configured to communicatively couple a wireless interface to a back-haul;
- a switch circuit that is configured to selectively switch power between multiple power sources and from the multiple power sources to the communications interface, wherein the multiple power sources, include:
- a primary power interface configured to provide power from a primary power source to the communications interface;
- a battery circuit interface configured to provide power to a battery circuit and to receive power from the battery circuit;
- and
- a generator interface configured to provide power from a generator to the communications interface, to the battery circuit interface, or both;
- and
- a power controller that is configured to enable the generator when reduced availability of the primary power source is detected and a sensed voltage of the battery circuit is below a first threshold, and that is configured to disable the generator when reduced availability of the primary power source is not detected or when the sensed voltage of the battery circuit is above a second threshold.
A system for controlling generated power in a wireless telecommunications site, the system comprising:
- a power controller to be coupled to:
- a communications interface, which is coupled to a wireless interface and a telecommunications back-haul,
- a primary power source,
- a back-up generator;
- and
- a battery circuit,
- wherein the primary power source, the back-up generator, and the battery circuit are configured to selectively provide power to the communications interface;
- and
- wherein the power controller is configured to intermittently operate the back-up generator based, at least in part, on a charge level from the battery circuit, and
- wherein during reduced availability of the primary power source, operation of the communications interface is enabled by consumption of at least percent less fuel than required by another system having a back-up generator that is operated continuously during the reduced availability of the primary power source.
A system for controlling generated power for a wireless telecommunications transceiver, the system comprising:
- a power controller to be coupled to:
- a communications interface, which is coupled to a wireless interface,
- a primary power source,
- a generator;
- and
- a battery circuit,
- wherein the primary power source, the generator, and the battery circuit are configured to selectively provide power to the communications interface;
- and
- wherein the power controller is configured to intermittently operate the back-up generator based, at least in part, on a charge level from the battery circuit, and
- wherein during reduced availability of the primary power source, operation of the communications interface is enabled by consumption of at least a selected percent less fuel than required by another system having a generator that is operated continuously during the reduced availability of the primary power source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.