US 11,888,314 B2 · Electrical load management system and method

Abstract

Techniques for distributing electrical power to a plurality of electrical loads can include coupling an existing group of electrical loads to a common power source through a load management system, measuring an aggregate group current drawn by at least the existing group of electrical loads and comparing the measured aggregate group current to an aggregate group current threshold value. When the measured aggregate group current exceeds the aggregate group current threshold value, increase a number of subgroups of the existing group, using subgroups that are formed without requiring information about individual current associated with the individual electrical loads, sequentially apply power to individual subgroups during non-overlapping time periods, sequentially measure at least a corresponding current drawn by the individual subgroups while power is applied to the subgroups, and sequentially comparing the measured current to a threshold value.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A method for distributing electrical power to a plurality of electrical loads, the method comprising:

coupling an existing group of the electrical loads to a common power source through a load management system, wherein the plurality of electrical loads are coupled to a power system of a vehicle;
comparing an aggregate group load characteristic associated with at least the existing group of the electrical loads to an aggregate group load characteristic threshold value;
and
determining that the aggregate group load characteristic exceeds the aggregate group load characteristic threshold value and, in response:
increasing a number of subgroups of the existing group, using subgroups that are formed without requiring information about individual load characteristics associated with individual electrical loads;
and
applying power to individual subgroups during non-overlapping time periods.

4 more elements

An apparatus for distributing electrical power to a plurality of electrical loads coupled to a power system of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a load management system to couple an existing group of electrical loads of the vehicle to a common power source;
a comparator circuit to compare an aggregate group load characteristic associated with at least the existing group of the electrical loads to an aggregate group load characteristic threshold value;
and
a controller circuit coupled to the comparator circuit and configured for determining that the aggregate group load characteristic exceeds the aggregate group load characteristic threshold value and, in response:
increasing a number of subgroups of the existing group, using subgroups that are formed without requiring information about individual load characteristics associated with the individual electrical loads;
and
applying, using the load management system, power to individual subgroups during non-overlapping time periods.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrical load management system and method

Life of this patent

Electrical load management system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24