# US 12,119,642 B2 · Power manager with reconfigurable power converting circuits > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,119,642 B2 - Document ID: US12119642B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/751,022 - Filed: 2022-05-23 - Published: 2022-09-08 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-20 - Assignees: Galvion Soldier Power, LLC - Applicants: Galvion Soldier Power, LLC - Inventors: David N. Long; Richard Flathers; Gregory D. McConnell; Nicholas J. Piela - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12119642B2 ## CPC - H02J 1/102: being switching converters (H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence) - G06F 1/263: {Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC (G06F1/30 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/266: {Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips} - G06F 13/4022: {using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network (G06F13/4009 takes precedence)} - H02J 1/08: Three-wire DC power distribution systems; Systems having more than three wires - H02J 1/082: DC supplies with two or more different DC voltage levels - H02J 7/60: including safety or protection arrangements - H02J 7/80: including monitoring or indicating arrangements - H02J 7/865: {Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply (H02J7/50 takes precedence)} - H02M 3/04: by static converters - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) ## Abstract A distributed power network includes a power bus infrastructure distributed over a region with node points provided to interface with controllable power nodes. Each power node can be connected to an external power device such as a DC power sources, a DC power load, or a rechargeable DC battery. The power nodes form a communication network and cooperate with each other to receive input power from DC power sources and or rechargeable DC batteries connected to the power bus infrastructure and distribute the power received therefrom to the power bus infrastructure for distribution to the DC power loads and to rechargeable DC batteries. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power node, comprising: a first device port coupled to a power bus infrastructure; a second device port coupled to an external power device; a processor; a first communication module coupled to the processor and the external power device; a second communication module coupled to the processor and to at least one other processor operating on at least one other power node that is coupled to the power bus infrastructure; a reconfigurable power channel coupled between the first device port and the second device port, wherein the reconfigurable power channel comprises a one-way DC to DC power converter having an input side for receiving input DC power and an output side for distributing output DC power, and circuitry comprising a plurality of switches; and wherein the one-way DC to DC power converter and the plurality of switches are operable by the processor to: a) connect the output side to the first device port; or b) connect the output side to the second device port; or c) connect the first device port to the second device port without connecting the first device port or the second device port to the input side or the output side. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power node of claim 1 further comprising, an energy management schema operating on the processor, wherein the energy management schema is configured to determine an operating configuration for the power node. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The power node of claim 1 wherein the second communication module is configured for wireless communication with the at least one other processor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The power node of claim 1 wherein the second communication module is configured for wired communication with the at least one other processor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The power node of claim 1 wherein the one-way DC to DC power converter and the plurality of switches are further operable by the processor to: d) connect the input side to the first device port while the output side is connected to the second device port; or e) connect the input side to the second device port while the output side is connected to the first device port. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The power node of claim 1 wherein the power bus infrastructure is incorporated into a woven fabric. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The power node of claim 1 wherein the power bus infrastructure extends over a building or a vehicle. ### Claim 8 A power network, comprising: a power bus infrastructure; and a plurality of power nodes coupled to the power bus infrastructure, wherein each of the power nodes includes: a first device port coupled to the power bus infrastructure; a second device port coupled to an external power device; and a processor for controlling power between the external power device and the power bus infrastructure and enabling functions comprising determining power characteristics of the external power device, distributing the power characteristics to another power node and determining an instantaneous configuration of the power network. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The power network of claim 8 wherein the power bus infrastructure is incorporated into a woven fabric. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The power network of claim 8 wherein the power bus infrastructure is incorporated into an element worn by a person. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The power network of claim 8 wherein the power bus infrastructure extends over a building or a vehicle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The power network of claim 8 wherein each of the power nodes includes a node rechargeable DC battery electrically coupled to the processor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The power network of claim 8 wherein at least one power node includes a peak power point tracking module operable via the processor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The power network of claim 8 wherein each power node incudes a network interface device coupled to the processor that is operable to establish a communicate network between the plurality of power nodes coupled to the power bus infrastructure. ### Claim 15 A method comprising: coupling a plurality of power nodes to a power bus infrastructure; coupling an external power device to each of the power nodes; determining, via a node processor operating on each of the power nodes, power characteristics of the external power device coupled to the node processor; coupling a network interface device to each node processor and coupling each node processor via a communication network; distributing the power characteristics of each of the external power devices to each of the node processors via the communication network; and, determining, via an energy management schema operating on each node processor, an instantaneous configuration of a power network comprising the plurality of power nodes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising; selecting from the external power devices coupled to the power nodes, via the energy management schema, at least one DC power source; and selecting from the external power devices coupled to the power nodes, via the energy management schema, at least one DC power load. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 further comprising: establishing, via the energy management schema, a power distribution configuration of each power node; wherein the power distribution configuration includes; configuring the power node to distribute DC power to the power bus infrastructure; or configuring the power node to receive DC power from the power bus infrastructure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising selecting, via the energy management schema, a power distribution configuration of each power node; wherein the power distribution configuration includes; converting a voltage range of DC power being received from the power bus infrastructure to a non-bus compatible voltage range; converting a voltage range of DC power being distributed, by the external power device coupled to the power node, to the power bus infrastructure to a bus compatible voltage range. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the external power device coupled to at least one of the power nodes is a rechargeable DC battery. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 further comprising determining, via the energy management schema, a State of Charge (SoC) of the rechargeable DC battery. ### Claim 21 A system comprising: a plurality of power nodes coupled to a power bus infrastructure; an external power device coupled to each of the power nodes; a node processor operating on each of the power nodes; a network interface device coupled to the node processor operating on each of the power nodes; energy management schema operating on each node processor; wherein the energy management schema is configured to: determine power characteristics of the external power device coupled to each power node via the node processor; couple each power node to a communication network via the network interface device; distribute the power characteristics of each external power device to each node processor via the network interface device; and, determine an instantaneous configuration of a power network comprising the plurality of power nodes. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21 wherein the energy management schema is configured to: a) select from the external power devices coupled to the power nodes, at least one DC power source; and b) select from the external power devices coupled to the power nodes, at least one DC power load. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22 wherein the energy management schema is configured to a) establish a power distribution configuration of each power node to distribute DC power to the power bus infrastructure or b) establish a power distribution configuration of each power node to receive DC power from the power bus infrastructure. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23 wherein the energy management schema is configured to establish a power distribution configuration of each power node to a) convert a voltage range of DC power being received from the power bus infrastructure to another voltage range; or b) convert a voltage range of DC power being distributed to the power bus infrastructure to a bus compatible voltage range. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21 wherein the external power device coupled to at least one of the power nodes comprises a rechargeable DC battery. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25 wherein the energy management schema is configured to determine a State of Charge (SoC) of the rechargeable DC battery.