Power management system for variable load applications

A system for managing power in a radar assembly, the system comprising:

• at least one transmit/receive module having a variable load requirement;
• a processor assembly coupled to the at least one transmit/receive module and being adapted to control an operation of the at least one transmit/receive module;
• a plurality of power conversion units coupled to the at least one transmit/receive module and being adapted to convert power having a first form to power having a second form and being further adapted to provide the power having the second form to the at least one transmit/receive module;
• a power gateway in electrical communication with the plurality of power conversion units, the power gateway adapted to provide power having the first form to the power conversion units;
• and
• a power control module in electrical communication with the power conversion units, the power gateway, and the processor assembly, and being adapted to control a conversion operation of the plurality of power conversion units based at least in part on the variable load requirement of the at least one transmit/receive module.

A power management system for managing power to a voltage regulator electrically connected to a variable load, the power management system comprising:

• means for providing power at a first voltage to the variable load at a first time;
• means for predicting a temporary change in the power consumption of the variable load, wherein the predicted temporary change in the power consumption is predicted to occur at a second time subsequent to the first time;
• and
• means for providing power having a second voltage to the variable load at a third time prior to the second time and subsequent to the first time based at least in part on the predicted temporary change in the power consumption of the variable load, the second voltage being different than the first voltage.

A method for managing power from a power source to a variable load using at least one power conversion unit, the method comprising the steps of:

• predicting a load requirement of the variable load occurring at a first time;
• determining an amount of power adequate to meet the predicted load requirement;
• and
• directing, at a second time prior to the first time, a conversion operation of at least one power conversion unit to provide the amount of power to the variable load.

A method for managing power to a variable load using a plurality of power conversion units, the method comprising the steps of:

• predicting a load requirement of the variable load;
• selecting a subset of power conversion units from the plurality of power conversion units, wherein a power output of the subset of power conversion units is adequate for the predicted load requirement;
• providing power from the subset of power conversion units to the variable load;
• and
• deactivating those power conversion units not included in the subset.