Smart power converter
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsCalvin Potter, Andrew Brackenbury, Gene Nishikida
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A smart power conversion and control system and method converts source AC power at a first voltage level to DC power at a second voltage level that is less than the first voltage level. Upon receipt of a command signal, a portion of the system is enabled to further convert the source AC power to regulated DC power at a voltage level that is less than the first voltage level and greater than the second voltage level. One or more relatively high voltage DC loads are then energized with the regulated DC power. When the portion of the system is not enabled, the source AC power is not converted.
Claims20
A power converter system, comprising:
- a step-down device adapted to receive source AC power at a first voltage level and configured, upon receipt of the source AC power, to supply stepped-down AC power at a second voltage level that is less than the first voltage level;
- a low power control circuit coupled to receive a command signal, and power that is supplied by the step-down device, the low power control circuit operable, upon receipt of the command signal,-to supply an enable signal;
- and
- a high power regulator circuit adapted to receive the source AC power and coupled to receive the enable signal from the low power control circuit, the high power regulator configured, upon receipt of the enable signal, to convert the source AC power to regulated DC power at a third voltage level that is less than the first voltage level and greater than the second voltage level.
The power converter of claim 13, wherein the step-down device comprises a step-down transformer.
An actuator power and control system, comprising:
- a step-down device adapted to receive source AC power at a first voltage level and configured, upon receipt of the source AC power, to supply stepped-down AC power at a second voltage level that is less than the first voltage level;
- a low power control circuit coupled to receive (i) power supplied by the step-down device and (ii) a command signal, the low power control circuit operable, upon receipt of the command signal, to supply (i) an enable signal, (ii) inverter control signals, and (iii) relatively low voltage, regulated DC power to one or more electrical loads;
- a high power regulator circuit adapted to receive the source AC power and coupled to receive the enable signal from the low power control circuit, the high power regulator configured, upon receipt of the enable signal, to convert the source AC power to regulated DC power at a third voltage level that is less than the first voltage level and greater than the second voltage level;
- an inverter circuit coupled to receive the regulated DC power supplied by the high power regulator circuit and the inverter control signals from the low power control circuit and operable, upon receipt thereof, to convert the regulated DC power to AC power;
- and
- a motor coupled to receive the AC power supplied by the inverter circuit and operable, upon receipt thereof, to generate a rotational drive force.
A method of controlling the supply of relatively high voltage, regulated DC power to one or more loads, comprising the steps of:
- supplying source AC power at a first voltage level;
- converting the source AC power to DC power at a second voltage level that is less than the first voltage level;
- supplying a command signal;
- and
- in response to the command signal:
- converting the source AC power to regulated DC power at a voltage level that is less than the first voltage level and greater than the second voltage level, and
- energizing the relatively high voltage DC load with the regulated DC power.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.