Digital Power Supply
AssigneeWeber-Stephen Products LLC
InventorsEric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided is an apparatus and method for a digital power supply that can provide independent power control, and control variable power, for two or more electrical loads. Disclosed embodiments may reduce the magnitude of harmonic currents and/or flicker introduced into a power system. Embodiments include a microprocessor that delivers power to electric loads using phase-controlled AC current. The microprocessor may calculate a power array corresponding to a requested power for each electric load. Logic is provided for populating the power array in a pattern that reduces the magnitude of harmonic currents and flicker.
Claims20
A method of delivering power, comprising the steps of:
- using one or more user input devices to select a first and second power setting for a first and second heating element, respectively;
- electronically communicating the power settings to a microprocessor and using the microprocessor to calculate a total amount of power requested;
- using the microprocessor to populate a first and second power array corresponding to the first and second heating element, respectively;
- using the microprocessor to calculate a first and second phase angle array corresponding to the first and second power array;
- causing the microprocessor to receive a zero crossing signal from a zero crossing detection unit;
- and
- for a first time period, delivering a phase-controlled AC wave pattern represented by the first phase angle array to the first heating element and delivering a phase-controlled AC wave pattern represented by the second phase angle array to the second heating element.
A digital power supply, comprising:
- a first and second user input;
- a first and second triac connected to a voltage line;
- a first and second triac driver respectively in communication with the first and second triac;
- a microprocessor in communication with the first and second triac drivers and in communication with the first and second user input;
- wherein the microprocessor is specifically configured to calculate a total power requested by the first and second user inputs and to populate a first and second power array based on the total power requested;
- and
- wherein the microprocessor is specifically configured to calculate a first and second array of phase angles based on the respective values of the first and second power array.
An electric grill, comprising:
- a first knob, a second knob, and a display mounted on a housing;
- a power cable connected to a voltage line and a neutral line;
- a first and second heating element inside the housing, the first and second heating elements being connected to the voltage line and the neutral line;
- a first and second triac connected between the voltage line and the first and second heating elements respectively;
- a first and second triac driver respectively in communication with the first and second heating elements;
- a zero crossing detection unit configured to detect zero crossings of AC current in the voltage line;
- and
- a microprocessor in communication with the first and second knob, the first and second triac drivers, and the zero crossing detection unit, wherein the microprocessor further communicates with a clock signal generator and a memory.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.