Control system for voltage controlled bilateral current source

A power conversion apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of current regulator means coupled in parallel with one another between a first power bus and a second power bus;
• each of said current regulator means including,
• an inductance having a first terminal for coupling to the first power bus and a second terminal for coupling to the second power bus;
• switching means coupled to said inductance for varying a magnitude and a direction of current flow through said inductance;
• and
• switching means control means having an output signal coupled to said switching means for operating said switching means so as to source current from the first bus and sink current to the second bus, or to source current from the second bus and sink current to the first bus, said control means being responsive to a first signal having a first component that has a magnitude and a polarity that is a function of a voltage potential appearing at said first bus, said control means further being responsive to a second signal that has a magnitude and a polarity that is a function of the magnitude of the current flow and the direction of the current flow through said inductance, said control means including means for generating said output signal so as to null said first signal with said second signal.

A power converter interposed between a first power bus of a satellite and a second power bus of the satellite, said first power bus being coupled to an energy source means and said second power bus being coupled to an energy storage means, comprising:

• at least one inductance having a first terminal for coupling to the first power bus and a second terminal for coupling to the second power bus;
• switching means coupled to said at least one inductance for varying a magnitude and a direction of current flow through said at least one inductance;
• and
• switching means control means having an output signal coupled to said switching means for operating said switching means so as to source current from the first power bus and sink current to the second power bus, or to source current from the second power bus and sink current to the first power bus, said control means being responsive to a first signal having a first component that has a magnitude and a polarity that is a function of a voltage potential appearing at said first power bus, said control means further being responsive to a second signal that has a magnitude and a polarity that is a function of the magnitude of the current flow and the direction of the current flow through said at least one inductance, said control means including means for generating said output signal so as to null said first signal with said second signal.

A switching bi-lateral power converter interposed between a first power bus and a second power bus, comprising:

• an inductance having a first terminal coupled to the first power bus and a second terminal coupled to the second power bus;
• switching means coupled to said inductance for varying a magnitude and a direction of current flow through said inductance;
• means coupled to the first power bus for generating a first signal having a polarity that indicates the direction of current flow through the inductance and a magnitude that indicates a voltage potential of the first power bus;
• means coupled to the inductance for generating a second signal having a polarity that indicates the direction of current flow through the inductance and a magnitude that indicates the magnitude of the current flow through said inductance;
• and
• means having inputs coupled to the first signal and to the second signal for generating an output signal for controlling, in a first mode of operation, said switching means to regulate a current flowing to the first power bus to satisfy an existing load requirement and, in a second mode of operation, to provide a current flowing to the second power bus at a predetermined current limit.