Power management system
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsMarcelo C. Algrain, Kris W. Johnson, Sivaprasad Akasam, Brian D. Hoff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of managing power resources for an electrical system of a vehicle may include identifying enabled power sources from among a plurality of power sources in electrical communication with the electrical system and calculating a threshold power value for the enabled power sources. A total power load placed on the electrical system by one or more power consumers may be measured. If the total power load exceeds the threshold power value, then a determination may be made as to whether one or more additional power sources is available from among the plurality of power sources. At least one of the one or more additional power sources may be enabled, if available.
Claims20
A method of managing power resources for an electrical system of a vehicle, comprising:
- identifying enabled power sources from among a plurality of power sources in electrical communication with the electrical system;
- calculating a threshold power value for the enabled power sources;
- measuring a total power load placed on the electrical system by one or more power consumers;
- determining, if the total power load exceeds the threshold power value, whether one or more additional power sources is available from among the plurality of power sources;
- and
- automatically enabling at least one of the one or more additional power sources, if available.
A method of managing power resources for an electrical system of a vehicle, comprising:
- identifying enabled power sources from among a plurality of power sources in electrical communication with the electrical system;
- calculating a threshold power value for the enabled power sources;
- measuring a total power load placed on the electrical system by one or more power consumers;
- and
- decreasing a power load value for at least one of the one or more power consumers if the total power load exceeds the threshold power value.
A method of managing power resources for an electrical system of a vehicle, comprising:
- identifying enabled power sources from among a plurality of power sources in electrical communication with the electrical system;
- calculating a threshold power value for the enabled power sources;
- measuring a total power load placed on the electrical system by one or more power consumers;
- determining whether a power load value of any of the one or more power consumers may be decreased;
- assigning a priority rank value to each of the one or more power consumers if at least one power load value of the one or more power consumers may be decreased;
- identifying a low priority consumer according to which of the one or more power consumers has the lowest priority rank;
- and
- decreasing a power load value of the low priority consumer.
A controller for an electrical system of a vehicle, comprising:
- at least one processor;
- a storage device including one or more instructions for performing the steps of:
- identifying enabled power sources from among a plurality of power sources in electrical communication with the electrical system;
- calculating a threshold power value for the enabled power sources;
- and
- measuring a total power load placed on the electrical system by one or more power consumers;
- wherein the one or more instructions are further configured to perform at least one of the steps of:
- decreasing a power load value for at least one of the one or more power consumers if the total power load exceeds the threshold power value, and
- enabling at least one additional power source from among the plurality of power sources.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.