# US 8,788,106 B2 · Power control system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,788,106 B2 - Document ID: US8788106B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/602,087 - Filed: 2008-05-28 - Published: 2010-11-11 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2007-05-29 - Assignees: Ultra Electronics Limited - Applicants: Ian M. Stothers; Daniel Z. Schneider - Inventors: Ian M. Stothers; Daniel Z. Schneider - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788106B2 ## CPC - B64D 15/14: controlled cyclically along length of surface - B64D 15/22: Automatic initiation by icing detector - H02J 3/14: by switching loads on to, or off from, the networks, e.g. progressively balanced loading - H02J 2105/32: {for aircrafts} - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY ## Abstract A method is disclosed for controlling the distribution of power to a plurality of devices, the method being carried out during a plurality of time periods, and the method during each time period after the first comprising: determining (S700) an energy or power deficit for each device based on the difference between a target amount of energy or power and a measured amount of energy or power supplied to the device prior to the current time period; selecting (S702) at least one device in decreasing order of energy or power deficit, whereby priority is given to devices having the largest energy or power deficit or the smallest energy or power surplus, until the selection of any further devices will cause a total estimated power consumption of the selected devices during the time period to exceed a predetermined maximum power consumption; and supplying (S704) power to the or each selected device during the time period. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of controlling the distribution of power to a plurality of devices, the method being carried out by a power controller during a plurality of time periods, and the method being carried out during each time period after a first time period comprising: determining an energy or power deficit for each device based on the difference between a target amount of energy or power and a measured amount of energy or power supplied to the device prior to the current time period; selecting at least one device in decreasing order of energy or power deficit, whereby priority is given to devices having the largest energy or power deficit or the smallest energy or power surplus, until the selection of any further devices will cause a total estimated power consumption of the selected devices during the time period to exceed a predetermined maximum power consumption; and causing the power controller to supply power to the or each selected device during the time period. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein power is not supplied to unselected devices. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein, for time periods other than the first, the determination of an energy or power deficit for each device comprises subtracting (a) a target amount of energy or power desired to be supplied to the device during the preceding time period from the sum of: (b) a measurement of the actual amount of energy or power supplied to the device during the preceding time period, and (c) the determined energy or power deficit of the preceding time period. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A method according to claim 3, wherein, for the first time period, the method comprises setting the energy or power deficit to an initialisation value. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the selection of at least one device comprises: arranging device data associated with respective devices into a list sorted by decreasing size of energy or power deficit of each respective device; selecting device data from the top of the list; calculating the total estimated power consumption of the devices associated with the selected device data; and continuing the selection of device data until the selection of any further device data would cause the total estimated power consumption to exceed the predetermined maximum power consumption. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein supplying power to the or each selected device comprises switching on the or each selected device and switching off unselected devices. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A method according to claim 6 for use with an alternating current power supply, wherein the method further comprises switching the or each device at zero-crossing points of the current or voltage of the power supply. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 for use with a multiple phase power supply, wherein the method is carried out in respect of each phase of the multiple phase power supply. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A method according to claim 8, further comprising processing a signal representative of an imbalance in the current or voltage of the multiple phases, and adjusting the maximum power consumption in order to reduce the imbalance. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A method according to claim 8 for use with a power supply including a neutral path, wherein the method further comprises supplying power during at least one time period through only a selected one of the phases, processing a signal representative of a measurement of the current flowing through the neutral path, and determining an electrical property of at least one of the devices connected to said selected one of the phases in dependence on the current measurement. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A method according to claim 10, further comprising calibrating an electrical sensor connected to said selected one of the phases in dependence on the determined electrical property. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of devices comprises a plurality of heater elements, and the time period is less than the thermal time constant of at least one of the heater elements. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, further comprising substantially normalising the energy or power deficit with respect to the target amount of energy or power respectively. ### Claim 14 Apparatus for controlling the distribution of power to a plurality of devices during a plurality of time periods, the apparatus comprising: means for determining an energy or power deficit for each device during each time period, the determination being based on the difference between a target amount of energy or power and a measured amount of energy or power supplied to the device prior to the time period; means for selecting at least one device during each time period in decreasing order of energy or power deficit, whereby priority is given to devices having the largest energy or power deficit or the smallest energy or power surplus, until the selection of any further devices will cause a total estimated power consumption of the selected devices during the time period to exceed a predetermined maximum power consumption; and means for supplying power to the or each selected device during each time period. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the means for supplying power is operable to not supply power to unselected devices. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the means for determining an energy or power deficit is operable, in respect of time periods other than the first, to determine the energy or power deficit for each device by subtracting (a) a target amount of energy or power desired to be supplied to the device during the preceding time period from the sum of: (b) a measurement of the actual amount of energy or power supplied to the device during the preceding time period, and (c) the determined energy or power deficit of the preceding time period. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the means for determining an energy or power deficit is operable, in respect of the first time period, to set the energy or power deficit to an initialisation value. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the means for selecting at least one device is operable to: arrange device data associated with respective devices into a list sorted by decreasing size of energy or power deficit of each respective device; select device data from the top of the list; calculate the total estimated power consumption of the devices associated with the selected device data; and continue the selection of device data until the selection of any further device data would cause the total estimated power consumption to exceed the predetermined, maximum power consumption. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the means for supplying power to the or each selected device is operable to switch on the or each selected device and to switch off unselected devices. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) Apparatus according to claim 19, operable with an alternating current power supply, and wherein the means for supplying power is operable to switch the or each device at zero-crossing points of the current or voltage of the power supply. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) Apparatus according to claim 14, operable to supply power from a plurality of phases of a multiple phase power supply. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) Apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising means for processing a signal representative of an imbalance in the current or voltage of the multiple phases, and means for adjusting the maximum power consumption in order to reduce the imbalance. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) Apparatus according to claim 21, operable with a power supply including a neutral path, wherein the apparatus is operable to supply power during at least one time period through only a selected one of the phases, to process a signal representative of a measurement of the current flowing through the neutral path, and to determine an electrical property of at least one of the devices connected to said selected one of the phases in dependence on the current measurement. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) Apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising means for calibrating an electrical sensor connected to said selected one of the phases in dependence on the determined electrical property. ### Claim 25 (depends on 14) Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of devices comprises a plurality of heater elements, and the time period is less than the thermal time constant of at least one of the heater elements. ### Claim 26 (depends on 14) Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is operable substantially to normalise the energy or power deficit with respect to the target amount of energy or power respectively. ### Claim 27 (depends on 14) A vehicle comprising: a power supply; a plurality of devices; and apparatus as claimed in claim 14, for supplying power from the power supply to the plurality of devices. ### Claim 28 (depends on 14) An ice protection system for an aircraft, including apparatus as claimed in claim 14. ### Claim 29 A power controller for controlling the distribution of power to a plurality of devices during a plurality of time periods, comprising: a switching unit for switching power to said plurality of devices; an instruction memory storing processor implementable instructions; and a processor operable to process data in accordance with instructions stored in the instruction memory; wherein the instructions stored in the instruction memory comprise instructions for controlling the processor to perform a method comprising: determining an energy or power deficit during each time period for each device based on the difference between a target amount of energy or power and a measured amount of energy or power supplied to the device prior to the time period; selecting at least one device during each time period in decreasing order of energy or power deficit, whereby priority is given to devices having the largest energy or power deficit or the smallest energy or power surplus, until the selection of any further devices will cause a total estimated power consumption of the selected devices during the time period to exceed a predetermined maximum power consumption; and supplying power to the or each selected device during the time period. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) A power controller according to claim 29, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor cause the power controller not to supply power to unselected devices. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) A power controller according to claim 29, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor cause the power controller, in respect of time periods other than the first, to determine of an energy or power deficit for each device by subtracting (a) a target amount of energy or power desired to be supplied to the device during the preceding time period from the sum of: (b) a measurement of the actual amount of energy or power supplied to the device during the preceding time period, and (c) the determined energy or power deficit of the preceding time period. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) A power controller according to claim 31, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor cause the power controller, in respect of the first time period, to set the energy or power deficit to an initialisation value. ### Claim 33 (depends on 29) A power controller according to claim 29, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor cause the power controller to select at least one device by: arranging device data associated with respective devices into a list sorted by decreasing size of energy or power deficit of each respective device; selecting device data from the top of the list; calculating the total estimated power consumption of the devices associated with the selected device data; and continuing the selection of device data until the selection of any further device data would cause the total estimated power consumption to exceed the predetermined maximum power consumption. ### Claim 34 (depends on 29) A power controller according to claim 29, wherein the instructions when executed by the processor cause the power controller to supply power to the or each selected device by switching on the or each selected device and switching off unselected devices. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) A power controller according to claim 34, wherein the power controller is operable to supply power from an alternating current power supply, and the instructions when executed by the processor cause the power controller to switch the or each device at zero-crossing points of the current or voltage of the power supply. ### Claim 36 (depends on 29) A power controller according to claim 29, wherein the power controller is operable to supply power from a plurality of phases of a multiple phase power supply. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) A power controller according to claim 36, wherein the power controller is operable to process a signal representative of an imbalance in the current or voltage of the multiple phases, and to adjust the maximum power consumption in order to reduce the imbalance. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) A power controller according to claim 36 for use with a power supply including a neutral path, wherein the power controller is operable to supply power during at least one time period through only a selected one of the phases, to process a signal representative of a measurement of the current flowing through the neutral path, and to determine an electrical property of at least one of the devices connected to said selected one of the phases in dependence on the current measurement. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) A power controller according to claim 38, operable to calibrate an electrical sensor connected to said selected one of the phases in dependence on the determined electrical property. ### Claim 40 (depends on 29) A power controller according to claim 29, wherein the plurality of devices comprises a plurality of heater elements, and the time period is less than the thermal time constant of at least one of the heater elements. ### Claim 41 (depends on 29) A power controller according to claim 29, operable substantially to normalise the energy or power deficit with respect to the target amount of energy or power respectively. ### Claim 42 A method of controlling the distribution of power to a plurality of devices, the method being carried out by a power controller during a plurality of time periods, and the method being carried out during each time period comprising: determining an energy or power deficit for each device; selecting at least one device, giving priority to devices having the largest energy or power deficit, such that as many devices as possible are selected without causing a total estimated power consumption of the selected devices during the time period to exceed a predetermined maximum power consumption; and causing the power controller to supply power to the or each selected device during the time period. ### Claim 43 Apparatus for controlling the distribution of power to a plurality of devices during a plurality of time periods, the apparatus comprising: means for determining an energy or power deficit for each device during each time period; means for selecting at least one device during each time period, giving priority to devices having the largest energy or power deficit, such that as many devices as possible are selected without causing a total estimated power consumption of the selected devices during the time period to exceed a predetermined maximum power consumption; and means for controlling the distribution of the power such that power is supplied to the or each selected device during the time period.