An improved power manager includes a power bus ( 410 ) and multiple device ports ( 1 - 5 ), with at least one device port configured as a universal port ( 3 and 4 ) to be selectively connected to the power bus over an input power channel that includes an input power converter ( 510 ) or over a output or universal power channel ( 412, 416 ) that includes an output power converter ( 440, 442 ). The universal power channel ( 412 ) allows the input port ( 4 ) to be selected as an output power channel instead of an input power channel (i.e. operated as a universal port) for outputting power to device port ( 4 ) over power converter ( 440 ). The improved power manager ( 500 ) includes operating modes for altering an operating voltage of the power bus ( 505 ), to minimize overall power conversion losses due to DC to DC power conversions used to connect non-bus voltage compatible power devices to the power bus.
1. A power manager comprising:
a DC power bus;
a plurality device ports each configured to interface with an external power device comprising any one of a DC power source, a DC power load and a rechargeable DC battery;
a unidirectional DC to DC input power converter having an input side and an output side;
an input power channel disposed between the DC power bus and a first of a plurality of device ports wherein the input power channel includes a first input portion that connects the input power converter input side to the first of the plurality of device ports and a first input switch disposed along the first input portion, and a second input portion that connects the input power converter output side to the DC power bus, wherein operation of the first input switch selectively connects the input power converter input side to, or selectively disconnects the input power converter input side from, the first of the plurality of device ports;
a unidirectional DC to DC output power converter having an input side and an output side;
an output power channel disposed between the DC power bus and a second of the plurality of device ports wherein the output power channel includes a first output portion that connects the output power converter output side to the second of the plurality of device ports and first output switch disposed along the first output portion and a second portion that connects the output power converter input side to the DC power bus wherein operation of the first output switch selectively connects the output power converter output side to, or selectively disconnects the output power converter output side from the second of the plurality of device ports;
a first universal power channel that includes a first controllable switch disposed between the output side of the output power converter and the first of the plurality of device ports;
wherein the power manager operates at least one of the input power converter, the first input switch, the output power converter the first output switch and the first controllable switch to selectively connect a first external power device connected to the first of the plurality of device ports to the input side of the input power converter for connection to the DC power bus as a power source, with an input power conversion, or to selectively connect the first external power device connected to the first of the plurality of device ports to the output side of the output power converter for connection to the DC power bus as a power load, with an output power conversion.
2. The power manager of claim 1 :
wherein the operation of the first output switch by the power manager selectively disconnects the the second of the plurality of device ports from the output side of the output power converter or selectively connects a second external power device connected to the second of the plurality of device ports to the output side of the output power converter for connection to the DC power bus as a power load, with the output power conversion.
3. The power manager of claim 2 further comprising:
an electronic controller comprising a digital data processor and a digital data memory module, and an energy management schema program operated by the electronic controller;
wherein the electrical electronic controller operates one or more controllable switches and unidirectional DC to DC power converters corresponding with the power manager.
4. The power manager of claim 3 further comprising:
a communication interface corresponding with the electronic controller; and
a plurality communication channels extending from the communication interface to each of the plurality of device ports, wherein the communication interface, the plurality of communication channels and the plurality of the plurality of device ports are operable to communicate digital data received from each external power device connected to one of the plurality of device ports to the electronic controller.
5. The power manager of claim 4 wherein the energy management schema is configured to monitor each external power device connected to any one of the plurality of device ports and to determine if or how each external power device can be connected to the DC power bus.
6. The power manager of claim 1 :
further comprising a third of the plurality of device ports connected to the input side of the input power converter and a second input switch disposed between the third of the plurality of device ports and the input side of the input power converter;
wherein the power manager further operates the second input switch to selectively connect a third external power device connected to the third of the plurality of device ports to the DC power bus as a power source, with an input power conversion, while the first external power device connected to the first of the plurality of device ports is connected to the DC power bus over the universal power channel as a power load, with output power conversion.
7. The power manager of claim 6 :
further comprising a fourth of the plurality of device ports connected to output side of the output power converter and a second output switch disposed between the fourth of the plurality of device ports and the output side of the output power converter;
wherein the power manager further operates the second output switch to selectively connect a fourth external power device connected to the fourth of the plurality of device ports to the DC power bus as a power load, with an output power conversion.
8. The power manager of claim 7 further comprising:
a second universal power channel that includes a second first controllable switch disposed between the output side of the output power converter and the third of the plurality of device ports;
wherein the power manager operates at least one of the input power converter, the second input switch, the second output switch and the output power converter to connect a second external power device connected to the second of the plurality of device ports to the output side of the output power converter as a power load with an output power conversion.
9. The power manager of claim 5 wherein the energy management schema is operable to poll each of the plurality of device ports to determine power characteristics of each external power device connected to anyone of the plurality of device ports.
10. The power manager of claim 3 further comprising a bus sensor module in communication with the DC power bus and with the electronic controller for reporting a power bus operating voltage to the electronic controller.
11. A power manager comprising:
a DC power bus;
a unidirectional DC to DC input power converter having an input side and an output side, the output side of the unidirectional input power converter being connected to the power bus;
a first device port connected to the input power converter input side;
a unidirectional DC to DC output power converter having an input side and an output side, the input side of the unidirectional output power converter being connected to the power bus;
a second device port connected to the output side of the unidirectional output power converter; and
a universal power channel that includes an operable switch disposed between the output side of the output power converter and the first device port,
wherein the power manager operates the input power converter, the output power converter and the operable switch to selectively connect a first external power device connected to the first device port to the input side of the input power converter for connection to the power bus with an input power conversion or to selectively connect the first external power device to the output side of the output power converter for connection to the power bus with an output power conversion.
12. A power manager as recited in claim 11 , further comprising:
a third device port connected to the unidirectional input power converter input side;
a fourth device port connected to the output side of the unidirectional output power converter; and
a second universal power channel including a second operable switch disposed between the output side of the unidirectional output power converter and the third device port.
13. The power manager of claim 1 wherein the input power conversion includes a voltage change.
14. The power manager of claim 2 wherein the output power conversion includes a voltage change.