SOFTWARE-DEFINED ELECTRICAL POWER MANAGEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION CONTROLLER FOR REMOTE SYSTEMS
A software-defined power management and distribution system for spacecraft and other remote systems, which maximizes adjustability of the electrical power systems thereof using software, and without having to change the associated hardware is described. Embodiments of the present apparatus are remotely adjustable, thereby enabling more rapid configuration of spacecrafts during construction as well as reconfiguration thereof while in orbit.
1 . A software-defined electric power management and distribution system for a DC voltage, comprising:
a command and data handling computer;
a receiver for receiving RF commands that direct software commands to said command and data handling computer;
an input electric power regulator for maximum power point tracking for receiving said DC voltage, and for regulating said DC voltage, thereby generating a first voltage;
an electric power controller for receiving commands from said command and data handling computer, and for controlling, using digital feedback control, said input electric power regulator; and
an output electric power regulator for receiving the first voltage, and for receiving commands from said electric power controller, for generating a second voltage responsive to the commands from said electric power controller, using digital feedback control;
wherein said second voltage is used for providing electrical power to a remote system; and
wherein output voltages, currents and risetimes can be adjusted using the software commands to power different loads with varying requirements.
2 . The software-defined electric power management and distribution system of claim 1 , further comprising a DC storage device for storing the first voltage.
3 . The software-defined electric power management and distribution system of claim 2 , wherein said DC storage device comprises a battery.
4 . The software-defined electric power management and distribution system of claim 1 , further comprising a DC voltage source for generating said DC voltage, wherein said DC voltage source comprises a solar array.
5 . The software-defined electric power management and distribution system of claim 1 , wherein said input electric power regulator and said output electric power regulator are chosen from buck-or-boost, Cuk, Zeta, Single-Ended, Primary-Inductor Converter (SEPIC), isolated Cuk, and isolated flyback electric power converters, and combinations thereof.
6 . The software-defined electric power management and distribution system of claim 5 , wherein said input electric power regulator comprises a SEPIC converter, and said output electric power regulator comprises a Zeta converter.
7 . The software-defined electric power management and distribution system of claim 1 , wherein said electric power controller comprises a controller chosen from a digitally-adjustable lead-lag controller, a proportional, integral, derivative controller within a field-programmable gate array fabric and a microcontroller, and combinations thereof.
8 . The software-defined electric power management and distribution system of claim 1 , further comprising an RF transmitter for receiving data from said command and data handling computer and transmitting the data.
9 . The software-defined electric power management and distribution system of claim 8 , wherein said output electric power regulator provides electric power to said receiver, said transmitter, said command and data handling computer, a spacecraft attitude determination and control system, and spacecraft scientific instruments.
10 . A method for electric power management and distribution of a DC voltage, using software, comprising:
providing a command and data handling computer;
receiving RF communications that direct software commands to the command and data handling computer;
providing an electric power controller for receiving commands from the command and data handling computer;
generating a first voltage from the DC voltage responsive to commands from the electric power controller, thereby implementing maximum power point tracking;
regulating the first voltage responsive to commands from the electric power controller;
generating a second voltage from the first voltage responsive to commands from the electric power controller using digital feedback control;
regulating the second voltage responsive to commands from the electric power controller; and
using the second voltage for providing electrical power to a remote system;
wherein said step of generating a first voltage and said step of regulating the first voltage are performed using an input electric power regulator, and wherein said step of generating a second voltage and said step of regulating the second voltage are performed using an output electric power regulator in which output voltages, currents and risetimes can be adjusted using the software commands to power different loads with varying requirements.
11 . The method for electric power management and distribution using software of claim 10 , further comprising the step of storing the first voltage.
12 . The method for electric power management and distribution using software of claim 10 , wherein the DC voltage derives from a DC voltage source comprising a solar array.
13 . The method for electric power management and distribution using software of claim 10 , wherein the input electric power regulator and the output electric power regulator are chosen from buck-or-boost, Cuk, Zeta, SEPIC, isolated Cuk, and isolated flyback electric power converters, and combinations thereof.
14 . The method for electric power management and distribution using software of claim 10 , wherein said input electric power regulator comprises a SEPIC converter, and said output electric power regulator comprises a Zeta converter.
15 . The method for electric power management and distribution using software of claim 10 , wherein the electric power controller comprises a controller chosen from a digitally-adjustable lead-lag controller, a proportional, integral, derivative controller within a field-programmable gate array fabric and a microcontroller, and combinations thereof.
16 . The method for electric power management and distribution using software of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of receiving data from the command and data handling computer, and transmitting the data.
17 . The method for electric power management and distribution using software of claim 10 , further comprising the step of using the second voltage from said step of generating a second voltage for providing electrical power to a spacecraft.
18 . The method for electric power management and distribution using software of claim 17 , wherein said step of providing electrical power to a spacecraft comprises providing electrical power to the command and data handling computer, a spacecraft attitude determination and control system, and spacecraft scientific instruments.
19 . The method for electric power management and distribution using software of claim 18 , wherein said steps of receiving RF commands and transmitting the data, take place between the spacecraft and earth.
20 . A software-defined electric power management and distribution system for a DC voltage, comprising:
a command and data handling computer;
a receiver for receiving RF communications that direct software commands to said command and data handling computer;
an input electric power regulator for direct energy transfer for regulating the DC voltage, thereby generating a first voltage;
an electric power controller for receiving commands from said command and data handling computer, and for controlling using digital feedback control, said input electric power regulator; and
an output electric power regulator for receiving the first voltage, and for receiving commands from said electric power controller, for generating a second voltage responsive to the commands from said electric power controller using digital feedback control;
wherein said second voltage is used for providing electrical power to a remote system; and
wherein output voltage, currents, and risetimes can be adjusted using the software commands to power different loads with varying requirements.
21 . The software-defined electric power management and distribution system of claim 20 , further comprising a DC storage device for storing the first voltage.
22 . The software-defined electric power management and distribution system of claim 20 , wherein said input electric power regulator comprises a sequential shunt switching regulator, or a sequential series-shunt switching regulator.
23 . A method for electric power management and distribution of a DC voltage using software, comprising:
providing a command and data handling computer;
receiving RF communications that direct software commands to the command and data handling computer;
providing an electric power controller for receiving commands from the command and data handling computer;
generating a first voltage from the DC voltage responsive to commands from the electric power controller, thereby implementing direct energy transfer;
regulating the first voltage responsive to commands from the electric power controller;
generating a second voltage from the first voltage responsive to commands from the electric power controller using digital feedback control;
regulating the second voltage responsive to commands from the electric power controller; and
using the second voltage for providing electrical power to a remote system;
wherein said step of generating a first voltage and said step of regulating the first voltage are performed using an input electric power regulator, and wherein said step of generating a second voltage and said step of regulating the second voltage are performed using an output electric regulator in which output voltages, currents, and risetimes can be adjusted using the software commands to power different loads with varying requirements.
24 . The method for electric power management and distribution using software of claim 23 , further comprising the step of storing the first voltage.
26 . The method for electric power management and distribution using software of claim 23 , wherein the input electric power regulator comprises a sequential shunt switching regulator, or a sequential series-shunt switching regulator.
27 . The method for electric power management and distribution using software of claim 23 , wherein the output electric power regulator is chosen from buck-or-boost, Cuk, Zeta, SEPIC, isolated Cuk, and isolated flyback electric power converters, and combinations thereof.