Method and device for supplying energy to a low-voltage load

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10056843-B2
Application number	US-201715671164-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2017
Priority date	Apr 10, 2015
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

A method and a device for supplying energy to a low-voltage load using an electronic power supply device. The method involves: a) setting the power supply device to be able to provide an output current to the low-voltage load up to a specified peak current value upon demand; b) monitoring the output current (IL) provided to the low-voltage load by the electronic power supply device to detect an increase of IL over a threshold (IN) which is lower than the peak current value, c) if an increase of IL to an increased output current value higher than IN is detected, detecting the increased IL value and ascertaining an output current pulse duration (tPulse) based on the increased current value; d) providing IL at the level of the increased current value for the duration of the ascertained tPulse; and e) providing the IL at the level of IN after tPulse has expired.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for supplying energy to a low-voltage load using an electronic power supply device, the method comprising:
setting up the electronic power supply device so as to provide an output current to the low-voltage load up to a specified peak current value;
providing the output current to the low-voltage load;
monitoring the output current provided to the low-voltage load in order to detect an increase in the output current above a threshold which is lower than the specified peak current value;
if an increase in the output current to an increased output current value higher than the threshold is detected, ascertaining an output current pulse duration based on the increased output current value;
providing the output current to the low-voltage load at a level of the increased output current value for the output current pulse duration; and
after expiration of the output current pulse duration, providing the output current to the low-voltage load at a level of the threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
after expiration of the output current pulse duration, setting a delivery of the output current at the level of the threshold for a duration of a predefined recovery time; and
after expiration of the duration of the predefined recovery time, resetting the electronic power supply device so as to deliver the output current to the low-voltage load up to the specified peak current value.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
determining the predefined recovery time in relation to the increased output current value.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a protective device configured to protect the low-voltage load; and
setting the peak current value sufficiently high to ensure secure tripping of the protective device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the longer the output current pulse duration is, the lower the increased output current value is.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, if the output current becomes equal to or lower than the threshold prior to expiration of the output current pulse duration:
setting up the electronic power supply device to provide the output current up to the level of the threshold.

7. An electronic power supply device for supplying energy to a low-voltage load by delivery of a DC output voltage and an output current up to a peak current value, the electronic power supply device comprising:
a detector which, in response to an increase in the output current above a predefined threshold, detects the increased output current, determines an output current pulse duration in relation to the increased output current, delivers the increased output current for a duration of the output current pulse duration, and, upon expiration of the output current pulse duration, delivers the output current at a level of the predefined threshold,
wherein the electronic power supply device is configured as an electronic switched-mode power supply,
wherein the electronic switched-mode power supply includes, incorporated therein, a DC voltage converter including an adjustable energy transmission ratio and a current measuring device configured to monitor the output current, and a setting apparatus configured to set an energy transmission ratio in relation to the output current, and
wherein the DC voltage converter includes a half-bridge LLC resonant converter.

8. The electronic power supply device of claim 7 , wherein the setting apparatus is further configured to influence a working frequency of the half-bridge LLC resonant converter.

Assignees

• Abb Schweiz Ag

Inventors

• Zowislok Florian
• Lill Dirk

Classifications

• H02H3/087 Primary

  for DC applications · CPC title

• H02H1/043 Primary

  to inrush currents (H02H1/046 takes precedence; differential protection of transformers H02H7/045) · CPC title

• H02M3/33546 Primary

  with automatic control of the output voltage or current (H02M3/33561 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02M2001/0009

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02H9/008

  Intrinsically safe circuits · CPC title