Power distribution apparatus and method of operating the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10705586-B2
Application number	US-201715689978-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 29, 2017
Priority date	Feb 14, 2017
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

A power distribution apparatus with a backup energy-storing function receives a first input power source, and the apparatus includes an output module, a conversion module, an energy storage unit, and a management unit. When the first input power source is normal, the output module outputs the first input power source. Also, the management unit controls the conversion module to convert the first input power source to a first power source for charging the energy storage unit. When the first input power source is abnormal, the energy storage unit outputs a second power source to the conversion module. Also, the management unit controls the conversion module to convert the second power source into a second input power source for outputting the second input power source from a second output module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power distribution apparatus, comprising:
a first output module configured to receive a first input power source;
a second output module connected to the first output module, and configured to receive the first input power source;
a conversion module connected to the first output module and the second output module, and configured to receive the first input power source;
an energy storage unit connected to the conversion module;
a management unit connected to the first output module, the second output module, the conversion module, and the energy storage unit;
wherein when the first input power source is normal, the first input power source is outputted from the first output module and the second output module, and the management unit is configured to control the conversion module to convert the first input power source into a first power source for charging the energy storage unit; when the first input power source is abnormal, the energy storage unit is configured to output a second power source to the conversion module, and the management unit is configured to control the conversion module to convert the second power source into a second input power source for outputting the second input power source from the second output module;
the first output module provides a first power source information to the management unit according to the first input power source and the second output module provides a second power source information to the management unit according to the first input power source; the management unit provides a third control signal to control the first output module according to the first power source information and provides a fourth control signal to control the second output module according to the second power source information.

2. The power distribution apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the conversion module further comprises:
a first conversion unit connected to the energy storage unit and configured to receive the first input power source;
a second conversion unit connected between the energy storage unit and the second output module;
wherein the first conversion unit is configured to convert the first input power source into the first power source for charging the energy storage unit, and the second conversion unit is configured to convert the second power source into the second input power source and transmit the second input power source to the second output module.

3. The power distribution apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the second conversion unit is a DC-to-DC converter or a DC-to-AC converter; when the second conversion unit is the DC-to-DC converter and the first input power source is abnormal, the second conversion unit is configured to convert the second power source into a DC second input power source and transmit the DC second input power source to the second output module; when the second conversion unit is the DC-to-AC converter and the first input power source is abnormal, the second conversion unit is configured to convert the second power source into an AC second input power source or a modulated AC second input power source and transmit the AC second input power source or the modulated AC second input power source to the second output module.

4. The power distribution apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the second conversion unit comprises a DC-to-DC converter and a DC-to-AC converter, and the management unit is configured to set the second input power source is a DC second input power source, an AC second input power source, or a modulated AC second input power source; when the first input power source is abnormal, the second conversion unit is configured to transmit the DC second input power source, the AC second input power source, or the modulated AC second input power source to the second output module.

5. The power distribution apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first conversion unit is a bidirectional AC-to-DC converter; when the first input power source is abnormal, the first conversion unit is configured to convert the second power source into an AC third input power source and transmit the AC third input power source to the first output module.

6. The power distribution apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising:
a first switch connected to the first output module and the first conversion unit, and configured to receive the first input power source;
a second switch connected between the second output module and the second conversion unit;
wherein when the first input power source is normal, the first switch is turned on and the second switch is turned off, and the first input power source is outputted from the first output module and the second output module; when the first input power source is abnormal, the first switch is turned off so that the first output module disconnects from the first input power source, and the second switch is turned on so that the second input power source is transmitted to the second output module through the second switch.

7. The power distribution apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the first output module further comprises:
a plurality of first output ports;
a first control unit connected to the management unit;
a plurality of detection units correspondingly connected between the first output ports and the first control unit;
a plurality of first switch units correspondingly connected between the first output ports and the first control unit;
wherein the detection units are configured to detect information of the first input power source at the first output ports, the first control unit is configured to convert the information of the first input power source into the first power source information and output the first power source information to the management unit, and the management unit is configured to turn on or turn off the first switch units according to the first power source information.

8. The power distribution apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second output module further comprises:
a plurality of second output ports;
a second control unit connected to the management unit;
a plurality of detection units correspondingly connected between the second output ports and the second control unit;
a plurality of second switch units correspondingly connected between the second output ports and the second control unit;
wherein the detection units are configured to detect information of the first input power source at the second output ports, the second control unit is configured to convert the information of the first input power source into the second power source information and output the second power source information to the management unit, and the management unit is configured to turn on or turn off the second switch units according to the second power source information.

9. The power distribution apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a user-customized unit connected to the management unit and configured to set a power quality of the first input power source; the management unit is configured to determine a status of the first input power source according to the power quality.

10. The power distribution apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the power quality comprises an upper voltage threshold value, a lower voltage threshold value, an upper current threshold value, a phase difference value, a power factor value, an upper frequency threshold value, and a lower frequency threshold value of the first input power source.

11. The power distribution apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the energy storage unit is configured to output energy storage information to the management

Assignees

• Delta Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Chan Chih-Chiang
• Lin Wen-Hsiang
• Lien Chin

Classifications

• H02J7/977

  of the battery · CPC title

• H02J7/585

  Sequential battery discharge in systems with a plurality of batteries · CPC title

• H02J7/96

  in response to battery voltage · CPC title

• H02J7/82

  Control of state of charge [SOC] · CPC title

• H02J7/42

  with electronic devices having internal batteries, e.g. mobile phones · CPC title