Adaptive precharge

Abstract

Adaptive pre-charge devices, systems, and methods implemented within electrical systems can manage voltage differences between different parts of the system to provide proper contactor closing conditions. Communication of power between a power source and a load can be implemented while reducing the impact on components, which can improve the life cycle.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This non-provisional patent application claims preference to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 013,241, filed April 21, 2020, entitled “DAPTABLE PRECHARGE SYSTEM,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, including but not limited to the portions relating to precharging. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure relates to electrical systems, and more particularly to electrical systems having parts that communicate with each other using different voltage levels. Background Technology

[0004] Enabling communication between different parts of an electrical system, for example by closing contactors positioned between these parts, can present challenges in managing voltage differences between them. In cases where a dead bus is connected to a voltage supply including a high-voltage source, contactor closure due to sudden voltage fluctuations caused by excessive voltage differences can damage components and / or shorten their lifespan. Conventional techniques for managing voltage differences between systems that need to communicate may lack flexibility in implementation and / or have a short lifespan. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application discloses one or more features and / or the following features recited in the appended claims, which, individually or in any combination, can constitute patentable subject matter.

[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, an adaptive pre-charging system is provided for managing voltage drop of a contactor operating between an open-circuit configuration and a closed configuration. The adaptive pre-charging system may include: an inductor circuit portion including at least one inductor element adapted to be connected to a current sink; a switch communicating with the inductor circuit portion to selectively transmit current; and a unidirectional current circuit portion arranged for communication between the switch and a load portion including the inductor circuit portion.

[0007] In some implementations, the load portion may include an inductor circuit portion and a current absorber connected in series with each other. A unidirectional current circuit portion may be arranged in parallel with the load portion.

[0008] In some implementations, the controller switch may be arranged to communicate with the negative voltage segment of each supply voltage and the load portion. The controller switch may be arranged to communicate with a control operator that directs switch operation to manage the voltage difference across at least one inductive element. The control operator may be configured to operate the switch to provide a fixed-time pattern.

[0009] In some implementations, in a fixed-time mode, the control operator can operate the switch based on the input voltage for a predetermined time interval of switch closure to manage the peak current supplied to the inductor circuit section. The predetermined time interval can be determined by setting a maximum permissible voltage across the inductor circuit section based on the input voltage. The control operator can be configured to operate the switch to provide a current-controlled mode.

[0010] In some embodiments, in the current-controlled mode, the control operator can operate the switch by adjusting the control time for switch closure based on the input current to limit the maximum current supplied to the inductor circuit portion. The control time may be associated with at least one inductor element and is a function of the maximum current in the inductor circuit portion and the inductor load relative to the voltage across the inductor circuit portion. The control time can be actively updated during switching cycles. In some embodiments, the control operator can determine the control time for each cycle of switch operation. The control operator can monitor the current through the inductor circuit portion as feedback for determining the control time.

[0011] In some implementations, the control operator can be configured to operate the switch to provide a fixed-frequency mode. In the fixed-frequency mode, the control operator can manage peak current by adjusting the time increment of switch closure based on the voltage across the inductor circuit portion. An adaptive pre-charge system can be arranged for communication between the power supply and the current absorber to regulate the pre-charge of the current absorber used for contactor operation.

[0012] In some embodiments, the power source may include a high-voltage DC power source. The power source may include a voltage source having a voltage greater than that of the current absorber. The power source may include multiple battery cells having a voltage greater than that of the current absorber. The current absorber may include multiple battery cells. In some embodiments, the power source may include a portion of an isolated power grid having a voltage greater than that of the current absorber. The current absorber may include another portion of the isolated power grid.

[0013] According to another aspect of the invention, a method for precharging a load from a high-voltage power supply may include: operating a precharging circuit in a fixed-time mode; and operating the precharging circuit in a current-controlled mode in response to determining that the voltage difference between the high-voltage power supply and the load is below a predetermined threshold.

[0014] In some implementations, operating the precharge circuit in a fixed-time mode may be performed in response to determining that a connection between the high-voltage supply and the low-voltage absorber is enabled. Operating the precharge circuit in a fixed-time mode may include switching the precharge circuit based on the input voltage from the high-voltage supply for a predetermined time interval of switch closure to manage peak current supplied to the load. The predetermined time interval may be determined by setting the maximum permissible voltage on the inductor portion of the precharge circuit based on the input voltage.

[0015] In some implementations, operating the precharge circuit in current-controlled mode may include switching the control time for switch closure based on the input current to limit the maximum current supplied to the inductor portion of the precharge circuit. The control time may be associated with the inductor portion as a function of the maximum current of the inductor portion and the inductive load relative to the voltage across the inductor portion. Operating the precharge circuit in current-controlled mode may include actively updating the control time during switching cycles.

[0016] In some embodiments, operating the pre-charge circuit in a current-controlled mode may include determining a control time for each cycle of the switch. Operating the pre-charge circuit in a current-controlled mode may include taking into account the current through the inductor portion as feedback for determining the control time. In some embodiments, the method may also include operating the pre-charge circuit in a fixed-frequency mode. Additional features, used alone or in combination with any other features, including those listed above and those listed in the claims, may constitute patentable subject matter and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments illustrating the best mode of carrying out the invention as currently perceived. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The disclosed embodiments and their practicality can be more fully understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote the same features, wherein: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an electrical system including an adjustable pre-charging system for managing voltage drop during contactor operation, showing a voltage power supply arranged for selective connection to the inductive circuit section of the pre-charging system. Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an electrical system, showing an electrical system in which the switch is open to disconnect the power supply from the load; Figure 3 yes Figure 1 and Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the electrical system, showing a pre-charging system disconnected from the power supply and from the absorber, and showing that the pre-charging system includes a control operator arranged to communicate with a switch to manage the operation of the pre-charging system; Figure 4 yes Figures 1 to 3 A schematic diagram of a series of operations of the pre-charging system of the electrical system; Figure 5 yes Figures 1 to 4 A schematic diagram of an electrical system, which includes contactors arranged in parallel with a pre-charging system; Figure 6 It is similar to Figures 1 to 5 A schematic diagram of another electrical system of the electrical system, which has a pre-charging system arranged between a power source for the battery and an absorber for another battery with a voltage lower than that of the power source; Figure 7 yes Figures 1 to 6 A schematic diagram of an electrical system, illustrating a pre-charging system communicating with multiple voltage sources to receive power, and a pre-charging system arranged to communicate with multiple absorbers to provide power; and Figure 8 It is possible. Figures 1 to 7 A schematic diagram of exemplary figures of various aspects of an electrical system. Detailed Implementation

[0018] For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the principles of this disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings described below. The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, these embodiments have been chosen and described to enable those skilled in the art to utilize their teachings. It is understood that this is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. This disclosure includes any changes and further modifications to the illustrative apparatus and further applications of the principles of the disclosure that would generally occur to those skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains. Unless otherwise stated, the components in the drawings are shown to scale.

[0019] In communication between systems and / or components initially with different energy levels, it may be desirable to regulate the initial interfacing between the power supply and the load. For example, limiting inrush current during the initial communication period when systems and / or components of different energy levels are initially communicating can prevent stress or damage, such as component failure and / or lifespan degradation. However, conventional arrangements may require customization and / or a limited effective operating range. For example, a purely resistive precharge circuit may itself have a limited lifespan, may experience undesirable efficiency losses over time, may require a highly application-specific design, and / or may need to be redesigned for different precharge operations / cycles.

[0020] refer to Figure 1 Electrical system 12 is shown as including power source 14 and load 16. Power source 14 can be schematically represented as a DC power source, while the load can be schematically represented as a capacitive load initially having a voltage significantly lower than that of power source 14. Pre-charging system 18 can be arranged to communicate with each of power source 14 and load 16 to manage their communication with each other.

[0021] The pre-charging system 18 may include an inductor section 20 and a switch 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the inductor section 20 may include one or more inductors arranged to selectively receive current under the control of the switch 22. The inductor section 20 may be arranged as a load section such that the inductor section 20 is connected in series with the load 16 to communicate power.

[0022] The inductor section 20 may include a bus section 15 connected to the load 16. The bus section 15 may represent a portion of the load section where the initial voltage is much lower than that of the power supply 14. Although in some cases the bus section 15 may have no initial voltage and be considered a dead bus, in other cases the bus section 15 may still have some initial voltage much lower than the power supply voltage.

[0023] Switch 22 can be arranged to communicate with inductor 20 to manage the power supplied to inductor 20. Switch 22 can be schematically arranged in series with load 16 on the low-voltage side (negative terminal side) of the circuit and inductor 20 to manage the power through inductor 20. In some embodiments, switch 22 can be arranged in any suitable location to regulate the power through inductor 20 and / or to load 16, for example, by being arranged on the high-voltage side (positive terminal side). In some embodiments, switch 22 may include multiple switching elements arranged at different locations in the circuit for controlled operation.

[0024] A unidirectional current element 24 can be arranged in the communication between the switch 22 and the load portion, which includes the inductor portion 20 and the load 16. The unidirectional current element 24 can be schematically represented as a freewheeling diode arranged to allow current to flow to the inductor portion 20, but to prevent current from flowing in the opposite direction from the power source 14 around the inductor portion 20. For example, the unidirectional current element 24 can be arranged to allow current that would otherwise flow through the switch 22 to flow to the inductor portion 20, thereby allowing continuous flow from the inductor portion 20 (e.g., through a dead bus) to the connected load. Figure 2 An exemplary operating state of the circuit is shown when switch 22 is open. Figure 1 As shown, the unidirectional element 26, which is embodied as a protection diode, can optionally be arranged between the inductor portion 20 and the power supply 14.

[0025] Still referencing Figure 1 Switch 22 can be schematically represented as a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), which is arranged for selective closing to allow the opposite terminal of power supply 14 to be switched (illustratively). Figure 1 (The negative terminal in the middle) communication. In some embodiments, switch 22 may include any suitable switching element for managing the operation of precharge system 18 in accordance with the provided disclosure.

[0026] Now for reference Figure 3 The pre-charging system 18 is shown as not connected to a power source or load. The control operator 28 can communicate with the switch 22 to manage switch operation. The control operator 28 can be schematically represented as a centralized control system including a processor 30, a memory 32, and a communication circuitry 34.

[0027] Processor 30 may be configured to execute instructions stored in memory 32 to provide management control and / or communication for the operation of switch 22, thereby managing the operation of precharge system 18. Communication circuitry 34 may be arranged to send and / or receive signals according to instructions from processor 30 to facilitate the function of control operator 28. Control operator 28 may be arranged to communicate with switch 22 to provide operating commands via communication line 36. The communication line disclosed herein may be embodied as a hardwired connection, although in some embodiments, the communication line may include any suitable communication medium, whether hardwired or wireless.

[0028] Examples of suitable processor 30 may include one or more microprocessors, integrated circuits, system-on-a-chip (SoC), and others. Examples of suitable memory 32 may include one or more primary memory sections and / or non-primary memory sections (e.g., secondary memory sections, tertiary memory sections, etc.); permanent memory sections, semi-permanent memory sections, and / or temporary memory sections; and / or memory storage devices, including but not limited to hard drives (e.g., magnetic, solid-state), optical discs (e.g., CD-ROM, DVD-ROM), RAM (e.g., DRAM, SRAM, DRDRAM), ROM (e.g., PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash EEPROM), volatile and / or non-volatile memory; and others.

[0029] The control operator 28 can be configured to determine the operation of the switch 22 based on the operating mode of the pre-charge system 18. The control operator 28 can be arranged in communication to receive voltage indications from the pre-charge system 18 via a communication line 38. The control operator 28 can receive voltage indications from the connected power supply 14. The control operator 28 can receive voltage indications on the inductor section 20. The communication line 38 can be connected to various voltage sensors to transmit voltage indications to the control operator 28.

[0030] The control operator 28 can be configured to communicate with the pre-charge system 18 via communication line 40. The control operator 28 can also receive current indications from the connected load 16. Communication line 40 can be connected to various current sensors to transmit current indications to the control operator 28.

[0031] Control operator 28 can determine and execute an appropriate operating mode for pre-charging system 18. In response to an indication that a contactor is expected to close to allow power supply 14 to communicate with load 16, control operator 28 can determine to operate pre-charging system 18 in a fixed-time mode to manage peak currents transmitted to inductor section 20 and / or ultimately to bus section 15 and load 16. In fixed-time mode, control operator 28 determines the closing duration of switch 22 as a predetermined time interval for all switch closing cycles. t .

[0032] The controller 28 can determine a predetermined time interval based on the voltage input from the power supply 14. t The control operator 28 can receive a voltage input indication from the power supply 14 and can determine the expected peak current generated from the inductor section 20 based on the voltage input from the power supply 14. i pk The control operator 28 determines the maximum permissible voltage on the inductor section 20. v maxIn order to maintain the actual current through inductor 20 i Less than or equal to peak current i pk The control operator 28 is based on the maximum permissible voltage. v max Determine the predetermined time interval t By fixing the duration of the switch closure to a predetermined time interval. t The controller 28 can operate the pre-charging system 18 independently in a fixed-time mode.

[0033] The control operator 28 can determine the operation of the pre-charge system 18 in current-controlled mode to limit the maximum current transmitted to the inductor section 20 and / or ultimately to the bus section 15 and the load 16. In current-controlled mode, the control operator 28 actively determines the closing duration of switch 22 for each cycle of switch 22 closure. t c The control operator 28 can determine the closing duration of switch 22 for each cycle of switch closure based on the input current from power supply 14. t c .

[0034] The control actuator 28 can set the closing duration of switch 22 for each cycle of switch closure. t c The current through the inductor 20 is determined as a function of the maximum current of the inductor section 20 and the inductive load relative to the voltage across the inductor section 20. The control operator 28 can monitor the current through the inductor section 20 as a basis for determining the closing duration of switch 22 for each cycle of switch closure. t c Feedback control is used to ensure that the maximum current to the inductor circuit is limited.

[0035] A non-limiting example of the maximum current used to control operation may include a maximum current of 25 amperes through inductor section 20. On-time (t) ON )= ,in and Once 25 amps are reached through inductor 20, switch 22 is operated to open for, for example, a predetermined time, and then close again to restart the current ramp. After closing, opening switch 22 stops the current flowing from power supply 14 through inductor 20. However, inductor 20 will have a forced current flow due to the energy stored in the inductor when switch 22 is initially opened. With switch 22 open, the forced current flow from inductor 20 can continue to flow to load 16, but instead of returning to the negative terminal of power supply 14 through switch 22, the forced current flow from inductor 20 returns to inductor 20 through unidirectional current element 24 (e.g., between power supply 14 and inductor 20). With switch 22 open, the energy dissipated by the forced current through inductor 20 into bus section 15 (and, schematically, load 16) will increase the voltage on bus section 15, thereby reducing the voltage difference between power supply 14 and bus section 15. Reducing the voltage difference between power supply 14 and bus section 15 (and, schematically, load 16) can reduce the likelihood of damage and / or maintain the operational life of components such as load parts. Switch 22 can be closed for one or more additional cycles as the energy stored in inductor section 20 dissipates (at least partially dissipates). The switching of switch 22 can be cycled to incrementally reduce the voltage difference between power supply 14 and bus section 15 to a preferred level according to the disclosed control operations.

[0036] Now for reference Figure 4 The diagram illustrates the operation of the pre-charge system 18 in various modes. In block 50, the control operator 28 has received an instruction to close the contactor, enabling communication between the power supply 14 and the load 16 (absorber), and to execute a fixed-time mode. The control operator 28 can monitor the voltage difference between the power supply 14 and the load 16. Once the voltage difference between the power supply 14 and the load 16 reaches a threshold level, the control operator 28 can proceed to block 52 to operate in a current-controlled mode.

[0037] In block 52, control operator 28 operates in current-controlled mode using feedback from the current flowing through inductor 20. In current-controlled mode, control operator 28 can monitor the voltage difference between power supply 14 and load 16 and determine whether to remain in current-controlled mode in block 52, return to the fixed-time mode in block 50, and / or terminate operation of pre-charge system 18 and continue full contactor closure. In some embodiments, the acceptable threshold voltage difference for closing contactor 62 can be in the range of about 1 volt to about 2 volts. Control operator 28 can optionally determine to continue the fixed-frequency mode in block 54, as discussed in further detail below.

[0038] Control operator 28 can determine to remain in the current-controlled mode in block 52 in response to a voltage difference remaining above a voltage threshold. Control operator 28 can determine to return to a fixed-time mode in response to problems and / or uncertainties in the current flowing through inductor section 20. For example, monitoring the voltage on bus section 15, control operator 28 can determine that, despite active switching, the voltage rise is minimal or nonexistent, resulting in a minimal or nonexistent decrease in the voltage difference between power supply 14 and load 16. Control operator 28 can determine to return to the fixed-time mode in response to a voltage rise exceeding an expected range. The expected range may include a predetermined threshold voltage rise (and / or a change in the voltage difference), such that control operator 28 can return to the fixed-time mode in response to determining that the predetermined threshold voltage rise has not been achieved, for example, within a predetermined time period and / or a predetermined number of switching cycles. Control operator 28 can determine to continue terminating pre-charge system 18 operation in response to reaching a threshold voltage difference between power supply 14 and load 16, enabling the provision of a safety contactor closure to allow communication between power supply 14 and load 16.

[0039] In some implementations, the control actuator 28 may determine to continue operating in a fixed-frequency mode as shown in block 54. In the fixed-frequency mode, the control actuator 28 may actively control the time delta at each measured voltage on the inductor section 20 (e.g., for t). ON The control operator 28 manages the peak current (during specific time periods) to maintain the peak current (or near-peak current) for all switching cycles. The control operator 28 can continuously recalculate the time increment or recalculate it after a predetermined number of switching cycles. For example, the control operator 28 can be configured to recalculate the time increment for each switching cycle, which can improve system responsiveness. Alternatively, the control operator 28 can be configured to periodically recalculate the time increment after a predetermined number of switching cycles, which can reduce the computational requirements of the system. In response to reaching a threshold low voltage difference between the power supply and the load, the control operator 28 can determine to continue terminating the operation of the pre-charge system 18, enabling safe contactor closure to allow communication between the power supply 14 and the load 16. In some embodiments, the control operator 28 can return to other operating modes, for example, returning to another operating mode if the desired voltage difference between the power supply and the load is not achieved upon timeout of a certain mode, and / or returning to another operating mode in response to detecting an increased voltage difference.

[0040] In fixed-time mode, the pre-charge circuit can operate using open-loop control, eliminating the need for a feedback loop to maintain a fixed time interval. In current-controlled mode, the pre-charge circuit can operate in an active, fully feedback manner, providing feedback to the controller 28 at each cycle of switch 22. In fixed-frequency mode, the pre-charge circuit can operate on a partial feedback loop, providing feedback after several cycles, which may include one or more cycles.

[0041] Now for reference Figure 5 Electrical system 12 is shown in a general, schematic implementation. Power supply 14 is connected to load 16 via circuit line 60, which may include contactor 62. When contactor 62 is open, circuit line 60 for electrical communication between power supply 14 and load 16 is disconnected, and when contactor 62 is closed, circuit line 60 for electrical communication between power supply 14 and load 16 is connected. Circuit line 60 may include other connecting components, such as fuse F1 and / or disconnector 64. Connection line 65 represents a circuit path for the freewheeling diode and the positive side of the circuit.

[0042] Contactor 62 can be arranged in parallel with pre-charge system 18 via circuit line 66. A unidirectional element 26, embodied as a protection diode, is schematically shown in series with pre-charge system 18 on circuit line 66. As discussed herein, operation of the pre-charge system can pre-charge circuit line 66 when contactor 62 is open to avoid problems with contactor closure in systems with high differential voltage. Therefore, pre-charge system 18 can be operated to provide adaptive and / or controlled pre-charging of circuit line 60 in response to contactor 62 closure. Because pre-charge system 18 operates via programmable operation, it can be implemented in a wide variety of systems without requiring redesign of electrical components, such as those required for purely resistive pre-charge devices.

[0043] Now for reference Figure 6 Another illustrative embodiment of electrical system 220 is shown. Electrical system 220 may include power supply 14 embodied as a DC voltage power source, and more specifically as a battery string having voltage. Pre-charging system 18 may be arranged in series with load 216, which is embodied as another battery string with an initial voltage lower than that of power supply 14.

[0044] In electrical system 220, pre-charging system 18 can be operated to provide pre-charging of load 216 in a manner similar to that discussed above with respect to electrical system 12. In system 220, connection line 65 represents the circuit path between the freewheeling diode and the negative side of the circuit. In electrical system 220, pre-charging system 18 can also operate itself as a contactor for continuous closure, replacing or supplementing the individual contactor 62 arranged in parallel with pre-charging system 18, once an acceptable voltage difference is reached between power supply 14 and load 216. In some embodiments, pre-charging system 18 can be arranged as a contactor communicating with the positive side of the circuit on the negative side. Therefore, pre-charging system 18 can be implemented as a series balancer to allow battery maintenance. For example, pre-charging system 18 can be applied between battery cells to allow balancing of different voltage levels between cells to maintain battery operating conditions.

[0045] Now for reference Figure 7 The diagram illustrates electrical systems 12 and 220, which include a power source 14 comprising a plurality of voltage sources arranged in any suitable manner (including series and / or parallel) to provide power for pre-charging via a pre-charging system 18. Electrical systems 12 and 220 may include loads 16 and 216 having a plurality of loads arranged in any suitable manner (including series and / or parallel) to receive power for pre-charging via the pre-charging system 18. Figure 7 As shown, connection line 65 represents a circuit path with a freewheeling diode and the opposite (positive or negative) polarity side of the circuit.

[0046] Now for reference Figure 8 This is an exemplary schematic diagram of a circuit system arrangement that can be implemented using the pre-charge system 18 within electrical systems 12, 220. Various circuit system components, such as operational amplifiers, sensors, resistors, capacitors, inductors, gates, diodes, wiring, and others, are shown arranged to provide operation of the pre-charge system 18 by applying various electrical signal processing, conditioning, and / or application techniques.

[0047] In this disclosure, the circuit layout can be understood through the following equations that correspond to the circuit: The simplified version of this equation is: The pre-charging system 18 of this disclosure allows for versatile application in different electrical systems without requiring extensive component redesign, and typically only necessitates determining appropriate time constants for different electrical systems. Therefore, the devices, systems, and methods of this disclosure offer flexibility in implementation, long service life, and / or operational control. The disclosed embodiments can reduce inductive kick, which allows energy transfer without generating undesirable high voltage differences.

[0048] This disclosure includes communication between a power source and a load. The illustrated power sources include direct current (DC) power, but in some embodiments may include alternating current (AC) power. DC power may also include power converted from AC power to DC power, for example, through a suitable circuit system. The illustrated loads include DC loads, such as batteries and / or portions of a DC power grid, but in some embodiments may include AC loads. In the illustrated example, a capacitive load may represent a power storage device, such as a battery. Pre-charging the battery load before the contactor closes helps reduce damage to battery components and / or extend battery component life.

[0049] The electrification of many systems is underway to contribute to the decarbonization of resources. High-voltage charging is crucial to achieving this electrification goal. The devices, systems, and methods for adaptive precharging disclosed herein provide precharging solutions that allow for safe and reliable high-voltage connections to a variety of loads. For example, in the electric vehicle (EV) sector, various types of EV battery systems exist, which can have different designs and architectures. Many EV battery platforms can be based on a 400 V system voltage capable of being charged using a 400 V charging power supply or higher. However, EV batteries with higher system voltages (such as an 800 V baseline system voltage capable of being charged using an 800 V charging power supply or higher) may also exist on the market. The devices, systems, and methods disclosed herein can provide adaptive precharging to accommodate both 400 V and 800 V baseline systems without requiring dedicated circuitry for a specific baseline system voltage, while maintaining a longer lifespan and / or reducing the risk of component failure. In some implementations, any suitable voltage range can be accommodated, such as 200 V, 400 V, 600 V, 800 V, 1000 V, and 4000 V and higher.

[0050] In this disclosure, examples of suitable processors may include one or more microprocessors, integrated circuits, system-on-a-chip (SoC), and others. Examples of suitable memory 32 may include one or more primary memory sections and / or non-primary memory sections (e.g., secondary memory sections, tertiary memory sections, etc.); permanent memory sections, semi-permanent memory sections, and / or temporary memory sections; and / or memory storage devices, including but not limited to hard drives (e.g., magnetic, solid-state), optical discs (e.g., CD-ROM, DVD-ROM), RAM (e.g., DRAM, SRAM, DRDRAM), ROM (e.g., PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash EEPROM), volatile and / or non-volatile memory; and others. Communication circuitry may include suitable components for facilitating processor operation; for example, suitable components may include transmitters, receivers, modulators, demodulators, filters, modems, analog / digital (AD or DA) converters, diodes, switches, operational amplifiers, and / or integrated circuits.

[0051] Although certain illustrated embodiments have been described in detail above, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth and defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An adaptive pre-charging system for managing voltage drop of a contactor operating between an open-circuit configuration and a closed configuration, the system comprising: The inductor circuit section includes at least one inductor element, which is adapted to be connected to a current sink. A switch that communicates with the inductor circuitry to selectively transmit current to reduce the voltage drop; A unidirectional current circuit section, arranged for communication between the switch and the load section, wherein the load section includes the inductor circuit section and the current absorber connected in series, and wherein the unidirectional current circuit section is arranged in parallel with the load section; and A control operator is provided to direct the operation of the switch to manage the voltage difference between the load portion and the power supply voltage, thereby managing the voltage drop during contactor operation. The control operator is configured to selectively operate in a fixed-time mode and a current-controlled mode. The fixed-time mode, in response to an initial indication that the contactor will close to connect the voltage power supply and the load section, includes a cycle of switching operations at predetermined time intervals to achieve repeated closing. The current-controlled mode includes a cycle of switching operations to achieve repeated switching closures, each repeated switching closure having a proactively determined control time for each closure cycle to limit the maximum current for each cycle. The adaptive pre-charging system is configured for communication between the power supply and the current absorber to regulate the pre-charging of the current absorber for contactor operation.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The switches are arranged to communicate with the negative voltage section of each voltage power supply and the load section.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein, In the fixed-time mode, the control operator operates the switch based on the input voltage for a predetermined time interval between switch closures to manage the peak current supplied to the inductor circuit section.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein, The predetermined time interval is determined by setting the maximum permissible voltage across the inductor circuit section based on the input voltage.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The control time is associated with the at least one inductive element and is a function of the maximum current of the inductive circuit portion and the inductive load relative to the voltage across the inductive circuit portion.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The control operator determines the control time for each cycle of the switch operation.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The control operator monitors the current passing through the inductor circuit section as feedback for determining the control time.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The control operator is configured to operate the switch to provide a fixed frequency pattern.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein, In the fixed frequency mode, the control operator operates the switch by adjusting the time increment of the switch closure based on the voltage across the inductor circuit section to manage peak current.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The power source is a high-voltage DC power source.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The power source includes a voltage source having a voltage greater than that of the current absorber.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein, The power source includes multiple battery cells having a voltage greater than that of the current absorber.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein, The current absorber includes multiple battery cells.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein, The power source includes a portion of the isolated power grid having a voltage greater than that of the current absorber.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein, The current absorber comprises another part of the isolated power grid.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein, The control operator is configured to change the operation from the fixed-time mode to the current-controlled mode in response to the voltage difference between the load portion and the power supply voltage reaching a threshold voltage difference value.

17. An adaptive pre-charging system for managing voltage drop of a contactor operating between an open-circuit configuration and a closed configuration, the system comprising: The inductor circuit section includes at least one inductor element, which is adapted to be connected to a current sink. A switch that communicates with the inductor circuitry to selectively transmit current to reduce the voltage drop; A unidirectional current circuit section, arranged for communication between the switch and the load section, wherein the load section includes the inductor circuit section and the current absorber connected in series, and wherein the unidirectional current circuit section is arranged in parallel with the load section; and A control operator is provided to direct the operation of the switch to manage the voltage difference between the load portion and the power supply voltage, thereby managing the voltage drop during contactor operation. The control operator is configured to initially operate in a fixed-time mode for pre-charging, and subsequently operate in a current-controlled mode for pre-charging. The fixed-time mode includes a cycle of switching operations at predetermined time intervals for all closing cycles to achieve repeated closing, and the current-controlled mode includes a cycle of switching operations to achieve repeated switching closing, wherein the repeated switching closing has a control time actively determined for each closing cycle to limit the maximum current for each cycle.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein, The control time is associated with the at least one inductive element, and the control time is a function of the maximum current of the inductive circuit section and the inductive load relative to the voltage across the inductive circuit section.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein, The control operator is configured to operate the switch to provide a fixed frequency mode, wherein, in the fixed frequency mode, the control operator operates the switch by adjusting the time increment of switch closure based on the voltage across the inductor circuit portion to manage peak current.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein, The control operator is configured to change the operation from the fixed-time mode to the current-controlled mode in response to the voltage difference between the load portion and the power supply voltage reaching a threshold voltage difference value.

21. An adaptive pre-charging system for managing voltage drop of a contactor operating between an open-circuit configuration and a closed configuration, the system comprising: The inductor circuit section includes at least one inductor element, which is adapted to be connected to a current sink. A switch that communicates with the inductor circuitry to selectively transmit current to reduce the voltage drop; A unidirectional current circuit section, arranged for communication between the switch and the load section, wherein the load section includes the inductor circuit section and the current absorber connected in series, and wherein the unidirectional current circuit section is arranged in parallel with the load section; and A control operator is provided to direct the operation of the switch to manage the voltage difference between the load portion and the power supply voltage, thereby managing the voltage drop during contactor operation. The control operator is configured to initially operate in a fixed-time mode for pre-charging, and subsequently operate in a current-controlled mode for pre-charging. The fixed-time mode includes a cycle of switching operations to achieve repeated closure, wherein all switching closure cycles have the same control time, which is defined as a predetermined closure duration guided by the control operator, and the current-controlled mode includes a cycle of switching operations to achieve repeated closure, wherein each switching closure cycle is actively guided by the control operator to have an independent closure duration, thereby limiting the maximum current for each independent cycle.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein, The control operator is configured to change the operation from the fixed-time mode to the current-controlled mode in response to the voltage difference between the load portion and the power supply voltage reaching a threshold voltage difference value.

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