Portable power supply with adjustable maximum charge rate

Abstract

The invention provides a portable power supply device with a maximum charging rate function. The portable power supply includes a power source, a power input unit configured to receive power from an external source, a core charger coupled to the power source and the power input unit, and an electronic processor coupled to the core charger. The electronic processor is configured to receive the power limit value and determine a supportable charging current of the internal power source. The core charger is configured to determine a power limited current based on the power limit value and an output voltage of the core charger, determine a target output current by comparing the power limited current and the supportable charging current, and charge the power source with the received power at the target output current.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to portable power supplies, and in particular to portable power supplies having an adjustable maximum charging rate. Background Art

[0002] Battery-powered portable power supplies ("portable power supplies") replace gas-powered generators to power or charge electrical loads such as power tools, computers, cellular phones, and the like. Typically, portable power supplies include various outlets (e.g., alternating current (AC) outlets, universal serial bus (USB), 12-volt outlets, etc.) and an electrical connection interface configured to receive power from an external power source (e.g., an AC or DC power source for charging a core battery or an internal power source). However, if more than one portable power supply is plugged into the same circuit, the combined charging power may trip a circuit breaker. Therefore, a portable power supply with an adjustable maximum charging rate is needed. Summary of the Invention

[0003] One embodiment provides a portable power supply including a power supply, a power input unit configured to receive power from an external source, a core charger coupled to the power supply and the power input unit, and a controller coupled to the core charger and the power supply. The controller is configured to receive a power limit value, determine a supportable charging current of the power supply, and determine a power-limited current based on the power limit value and a voltage of the power supply. The controller is further configured to determine a target charging current by comparing the power-limited current with the supportable charging current, and charge the power supply at the target charging current using the core charger.

[0004] In some aspects, the portable power supply further comprises a sensor coupled to the power source and configured to collect sensor data associated with the power source. The controller is configured to determine a supportable charging current of the power source based on the sensor data.

[0005] In some aspects, the sensor data includes one or more sensor data selected from the group consisting of temperature and voltage of a power supply.

[0006] In some aspects, the target charging current is determined to be the lower of the power limited current and the supportable charging current.

[0007] In some aspects, the controller is configured to continuously update the target charging current to maintain the power limit.

[0008] In some aspects, the portable power supply is a first portable power supply and the power limit value is received from a second portable power supply configured to act as a master device. The first portable power supply is a slave device to the second portable power supply.

[0009] In some aspects, the portable power supply includes a network communication module, and the controller is configured to receive the power limit value from the external device via the network communication module.

[0010] In some aspects, the controller is further configured to receive a first command from an external device via the network communication module, and enable / disable the adjustable charge rate function of the portable power supply based on the first command. The controller is further configured to charge the power supply at a target charge current when the adjustable charge rate function is enabled, and to charge the power supply at a supportable charge current when the adjustable charge rate function is disabled.

[0011] In some aspects, the portable power supply further includes a user interface communicatively coupled to the controller. The controller is further configured to provide an indication of the enabled / disabled status of the adjustable charge rate function via the user interface.

[0012] Another embodiment provides a method for operating a portable power supply including an internal power source, a power input unit, a core charger, and a controller. The method includes receiving a power limit value using the controller, determining a supportable charging current of the internal power source using the controller, and determining a power-limited current using the controller based on the power limit value and a core charger output voltage. The method also includes determining a target charging current using the controller by comparing the power-limited current with the supportable charging current, and charging the internal power source using the core charger at the target charging current.

[0013] In some aspects, the method further includes determining sensor data associated with the internal power source using a sensor, and determining a supportable charging current based on the sensor data.

[0014] In some aspects, the target charging current is determined to be the lower value between the power limited current and the supportable charging current.

[0015] In some aspects, the power limit value is received from the external device via the network communication module.

[0016] In some aspects, the method further includes receiving a command from an external device via the network communication module using the controller, and enabling / disabling an adjustable charge rate function of the portable power supply based on the command using the controller. The method further includes charging the internal power supply at a target charge current using the core charger when the adjustable charge rate function is enabled, and charging the internal power supply at a supportable charge current using the core charger when the adjustable charge rate function is disabled.

[0017] In some aspects, the method further includes providing an indication of an enabled / disabled status of the adjustable charge rate functionality via a user interface.

[0018] Another embodiment provides a first portable power supply comprising a power source, a power input unit configured to receive power from an external source, a core charger coupled to the power source and the power input unit, a network communication module configured to enable communication with a second portable power supply, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine a first supportable charging power for the first portable power supply, determine a second supportable charging power for the second portable power supply, and determine a first target charging power and a second target charging power based on a comparison of the first supportable charging power and the second supportable charging power with a power limit of the external source. The controller is further configured to charge the power source at the first target charging power using the core charger and provide an indication of the second target charging power to the second portable power supply via the network communication module.

[0019] In some aspects, when the sum of the first supportable charging power and the second supportable charging power is lower than the power limit of the external source, the first target charging power is equal to the first supportable charging power, and the second target charging power is equal to the second supportable charging power.

[0020] In some aspects, at least one is selected from the group consisting of: when the sum of the first supportable charging power and the second supportable charging power exceeds the power limit of the external source, the first target charging power is less than the first supportable charging power and the second target charging power is less than the second supportable charging power.

[0021] In some aspects, the first portable power supply includes a sensor coupled to the power source and configured to collect sensor data associated with the power source. The controller is configured to determine a first supportable charging power of the power source based on the sensor data.

[0022] In some aspects, the sensor data includes one or more selected from the group consisting of: temperature and voltage of a power supply.

[0023] Other aspects of the embodiments will become apparent upon careful review of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 A perspective view of a portable power supply is shown.

[0025] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A simplified block diagram of an exemplary power flow for a portable power supply.

[0026] Figure 3 Shown for Figure 1 Control system for portable power supply.

[0027] Figure 4 Shown for Figure 1A portable power supply and a communication system for an external device.

[0028] Figure 5 Shown for Figure 1 A flowchart of a method for adjusting a maximum charging rate of a portable power supply.

[0029] Figure 6 Shows the control Figure 1 An interface for an external device that supplies a power supply.

[0030] Figure 7 Shown Figure 3 The core charger of the control system.

[0031] Figure 8 Shown for Figure 1 Display of the portable power supply.

[0032] Figure 9 Shown for Figure 4 A flow chart of a method for adjusting a maximum charging rate in a communication system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Before explaining any embodiments of the present invention in detail, it should be understood that the subject matter is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The subject matter is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Furthermore, it should be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for purposes of description and should not be construed as limiting.

[0034] Figure 1 A portable power supply device or power supply 100 is shown. The power supply 100 is suitable for providing power in a remote location, such as a work site. In situations where a permanent power supply, such as a mains power source (e.g., a mains outlet), is not available (or is not within reach) and power is needed to operate power tools, the power supply 100 can provide power for use by those tools. The power supply 100 can provide alternating current (AC) power to tools such as corded drills, saws, and battery charging units and / or provide direct current (DC) power for DC powered tools.

[0035] Power supply 100 includes, among other things, a housing 102. Housing 102 can be made of a durable material, such as metal or plastic, that can withstand the scratches, dents, and other similar wear and tear common on a worksite. In some embodiments, housing 102 includes one or more wheels 104 and a handle assembly 106. In the illustrated embodiment, handle assembly 106 is a telescoping handle movable between an extended position and a folded position. Wheels 104 of power supply 100 facilitate movement of power supply 100.

[0036] The housing 102 of the power supply 100 further includes a power input unit 114, a power output unit 116, and a display 118. The power input unit 114 may include multiple electrical connection interfaces configured to receive power from an external power source. In some embodiments, the external power source is a DC power source. For example, the DC power source may be one or more photovoltaic cells (e.g., solar panels), an electric vehicle (EV) charging station, or any other DC power source. In some embodiments, the external power source is an AC power source. For example, the AC power source may be a conventional wall outlet, such as a 120V outlet or a 240V outlet found in North America. As another example, the AC power source may be a conventional wall outlet found outside of North America, such as a 220V outlet or a 230V outlet. In some embodiments, the power input unit 114 is replaced by or additionally includes a cable (e.g., a power cord) configured to plug into a conventional wall outlet. In some embodiments, the power input unit 114 further includes one or more devices configured to wirelessly receive power from the external power source, such as an antenna or an induction coil.

[0037] The power output unit 116 includes one or more power sockets. In the illustrated embodiment, the power output unit 116 includes a plurality of AC power sockets 116A and a plurality of DC power sockets 116B. It should be understood that the number of power sockets included in the power output unit 116 is not limited to Figure 1 For example, in some embodiments of the power supply 100 , the power output unit 116 may include more or fewer power sockets than the power sockets included in the illustrated embodiment of the power supply 100 .

[0038] The power output unit 116 is configured to provide power output to one or more peripheral devices. The one or more peripheral devices may be a smart phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a portable music player, a power tool, a power tool battery pack, a power tool battery pack charger, etc. The peripheral device may be configured to receive DC and / or AC power from the power output unit 116. The AC power socket 116A includes, for example, a North American standard AC socket configured to provide a sine wave or modified sine wave AC output to the peripheral device. The DC power socket 116B may include one or more receivers (e.g., a power tool battery pack interface) for receiving and charging a power tool battery pack. The one or more DC sockets 116B may also include, for example, a universal serial bus (USB) socket (e.g., USB-C, USB-A, mini USB, etc.), a 12-volt socket, etc.

[0039] Display 118 is configured to indicate to a user the status of power supply 100, such as the charge status and / or fault conditions of internal power source 120. In some embodiments, display 118 includes one or more light-emitting diode (LED) indicators configured to illuminate and display the current charge status of internal power source 120. In some embodiments, display 118 is, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED) display, an organic LED (OLED) display, an electroluminescent display (ELD), a surface-conduction electron emitter display (SED), a field emission display (FED), a thin-film transistor (TFT) LCD, an electronic ink (e-ink) display, or the like. In other embodiments, power supply 100 does not include a display. In some embodiments, display 118 is a touch screen display.

[0040] The power supply 100 also includes an internal power source 120 disposed within the housing 102. In some embodiments, the internal power source 120 is a battery cell comprising a plurality of battery cells connected in a series-parallel configuration. The battery cell can be divided into a plurality of connected battery modules. In one embodiment, the battery cell comprises a plurality of battery cells connected in a 28S10P configuration, which includes 10 battery cell strings connected in parallel, each battery cell string including 28 battery cells connected in series. The battery cell can be divided into two modules connected in series, each battery module having a 14S10P configuration. The plurality of battery cells can include battery cells based on a lithium chemistry. For example, the plurality of battery cells can be lithium-ion battery cells such as 18650 and 21700. Each battery cell can operate at a nominal voltage of 3.6 volts and have a maximum voltage of 4.2 volts. Therefore, the internal power source 120 can have a nominal voltage of 100.8 volts (28 × 3.6 volts) and a maximum voltage of 117.6 volts (28 × 4.2 volts). In other embodiments, the internal power source 120 may include one or more battery packs.

[0041] Figure 2 is a simplified block diagram illustrating an exemplary power flow 150 for the power supply 100. The power supply 100 is connected to the power supply 100 via the power input unit 114 (see Figure 1) is connected to an AC wall outlet 155 (e.g., an external power source) using an electrical cord. The AC power received from the AC wall outlet 155 is provided to a core charger 205 for charging the internal power source 120. In some embodiments, an AC-DC converter may be included in the core charger 205 to convert the AC power into DC power to charge the internal power source 120. The DC power from the internal power source 120 is provided to the inverter 160. The inverter 160 converts the DC power from the internal power source 120 to provide it to the outlet 116B. The outlet 116B is used to power an electrical load 170, such as a power tool. In the embodiment shown, the internal power source 120 is capable of charging and discharging simultaneously.

[0042] The core charger 205 provides charging power to charge the internal power source 120. The core charger 205 can use different charging schemes to charge the internal power source 120. For example, the core charger 205 can use a combination of constant voltage (CV) and constant current (CC) schemes to charge the internal power source 120 using the input power received through the power input unit 114. In some cases, the core charger uses a "constant power" (CP) scheme, which includes a combination of timed CV and CC schemes. The core charger 205 can be an AC-DC converter to convert AC power to DC power to charge the internal power source 120. Figure 5 An exemplary embodiment of the core charger 205 is described.

[0043] Each of the internal power supply 120 and the core charger 205 can include a separate controller. In the illustrated embodiment, the internal power supply 120 includes a battery management system (BMS) 125, and the core charger 205 includes a charger controller 165. The BMS 125 manages the control and safety functions of the internal power supply 120, as well as the CC / CV / CP charging scheme (e.g., CV or CC or CP, charging output, etc.) from the core charger 205 to the internal power supply 120. The charger controller 165 responds to BMS requests for current and / or charging scheme.

[0044] Figure 3 2 is a general schematic diagram of the controller 200 of the power supply 100. For example, the controller 200 includes the BMS 125 and the charger controller 165. Figure 3A simplified illustration of the control components of the power supply 100 (e.g., the BMS 125 and the charger controller 165) is provided, which may be divided among various components of the power supply 100 (e.g., the internal power supply 120, the core charger 306) into a single controller 200. The controller 200 is electrically and / or communicatively connected to various modules or components of the power supply 100. For example, the controller 200 may be connected to the power input unit 114, the power output unit 116, the display 118, the internal power supply 120, the core charger 205, the plurality of sensors 210, the network communication module 215, and the user interface 220. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the electrical and / or communicative connection between the controller 200 and the internal power supply 120 includes the electrical and / or communicative connection between the controller 200 and the components included in the internal power supply 120.

[0045] The network communication module 215 is connected to the network 235 to enable the controller 200 to communicate with peripheral devices in the network, such as smartphones, servers, or other power supplies 100. The network communication module 215 is, for example, a transceiver configured to enable transmission and reception of signals between the power supply 100 and other external devices (e.g., a second power supply 100).

[0046] The sensors 210 include, for example, one or more voltage sensors, one or more current sensors, one or more temperature sensors, and / or one or more additional sensors for determining electrical and / or other characteristics of the power supply 100. Each sensor 210 generates one or more output signals, which are provided to the controller 200 for processing and evaluation. A user interface 220 is included to provide user control of the power supply 100. The user interface 220 can include any combination of digital and analog input devices required to achieve the desired level of control over the power supply 100. For example, the user interface 220 can include a plurality of knobs, a plurality of dials, a plurality of switches, a plurality of buttons, etc. In some embodiments, the user interface 220 is integrated with the display 118 (e.g., as a touch screen display).

[0047] The controller 200 comprises a combination of hardware and software operable to, among other things, control the operation of the power supply 100, communicate over the network 235, receive input from a user via the user interface 220, provide information to the user via the display 118, control the amount of power provided to the power source 180, etc. In some embodiments, the controller 200 is partially or completely implemented on a semiconductor (e.g., a field programmable gate array (FPGA) semiconductor) chip or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), such as a chip developed through a register transfer level (RTL) design process.

[0048] like Figure 3As shown, the controller 200 includes, inter alia, a processing unit 240 (e.g., a microprocessor, a microcontroller, an electronic processor, an electronic controller, or another suitable programmable device), a memory 245, an input unit 250, and an output unit 255. The processing unit 240 includes, inter alia, a control unit 260, an arithmetic logic unit ("ALU") 265, and a plurality of registers 270 (in Figure 3 2 as a set of registers). The processing unit 240 is implemented using a known computer architecture (e.g., a modified Harvard architecture, a von Neumann architecture, etc.). The processing unit 240, the memory 245, the input unit 250, and the output unit 255, as well as the various modules or circuits connected to the controller 200, are connected via one or more control and / or data buses (e.g., a common bus 275). Components of the controller 200 may be replicated and divided between various controllers (e.g., the BMS 125 and the charger controller 165).

[0049] For illustrative purposes, Figure 3 The control and / or data buses are generally shown in FIG. Figure 3 100, the controller 200 may also include multiple controllers configured to work together to achieve a desired level of control over the power supply 100. Therefore, any control functions and processes described herein with respect to the controller 200 may also be performed by two or more controllers acting in a distributed manner.

[0050] The memory 245 is a non-transitory computer-readable medium including, for example, a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area and the data storage area may include a combination of different types of memory, such as read-only memory ("ROM"), random access memory ("RAM") (e.g., dynamic RAM ["DRAM"], synchronous DRAM ["SDRAM"], etc.), electrically erasable programmable ROM ("EEPROM"), flash memory, a hard disk, an SD card, or other suitable magnetic, optical, physical, or electronic memory devices.

[0051] The processing unit 240 is connected to the memory 245 and is configured to retrieve instructions related to the control process and method described herein from the memory 245. The processing unit 240 is configured to execute the retrieved instructions. The instructions may be stored in the RAM of the memory 245 (e.g., during execution), the ROM of the memory 245 (e.g., on a generally permanent basis), or another non-transitory computer-readable medium (such as another memory or disk). The software included in the implementation of the power supply 100 and the controller 200 may be stored in the memory 245 of the controller 200. The software includes, for example, firmware, one or more applications, program data, filters, rules, one or more program modules, and other executable instructions. The controller 200 is configured to retrieve and execute instructions related to the control process and method described herein from the memory 245. In other embodiments, the controller 200 includes additional, fewer, or different components.

[0052] Figure 4 2. The communication system 300 is shown. The communication system 300 includes at least one power supply 100 and an external device 310 communicating via the network 235. For illustrative purposes, Figure 4 Two power supplies 100 are depicted (e.g., a first portable power supply 100A and a second portable power supply 100B); however, the communication system 300 may include any number of power supplies 100. Each power supply 100 and the external device 310 may communicate wirelessly within communication range of each other. Each power supply 100 may transmit, for example, power supply status, power supply operation statistics, power supply identification, power supply sensor data, stored power supply usage information, power supply maintenance data, power supply limits, power supply charging information, etc. In some embodiments, the power supplies 100a and 100b may communicate directly via the AC circuit into which they are plugged (e.g., power line communication). In such embodiments, the power supplies 100a and 100b may be configured to detect each other and automatically perform charging functions.

[0053] The external device 310 is, for example, a smartphone (as shown), a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or other electronic device capable of wirelessly communicating with the power supply 100 and providing a user interface. The external device 310 runs an application (e.g., a smartphone application) to perform various functions related to the power supply 100. The external device 310 provides a user interface and allows a user to access and interact with the power supply 100. The external device 310 can receive user input to determine operating parameters, enable or disable functions, etc. The user interface of the external device 310 provides the user with an easy-to-use interface to control and customize the operation of the power supply 100. Therefore, the external device 310 allows the user to access the power supply operating data of the power supply 100 and provides a user interface so that the user can interact with the controller 200 of the power supply 100.

[0054] The network 235 may include various networking elements (routers, hubs, switches, cell towers, wired connections, wireless connections, etc.) for connecting to, for example, the Internet, a cellular data network, a local area network, or a combination thereof, as described above. In some embodiments, the network 235 is a cellular network, such as, for example, a Global System for Mobile Communications ("GSM") network, a General Packet Radio Service ("GPRS") network, a Code Division Multiple Access ("CDMA") network, an Evolution-Data Optimized ("EV-DO") network, an Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution ("EDGE") network, a 3GSM network, a 4GSM network, a 4G LTE network, a 5G New Radio, a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications ("DECT") network, a Digital AMPS ("IS-136 / TDMA") network, or an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network ("iDEN") network. In some embodiments, the network 235 is a local area network, such as a Bluetooth® network. ® network, WiFi™ network, etc.

[0055] Back to Figure 3 The network communication module 215 enables the power supply 100 to communicate with an external device 310 or other power supplies 100 (see, for example, Figure 4 ) communication. In some embodiments, the network communication module 215 is a Bluetooth ® Controller. Bluetooth ® Controller uses Bluetooth ® The protocol communicates with the external device 310 or other power supply 100. Figure 4 In the illustrated embodiment, the external device 310 and the power supply 100, or both power supplies 100, are within communication range (i.e., in proximity) of each other when they exchange data. In other embodiments, the network communication module 215 communicates over different types of wireless networks using other protocols (e.g., Wi-Fi™, ZigBee™, proprietary protocols, etc.). For example, the network communication module 215 can be configured to communicate via Wi-Fi over a wide area network or a local area network such as the Internet, or to communicate via a piconet (e.g., using infrared or NFC communication).

[0056] The network communication module 215 is configured to receive data from the controller 200 and relay the information to the external device 310 or another power supply 100. In a similar manner, the network communication module 215 is configured to receive information (e.g., configuration and programming information) from the external device 310 or another power supply 100 and relay the information to the controller 200.

[0057] In some embodiments, the core charger 205 of the power supply 100 is rated for 1000 watts (approximately 1000 watts) to charge the 28S10P internal power supply 120. Therefore, the core charger 205 can draw a maximum current of approximately 8.5 amps (1000 watts / 120 volts) from the wall outlet. Many standard wall outlets are equipped with circuit breakers that trip when a device connected downstream of the circuit breaker draws more than 15 amps from the circuit breaker. In other words, many standard circuit breakers are rated for 15 amps. When a circuit breaker trips, power is cut off to all devices downstream of the circuit breaker until the circuit breaker is manually reset. Therefore, when two or more power supplies 100, or a power supply 100 and another high-wattage device (e.g., a high-wattage power tool), are connected to the same circuit breaker, the current draw from the connected devices (e.g., 8.5 amps + 8.5 amps = 17 amps) may cause the 15 amp circuit breaker to trip (17 amps > 15 amps), resulting in power being cut off to all devices connected to the circuit breaker (i.e., downstream thereof). The power supply 100 addresses this issue by allowing the user to adjust the maximum charge rate of the core charger 205. The maximum charger rate can be adjusted based on instructions received from the external device 310 (or another power supply 100 configured to function as a master device), allowing two or more power supplies 100 to charge at a lower charge rate on the same 15 amp AC circuit without tripping the circuit breaker. In some cases, due to efficiency, the input can be greater than 1000 W (e.g., 1110 W with approximately 90% efficiency). In this case, the input current can be higher than the 8.5 A embodiment cited above.

[0058] Figure 5 A flow chart of an exemplary method 500 for operating a power supply 100 using an adjustable charging rate is depicted. The exemplary method 500 generally illustrates in greater detail how the portable power supply 100 may be configured to adjust the maximum charging rate based on input parameters. The exemplary method 500 may be implemented by combining the above Figure 1-4 The method 500 is implemented by the components of the portable power supply 100 described herein. However, it should be understood that the method 500 can be performed by, for example, any other suitable system, environment, software, and hardware, or a suitable combination of systems, environments, software, and hardware. In some embodiments, the various operations of the method 500 can be performed in parallel, combined, looped, or in any order. In some embodiments, the various operations are optional. For example, in some cases, the portable power supply 100 is configured to continuously adjust the maximum charge rate based on an updated parameter value reflecting the current charge state of the internal power source 120.

[0059] At block 510, method 500 includes receiving a power limit value using controller 200. In some embodiments, the power limit is received as a wattage value (e.g., 500 watts). In other embodiments, the power limit is received as a current value (e.g., 5 amps). In other embodiments, the power limit value is received from external device 310 via network communication module 215. Figure 6 An embodiment of an interface 600 (e.g., a graphical user interface) for an external device 310 for setting an adjustable charge rate function and a power limit is shown. Interface 600 includes an adjustable charge rate state selector 605 for enabling / disabling the adjustable charge rate function. When a user selects state selector 605, the power supply 100 receives an enable / disable command (e.g., a first command) corresponding to the user's selection from the external device 310 via the network communication module 215. In response to receiving the enable / disable command, the controller 200 enables / disables the adjustable charge rate function of the power supply 100. When the adjustable charge rate function is enabled, a prompt 610 providing a power limit value is enabled or displayed. In some embodiments, prompt 610 may include a slider for selecting a maximum charge rate value between 0 and a maximum rated charge rate (e.g., between 0 and 8.5 amps or between 0 and 1000 watts). In other embodiments, prompt 610 is a text box that allows the user to specify a maximum charge rate.

[0060] In some embodiments, the power limit value is received from another portable power supply 100 configured to act as a master device. In some embodiments, the master device receives data from a plurality of "slave" charging power supplies and determines the power limit of each of these slave charging power supplies. In other embodiments, the power limit value is received via the user interface 220 of the power supply 100. The power limit value can be dynamically updated using any of the external device 310, the master power supply 100, the user interface 220 of the power supply 100, and the like. In such embodiments, the controller 200 uses the updated power limit value to adjust the charging rate of the core charger 205. From block 510, the method 500 proceeds to block 520.

[0061] At block 520, method 500 includes determining, using controller 200, a supportable charging current for internal power source 120. The supportable charging current is the maximum charging current that can be safely provided to charge internal power source 120. The supportable charging current can be determined based on various parameters, such as the voltage or state of charge of internal power source 120, the temperature of internal power source 120, the temperature of core charger 205, and / or other parameters. The maximum supportable charging current is determined based on the maximum charging current specified by the manufacturer of the plurality of battery cells in internal power source 120 and the series-parallel configuration of the plurality of battery cells in internal power source 120. The supportable charging current can be adjusted downward from the maximum supportable charging current based on the parameters discussed above. The supportable charging current of the internal power source can be determined using sensor data collected by plurality of sensors 210 using controller 200. For example, the sensor data can include the temperature of internal power source 120 or the voltage of internal power source 120 (e.g., open circuit voltage or closed circuit voltage). From block 520, method 500 proceeds to block 530. In some embodiments, the supportable charging current is determined or calculated by the BMS 125. The BMS 125 receives sensor data and determines the supportable charging current. The BMS 125 then requests the power (i.e., current consumption) of the core charger 205 to charge at the supportable charging current. The charger controller 165 receives a request for the supportable charging current from the BMS 125 (e.g., see Figure 7 ).

[0062] At block 530 , method 500 includes determining, using the core charger 205 , a power-limited current based on the power limit value and the core charger output voltage. In some embodiments, the charger output voltage is approximately the same as the voltage of the internal power source 120 during charging. In some embodiments, the charger output voltage is slightly higher than the battery cell voltage during charging due to wiring between the charger and the battery cells and any voltage drops in metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs). The voltage of the internal power source 120 may be, for example, the open-circuit voltage, closed-circuit voltage, or state of charge of the internal power source 120 . In some implementations, the core charger 205 determines the power-limited current by dividing the power limit value by the core charger output voltage. For example, when the power limit value is set to 500 watts (e.g., half the maximum charge rating of the core charger 205 ) and the core charger output voltage is 100 volts, the power-limited current is 5 amps (500 watts / 100 volts). From block 530 , method 500 proceeds to block 540 . The core charger 205 may include an internal voltage detector that measures the core charger output voltage during charging to determine the power-limited current.

[0063] At block 540 , method 500 includes determining a target charge current by comparing the power-limited current and the supportable charge current using core charger 205. In some implementations, core charger 205 determines the target charge current as the lower value (e.g., the minimum value) between the power-limited current and the supportable charge current. Figure 7 An exemplary embodiment of a core charger 205 for determining a target charging current is shown. As shown, the core charger 205 includes a power limiter module 705 and a minimum module 710. The power limiter module 705 and the minimum module 710 can be implemented using the charger controller 165. Generally, the core charger 205 enables the power supply 100, via the controller 200, to adjust the charging rate at a given point in time based on certain input parameters. This adjustable charging rate can, for example, prevent the power supply 100 from tripping a circuit breaker when multiple power supplies 100 are charging on the same circuit.

[0064] More specifically, as the voltage of the internal power supply 120 changes (e.g., as the power supply 100 charges), the core charger 205 adjusts the target charging power / current (charging rate) accordingly to maintain the wattage set by the power limit based on the sensed voltage and the value of the supportable charging current. The power limit can be a wattage value set by, for example, the external device 310. The sensed voltage is a measure of the voltage of the internal power supply 120 (e.g., the open-circuit voltage of the internal power supply 120). In some embodiments, the sensed voltage is a measured charger output voltage as measured by a microcontroller. The supportable charging current is the charging current that the internal power supply 120 can support based on various conditions of the internal power supply 120 (such as temperature, voltage, etc.) provided by the sensor 210.

[0065] As shown, the power limiter module 705 processes the power limit and output voltage sensing to determine the power-limited current. The minimum module 710 compares the power-limited current with the supportable output current to determine the target charging power / current for the core charger 205. As an example, when the power limit is set to 500 watts (e.g., by the external device 310), the supportable charging current is 8 amps, and the core charger output voltage is 100 volts, the power limiter module 705 determines that the power-limited current is 5 amps (500 watts / 100 volts). The minimum module 710 compares the power-limited current (5 amps) with the supportable output current (8 amps) and provides the lower of the two values ​​as the target charging power / current of 500 watts (100V@5A). When the supportable charging current drops below the power-limited current (e.g., to 3 amps), the minimum module 710 updates the target charging power / current accordingly (e.g., based on the lower of the two values, 300 watts (100V@3A)). When the supportable output current remains at 8 amps and the output voltage sense increases to 110 volts, the minimum module 710 accordingly updates the target charging power / current to 4.54 amps (500 watts / 110 volts) to maintain the requested wattage. From block 540 , the method 500 proceeds to block 550 .

[0066] At block 550, method 500 includes charging the internal power source 120 at the target charging current using the core charger 205. The core charger 205 outputs the target charging current / power to the internal power source 120 to charge the internal power source 120. Method 500 may repeat until, for example, a command to disable the adjustable charge rate function is received (e.g., from the external device 310 or the display 118), or until charging is complete. The core charger 205 may charge the internal power source 120 using the target charging current when the adjustable charge rate function is enabled, and may charge the internal power source 120 using the supportable charging current when the adjustable charge rate function is disabled.

[0067] As described above, the adjustable charge rate function may be a selectable function, which allows a user to enable and disable the adjustable charge rate function. Figure 8 1 shows an embodiment of the display 118. The display 118 provides the operator with indications related to the portable power supply 100, such as the charge status of the internal power source 120, the operating time, the temperature, the instantaneous or average power output, the charging status, the discharging status, the AC output frequency, fault conditions, etc. The icon 805 indicates the status of the adjustable charge rate function (i.e., the enabled / disabled status). For example, the icon 805 may be provided when the adjustable charge rate function is enabled, and not provided when the adjustable charge rate function is disabled.

[0068] Figure 9A flow chart of an exemplary method 900 for operating the communication system 300 using an adjustable charging rate is depicted. The exemplary method 900 generally illustrates in greater detail how the first portable power supply 100A is configured to adjust the charging rate of the first portable power supply 100A and the second portable power supply 100B. The exemplary method 900 may be combined with the above. Figure 1-8 The method 900 is implemented by components of the portable power supply 100 (e.g., the first portable power supply 100A). However, it should be understood that the method 900 can be performed by, for example, any other suitable system, environment, software and hardware or an appropriate combination of systems, environments, software and hardware. In some embodiments, the various operations of the method 900 can be run in parallel, in combination, in a loop, or in any order. In some embodiments, the various operations are optional. For example, in some cases, the portable power supply 100 is configured to continuously adjust the charging rate based on an updated parameter value that reflects the current charging state in the internal power supply 120. In addition, although the method 900 is described in conjunction with two portable power supplies 100, the method 900 is also applicable to situations where there are more than two portable power supplies 100 with slight modifications.

[0069] At block 910, method 900 includes determining, using the controller 200 of the first portable power supply 100A, a first supportable charging power for the first portable power supply 100A. The first supportable charging power is the maximum charging power that can be safely provided to charge the internal power supply 120 of the first portable power supply 100A. The supportable charging power can be determined based on various parameters, such as the voltage or state of charge of the internal power supply 120, the temperature of the internal power supply 120, the temperature of the core charger 205, and / or other parameters. The maximum supportable charging current is determined based on the maximum charging current specified by the manufacturer of the plurality of battery cells in the internal power supply 120 and the series-parallel configuration of the plurality of battery cells in the internal power supply 120. The supportable charging current can be adjusted downward from the maximum supportable charging current based on the parameters described above. The controller 200 can determine the supportable charging current of the internal power supply using sensor data collected by the plurality of sensors 210. For example, the sensor data can include the temperature of the internal power supply 120 or the voltage of the internal power supply 120 (e.g., open circuit voltage or closed circuit voltage). In some embodiments, the first supportable charging current is determined or calculated by the BMS 125. The BMS 125 receives sensor data and determines the first supportable charging current. The BMS 125 then requests the power (i.e., current draw) of the core charger 205 to charge at the supportable charging current. The charger controller 165 receives a request for the supportable charging current from the BMS 125 (e.g., see Figure 7 ). From block 910 , method 900 proceeds to block 920 .

[0070] At block 920, method 900 includes determining, using controller 200, a second supportable charging power for second portable power supply 100B. Similar to the discussion above regarding the first supportable charging power, the second supportable charging power is determined by second portable power supply 100B. Second portable power supply 100B provides an indication of the second supportable charging power to first portable power supply 100A via respective network communication modules 215 of first portable power supply 100A and second portable power supply 100B. In some embodiments, external device 310 may transmit the indication between first portable power supply 100A and second portable power supply 100B. From block 920, method 900 proceeds to block 930.

[0071] At block 930 , method 900 includes determining, using controller 200 , a first target charging power and a second target charging power based on a comparison of the first and second supportable charging powers with the power limit of the external source. The first target charging power corresponds to charging the internal power source 120 of the first portable power supply 100A, and the second target charging power corresponds to charging the internal power source 120 of the second portable power supply 100B. The first and second supportable charging powers can be determined as power (in watts) or current (in amps). For example, the first and second portable power supplies 100 each have a charging rate of 1000 watts. If both portable power supplies can support a maximum charging rate of 1000 watts, the total supportable charging power is 2000 watts (1000 watts + 1000 watts). However, the external power source (i.e., the circuit breaker) can only support a total power of 1800 watts (i.e., 120 volts x 15 amps = 1800 watts). Similarly, the maximum charging current of each of the first and second portable power supplies 100 is 8.5 amps. If both portable power supplies can support a maximum charging current of 8.5 amps, the total supported charging current is 17 amps (8.5 amps + 8.5 amps). However, the external power source (i.e., the circuit breaker) can only support a total current draw of 15 amps. Therefore, the controller 200 adjusts the target charging power for each portable power supply 100 so that the total charging power is below the power limit (e.g., 1800 watts or 15 amps). In some embodiments, the controller 200 may reduce the charging power of the first portable power supply 100A and the second portable power supply 100B equally (e.g., by percentage). In some embodiments, the reduction in charging power may be determined based on the priority assigned to the first portable power supply 100A and the second portable power supply 100B. For example, full power may be provided to the higher-priority portable power supply 100, while a lower-priority portable power supply 100 may be provided with a charging power lower than the supported power. Priority may be set using an external device 310. Various other methods may be used to determine the first and second target charging powers so that the total target charging power is below the power limit of the external power source. From block 930 , method 900 proceeds to block 940 .

[0072] At block 940, method 900 includes charging the internal power source 120 at a first target charging power using the core charger 205. The core charger 205 outputs the first target charging current / power to the internal power source 120 to charge the internal power source 120. At block 950, method 900 includes providing an indication of a second target charging power to the second portable power supply 100B via the network communication module 215. The controller 200 provides the indication of the second target charging power to the second portable power supply 100B. The core charger 205 of the second portable power supply 100B outputs the second target charging current / power to the internal power source 120 of the second portable power supply 100B to charge the internal power source 120 of the second portable power supply 100B.

[0073] Method 900 may be repeated until, for example, a command to disable the adjustable charge rate function is received (e.g., from external device 310 or display 118), or until charging is complete. Core charger 205 may charge internal power source 120 using the target charge current / power when the adjustable charge rate function is enabled, and may charge internal power source 120 using the supportable charge current / power when the adjustable charge rate function is disabled.

[0074] In the foregoing description, specific embodiments have been described. However, various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present teachings.

[0075] Furthermore, in this document, relative terms such as "comprises," "has," "includes," "contains," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, or contains a list of elements includes not only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Without more constraints, an element preceded by "comprises ...", "has ...", "includes ...", or "contains ..." does not preclude the presence of additional identical elements in a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, or contains the element.

[0076] Unless expressly stated otherwise herein, the terms "a" and "an" are defined as one or more than one. The terms "substantially," "substantially," "approximately," "about," or any other form thereof, are defined as approximately as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment, the terms are defined as within 10%, within 5%, within 1%, and within 0.5%. As used herein, the term "coupled" is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is "configured" in a certain manner is configured in at least that manner, but may also be configured in ways not listed.

[0077] Relative terms used in conjunction with quantities or conditions, such as, for example, "about," "approximately," "substantially," etc., will be understood by ordinary skill in the art to include the value and have the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., the term includes at least the degree of error associated with measurement precision, the tolerance associated with a particular value [e.g., manufacturing, assembly, use, etc.], etc.). Such terms should also be considered to disclose a range defined by the absolute values ​​of the two endpoints. For example, the expression "about 2 to about 4" also discloses a range of "2 to 4." Relative terms can refer to plus or minus a percentage of the indicated value (e.g., 1%, 5%, 10% or more).

[0078] Furthermore, it should be understood that embodiments may include hardware, software, and electronic components or modules, which, for purposes of discussion, may be illustrated and described as if most components were implemented solely in hardware. However, one of ordinary skill in the art, based on a reading of this detailed description, will recognize that, in at least one embodiment, the electronic-based aspects may be implemented in software (e.g., stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium) that is executable by one or more processing units, such as microprocessors and / or application-specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”). Accordingly, it should be noted that these embodiments may be implemented using a plurality of hardware- and software-based devices, as well as a plurality of different structural components. For example, a “server,” “computing device,” “controller,” “processor,” etc., as described in the specification may include one or more processing units, one or more computer-readable media modules, one or more input / output interfaces, and various connectors (e.g., a system bus) connecting the components.

[0079] It should be understood that although some of the figures show hardware and software located within specific devices, these descriptions are for illustrative purposes only. The functions described herein as being performed by one component may be performed by multiple components in a distributed manner. Similarly, the functions performed by multiple components may be combined and performed by a single component. In some embodiments, the components shown may be combined or divided into separate software, firmware, and / or hardware. For example, logic and processing may be distributed between multiple electronic processors rather than being located within and performed by a single electronic processor. Regardless of how the hardware and software components are combined or divided, they may be located on the same computing device, or may be distributed between different computing devices connected by one or more networks or other suitable communication links. Similarly, components described as performing specific functions may also perform additional functions not described in the present invention. For example, a device or structure that is "configured" in a certain manner is configured at least in that manner, but may also be configured in a manner not explicitly listed.

[0080] Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide, inter alia, a portable power supply that provides an adjustable maximum charging rate. Various features and advantages are recited in the appended claims.

[0081] Systems, methods, and apparatus according to the present invention may employ any one or more of the following configurations.

[0082] Embodiment 1. A portable power supply includes: a power supply; a power input unit configured to receive power from an external source; a core charger coupled to the power supply and the power input unit; and a controller coupled to the core charger and the power supply and configured to receive a power limit value, determine a supportable charging current of the power supply, determine a power-limited current based on the power limit value and a voltage of the power supply, determine a target charging current by comparing the power-limited current and the supportable charging current, and charge the power supply at the target charging current using the core charger.

[0083] Embodiment 2. The portable power supply of embodiment 1, further comprising a sensor coupled to the power source and configured to collect sensor data associated with the power source, wherein the controller is configured to determine a supportable charging current of the power source based on the sensor data.

[0084] Embodiment 3. The portable power supply of embodiment 2, wherein the sensor data comprises one or more data selected from the group consisting of temperature and voltage of the power supply.

[0085] Embodiment 4. The portable power supply according to any one of embodiments 1-3, wherein the target charging current is determined as a lower value between the power-limited current and the supportable charging current.

[0086] Embodiment 5. The portable power supply of any one of embodiments 1-4, wherein the controller is configured to continuously update the target charging current to maintain the power limit.

[0087] Embodiment 6. The portable power supply of any one of embodiments 1-5, wherein the portable power supply is a first portable power supply and the power limit value is received from a second portable power supply configured to act as a master device, wherein the first portable power supply is a slave device of the second portable power supply.

[0088] Embodiment 7 The portable power supply of any one of embodiments 1-6 further comprising a network communication module, wherein the controller is configured to receive the power limit value from an external device via the network communication module.

[0089] Embodiment 8. The portable power supply of embodiment 7, wherein the controller is further configured to receive a first command from the external device via the network communication module; enable / disable an adjustable charging rate function of the portable power supply based on the first command; charge the power source at the target charging current when the adjustable charging rate function is enabled; and charge the power source at the supportable charging current when the adjustable charging rate function is disabled.

[0090] Embodiment 9. The portable power supply of embodiment 8, further comprising a user interface communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is further configured to provide an indication of an enabled / disabled status of the adjustable charge rate function via the user interface.

[0091] Embodiment 10. A method of operating a portable power supply, the portable power supply comprising an internal power source, a power input unit, a core charger, and a controller, the method comprising: receiving a power limit value using the controller; determining a supportable charging current of the internal power source using the controller; determining a power-limited current based on the power limit value and a core charger output voltage using the controller; determining a target charging current by comparing the power-limited current and the supportable charging current using the controller; and charging the internal power source using the core charger at the target charging current.

[0092] Embodiment 11. The method of embodiment 10, further comprising determining sensor data associated with the internal power source using a sensor, wherein the supportable charging current is determined based on the sensor data.

[0093] Embodiment 12. The method according to any one of embodiments 10 or 11, wherein the target charging current is determined as a lower value between the power limited current and the supportable charging current.

[0094] Embodiment 13 The method according to any one of embodiments 10-12, wherein the power limit value is received from an external device via a network communication module.

[0095] Embodiment 14. The method according to any one of embodiments 10-13, further comprising: using the controller to receive a command from an external device via a network communication module; using the controller to enable / disable an adjustable charging rate function of the portable power supply based on the command; when the adjustable charging rate function is enabled, using the core charger to charge the internal power supply at the target charging current; and when the adjustable charging rate function is disabled, using the core charger to charge the internal power supply at the supportable charging current.

[0096] Embodiment 15. The method of embodiment 14, further comprising: providing an indication of the enabled / disabled status of the adjustable charge rate function via a user interface.

[0097] Embodiment 16. A first portable power supply comprises: a power source; a power input unit configured to receive power from an external source; a core charger coupled to the power source and the power input unit; a network communication module configured to enable communication with a second portable power supply; and a controller configured to determine a first supportable charging power of the first portable power supply, determine a second supportable charging power of the second portable power supply, determine a first target charging power and a second target charging power based on a comparison of the first supportable charging power and the second supportable charging power with a power limit of the external source, charge the power source at the first target charging power using the core charger, and provide an indication of the second target charging power to the second portable power supply via the network communication module.

[0098] Embodiment 17. The first portable power supply of Embodiment 16, wherein when a sum of the first supportable charging power and the second supportable charging power is lower than a power limit of the external source, the first target charging power is equal to the first supportable charging power, and the second target charging power is equal to the second supportable charging power.

[0099] Embodiment 18. The first portable power supply of any one of Embodiments 16 or 17, wherein at least one is selected from the group consisting of: when the sum of the first supportable charging power and the second supportable charging power exceeds a power limit of the external source, the first target charging power is less than the first supportable charging power and the second target charging power is less than the second supportable charging power.

[0100] Embodiment 19. The first portable power supply of any one of Embodiments 16-18, further comprising: a sensor coupled to the power source and configured to collect sensor data associated with the power source, wherein the controller is configured to determine the first supportable charging power of the power source based on the sensor data.

[0101] Embodiment 20. The first portable power supply of Embodiment 19, wherein the sensor data comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of: temperature and voltage of the power supply.

Claims

1. A portable power supply, comprising: power supply; a power input unit configured to receive power from an external source; a core charger coupled to the power source and the power input unit; and a controller coupled to the core charger and the power supply and configured to Receive power limit value, Determine the charge current that the power source can support, determining a power limited current based on the power limit value and the voltage of the power supply, determining a target charging current by comparing the power-limited current and the supportable charging current, and The power source is charged using the core charger at the target charging current.

2. The portable power supply according to claim 1, further comprising: A sensor is coupled to the power source and configured to collect sensor data associated with the power source, wherein the controller is configured to determine a supportable charging current of the power source based on the sensor data. 3 . The portable power supply of claim 2 , wherein the sensor data comprises one or more data selected from the group consisting of a temperature and a voltage of the power supply.

4. The portable power supply according to claim 1, wherein: The target charging current is determined as a lower value between the power limited current and the supportable charging current.

5. The portable power supply according to claim 1, wherein: The controller is configured to continuously update the target charging current to maintain the power limit.

6. The portable power supply according to claim 1, wherein: The portable power supply is a first portable power supply and receives the power limit value from a second portable power supply configured to function as a master device, wherein the first portable power supply is a slave device of the second portable power supply.

7. The portable power supply according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: Network communication module, The controller is configured to receive the power limit value from an external device via the network communication module.

8. The portable power supply according to claim 7, wherein: The controller is further configured to: receiving a first command from the external device via the network communication module; enabling / disabling an adjustable charging rate function of the portable power supply based on the first command; When the adjustable charging rate function is enabled, charging the power source with the target charging current; and When the adjustable charging rate function is disabled, the power source is charged with the supportable charging current.

9. The portable power supply according to claim 8, further comprising: a user interface communicatively coupled to the controller, Wherein, the controller is further configured as follows: An indication of an enabled / disabled status of the adjustable charge rate function is provided via the user interface.

10. A method of operating a portable power supply, the portable power supply comprising an internal power source, a power input unit, a core charger and a controller, the method comprising: receiving a power limit value using the controller; Determining, using the controller, a charge current that can be supported by the internal power source; determining, using the controller, a power limited current based on the power limit value and a core charger output voltage; determining a target charging current by comparing the power-limited current and the supportable charging current using the controller; and The internal power source is charged using the core charger at the target charging current.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: Sensor data associated with the internal power source is determined using a sensor, wherein the supportable charging current is determined based on the sensor data.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The target charging current is determined as a lower value between the power limited current and the supportable charging current.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The power limit value is received from an external device via a network communication module.

14. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, further comprising, receiving a command from an external device via a network communication module using the controller; enabling / disabling an adjustable charging rate function of the portable power supply based on the command using the controller; When the adjustable charging rate function is enabled, charging the internal power source with the target charging current using the core charger; and When the adjustable charging rate function is disabled, the internal power source is charged with the supportable charging current using the core charger.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising, An indication of an enabled / disabled status of the adjustable charge rate function is provided via a user interface.

16. A first portable power supply, comprising: power supply; a power input unit configured to receive power from an external source; a core charger coupled to the power source and the power input unit; a network communication module configured to enable communication with a second portable power supply; A controller, the controller being configured to: determining a first supportable charging power of the first portable power supply, determining a second supportable charging power of the second portable power supply, determining a first target charging power and a second target charging power based on a comparison between the first supportable charging power and the second supportable charging power and a power limit of the external source, charging the power source using the core charger at the first target charging power, and An indication of the second target charging power is provided to the second portable power supply via the network communication module.

17. The first portable power supply according to claim 16, wherein: When the sum of the first supportable charging power and the second supportable charging power is lower than the power limit of the external source, the first target charging power is equal to the first supportable charging power, and the second target charging power is equal to the second supportable charging power.

18. The first portable power supply according to claim 16, wherein: At least one is selected from the group consisting of the following situations: when the sum of the first supportable charging power and the second supportable charging power exceeds the power limit of the external source, the first target charging power is less than the first supportable charging power and the second target charging power is less than the second supportable charging power.

19. The first portable power supply according to any one of claims 16 to 18, further comprising: A sensor is coupled to the power source and configured to collect sensor data associated with the power source, wherein the controller is configured to determine a first supportable charging power of the power source based on the sensor data.

20. The first portable power supply of claim 19, wherein: The sensor data includes one or more selected from the group consisting of: temperature and voltage of the power supply.

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