Power distribution management for vehicles

Abstract

The invention provides' Power Distribution Management for a Vehicle '. A power management system for a vehicle includes a power source, switching circuitry, and a first converter electrically inserted into the power source and the switching circuitry. The first converter has a first power output threshold. The second converter is electrically inserted into the power supply and the switching circuitry. The second converter has a second power output threshold lower than the first power output threshold. The control circuitry is configured to: control the switch circuitry to supply power to the at least one load in response to a key off state of the vehicle; comparing the power drawn by the at least one load from the second converter to a second power output threshold; and transmit an output to limit power drawn by the at least one load from the second converter in response to the comparison.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to power distribution management for vehicles, and more particularly to load shedding optimization in a vehicle environment. Background Art

[0002] Conventional power shedding techniques in a vehicle environment may be limited. For example, power shedding may occur automatically without regard to user preferences. An enhanced load shedding technique for power optimization is needed. Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a power management system for a vehicle includes: a power supply; a switching circuit system electrically coupled to the power supply and configured to selectively provide power from the power supply to at least one load; a first converter electrically plugged into the power supply and the switching circuit system and configured to provide power to the switching circuit system, the first converter having a first power output threshold; a second converter electrically plugged into the power supply and the switching circuit system and configured to provide power to the switching circuit system, the second converter having a second power output threshold lower than the first power output threshold; and a control circuit system configured to: control the switching circuit system to supply power to at least one load in response to a key-off state of the vehicle; compare the power drawn by the at least one load from the second converter with the second power output threshold; and transmit an output in response to the comparison to limit the power drawn by the at least one load from the second converter.

[0004] Embodiments of the first aspect of the present disclosure may include any one or a combination of the following features:

[0005] - an occupancy detection system configured to detect occupancy of the vehicle, wherein the transmission of the output is further based on the occupancy;

[0006] - an occupancy detection system including at least one of a camera, a lidar sensor, a radar sensor, and a wireless communication network of wireless communication devices that detect occupants of the vehicle;

[0007] - the at least one load includes a first load on a first load circuit for a first zone of the vehicle and a second load on a second load circuit for a second zone of the vehicle, wherein the control circuitry is configured to selectively deactivate at least one of the first load circuit and the second load circuit based on detecting an occupant in at least one of the first zone and the second zone;

[0008] - a position sensor that detects a position of a workspace device of the vehicle, wherein the transmission of the output is further based on the position of the workspace device;

[0009] - the control circuitry is configured to control the switching circuitry to supply power from the first converter to the at least one load in response to a position of the workspace equipment;

[0010] - the workspace equipment comprises a table secured to the vehicle, and wherein the position is a deployed position of the table;

[0011] - a notification device in communication with the control circuitry, wherein the notification device is configured to present an indication to reduce at least one load in response to the output;

[0012] - the notification device is configured to present an option to deactivate a load circuit that supplies power to at least one load in response to the output;

[0013] - the notification device is configured to present an option, in response to the output, for causing at least one load to draw power from the first converter;

[0014] - the control circuitry is configured to control the switching circuitry to supply power from the first converter in response to selection of the option;

[0015] - an active cooling system configured to remove heat from the first converter when power is drawn from the first converter to at least one load;

[0016] - the second converter does not include an active cooling system configured to remove heat from the second converter when power is provided from the second converter to the at least one load;

[0017] a power bus electrically coupled to the switching circuitry, wherein the switching circuitry includes a main switch configured to electrically couple the first converter to the power bus and at least one distribution switch electrically interposed between the power bus and at least one load;

[0018] - the switching circuitry further comprises a secondary switch electrically interposed between the second converter and the power bus; and

[0019] - A twelve-volt battery electrically coupled to the power bus via an auxiliary switch, wherein any of the twelve-volt battery, the first converter, and the second converter are configured to provide power to the power bus based on a state of the switching circuitry.

[0020] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a power management system for a vehicle includes: a power supply; a power bus; a switching circuit system, the switching circuit system being electrically coupled to the power supply and configured to selectively provide power from the power supply to at least one load via the power bus; a first converter, the first converter being electrically inserted into the power supply and the switching circuit system and configured to provide power to the switching circuit system, the first converter having a first power output threshold; a second converter, the second converter being electrically inserted into the power supply and the switching circuit system and configured to provide power to the switching circuit system, the second converter having a second power output threshold lower than the first power output threshold; wherein the switching circuit system includes a main switch and at least one distribution switch, the main switch being configured to electrically couple the first converter to the power bus, the at least one distribution switch being electrically inserted into the power bus and at least one load; and a control circuit system, the control circuit system being configured to: control at least one distribution switch to supply power to at least one load in response to a key-off state of the vehicle; compare the power drawn by at least one load from the second converter with a second power output threshold; and transmit an output in response to the comparison to limit the power drawn by at least one load from the second converter.

[0021] Embodiments of the second aspect of the present disclosure may include any one or a combination of the following features:

[0022] - an occupancy detection system configured to detect occupancy of the vehicle, wherein the transmission of the output is further based on the occupancy; and

[0023] - an active cooling system configured to remove heat from the first converter when power is drawn from the first converter to at least one load, wherein the second converter does not include an active cooling system, the active cooling system configured to remove heat from the second converter when power is provided from the second converter to the at least one load.

[0024] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a power management system for a vehicle includes: a power supply; a switching circuit system electrically coupled to the power supply and configured to selectively provide power from the power supply to at least one load; a first converter electrically inserted into the power supply and the switching circuit system and configured to provide power to the switching circuit system, the first converter having a first power output threshold; a second converter electrically inserted into the power supply and the switching circuit system and configured to provide power to the switching circuit system, the second converter having a second power output threshold lower than the first power output threshold; an occupancy detection system configured to detect occupancy of the vehicle; and a control circuit system communicating with the occupancy detection system and configured to: control the switching circuit system to supply power to at least one load in response to a key-off state of the vehicle; compare the power drawn by the at least one load from the second converter with the second power output threshold; and transmit an output in response to the comparison and based on the occupancy to limit the power drawn by the at least one load from the second converter.

[0025] These and other features, advantages, and objectives of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following description, claims, and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In the attached figure:

[0027] Figure 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating control of various components of a power management system for a vehicle;

[0028] Figure 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating power control of a power management system for a vehicle;

[0029] Figure 3 is an electrical schematic diagram of the distribution center showing at least a portion of the switching circuitry of the distribution center;

[0030] Figure 4 is a functional plan view of a vehicle incorporating a power management system constructed according to at least one aspect of the present disclosure;

[0031] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a vehicle incorporating a power management system configured to manage power based on a configuration of the vehicle;

[0032] Figure 6A is a front plan view of a notification device according to the first aspect configured to present one or more load shedding options;

[0033] Figure 6Bis a front plan view of a notification device according to the first aspect configured to present one or more load shedding options; and

[0034] Figure 6C is a front plan view of a notification device configured to present one or more load shedding options according to the first aspect. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. In the drawings, the depicted structural elements are not drawn to scale, and some parts are enlarged relative to other parts for the purpose of emphasis and understanding.

[0036] As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein; however, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the present disclosure, which may be implemented in various and alternative forms. The drawings are not necessarily detailed designs; some schematics may be exaggerated or minimized to illustrate functional overviews. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein should not be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching those skilled in the art to employ the present disclosure in various ways.

[0037] For the purpose of description herein, the terms "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "rear", "front", "vertical", "horizontal" and their derivatives shall refer to the following: Figure 4 The present invention relates to the concept of orientation in the present invention. However, it should be understood that the concepts described can assume various alternative orientations unless expressly indicated to the contrary. It should also be understood that the specific devices and processes shown in the drawings and described in the following specification are merely exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Therefore, unless the claims expressly state otherwise, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein should not be considered limiting.

[0038] The embodiments presented herein reside primarily in a combination of method steps and apparatus components related to power distribution management for vehicles. Accordingly, apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, with only those specific details relevant to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure being shown to avoid obscuring the disclosure with details that would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Furthermore, identical reference numerals throughout the specification and drawings represent identical elements.

[0039] Overall reference Figures 1 to 6C, the power management system is generally designated 10. Generally, the power management system 10 can provide enhanced power distribution and control for a vehicle 12. The system can also provide optimized load shedding, which can be specific to and controlled by a user. The system can also provide automatic load shedding preferences to be implemented in a workspace environment by estimating the layout and / or power requirements of the vehicle 12 using occupancy detection, configuration detection, etc.

[0040] Continue to refer Figures 1 to 6C A power management system 10 for a vehicle 12 includes a power source (e.g., a main power source 14) and a switching circuitry 16 electrically coupled to the power source. The switching circuitry 16 is configured to selectively provide power from the power source to at least one load. The power management system 10 includes a first converter 18 electrically plugged into the power source and the switching circuitry 16 and configured to provide power to the switching circuitry 16. The first converter 18 has a first power output threshold. The power management system 10 includes a second converter 20 electrically plugged into the power source and the switching circuitry 16 and configured to provide power to the switching circuitry 16. The second converter 20 has a second power output threshold that is lower than the first power output threshold. The power management system 10 includes a control circuitry 22 configured to: control the switching circuitry 16 to supply power to the at least one load in response to a key-off state of the vehicle 12; compare the power drawn by the at least one load from the second converter 20 to the second power output threshold; and transmit an output to limit the power drawn by the at least one load from the second converter 20 in response to the comparison.

[0041] In general, the power management system 10 can utilize load monitoring to limit activation conditions for power conversion components that use more power to operate than other power conversion components. For example, the first converter 18 can have a significantly higher power rating than the second converter 20 and can include active cooling management that draws additional power. Conversely, the second converter 20 can be optimized to operate at lower power levels (e.g., less than 750 watts) relative to the first converter 18, which can operate in the kilowatt range. The power management system 10 can implement various strategies and options to limit unnecessary activation of higher power conversion components (e.g., the first converter 18) by providing options to the user or automatically shutting down circuits that are not being used or likely to be unused based on the occupancy or configuration of the vehicle 12.

[0042] refer to Figure 1, the power management system 10 can control the power available to the power distribution center (PDC 24), which in turn controls the power availability to one or more loads. The loads may include any electrical load utilized by the vehicle 12, including but not limited to interior lights 58, outlets 56 (e.g., universal serial bus (USB) outlets, alternating current (AC) outlets, direct current (DC) outlets), display screens 60, heads-up displays (HUDs), or any other electrical loads. In some examples, the electrical loads are controlled by the PDC 24. According to the present disclosure, both auxiliary loads and primary loads are included. For example, primary loads may include components related to vehicle control, such as powertrain components or other components configured to move the vehicle 12. Auxiliary loads may include lights and / or outlets 56 as previously described, which are configured to power consumer electronics (such as chargers for laptops, tablets, or other mobile devices). In some examples, auxiliary components may include component adjustment mechanisms, such as motor drives, inflators for comfort, auxiliary heating devices for defrosting mirrors, etc.

[0043] The control circuit system 22 described herein can include any number of controllers, including any number of processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed by one or more of the processors, cause one or more controllers to read from and / or write to input devices and output devices, respectively, to control power distribution. For example, the control circuit system 22 can control the PDC 24 to power or remove power from a load or load circuit system. Such control can be responsive to occupancy, configuration, expected load output, or any other input that can be read by the control circuit system 22.

[0044] Continue to refer Figure 1 , the control circuit system 22 can communicate with the battery management system (BMS26) to control the operation of the first converter 18 and / or the second converter 20 to supply power to the PDC 24. The control circuit system 22 can also communicate with the vehicle control system 28, such as a system for controlling the ignition, powertrain, motion control, etc. In this way, the control circuit system 22 can detect the key-off position and optimize the power distribution. For example, the control circuit system 22 can control the BMS26 and / or PDC 24 differently depending on whether the vehicle 12 is in the key-off state or the key-on state. Continuing with this example, the control circuit system 22 is also configured to control and receive input from the notification system 30, which may include one or more user interfaces of the vehicle 12. The user interface may include a vehicle display, such as a mobile device (e.g., a phone, a tablet computer) that communicates wirelessly or wired with the control circuit system 22.

[0045] Continue to refer Figure 1 , the control circuitry 22 communicates with a configuration detection system 32 and an occupancy detection system 34 to monitor, respectively, the configuration of the vehicle 12 and the occupancy of the vehicle 12. For example, the configuration detection system 32 may include one or more configuration sensors 36 operable to detect the position of adjustable components within the vehicle 12, such as mounted equipment including mirrors or the table 74, and the configuration detection system 32 may classify the configuration of the vehicle 12 in response to information from the configuration sensors 36. The occupancy detection system 34 may include an occupancy sensor 38, which may be the same as or different from the configuration sensor 36, configured to detect the occupancy of the vehicle 12, such as the number of occupants, the position of the occupants in the cabin of the vehicle 12 or another space in the vehicle 12, and / or other occupancy conditions.

[0046] The occupancy sensor 38 and / or the configuration sensor 36 may include any type of sensor, such as a proximity sensor, a camera 70, a lidar sensor, a radar sensor, a mechanical switch, or other sensor. In some examples, the occupancy sensor 38 and the configuration sensor 36 may include nodes on a communication network for the vehicle 12. The communication network may incorporate any wireless or wired communication protocol, such as ZigBee, Z-Wave, Ethernet, CAN, USB, or any other communication network that can detect a mobile device corresponding to an occupant or a built-in device (e.g., a touch screen installed in the vehicle 12). For example, a wireless network can be configured to pair with or track a mobile device in the vehicle 12, including the relative location of the mobile device and / or the identity stored in the mobile device. In this manner, the configuration sensor and / or occupancy sensor 38 can be a node on the network or a local network interface that classifies the location of the mobile device.

[0047] In some examples, the power drawn from the power distribution center can be monitored to determine the configuration or occupancy (e.g., the load corresponding to the passenger area of the vehicle 12 such as the front cabin, the rear cabin, the left or right side, etc.). Continuing with the above example, an occupant can enter the vehicle 12 and power a laptop computer from the USB outlet 56 in the first location of the vehicle 12. In response to drawing power from a particular circuit, the control circuit system 22 can determine the particular location in the vehicle 12 where the occupant may be. Based on this information, the control circuit system 22 can control the PDC 24 and / or the BMS 26 to optimize the power cut-off recommendation and / or implementation. As will be further described herein, such power cut-off options can be presented at the user interface via the notification system 30 in the form of an audio or visual indication, thereby allowing the user to control the power cut-off option. In other examples, the power cut-off is automatically implemented.

[0048] Now refer to Figure 2, the BMS 26 may include a main power source 14, which may include one or more lithium batteries configured to operate under high power loads. For example, the main power source 14 may power drive components of the vehicle 12 (such as motors for motion control and / or features related to autonomous vehicle control, electric vehicle operation, hybrid vehicle operation, etc.). The main power source 14 may include one or more electrochemical cells configured to power an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.

[0049] The main power supply 14 can provide power to the first converter 18 and the second converter 20. As shown in the figure, one or both of the first converter 18 and the second converter 20 can be set outside the housing of the BMS 26 or inside the BMS 26. Each of the first converter 18 and the second converter 20 is configured to output one or more operating voltages. For example, the second converter 20 can output a voltage less than the voltage output of the first converter 18. In this way, when both the first converter 18 and the second converter 20 are activated, power can be drawn via the first converter 18 instead of the second converter 20. In some examples, the first converter 18 and the second converter 20 can output 9 volts to 15 volts (VDC) under direct current. In some examples, a common operating voltage is provided between 10 VDC and 14 VDC. In yet other examples, the operating voltage is between 11.5 VDC and 14 VDC. In one example, the first converter 18 is configured to output power at 13.5 VDC, and the second converter is configured to output power at 13 VDC. Generally, the first converter 18 may have a first power output threshold that is greater than a second power output threshold of the second converter 20 .

[0050] For example, the main power supply 14 can be configured to provide power at 400 VDC to the first converter 18 and the second converter 20. Each converter can be a protected DC-DC converter. The first converter 18 can be configured to output 280 amps continuous current and 336 amps peak current. Therefore, the power from the first converter 18 can be in the range of 3 kW to 5 kW. The second converter 20 can be configured to output 750 W (continuous). Therefore, when the current drawn from the second converter 20 causes the power to approach the power threshold, the power management system 10 can take automatic power transfer action or recommend load shedding to limit the operation of the first converter 18.

[0051] Still refer to Figure 2The power management system 10 may include a secondary power source 40 configured to provide power to the PDC 24 during non-standard operating conditions. For example, the secondary power source may be used when the primary power source 14 is inoperable or the PDC 24 is inaccessible. Thus, the first converter 18, the second converter 20, and the secondary power source 40 may provide power to the PDC 24 at operating voltages. The secondary power source 40 may include a lead-acid or lithium battery that provides backup power to the PDC 24. For example, the secondary power source 40 may be a conventional automotive 12VDC battery.

[0052] Continue to refer Figure 2 , the PDC 24 may include switching circuitry 16 that controls which power source supplies power to one or more loads. The switching circuitry 16 may also control one or more load circuits 42. In this manner, the switching circuitry 16 may control the input of power to and the output of power from the PDC 24. As previously described, the control circuitry 22 may include one or more controllers that communicate with each other to perform the steps of monitoring and controlling the power distribution of the power management system 10. In this example, the control circuitry 22 includes a first controller 44 corresponding to the PDC 24 and a second controller 46 for the BMS 26. It is contemplated that in some examples, a common controller may be configured to control both the BMS 26 and the PDC 24. Other controllers may also or alternatively be provided to control the PDC 24 and the BMS 26. In this example, the second controller 46 may be configured to control the activation of one or both of the first converter 18 and the second converter 20, as well as the output of power from the main power source 14. The first controller 44 may be configured to control the switching circuitry 16 based on power drawn from one or more of the load circuits 42 and / or power drawn from the first converter 18 , the second converter 20 , or the secondary power source 40 .

[0053] Now refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3, the first converter 18 can be configured to be actively cooled, while the second converter 20 can be configured to be passively cooled. For example, an active cooling system 47 can be provided to cool the first converter 18 when in use. The active cooling system 47 can include one or more blower fans, a heat exchanger, a heat pump (utilizing a coolant or refrigerant), or any other active cooling device to remove heat from the first converter 18 and / or the BMS 26. Because the first converter 18 is configured for higher power operation relative to the second converter 20, the active cooling system 47 is used to cool the electronics that provide power to the PDC 24. The active cooling system 47 can be powered by power from the first converter 18. Therefore, when providing power at a lower power draw that still exceeds the power output by the second converter 20, the efficiency of the first converter 18 may be lower. Because the second converter 20 can include passive cooling (integrated blower fan, heat sink, etc.) and omit the active cooling system 47, the operation of the second converter 20 can be more efficient under low power draw conditions.

[0054] refer to Figure 3 , the PDC 24 may include a power bus 48 that receives power at an operating voltage (e.g., 13 VDC) from at least one of the primary power source 14 and the secondary power source 40. Specifically, the switching circuitry 16 may include a plurality of switches 50, one for each circuit powered by or supplying power to the power bus 48. The switches 50 may include electrical switches such as transistors, relays, contactors, or any other type of switch that can be controlled by the control circuitry 22. In this example, a high-power contactor relay 52 is electrically connected between the first converter 18 and the power bus 48, and a field-effect transistor (FET 54) is connected between each of the second converter 20, the secondary power source 40, and the load circuit 42. It is contemplated that any switch may be used. However, in this example, the contactor relay 52 may be configured to control a higher current level than the FET 54 and is therefore disposed between the first converter 18 and the power bus 48. As previously described, the first converter 18 can provide a higher power level than the second converter 20.

[0055] When a switch (e.g., at least one distribution switch) is activated for one or more of the load circuits 42, the loads electrically connected to the load circuits are electrically coupled to the power bus 48. Depending on which switches 50 are activated, power is provided from the first converter 18 (via the primary switch), the second converter 20 (via the secondary switch), or the secondary power source 40 (via the auxiliary switch). The switches 50 can be controlled by any portion of the control circuitry 22, but in this example, the first controller 44 can control the switches 50. The control circuitry 22 controls the switch circuitry 16 according to one or more algorithms and methods to limit activation of the first converter 18 and optimize the user experience using occupancy and configuration detection, as will be described below.

[0056] Now refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , the power management system 10 can selectively provide power to various electrical components (e.g., load circuits 42) in the vehicle 12. In this example, the load circuits 42 include outlets 56, interior lighting 58, screen 60, USB power station 62, regulators (e.g., airbags 64, motor 66), heater 68, etc., which are controlled by the PDC 24 via the switch circuit system 16. The current drawn by these loads (e.g., mobile devices plugged into the outlet 56, interior lights) can be monitored by the power management system 10 using any number of methods (such as current sensors (ammeters), voltage dividers, voltmeters, etc.). This electrical information can be monitored by the control circuit system 22. In response to the electrical information, the control circuit system 22 can transmit one or more signals to the switch circuit system 16 or omit one or more signals to disconnect one or more of the load circuits 42 or disconnect or connect the converter or secondary power supply 40.

[0057] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the control circuitry 22 controls the switch circuitry 16 based on which load circuit 42 is being used, information from the occupancy detection system 34, and / or information from the configuration detection system 32. For example, the camera 70, the proximity sensor 72, the wireless communication network described previously, or any other configuration sensor or occupancy sensor can transmit occupancy and / or configuration data to the control circuitry 22. The data can include the number and estimated location of occupants and / or the location of equipment in the vehicle 12 (mirrors, table 74, doors 76, etc.). In some examples, the configuration sensor 36 and / or occupancy sensor 38 includes a physical switch 50 that is engaged or disengaged by the equipment in the vehicle 12. For example, a button can be physically engaged by the table 74 when the table 74 is stowed and disengaged when the table 74 is deployed. By using the occupancy and / or configuration data, the control circuitry 22 can implement a power conservation plan that does not limit the user experience.

[0058] For example, and with reference to Figure 5 , the power management system 10 is used in an office environment 78. In this example, the vehicle 12 is in a key-off state, and one or more of the desks 74 are deployed. A rechargeable device (e.g., a laptop computer) can be charged via connection to an outlet 56 near the deployed desk 74. The interior lights in the office environment 78 are activated. However, based on the occupancy sensor 38, no occupants are detected. For example, no occupants are detected by the camera 70, the light detection and ranging (lidar) sensor, the radio detection and ranging (radar) sensor, etc. Based on the zero occupancy condition at the rear of the vehicle 12, the control circuit system 22 can automatically activate by controlling one or more of the FETs 54, the interior lights in the office environment 78, and / or outputs that can be used by the rechargeable devices. However, if occupancy is detected in the front cabin of the vehicle 12, the load circuit 42 corresponding to the use of the front cabin can remain activated. In some examples, instead of automatically deactivating one or more of the load circuits 42 for the office environment 78, the control circuit system 22 transmits an indication to the user's mobile device or a user interface in the cabin that a power cutoff can be implemented. In other words, the power management system 10 may present the user with the option of deactivating one or more of the load circuits 42 .

[0059] Now refer to Figures 6A to 6C Various examples of visual options presented to the user via notification device 80 may be implemented based on information from control circuitry 22. Although visual notifications are presented, it is contemplated that notification device 80 may include an audio speaker or another mechanism for indicating a power cutoff option. Figure 6A , the notification can be configured to present an option to implement a power cut or an indication to reduce at least one load in response to an output from the control circuit system 22. In another example ( Figure 6B ), a designated option based on occupancy data, configuration data, and / or power consumption data is presented. In this example, based on the usage information of the vehicle cabin 12, there is no front passenger, so there is no need to power the electrical load corresponding to the front passenger. Figure 6B When the answer is “yes”, the control circuit system 22 can deactivate the lighting device 58, power socket 56, screen 60, etc. corresponding to the front passenger.

[0060] refer to Figure 6C, the notification device 80 may display a map of the vehicle 12 indicating the load circuits 42 that the user may deactivate. For example, upon detecting that the current drawn from the second converter 20 exceeds a power threshold and the occupancy, configuration, or power usage data collected by the control circuit system 22, the notification device 80 may recommend a power cut-off option that the user may confirm based on the map of the vehicle 12. It is contemplated that, with reference to Figures 6A to 6C The examples shown and described are non-limiting, and other notification methods may be implemented without departing from the concepts herein.

[0061] Generally, the present power management system 10 may simultaneously enhance the user experience and optimize power usage by monitoring the occupancy and / or configuration of the vehicle 12 and / or tracking the power drawn or expected to be drawn from the PDC 24 .

[0062] As used herein, the term "and / or" when applied to a list of two or more items means that any one of the listed items may be employed individually, or any combination of two or more of the listed items may be employed. For example, if a composition is described as containing components A, B, and / or C, the composition may contain: A alone; B alone; C alone; a combination of A and B; a combination of A and C; a combination of B and C; or a combination of A, B, and C.

[0063] In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, etc. are used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action and do not necessarily require or imply any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes a list of elements includes not only those elements but may also include additional elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by "comprises..." does not, without more constraints, preclude the presence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes the element.

[0064] As used herein, the term "about" means that the amount, size, formula, parameter and other quantities and characteristics are not exact, nor do they need to be exact, but may be approximate and / or larger or smaller as needed to reflect tolerances, conversion factors, rounding, measurement errors, etc. and other factors known to those skilled in the art. When the term "about" is used to describe the endpoints of a value or range, the disclosure should be understood to include the specific value or endpoint mentioned. Regardless of whether the endpoints of a value or range in this specification are described as "about", the endpoints of the value or range are intended to include two embodiments: one modified by "about" and one not modified by "about". It should also be understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint and independently of the other endpoint.

[0065] As used herein, the terms "substantially," "substantially," and variations thereof are intended to indicate that the described feature is equal to or approximately equal to a value or description. For example, a "substantially planar" surface is intended to indicate a planar or approximately planar surface. Additionally, "substantially" is intended to mean that two values are equal or approximately equal. In some embodiments, "substantially" can indicate that values are within about 10% of each other, such as within about 5% of each other, or within about 2% of each other.

[0066] Unless expressly indicated to the contrary, as used herein, the terms "the," "a," or "an" mean "at least one" and should not be limited to "only one." Thus, for example, reference to "a component" includes embodiments having two or more such components unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0067] It will be understood that changes and modifications can be made to the foregoing constructions without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure, and it will be further understood that such concepts are intended to be encompassed by the appended claims unless the claims expressly state otherwise by their language.

[0068] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a power management system for a vehicle is provided, comprising: a power supply; a switching circuit system electrically coupled to the power supply and configured to selectively provide power from the power supply to at least one load; a first converter electrically plugged into the power supply and the switching circuit system and configured to provide power to the switching circuit system, the first converter having a first power output threshold; a second converter electrically plugged into the power supply and the switching circuit system and configured to provide power to the switching circuit system, the second converter having a second power output threshold lower than the first power output threshold; and a control circuit system configured to: control the switching circuit system to supply power to at least one load in response to a key-off state of the vehicle; compare the power drawn by the at least one load from the second converter with the second power output threshold; and transmit an output in response to the comparison to limit the power drawn by the at least one load from the second converter.

[0069] According to an embodiment, the invention also features an occupancy detection system configured to detect occupancy of a vehicle, wherein the communicating of the output is further based on the occupancy.

[0070] According to an embodiment, an occupancy detection system includes at least one of a camera, a lidar sensor, a radar sensor, and a wireless communication network of wireless communication devices that detect occupants of a vehicle.

[0071] According to an embodiment, at least one load includes a first load on a first load circuit for a first area of the vehicle and a second load on a second load circuit for a second area of the vehicle, wherein the control circuit system is configured to selectively deactivate at least one of the first load circuit and the second load circuit based on detecting an occupant in at least one of the first area and the second area.

[0072] According to an embodiment, the invention is further characterized by a position sensor that detects a position of a workspace device of the vehicle, wherein the transmitting of the output is further based on the position of the workspace device.

[0073] According to an embodiment, the control circuitry is configured to control the switching circuitry to supply power from the first converter to the at least one load in response to a position of the workspace equipment.

[0074] According to an embodiment, the workspace equipment comprises a table secured to the vehicle, and wherein the position is a deployed position of the table.

[0075] According to an embodiment, the invention further features a notification device in communication with the control circuitry, wherein the notification device is configured to present an indication to reduce the at least one load in response to the output.

[0076] According to an embodiment, the notification device is configured to present, in response to the output, an option to deactivate a load circuit powering the at least one load.

[0077] According to an embodiment, the notification device is configured to present, in response to the output, an option for the at least one load to draw power from the first converter.

[0078] According to an embodiment, the control circuitry is configured to control the switching circuitry to supply power from the first converter in response to selection of the option.

[0079] According to an embodiment, the invention also features an active cooling system configured to remove heat from the first converter when power is drawn from the first converter to at least one load.

[0080] According to an embodiment, the second converter does not include an active cooling system configured to remove heat from the second converter when power is provided from the second converter to the at least one load.

[0081] According to an embodiment, the present invention is further characterized by: a power bus, which is electrically coupled to a switching circuit system, wherein the switching circuit system includes a main switch and at least one distribution switch, the main switch is configured to electrically couple the first converter to the power bus, and the at least one distribution switch is electrically inserted into the power bus and at least one load.

[0082] According to an embodiment, the switching circuitry further comprises a secondary switch electrically inserted between the second converter and the power bus.

[0083] According to an embodiment, the present invention is further characterized by: a twelve-volt battery electrically coupled to the power bus via an auxiliary switch, wherein any of the twelve-volt battery, the first converter, and the second converter are configured to provide power to the power bus based on a state of the switching circuit system.

[0084] According to the present invention, a power management system for a vehicle is provided, which has: a power supply; a power bus; a switching circuit system, the switching circuit system being electrically coupled to the power supply and configured to selectively provide power from the power supply to at least one load via the power bus; a first converter, the first converter being electrically inserted into the power supply and the switching circuit system and configured to provide power to the switching circuit system, the first converter having a first power output threshold; a second converter, the second converter being electrically inserted into the power supply and the switching circuit system and configured to provide power to the switching circuit system, the second converter having a second power output threshold lower than the first power output threshold; wherein the switching circuit system includes a main switch and at least one distribution switch, the main switch being configured to electrically couple the first converter to the power bus, the at least one distribution switch being electrically inserted into the power bus and at least one load; and a control circuit system, the control circuit system being configured to: control at least one distribution switch to supply power to at least one load in response to a key-off state of the vehicle; compare the power drawn by at least one load from the second converter with a second power output threshold; and transmit an output in response to the comparison to limit the power drawn by at least one load from the second converter.

[0085] According to an embodiment, the invention also features an occupancy detection system configured to detect occupancy of a vehicle, wherein the communicating of the output is further based on the occupancy.

[0086] According to one embodiment, the invention is characterized by: an active cooling system, the active cooling system configured to remove heat from the first converter when power is drawn from the first converter to at least one load, wherein the second converter does not include the active cooling system, the active cooling system configured to remove heat from the second converter when power is provided from the second converter to the at least one load.

[0087] According to the present invention, a power management system for a vehicle is provided, which has: a power supply; a switching circuit system, which is electrically coupled to the power supply and configured to selectively provide power from the power supply to at least one load; a first converter, which is electrically inserted into the power supply and the switching circuit system and configured to provide power to the switching circuit system, the first converter having a first power output threshold; a second converter, which is electrically inserted into the power supply and the switching circuit system and configured to provide power to the switching circuit system, the second converter having a second power output threshold lower than the first power output threshold; an occupancy detection system, which is configured to detect occupancy of the vehicle; and a control circuit system, which communicates with the occupancy detection system and is configured to: control the switching circuit system to supply power to at least one load in response to a key-off state of the vehicle; compare the power drawn by the at least one load from the second converter with the second power output threshold; and transmit an output in response to the comparison and based on the occupancy to limit the power drawn by the at least one load from the second converter.

Claims

1. A power management system for a vehicle, comprising: power supply; switching circuitry electrically coupled to the power source and configured to selectively provide power from the power source to at least one load; a first converter electrically inserted into the power source and the switching circuitry and configured to provide the power to the switching circuitry, the first converter having a first power output threshold; a second converter electrically interposed between the power source and the switching circuitry and configured to provide the power to the switching circuitry, the second converter having a second power output threshold lower than the first power output threshold; as well as control circuitry, the control circuitry being configured to: controlling the switching circuitry to supply the power to the at least one load in response to a key-off state of the vehicle; comparing the power drawn by the at least one load from the second converter to the second power output threshold; and An output is delivered in response to the comparison to limit the power drawn from the second converter by the at least one load.

2. The power management system according to claim 1, further comprising: An occupancy detection system is configured to detect occupancy of the vehicle, wherein the transmitting of the output is further based on the occupancy.

3. The power management system of claim 2, wherein the occupancy detection system includes at least one of a camera, a lidar sensor, a radar sensor, and a wireless communication network of wireless communication devices that detect occupants of the vehicle.

4. The power management system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one load comprises a first load on a first load circuit for a first area of the vehicle and a second load on a second load circuit for a second area of the vehicle, wherein the control circuit system is configured to selectively deactivate at least one of the first load circuit and the second load circuit based on detecting the occupant in at least one of the first area and the second area.

5. The power management system according to claim 1 , further comprising: A position sensor detects a position of a workspace device of the vehicle, wherein the transmitting of the output is further based on the position of the workspace device. 6 . The power management system of claim 5 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the switching circuitry to supply the power from the first converter to the at least one load in response to the position of the workspace equipment.

7. The power management system of claim 6, wherein the workspace device comprises a table secured to the vehicle, and wherein the position is a deployed position of the table.

8. The power management system according to claim 1, further comprising: A notification device is in communication with the control circuitry, wherein the notification device is configured to present an indication to reduce the at least one load in response to the output. 9 . The power management system of claim 8 , wherein the notification device is configured to present an option of deactivating a load circuit that powers the at least one load in response to the output.

10. The power management system of claim 8, wherein the notification device is configured to present an option for the at least one load to draw the power from the first converter in response to the output. 11 . The power management system of claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to control the switch circuitry to supply the power from the first converter in response to selection of the option.

12. The power management system according to claim 1, further comprising: An active cooling system is configured to remove heat from the first converter when the power is drawn from the first converter to the at least one load. 13 . The power management system of claim 12 , wherein the second converter does not include an active cooling system configured to remove heat from the second converter when the power is provided from the second converter to the at least one load.

14. The power management system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising: a power bus electrically coupled to the switching circuitry, wherein the switching circuitry includes a main switch configured to electrically couple the first converter to the power bus and at least one distribution switch electrically interposed between the power bus and the at least one load.

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