Electrical power distribution system with selectively connectable charge storage media

Abstract

A system (100, 200, 400, 500) for supplying and receiving electrical power from a plurality of electrical power buses (102, 104) is disclosed. The system (100, 200, 400, 500) includes a charge storage medium (108), a first switch (110) connecting the storage medium (108) to the first power bus (102), and a second switch (112) connecting the storage medium (108) to the second power bus (104). The switches (110, 112) are electronically controlled by a controller (114) to manage power flow between the storage medium (108) and the power bus (102, 104).

Description

Cross-reference to related applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Application No. 18 / 807,204, filed August 16, 2024, entitled “Electrical Power Distribution System with Selectively Connectable Charge Storage Medium,” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to power supply, and more specifically to a backup power supply configured to provide power to multiple power buses. Background Technology

[0003] Charge storage media, such as supercapacitors, have been used to provide short-term high-power energy over a wide range of temperatures and operating conditions, such as in automotive applications. Traditional automotive power buses are based on a nominal 12V system, but emerging automotive electrical architectures supplement the 12V system with a second, separate 48V power bus. The higher voltage power bus proportionally reduces the current required for the same power output, thus allowing for smaller cross-sections in conductors or wires, connectors, and power electronics.

[0004] Existing systems for supplying and receiving electrical power from multiple power buses typically involve complex arrangements of switches and controllers to manage the flow of power between charge storage media and the various buses. These systems often require independent control mechanisms for each switch, leading to increased complexity and potential points of failure. Furthermore, coordinating multiple switches to ensure efficient power distribution can be challenging, especially under dynamic operating conditions where power demands may change rapidly.

[0005] In some conventional systems, the charge storage medium is connected to a single power bus, limiting system flexibility and redundancy. This configuration can lead to inefficiency and potential power outages if the connected power bus fails or is overloaded. Furthermore, the lack of communication between switches and controllers in these systems hinders real-time monitoring and adjustment of power distribution, potentially resulting in suboptimal performance and reduced reliability.

[0006] Efforts have been made to improve the reliability and efficiency of power supply systems by incorporating electronic controllers to manage switch operation. However, these approaches typically focus on individual switches rather than considering the system as a whole, leading to suboptimal coordination and utilization of charge storage media across multiple power buses. Furthermore, the complexity of existing systems can limit scalability and adaptability to varying power distribution requirements. However, none of these approaches provides a comprehensive solution that combines the features described in this disclosure. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a system configured to supply and receive electrical power from multiple electrical power buses, the system comprising: a charge storage medium; a first switch configured to selectively connect the charge storage medium to a first electrical power bus among the multiple electrical power buses; and a second switch configured to selectively connect the charge storage medium to a second electrical power bus among the multiple electrical power buses that is different from the first electrical power bus, the first and second switches being configured to communicate electronically with an electronic controller configured to control the operation of the first and second switches.

[0008] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electronic controller configured to control a system having a charge storage medium interconnected with a boost / buck converter, a first switch configured to selectively connect the charge storage medium to a first power bus, and a second switch configured to selectively connect the boost / buck converter to a second power bus different from the first power bus. The electronic controller includes a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller, cause the electronic controller to: close the first switch, open the second switch, and operate the boost / buck converter to provide electrical power from the second power bus to the charge storage medium. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1 This is a schematic block diagram of an electrical power supply configured to supply backup power to multiple electrical power buses according to some embodiments.

[0010] Figure 2 This is a schematic block diagram of an additional power supply including a boost / buck converter according to some embodiments, the boost / buck converter being configured to supply backup power to multiple power buses.

[0011] Figure 3 This is a diagram of the pulse width modulation output of a switch used when charging a charge storage device according to some embodiments.

[0012] Figure 4This is a schematic block diagram of an additional power supply including two boost / buck converters configured to supply backup power to multiple power buses, according to some embodiments.

[0013] Figure 5 This is a schematic block diagram of an additional power supply including two boost / buck converters configured to supply backup power to two independent electrical loads, according to some embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0014] Figure 1 A non-limiting example of system 100 is shown, configured to supply and receive electrical power from a first power bus 102 and configured to supply and receive electrical power from a separate second power bus 104. System 100 includes a DC-DC converter 106, a charge storage medium 108 connected to the DC / DC converter 106, a first switch 110 configured to selectively connect the charge storage medium 108 to the first power bus 102, and a second switch 112 configured to selectively connect the DC / DC converter 106 to the second power bus 104, which is independent and different from the first power bus 102. The first switch 110 and the second switch 112 are configured to communicate electronically with an electronic controller 114, which is configured to control the operation of the first switch 110 and the second switch 112. The electronic communication path between the electronic controller 114 and the first switch 110 and the second switch 112 is... Figure 1 The electronic controller 114 is shown in dashed lines. It can be integrated into system 100, or it can be standalone or remote. The charge storage medium 108 can be a supercapacitor or a battery. The first power bus 102 can operate at the same nominal voltage as the second power bus 104, or it can operate at a voltage higher or lower than the nominal voltage of the second power bus 104.

[0015] Figure 2 An embodiment of another system 200 is shown, comprising all the components of system 200, but wherein the DC / DC converter is a boost / buck converter 202 that communicates electronically with and is controlled by an electronic controller. The electronic communication path between the electronic controller 114 and the boost / buck converter 202 is... Figure 2 It is shown in dashed lines.

[0016] The electronic controller 114 includes a non-volatile computer-readable medium. The medium stores instructions, which, when executed by the electronic controller, cause the electronic controller to control a first switch, a second switch, and a boost / buck converter.

[0017] During the startup phase of system 200 operation, charge storage medium 108 may be in a low-charge state. If charge storage medium 108 is directly connected to the first power bus 102, it may generate an inrush current that could damage charge storage medium 108 and / or electrical components connected to the first power bus 102. A computer-readable medium may include instructions to charge charge storage medium 106 by causing electronic controller 114 to turn off first switch 110 to disconnect charge storage medium 108 from the first power bus 102 and turn on second switch 112 to connect charge storage medium 108 to the second power bus 104 via boost / buck converter 202. If the nominal operating voltage of the second power bus 104 is higher than the nominal operating voltage of the first power bus 102, electronic controller 114 will operate boost / buck converter 202 in buck mode to provide electrical power from the second power bus 104 to charge storage medium 108. When the nominal operating voltage of the second power bus 104 is lower than the nominal operating voltage of the first power bus 102, the electronic controller 114 will operate the boost / buck converter 202 in boost mode to provide electrical power from the second power bus 104 to the charge storage medium 108. Once the charge storage medium 108 reaches a predetermined voltage that will no longer cause inrush current, the electronic controller 114 can turn on the first switch 110 to connect the charge storage medium 108 to the first power bus 102.

[0018] During this startup phase, the electronic controller 114 can also perform an energy self-test of the system 200 by determining the storage capacity of the charge storage medium 108. The electronic controller 114 determines the initial voltage of the charge storage medium 108 from a voltage sensor 204, which is configured to determine the voltage of the charge storage medium 108 during the aforementioned startup phase, after the first switch 110 is turned off and before the second switch 112 is turned on. The electronic controller 114 then determines the value of the electrical power delivered to the charge storage medium by the boost / buck converter from a voltage sensor 206 configured to determine the voltage of the boost / buck converter 202 and a current sensor 208 configured to determine the current through the boost / buck converter 202. Subsequently, the electronic controller 114 determines the storage capacity of the charge storage medium 108 based on the value of the electrical power delivered to the charge storage medium 108 by the boost / buck converter 202, the time period during which the boost / buck converter 202 delivers electrical power to the charge storage medium 108, and the voltage difference between the initial voltage and a predetermined voltage.

[0019] Furthermore, the electronic controller 114 can also perform a power self-test of the system. The electronic controller 114 causes a power pulse to be generated from the boost / buck converter 202 to the charge storage medium 108 during the startup phase. This pulse can be generated at the beginning, middle, or end of the startup phase. The electronic controller 114 then determines the impedance of the charge storage medium 108 based on changes in the value of the voltage sensor 204 in response to the power pulse.

[0020] System 200 can also provide a power bridge between the first power bus 102 and the second power bus 104. Since the charge storage medium 108 is directly coupled to the first power bus 102, the charge storage medium 108 naturally provides and receives electrical energy according to voltage fluctuations on the first power bus 102. Electronic controller 114 can monitor the voltage of the second power bus 104 via voltage sensor 206. If the voltage of the second power bus 104 exceeds its expected operating limits, electronic controller 114 can operate boost / buck converter 202 to support or suppress the voltage on the second power bus 104. In this configuration, the electronic controller 114 can turn on the first switch 110, turn on the second switch 112, and operate the boost / buck converter 202 in boost mode to supply power from the first power bus 102 to the second power bus 104, or operate the boost / buck converter 202 in boost mode to supply power from the second power bus 104 to the first power bus 102, thereby maintaining each of the first power bus 102 and the second power bus 104 at their nominal voltage.

[0021] When the voltage of the second power bus 104 operates below its nominal voltage, if the voltage of the first power bus 102 drops below its nominal voltage, the electronic controller 114 can turn off the first switch 110 while keeping the second switch 112 open, and operate the boost / buck converter 202 in boost mode to provide power from the charge storage medium 108 to the second power bus 104, provided that the charge storage medium 108 has sufficient charge.

[0022] When the voltage of the first power bus 102 is operating below its nominal voltage, if the voltage of the second power bus 104 drops below its nominal voltage, the electronic controller 114 can turn off the second switch 112 while keeping the first switch 110 open to supply power from the charge storage medium 108 to the first power bus 102, provided that the charge storage medium 108 has sufficient charge.

[0023] If the voltage of the first power bus 102 is higher than its nominal voltage, while the voltage of the second power bus 104 operates at its nominal voltage, the electronic controller 114 can operate the boost / buck converter 202 in boost mode to provide as much power as the second power bus 104 can accept from the first power bus 102 to the second power bus 104 in order to reduce the voltage of the first power bus 102. If the second power bus 104 cannot accept power from the first power bus 102, the electronic controller 114 can turn off the second switch 112 to isolate the second power bus 104 from the first power bus 102 and provide as much power as the charge storage medium 108 can accept from the first power bus 102 to reduce the voltage on the first power bus 102. Once the charge storage medium 108 reaches its full capacity, the electronic controller 114 can turn off the first switch 110 to protect the charge storage medium 108 from overvoltage damage.

[0024] If the voltage of the second power bus 104 is higher than its nominal voltage, while the voltage of the first power bus 102 is at its nominal voltage, the electronic controller 114 can operate the boost / buck converter 202 in buck mode to provide as much power as the first power bus 102 can accept from the second power bus 104 to the first power bus 102, thereby reducing the voltage on the second power bus 104. If the first power bus 102 cannot accept power from the second power bus 104, the electronic controller 114 can open the first switch 110 to isolate the first power bus 102 from the second power bus 104, and operate the boost / buck converter 202 in buck mode to provide as much power as the charge storage medium 108 can accept from the second power bus 104 to the charge storage medium 108, thereby reducing the voltage on the second power bus 104. Once the charge storage medium 108 reaches its full capacity, the electronic controller 114 can shut off the second switch 112 to protect the charge storage medium 108 from overvoltage damage.

[0025] If an abnormal condition (e.g., short circuit) occurs in the first power bus 102 or the second power bus 104, the electronic controller 114 can turn off the first switch 110 or the second switch 112 to isolate the faulty power bus from the system 200.

[0026] If a low voltage condition exists simultaneously on the first power bus 102 and the second power bus 104, the electronic controller 114 can distribute electrical energy to the first power bus 102 and the second power bus 104 by alternately turning the first switch 110 and the second switch 112 on and off.

[0027] Since system 200 does not have a dedicated DC / DC converter between charge storage medium 108 and first power bus 102, charge storage medium 108 can be charged from first power bus 102 by utilizing the circuit inductance on first power bus 102 to operate first switch 110 in "burst mode". This circuit inductance is much smaller than that of a typical DC / DC converter, therefore the rise and fall times will be much shorter, potentially causing first switch 110 to overheat. To counteract this heating of first switch 110, electronic controller 114 of system 200 can also be configured to charge charge storage medium 108 from first power bus 102 by operating first switch 110 in "burst mode", in which the first switch is switched at a high frequency and low duty cycle B1 to pulse-width modulate the power from first power bus 102 to charge storage medium 108, such as... Figure 3 As shown. After time period T1, the first switch is switched at a higher frequency and a higher duty cycle B2. As the voltage of the charge storage medium 108 increases, the switching losses decrease, the times T2 and T3 between "bursts" can be reduced, and the duty cycle of burst B3 can be further increased. This burst mode can be used when the second power bus 104 fails and the charge state of the charge storage medium 108 is low.

[0028] System 100 can also use this "burst mode" operation of the first switch 110 to charge the charge storage medium 108 from the first power bus 102.

[0029] Figure 4 An embodiment of system 400 is shown, which has two boost / buck converters that are electronically communicated with and controlled by electronic controller 114: a first boost / buck converter 202 and a second boost / buck converter 402. The electronic communication path between the second boost / buck converter 402 and electronic controller 114 is... Figure 4 The second boost / buck converter 402 is connected between the first switch 110 and the energy storage medium 108, as shown by dashed lines.

[0030] In this system 400, the energy storage medium can operate at any nominal voltage.

[0031] System 400 allows the energy storage medium 108 to receive and deliver energy from either the first power bus 102 or the second power bus 104. System 400 can also relay energy between the first power bus 102 and the second power bus 104.

[0032] If the energy storage medium 108 is a supercapacitor stack, the efficiency of system 400 can be adjusted by changing the number of supercapacitor cells connected in series in the supercapacitor stack. Choosing a supercapacitor stack voltage closer to the most commonly used power bus voltage will improve efficiency (because the DC / DC converter ratio will be closer to 1). Since supercapacitor voltages tend to be low (2.7V or 3.0V), there may be a trade-off between cost and complexity between the number of cells connected in series and the desired output voltage. If the first power bus 102 and the second power bus 104 are used equally, the ideal supercapacitor stack voltage is the average between the nominal voltages of the first power bus 102 and the second power bus 104. However, this may be impractical in applications. For example, when considering a 12V first power bus 102 and a 48V second power bus 104, the ideal supercapacitor stack would be (12+48) / 2 = 30 volts, a stack of at least 10 supercapacitor cells. This would require cost / benefit calculations and analysis of mechanical packaging space.

[0033] The amount of energy can be expressed by the capacitor equation J = 1 / 2CV 2 The calculation is performed, where C is the total capacitance of the capacitor stack and V is the nominal floating voltage of the supercapacitor stack. The stack size can be easily determined by adjusting the capacitance of the cells or adding / subtracting series cells.

[0034] Figure 5 Another system, system 500, based on a system similar to system 400, is shown. In system 500, a first electrical load 502 and a second electrical load 504 are directly connected to a first boost / buck converter 202 and a second boost / buck converter 402 before the first switch 110 and the second switch 112, instead of after the first switch 110 and the first switch 112 as implied in the preceding systems 100-400. System 500 can provide electrical power from a single charge storage medium 108 to two different electrical loads 502, 504 operating at different voltages, thereby reducing system cost. System 500 can also provide electrical power to two different electrical loads 502, 504 regardless of the state of the first switch 110 and the second switch 112. Even if there is an electrical fault on the first power bus 102 and / or the second power bus 104, system 500 can further provide electrical power to two different electrical loads 502, 504.

[0035] Supercapacitor stacks were observed to have extremely low or zero FIT rates for short circuits or open circuits, and near 100% of failures were due to slow degradation of capacitance and a slow increase in ESR. This allows ASIL power delivery to several electrical loads or load groups using supercapacitor stacks as the energy storage medium.

[0036] The first buck / boost converter 202 and the second buck / boost converter 402 can be a single converter or a dual interleaved converter for redundancy.

[0037] Furthermore, system 500 may prioritize one electrical load over another. For example, if electrical load 502 is rated QM and electrical load 504 is rated ASIL, system 500 may prefer electrical load 504 because it is safer. As used herein, an electrical load may refer to a single electrical load or multiple individual electrical loads.

[0038] While the examples presented herein are geared toward automotive applications, other embodiments of these systems 100-500 can be used in wind or solar power generation systems, battery packs with batteries having different chemical properties, or medical devices. Discussion of possible embodiments

[0039] The following is a non-exclusive description of possible embodiments of the present invention.

[0040] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a system configured to supply and receive electrical power from multiple electrical power buses, the system comprising: a charge storage medium; a first switch configured to selectively connect the charge storage medium to a first electrical power bus among the multiple electrical power buses; and a second switch configured to selectively connect the charge storage medium to a second electrical power bus among the multiple electrical power buses that is different from the first electrical power bus, the first and second switches being configured to communicate electronically with an electronic controller configured to control the operation of the first and second switches.

[0041] The system described in the preceding paragraph may optionally include (additionally and / or alternatively) any one or more of the following features / steps, configurations, and / or additional components.

[0042] In some respects, the techniques described herein relate to systems in which the charge storage medium includes supercapacitors.

[0043] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a system that further includes a DC / DC converter configured to exchange electrical power between a charge storage medium and a second electrical power bus.

[0044] In some respects, the techniques described herein relate to systems in which a first power bus operates at a different voltage than a second power bus.

[0045] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a system in which a DC / DC converter includes a first boost / buck converter configured to communicate electronically with an electronic controller further configured to control the operation of the first boost / buck converter.

[0046] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a system in which a boost / buck converter includes voltage and current sensors configured to communicate with an electronic controller.

[0047] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a system that further includes a second boost / buck converter connected to a charge storage medium and a first switch, wherein the second boost / buck converter is configured to exchange electrical power between the charge storage medium and a first electrical power bus, and wherein the second boost / buck converter is configured to communicate electronically with an electronic controller, which is further configured to control the operation of the second boost / buck converter.

[0048] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to a system in which a first boost / buck converter is configured to provide power to a first electrical load on a third electrical power bus that is isolated from a first electrical power bus via a first switch, and a second boost / buck converter is configured to provide power to a second electrical load on a third electrical power bus that is isolated from a second electrical power bus via a second switch.

[0049] In some respects, the technology described herein relates to systems, which further include electronic controllers.

[0050] In some respects, the techniques described herein relate to a system in which a charge storage medium includes a voltage sensor configured to determine the voltage of the charge storage medium, and wherein the voltage sensor is configured to communicate with an electronic controller.

[0051] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electronic controller configured to control a system having a charge storage medium interconnected with a boost / buck converter, a first switch configured to selectively connect the charge storage medium to a first power bus, and a second switch configured to selectively connect the boost / buck converter to a second power bus different from the first power bus. The electronic controller includes a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller, cause the electronic controller to: close the first switch, open the second switch, and operate the boost / buck converter to provide electrical power from the second power bus to the charge storage medium.

[0052] The electronic controller described in the preceding paragraph may optionally include (additionally and / or alternatively) any one or more of the following features / steps, configurations, and / or additional components.

[0053] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electronic controller in which a computer-readable medium stores instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller, cause the electronic controller to open a first switch when the charge storage medium reaches a predetermined voltage.

[0054] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electronic controller in which computer-readable medium stores instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller, cause the electronic controller to: determine an initial voltage of a charge storage medium after a first switch is closed and before a second switch is opened; determine a value of electrical power delivered to the charge storage medium by a boost / buck converter; and determine the storage capacity of the charge storage medium based on the value of the electrical power delivered to the charge storage medium by the boost / buck converter, the time period during which the electrical power is delivered by the boost / buck converter, and the voltage difference between the initial voltage and a predetermined voltage.

[0055] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to electronic controllers in which computer-readable media store instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller, cause the electronic controller to: generate power pulses from a boost / buck converter to a charge storage medium, and determine the impedance of the charge storage medium based on the voltage of the charge storage medium in response to changes in the power pulses.

[0056] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electronic controller, wherein the electronic controller includes a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller, cause the electronic controller to: turn on a first switch, turn on a second switch, operate a boost / buck converter in buck mode to provide electrical power to a charge storage medium, and operate a buck / boost converter in boost mode to provide electrical power from the charge storage medium.

[0057] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electronic controller, wherein the electronic controller includes a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller, cause the electronic controller to: turn on a first switch, turn on a second switch, and operate a boost / buck converter in buck mode to provide electrical power from a second power bus to a first power bus.

[0058] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electronic controller, wherein the electronic controller includes a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller, cause the electronic controller to: turn on a first switch, turn on a second switch, and operate a boost / buck converter in boost mode to provide electrical power from a first power bus to a second power bus.

[0059] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electronic controller, wherein the electronic controller includes a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller, cause the electronic controller to: turn off a first switch, turn on a second switch, and operate a boost / buck converter in boost mode to provide electrical power from a charge storage medium.

[0060] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electronic controller, wherein the electronic controller includes a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller, cause the electronic controller to: open a first switch, close a second switch, and close the first switch when the charge storage medium has reached a predetermined voltage.

[0061] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electronic controller, wherein the electronic controller includes a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller, cause the electronic controller to: turn on a first switch, turn off a second switch, and determine the voltage of a charge storage medium.

[0062] Although the invention has been described with reference to one or more exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes can be made and its elements can be replaced by equivalents without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, various modifications can be made to adapt particular circumstances or materials to the teachings of the invention without departing from its main scope. Therefore, the invention is not intended to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but rather to include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

[0063] As used herein, “one or more” includes functions performed by a single element, functions performed by more than one element (e.g., in a distributed manner), several functions performed by a single element, several functions performed by several elements, or any combination of the above.

[0064] It should also be understood that although the terms first, second, etc., are used herein to describe various elements in some instances, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the various described embodiments, a first contact may be referred to as a second contact, and similarly, a second contact may be referred to as a first contact. Both the first contact and the second contact are contacts, but they are not the same contact.

[0065] The terminology used in the description of the various embodiments described herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description of the various described embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to equally include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and / or,” as used herein, refers to and covers any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprising,” “including,” “including,” and / or “comprising” as used in this specification indicate the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0066] As used herein, the term "if" may optionally be interpreted as "when," "at," "in response to determination," or "in response to detection," depending on the context. Similarly, depending on the context, the phrase "if" or "if [the condition or event] is detected" may optionally be interpreted as "when," "in response to determination," "when [the condition or event] is detected," or "in response to the detection of [the condition or event]."

[0067] Furthermore, while terms of regulation or orientation may be used herein, these elements should not be limited by such terms. Unless otherwise stated, all regulations or orientations are for the purpose of distinguishing one element from another and, unless otherwise stated, do not indicate any particular order, sequence of operations, direction, or orientation.

Claims

1. A system (100, 200, 400, 500) configured to supply and receive electrical power to and from a plurality of electrical power buses (102, 104), the system (100, 200, 400, 500) comprising: a charge storage medium (108); a first switch (110) configured to selectively connect the charge storage medium (108) to a first electrical power bus (102) of the plurality of electrical power buses (102, 104); and a second switch (112) configured to selectively connect the charge storage medium (108) to a second electrical power bus (104) of the plurality of electrical power buses (102, 104) different from the first electrical power bus (102), the first and second switches configured to be in electronic communication with an electronic controller (114) configured to control operation of the first and second switches.

2. The system (100, 200, 400, 500) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The charge storage medium (108) comprises a supercapacitor.

3. The system (100, 200, 400, 500) of claim 2, further comprising a DC / DC converter (106) configured to exchange electrical power between the charge storage medium (108) and the second electrical power bus (104).

4. The system (100, 200, 400, 500) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first electrical power bus (102) operates at a different voltage than the second electrical power bus (104).

5. The system (100, 200, 400, 500) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The DC / DC converter (106) comprises a first boost / buck converter (106, 202, 402) configured to be in electronic communication with the electronic controller (114), the electronic controller (114) further configured to control operation of the first boost / buck converter (106, 202, 402).

6. The system (100, 200, 400, 500) according to claim 5, characterized by The boost / buck converter (106, 202, 402) comprises a voltage sensor (204, 204) and a current sensor (208) configured to be in communication with the electronic controller (114).

7. The system (100, 200, 400, 500) according to claim 5, characterized by The system (100, 200, 400, 500) further comprises a second boost / buck converter (106, 202, 402) connected to the charge storage medium (108) and the first switch (110), wherein the second boost / buck converter (106, 202, 402) is configured to exchange electrical power between the charge storage medium (108) and the first electrical power bus (102), wherein the second boost / buck converter (106, 202, 402) is configured to be in electronic communication with the electronic controller (114), the electronic controller (114) further configured to control operation of the second boost / buck converter (106, 202, 402).

8. The system (100, 200, 400, 500) according to claim 7, characterized by The first boost / buck converter (106, 202, 402) is configured to provide power to a first electrical load on a third electrical power bus that is isolatable from the first electrical power bus (102) by the first switch (110), and the second boost / buck converter (106, 202, 402) is configured to provide power to a second electrical load on a third electrical power bus that is isolatable from the second electrical power bus (104) by the second switch (112).

9. The system (100, 200, 400, 500) according to claim 1, characterized by The system (100, 200, 400, 500) further includes the electronic controller (114).

10. The system (100, 200, 400, 500) according to claim 1, characterized by The charge storage medium (108) includes a voltage sensor (204, 204) configured to determine a voltage of the charge storage medium (108), and wherein the voltage sensor (204, 204) is configured to communicate with the electronic controller (114).

11. An electronic controller (114) configured to control a system (100, 200, 400, 500) having a charge storage medium (108) interconnected with a boost / buck converter (106, 202, 402), a first switch (110) configured to selectively connect the charge storage medium (108) to a first electrical power bus (102), and a second switch (112) configured to selectively connect the boost / buck converter (106, 202, 402) to a second electrical power bus (104) different from the first electrical power bus (102), the electronic controller (114) comprising: a computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller (114), cause the electronic controller (114) to: close the first switch (110), open the second switch (112), and operate the boost / buck converter (106, 202, 402) to provide electrical power from the second electrical power bus (104) to the charge storage medium (108).

12. The electronic controller (114) of claim 11, wherein, The computer readable medium stores instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller (114), cause the electronic controller (114) to open the first switch (110) when the charge storage medium (108) reaches a predetermined voltage.

13. The electronic controller (114) of claim 11, wherein, The computer readable medium stores instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller (114), cause the electronic controller (114) to: determine an initial voltage of the charge storage medium (108) after closing the first switch (110) and before opening the second switch (112), determine a value of the electrical power delivered by the boost / buck converter (106, 202, 402) to the charge storage medium (108), and determine a value of the electrical power delivered by the boost / buck converter (106, 202, 402) to the charge storage medium (108), and determining a storage capacity of the charge storage medium (108) based on the value of the electrical power delivered to the charge storage medium (108) by the boost / buck converter (106, 202, 402), a time period during which the electrical power is delivered to the charge storage medium (108) by the boost / boost converter (106, 202, 402), and a voltage difference between the initial voltage and a predetermined voltage.

14. The electronic controller (114) of claim 11, wherein, The computer-readable medium stores instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller (114), cause the electronic controller (114) to: generate a power pulse from the boost / buck converter (106, 202, 402) to the charge storage medium (108), and determine an impedance of the charge storage medium (108) based on a change in voltage of the charge storage medium (108) in response to the power pulse.

15. The electronic controller (114) of claim 11, wherein, The electronic controller (114) includes a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller (114), cause the electronic controller (114) to: open the first switch (110), open the second switch (112), operate the boost / buck converter (106, 202, 402) in a boost mode to provide electrical power from the charge storage medium (108). The electronic controller (114) includes a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller (114), cause the electronic controller (114) to:

16. The electronic controller (114) of claim 11, wherein, open the first switch (110), open the second switch (112), and operate the boost / buck converter (106, 202, 402) in a boost mode to provide electrical power from the charge storage medium (108). The electronic controller (114) includes a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller (114), cause the electronic controller (114) to:

17. The electronic controller (114) of claim 11, wherein, open the first switch (110), open the second switch (112), and operate the boost / buck converter (106, 202, 402) in a boost mode to provide electrical power from the charge storage medium (108). The electronic controller (114) includes a computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller (114), cause the electronic controller (114) to:

18. The electronic controller (114) of claim 11, wherein, close the first switch (110), open the second switch (112), and operate the boost / buck converter (106, 202, 402) in a boost mode to provide electrical power from the charge storage medium (108). ​ 19. The electronic controller (114) of claim 11, wherein, The electronic controller (114) includes a computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller (114), cause the electronic controller (114) to: open the first switch (110), close the second switch (112); and close the first switch (110) when the charge storage medium (108) has reached a predetermined voltage.

20. The electronic controller (114) of claim 11, wherein, The electronic controller (114) includes a computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the electronic controller (114), cause the electronic controller (114) to: open the first switch (110), close the second switch (112); and determine a voltage of the charge storage medium (108).

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