A power control unit (100) and method of use thereof for varying the supply of electricity to an electrical apparatus using a wireless communications link between a controller (20) and the power control unit (100). The power control unit (100) is adapted to alternatively communicate with the controller (20) using a non-peer-to-peer communications standard or a peer-to-peer communications standard such as Wi-Fi Direct.

A power control unit (100) and method of use thereof for varying the supply of electricity to an electrical apparatus using a wireless communications link between a controller (20) and the power control unit (100). The power control unit (100) is adapted to alternatively communicate with the controller (20) using a non-peer-to-peer communications standard or a peer-to-peer communications standard such as Wi-Fi Direct.

An electronic device, typically a microcontroller, which is divided into a multiplicity of power domains comprising one or more intelligent peripherals, is provided with an on-board power management module for switching power to one or more domains for pre-determined time periods and in a predetermined sequence. The values of the predetermined time periods and sequence may be pre-programmed by the design engineer or user of the device. In one example, power is switched to domains in a round robin fashion. An optional interrupt capability permits selective application of power to a dormant intelligent peripheral requesting it at the expense of others and based on a priority scheme. Consumption of current supplied to power domains may be monitored by a power watchdog or alternatively via a dedicated power monitor associated with each intelligent peripheral. The invention helps to reduce device power consumption without any associated reduction in processing performance.

An electronic device, typically a microcontroller, which is divided into a multiplicity of power domains comprising one or more intelligent peripherals, is provided with an on-board power management module for switching power to one or more domains for pre-determined time periods and in a predetermined sequence. The values of the predetermined time periods and sequence may be pre-programmed by the design engineer or user of the device. In one example, power is switched to domains in a round robin fashion. An optional interrupt capability permits selective application of power to a dormant intelligent peripheral requesting it at the expense of others and based on a priority scheme. Consumption of current supplied to power domains may be monitored by a power watchdog or alternatively via a dedicated power monitor associated with each intelligent peripheral. The invention helps to reduce device power consumption without any associated reduction in processing performance.

A power system for supplying electric power from shore-side to a vessel is presented. The power system includes one or more shore-side converters (101-112) for receiving electric power from a shore-side alternating voltage network (137) and for producing one or more direct voltages. Each shore-side converter can be a controllable converter for controlling the produced direct voltage to be suitable for the vessel in accordance with a control signal received from the vessel, or the vessel may include a direct voltage converter for converting the direct voltage received from the shore-side to be suitable for the vessel. The vessel can be an electric vessel which includes a chargeable battery (132) for supplying electric power to the propulsion system (135) of the vessel.

A power system for supplying electric power from shore-side to a vessel is presented. The power system includes one or more shore-side converters (101-112) for receiving electric power from a shore-side alternating voltage network (137) and for producing one or more direct voltages. Each shore-side converter can be a controllable converter for controlling the produced direct voltage to be suitable for the vessel in accordance with a control signal received from the vessel, or the vessel may include a direct voltage converter for converting the direct voltage received from the shore-side to be suitable for the vessel. The vessel can be an electric vessel which includes a chargeable battery (132) for supplying electric power to the propulsion system (135) of the vessel.

A control system for an energy storage system located behind a utility meter uses a unique, feedback-based, communication and control method to reliably and efficiently maximize economic return of the energy storage system. Operating parameters for the energy storage system are calculated at an external, centralized data center, and are selected to prevent electrical power demand of an electric load location from exceeding a specified set-point by discharging energy storage devices, such as DC batteries, through a bidirectional energy converter during peak demand events. The control system can operate autonomously in the case of a communications failure.

A control system for an energy storage system located behind a utility meter uses a unique, feedback-based, communication and control method to reliably and efficiently maximize economic return of the energy storage system. Operating parameters for the energy storage system are calculated at an external, centralized data center, and are selected to prevent electrical power demand of an electric load location from exceeding a specified set-point by discharging energy storage devices, such as DC batteries, through a bidirectional energy converter during peak demand events. The control system can operate autonomously in the case of a communications failure.

Exemplary power supply systems according to the present invention include circuitry that is configured to provide DC power and configured to receive a input signal that originates from a portable electronic device (the PED) and to provide a output signal to be sent to the PED. Such circuitry is configured to be coupled to the PED via a connector having a first, second, third, and fourth conductor. Such a connector is configured to be detachably mated with a power input interface of the PED to transfer the DC power to the PED, a ground reference to the PED, the input signal from the PED to the circuitry, and, in coordination with the input signal, the output signal from the circuitry to the PED, which is usable by the PED in connection with control of charging a battery of the PED based on the DC power provided by the circuitry.

An aircraft comprises a fuselage, a set of electrical equipment items distributed in the fuselage, and a hybrid electrical power distribution and data communication network. The latter comprises a set of buses comprising at least one electrical power distribution bus extending, at least partly, in a longitudinal direction of the fuselage. A set of data links is associated with each bus of the set of buses. The bus and the associated set of data links each comprise connection points at different locations distributed along their length, forming pairs of connection points. Each of the electrical equipment items of the set of electrical equipment items is linked to a pair of connection points via a local electrical power supply link and/or via a local data link.