Various aspects of invention provide portable power manager operating methods. One aspect of the invention provides a method for operating a power manager having a plurality of device ports for connecting with external power devices and a power bus for connecting with each device port. The method includes: disconnecting each device port from the power bus when no external power device is connected to the device port; accessing information from newly connected external power devices; determining if the newly connected external power devices can be connected to the power bus without power conversion; if not, determining if the newly connected external power devices can be connected to the power bus over an available power converter; and if so, configuring the available power converter for suitable power conversion.

Various aspects of invention provide portable power manager operating methods. One aspect of the invention provides a method for operating a power manager having a plurality of device ports for connecting with external power devices and a power bus for connecting with each device port. The method includes: disconnecting each device port from the power bus when no external power device is connected to the device port; accessing information from newly connected external power devices; determining if the newly connected external power devices can be connected to the power bus without power conversion; if not, determining if the newly connected external power devices can be connected to the power bus over an available power converter; and if so, configuring the available power converter for suitable power conversion.

A power supply system comprises a portable first power supply device and second power supply device. The portable first power supply device has a handle to be gripped by a hand of a user. A supply unit of the portable first power supply comprises an inverter circuit which converts at least a portion of excess power into an alternating current, and supplies to the second power supply device via a second connection unit and a power line, power of the alternating current outputted from the inverter circuit.

A power supply system comprises a portable first power supply device and second power supply device. The portable first power supply device has a handle to be gripped by a hand of a user. A supply unit of the portable first power supply comprises an inverter circuit which converts at least a portion of excess power into an alternating current, and supplies to the second power supply device via a second connection unit and a power line, power of the alternating current outputted from the inverter circuit.

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.

Electrical power systems having variable-voltage DC busses and methods of controlling voltage settings of such busses. One electrical power system comprises: a variable-voltage DC bus; a number N≥2 of electrical machines, each electrical machine connected to the variable-voltage DC bus via one of a corresponding number N of converters, each electrical machine and corresponding converter having an index n=(1, . . . , N); and a controller configured to select a voltage setting V.sub.dc_bus for the variable-voltage DC bus and to provide control signals to the converters to control the voltage setting of the variable-voltage DC bus according to the selected voltage setting V.sub.dc_bus. The controller configured to select a voltage setting V.sub.dc_bus greater than or equal to a minimum voltage requirement V.sub.dc_min for the bus. The controller is configured to determine the minimum voltage requirement V.sub.dc_min using present operating speeds of each of the N electrical machines.

Devices, systems, and methods for constant and reliable power distribution, using a redundant power bridge battery architecture, in autonomous vehicles are described. An example method includes determining that each of a plurality of sensors is operating within in a nominal range for the respective sensor, and distributing, based on the determining, power from at least one alternating current (AC) power source or at least one direct current (DC) power source to at least one power distribution unit (PDU), wherein a first power bridge is coupled to the at least one AC power source and the at least one DC power source and a second power bridge is coupled to the at least one DC power source and the at least one PDU, and wherein the plurality of sensors is used to monitor a health of the vehicle and any single point failure is detectable.

Devices, systems, and methods for constant and reliable power distribution, using a redundant power bridge battery architecture, in autonomous vehicles are described. An example method includes determining that each of a plurality of sensors is operating within in a nominal range for the respective sensor, and distributing, based on the determining, power from at least one alternating current (AC) power source or at least one direct current (DC) power source to at least one power distribution unit (PDU), wherein a first power bridge is coupled to the at least one AC power source and the at least one DC power source and a second power bridge is coupled to the at least one DC power source and the at least one PDU, and wherein the plurality of sensors is used to monitor a health of the vehicle and any single point failure is detectable.

Described is an integrated electronic control system including keypad with a keypad connector, one or more galley inserts controllable by the keypad; and a control board couplable with the keypad and the galley insert. The control board includes a first connector configured to removably and electrically couple with the keypad connector, a second connector configured to removably and electrically couple with a galley insert connector, and a processor implementing a plurality of control functions related to multiple galley inserts. The processor is configured to receive an input command related to a connected galley insert from the keypad, and generate a control signal, via a control function associated with the galley insert using the input command, to control the galley insert. Further, feedback from the galley insert is received, and based on the feedback, the keypad is configured to indicate a status of the galley insert.