METHOD FOR OPERATING AN ELECTRICAL ENERGY SUPPLY DEVICE, COMPUTER PROGRAM AND ELECTRICAL ENERGY SUPPLY DEVICE

Abstract

A method for operating an electrical energy supply device, in particular a switched-mode power supply device for supplying electrical energy to electrical components from an energy source. A computer program is also provided for carrying out a method of this type, as well as an electrical energy supply device, which is configured to carry out a method of this type.

Claims

1. A method for operating an electrical energy supply device, in particular a switched-mode power supply device, for supplying electrical energy to electrical components from an energy source, the method comprising: providing the energy supply device with a current limiting apparatus, via which a maximum electrical output current output by the energy supply device is limited; and providing the energy supply device with a limiting current function having a temporal dependency, the limiting current function predefining a limiting current, which is an input variable for the current limiting apparatus.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the energy supply device at least temporarily outputs an output current, which is influenced by the limiting current predefined by the limiting current function of the current limiting apparatus.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, if a load is connected to the energy supply device that requires an output current that is higher than the limiting current, the output current is regulated to a value below the required output current.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the output current output by the energy supply device due to the limiting current function has a time profile, which may be differentiated at all times.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the limiting current function is time-dependent and event-dependent.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the limiting current function has at least one function section which falls monotonously or strictly monotonously over time.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the absolute value of the slope in the monotonously falling or strictly monotonously falling function section does not exceed a predefinable or predefined maximum value.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the limiting current function has at least one point of inflection.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the limiting current function has a local minimum at at least one point in time or one time segment.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the limiting current function has the slope of zero and/or constantly the nominal current value specified for the energy supply device in at least one time segment.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the limiting current function has a dependency on the temperature within and/or in the immediate surroundings of the current limiting apparatus.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein particular values of the limiting current are determined from the limiting current function by a computer of the energy supply device, the computer continuously predefining calculated values of the limiting current of the current limiting apparatus according to the instantaneous point of the limiting current function.

13. A computer program including a program code configured to carry out the method according to claim 1 when the method is carried out on a computer.

14. An electrical energy supply device, in particular a switched-mode power supply device, for supplying electrical energy to electrical components from an energy source, the electrical energy supply device comprising: at least one current limiting apparatus, via which a maximum electrical current output by the energy supply device is limited; and a limiting current function with a temporal dependency, the limiting current function predefining a limiting current, which is supplied to the current limiting apparatus as an input variable, wherein the energy supply device is configured to carry out the method according to claim 1.

15. The electrical energy supply device according to claim 14, wherein the energy supply device includes at least one memory, in which the limiting current function is stored or in which multiple limiting current functions are stored.

16. The electrical energy supply device according to claim 14, wherein the limiting current function is active at all times when the energy supply device is switched on.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an energy supply device; and

[0043] FIGS. 2 through 4 show examples of profiles of transition functions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] FIG. 1 shows an energy supply device 1, which includes a housing 2. Control electronics 6, 11, 12 of energy supply device 1 are arranged in housing 2. Power electronic components 13, 14, 15 are also situated in housing 2. Energy supply device 1 includes input connections 10, with the aid of which energy supply device 1 is to be connected to a power supply network, e.g., an AC network. Energy supply device 1 is used to convert the electrical energy received from the power supply network via input connections 10 into electrical energy output on the output side, which is provided to energy supply output connections 9. For example, an output current I with an output voltage U, for example a DC voltage, may be provided at energy supply output connections 9.

[0045] Power electronic components 13, 14, 15 may comprise primary-side components 13 and secondary-side components 15. A transformer 14 may also be present between primary-side components 13 and secondary-side components 15.

[0046] The control electronics include a computer 6, a program memory 11 and a parameter memory 12. Computer 6 is connected to program memory 11 and parameter memory 12. A computer program is stored in program memory 11. The computer program includes software algorithms for controlling power supply functionalities of energy supply device 1, for example a regulation to keep output voltage U and/or output current I and/or a current limiting algorithm constant. Parameters for the user-specific definition of the functionality of energy supply device 1 are stored in parameter memory 12, for example to select different options or operating modes in the software algorithms. Computer 6 executes the computer program and takes into account corresponding parameters from parameter memory 12. Computer 6 controls power electronic components 13, 14, 15 in such a way that a desired output current I and/or a desired output voltage U is/are provided at energy supply output connections 9.

[0047] The computer carries out, for example, a remote I/O operating mode via further software algorithms present in the computer program. With respect to the remote I/O operating mode, computer 6 is connected to additional connections of the energy supply device, which comprise at least one controllable digital or analog output connection 4 and at least one digital or analog input connection 5. Computer 6 may read in an input signal, for example a digital value or an analog value, via digital or analog input connection 5. Computer 6 may output a digital or analog output signal at output connection 4. Connections 4, 5 do not have to be connected directly to computer 6 but may be decoupled therefrom via suitable interface circuits.

[0048] Computer 6 is also connected to a communication unit 3. Computer 6, and thus energy supply device 1, may carry out a data communication with external computer devices 8 via communication unit 3. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, computer devices 8 are connected to a data bus 7. Energy supply device 1 is also connected to data bus 7 via its communication unit 3. In this way, a data communication may take place between energy supply device 1 and external computer devices 8. In the case of the remote I/O operating mode, an external computer device 8 may control digital or analog output connection 4 via communication unit 3.

[0049] In particular, a current limiting algorithm may be executed in software by computer 6. A current limiting apparatus is them formed by computer 6, the current limiting algorithm executed by the computer and the resulting control of at least one portion of the power electronic components 13, 14, 15. The energy supply device, for example the current limiting algorithm, may have a limiting current function with a temporal dependency, which predefines a limiting current, which is an input variable for the current limiting apparatus.

[0050] The limiting function may have a transition function, in which the limiting current initially takes on a first overshooting level and, during the further progression, takes on a second overshooting, as explained at the outset. A transition function 16 may be used for the transition from the first overshooting level to the second overshooting level, as explained below on the basis of the examples in FIGS. 2 through 4. In all representations in FIGS. 2 through 4, the profile of output current I of energy supply unit 1, which is illustrated by the bold line, begins prior to point in time t.sub.1 with a current value below nominal current I.sub.N. At this point in time, the limiting current corresponds to nominal current I.sub.N. At point in time t.sub.1, an overload condition occurs, which is detected by energy supply device 1. As a result, the limiting current is transferred to a first overshooting level I.sub.1, which is rendered in the illustrated examples as an abrupt or at least rapid transition to first overshooting level I.sub.1.

[0051] This is followed by transition function 16, during the course of which the limiting current is transferred from first overshooting level I.sub.1 to second overshooting level I.sub.2 (point in time t.sub.4 in FIGS. 2 and 4, point in time t.sub.3 in FIG. 3). Second overshooting level I.sub.2 is then retained for a period of time until transition function 16 ends at a point in time t.sub.5. A transition to another limiting current then occurs, for example to nominal current I.sub.N.

[0052] A transition function 16 having smooth transitions from first overshooting level I.sub.1 to second overshooting level I.sub.2 is implemented according to FIG. 2. Transition function 16 begins immediately at the point in time, at which the limiting current has first overshooting level I.sub.1, e.g., in such a way that the limiting current has first overshooting level I.sub.1 only for a few milliseconds. Transition function 16 then begins immediately with a falling function profile, whose slope is first further reduced in an bow-shaped manner and then transitions into an essentially linearly falling section. The function profile of transition function 16 then transitions in a bow-shaped manner into second overshooting level I.sub.2, which is reached at point in time t.sub.4. In this way, no abrupt transitions, but rather smooth transitions, occur between the limiting currents, so that the current regulation, and this the electronic components used for the current regulation, are relieved.

[0053] FIG. 3 shows a specific embodiment of transition function 16, which begins at point in time t.sub.2 and ends at point in time t.sub.3. In this case, although abrupt transitions between the limiting currents are present at points in time t.sub.2, t.sub.3, a pause is implemented by transition function 16 between first overshooting level I.sub.1 and second overshooting level I.sub.2. For example, during this pause, i.e., between points in time t.sub.2 and t.sub.3, the limiting current may correspond to nominal current I.sub.N or to another value which is smaller than second overshooting level I.sub.2. As mentioned, a possibly occurring arc may be extinguished hereby.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows an advantageous specific embodiment of transition function 16, which has a combination of transition functions 16 in FIGS. 2 and 3. Transition function 16 is implemented without abrupt transitions between the limiting currents. In addition, the pause is again implemented between points in time t.sub.2 and t.sub.3, by means of which the arc may be extinguished. Second overshooting level I.sub.2 is reached at point in time t.sub.2.

[0055] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.