Energy supply module as a two-port network, use of a separating device in such an energy supply module, and method for operating such an energy supply module

Abstract

The invention relates to an energy supply module (1) comprising an input gate (2) for connection to a power source (4) and an output gate (3) as an interruption-free power supply, wherein the input gate (2) and the output gate (3) are through-connected separably via an electrical separating device (6), and an auxiliary energy source (10) is connected or can be connected in parallel with the input gate (2) and the output gate (3), wherein the separating device (6) is positioned between the auxiliary energy source (10) and the input gate (2), and the separating device (6) comprises a circuit arrangement having two transistors (15) and two diodes (16), wherein the transistors (15) are connected reversely in series, and a diode (16) is connected to each transistor (15), inversely to the current direction of said diode.

Claims

1. An energy supply module comprising; an input gate for connection to a power source and an output gate configured as an interruption-free power supply, wherein the input gate and the output gate are through-connected separably via an electrical separating device, and an auxiliary energy source connected or configured for connection in parallel with the input gate and the output gate, wherein the separating device is positioned between the auxiliary energy source and the input gate, wherein the auxiliary energy source comprises a rechargeable energy store, wherein the energy supply module is configured to charge the energy store via the input gate, wherein the energy supply module has a charging unit, which is arranged parallel to the switching device such that the auxiliary energy source can be charged by the charging unit via the input gate, and wherein the separating device comprises a circuit arrangement having two transistors and two diodes, wherein the transistors are connected reversely in series, and a diode is connected to each transistor, inversely to the current direction of said diode.

2. The energy supply module according to claim 1, wherein the transistors are configured as bipolar transistors or field-effect transistors.

3. The energy supply module according to claim 1, wherein the energy supply module comprises a switching device and a control device for actuating the switching device, wherein the energy store can be connected via the switching device in parallel with the input gate and the output gate.

4. The energy supply module according to claim 3, wherein the switching device comprises a circuit arrangement having two transistors and two diodes, wherein the transistors are connected reversely in series and a diode is connected to each transistor, inversely to the current direction of said diode.

5. The energy supply module according to claim 1, wherein the rechargeable energy store comprises a capacitor module having a plurality of capacitors.

6. The energy supply module according to claim 5, wherein the capacitors are configured as electrolytic capacitors and/or double-layer capacitors.

7. The energy supply module according to claim 1, wherein the rechargeable energy store comprises an accumulator.

8. The energy supply module according to claim 1, wherein: the energy supply module is configured to provide an output voltage (U.sub.OUT) at the output gate thereof, the auxiliary energy source is configured to provide an auxiliary voltage, which is different from the output voltage (U.sub.OUT), and the energy supply module has an auxiliary voltage adjustment apparatus in order to adjust the auxiliary voltage to the output voltage (U.sub.OUT).

9. The energy supply module according to claim 1, wherein: the energy supply module is configured for operation at an input voltage (U.sub.IN) at the input gate thereof, the auxiliary energy source is configured for charging with a charging voltage, which is different from the input voltage (U.sub.IN), and the energy supply module has a charging voltage adjustment apparatus in order to adjust the input voltage (U.sub.IN) to the charging voltage.

10. The energy supply module according to claim 1, wherein the energy supply module comprises a capacitor, which is connected between the separating device and the output gate, parallel thereto.

11. A method for using an electrical separating device comprised of two transistors and two diodes, the method comprising: configuring an energy supply module, which includes an input gate for connection to a power source, an output gate and an auxiliary energy source connected or configured for connection in parallel with the input gate and the output gate, as an interruption-free power supply, wherein the input gate and the output gate are through-connected separably via the electrical separating device; connecting the transistors reversely in series; and connecting a diode to each transistor, inversely to the current direction of each diode; wherein the separating device is positioned between the auxiliary energy source and the input gate; wherein the auxiliary energy source comprises a rechargeable energy store; wherein the energy supply module is configured to charge the energy store via the input gate; wherein the energy supply module has a charging unit, which is arranged parallel to the switching device such that the auxiliary energy source can be charged by the charging unit via the input gate; and wherein an auxiliary energy source is positioned parallel to the input gate and the output gate between the separating device and the output gate.

12. A method for operating an energy supply module according to claim 1, the method comprising: actuating the separating device in such a way that the transistor is conductively connected in the current direction from the input gate to the output gate when the input voltage (U.sub.IN) is greater than the output voltage (U.sub.OUT) by a limit value, and vice versa.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: actuating the separating device in such a way that the transistor is connected so as to be blocking in the current direction from the output gate to the input gate when the output voltage (U.sub.OUT) breaks down.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising: following the blocking of the transistor in the current direction from the output gate to the input gate, actuating the separating device in such a way that the transistor is conductively connected in the current direction from the output gate to the input gate with a predefined frequency.

15. The energy supply module according to claim 2, wherein: the auxiliary energy source comprises a rechargeable energy store, and the energy supply module is configured to charge the energy store via the input gate.

16. The energy supply module according to claim 4, wherein the energy supply module has a charging unit, which is arranged parallel to the switching device.

17. The energy supply module according to claim 3, wherein the rechargeable energy store comprises a capacitor module having a plurality of capacitors.

18. The energy supply module according to claim 3, wherein the rechargeable energy store comprises an accumulator.

19. The energy supply module according to claim 9 wherein the energy supply module comprises a switching device and a control device for actuating the switching device, wherein the energy store can be connected via the switching device in parallel with the input gate and the output gate.

20. The energy supply module according to claim 10 wherein: the energy supply module is configured to provide an output voltage (U.sub.OUT) at the output gate thereof, the auxiliary energy source is configured to provide an auxiliary voltage, which is different from the output voltage (U.sub.OUT), and the energy supply module has an auxiliary voltage adjustment apparatus in order to adjust the auxiliary voltage to the output voltage (U.sub.OUT).

Description

(1) In the drawing

(2) FIG. 1 shows a circuit diagram of an energy supply module according to the invention with an auxiliary energy source in accordance with a first embodiment with input-side and output-side wiring,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a circuit diagram of a detailed view of a separating device of the energy supply module from FIG. 1 in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a circuit diagram of a detailed view of the separating device in accordance with FIG. 2 in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a table, which shows the states of the individual transistors and diodes of the separating device and switching device of the first embodiment,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a time graph, which shows, by way of example, the switched states of the transistors of the separating device depending on a difference of input voltage and output voltage of the energy supply module of the first embodiment,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a PID controller for actuating the separating device from FIG. 2,

(8) FIG. 7 shows a circuit diagram of a detailed view of a separating device of the energy supply module in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention,

(9) FIG. 8 shows a circuit diagram of an energy supply module with an auxiliary energy source in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention with input-side and output-side wiring,

(10) FIG. 9 shows a circuit diagram of an energy supply module with an auxiliary energy source in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention,

(11) FIG. 10 shows the circuit diagram of the energy supply module from FIG. 9 with separating apparatus shown in detail, and

(12) FIG. 11 shows a circuit diagram of an energy supply module in accordance with a fifth embodiment.

(13) FIGS. 1 to 6 concern an energy supply module 1 in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. The energy supply module 1 is configured with input gate 2 and an output gate 3. The input gate 2 and the output gate 3 are through-connected separably via an electrical separating device 6. An input voltage U.sub.IN is applied across the input gate 2 and an output voltage U.sub.OUT is applied across the output gate 3, and said voltages are substantially identical in an unseparated state.

(14) The energy supply module 1 is connected separably via electrical contacts 9 to an auxiliary energy source 10, such that the auxiliary energy source 10 can be easily exchanged as required. The auxiliary energy source 10 is configured in this exemplary embodiment as a rechargeable energy store, more specifically as an accumulator 14. Said auxiliary energy source is connected via the contacts 9 between the separating device 6 and the output gate 3 in parallel with the input gate 2 and the output gate 3. A switching device 11 is introduced in the connection between the auxiliary energy source 10 and the gates 2, 3, and the auxiliary energy source 10 can be separated from the gates 2, 3 by means of said switching device.

(15) In an alternative embodiment, the energy supply module 1 is formed integrally with the auxiliary energy source 10. Accordingly, the contacts 9 are formed as internal contacts for the connection of the auxiliary energy source 10. For the rest, the function of the energy supply module 1 is the same as the alternative embodiment as described previously.

(16) The structure of the separating device 6 and also of the switching device 11 will be described hereinafter in detail. The separating device 6 and the switching device 11 are structured identically in principle, and therefore the structure thereof will be described jointly. The separating device 6 and the switching device 11, in this exemplary embodiment, which is shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, each comprise two transistors 15, which are formed in the first exemplary embodiment as field-effect transistors, and two diodes 16. The transistors 15 are connected reversely in series, wherein a diode 16 is connected to each transistor 15, inversely to the current direction of said diode. In this exemplary embodiment, the transistors 15 are formed as N-channel MOSFETs, wherein the use of P-channel MOSFETs is also possible in an alternative embodiment.

(17) The energy supply module 1 further comprises a control device (not shown), which controls the separating device 6 and the switching device 11. The control device is configured in particular to detect the input current and/or voltage U.sub.IN at the input gate 2 of the energy supply module 1 and to actuate the separating device 6 in the case of fluctuations of current and/or voltage at the input gate 2 in order to separate the input gate 2 from the output gate 3. In addition, the control device is configured to actuate the switching device 11 in order to provide the output voltage U.sub.OUT at the output gate 3 via the auxiliary energy source in the case of fluctuations of current and/or voltage at the input gate 2. Furthermore, the control device is configured to charge the accumulator 14 via the input gate 2. The control device comprises a PID controller 40, which is illustrated in FIG. 6.

(18) The separating device 6 and the switching device 11 can be blocked completely via the control device, can be connected so as to each be connected conductively in one direction, or can be bidirectionally conductively connected with low loss, as can be seen from the table in FIG. 4. In the table, the individual transistors 15 and diodes 16, as characterised in FIGS. 2 and 3, are distinguished as V1, V2 and D1, D2 respectively. Details concerning the operation will be described hereinafter with additional reference to FIG. 5.

(19) FIG. 1 shows the energy supply module 1 in the connected state for operation of the output gate 3 as an interruption-free power supply. The energy supply module 1 is connected via a supply line 19 to a power source 20. The power source 20 is configured to provide a direct current. An input-side load 21 is additionally connected between the input gate 2 of the energy supply module 1 and the power source 20, and an output-side load 22 is additionally connected to the output gate 3.

(20) The control device is configured to cover the energy demand of the output-side load 22 via the auxiliary energy source 10 in the case of the failure of the power source 20. Here, it is necessary for the separating device 6 to quickly block in order to prevent a flow of current from the auxiliary energy source 10 via the input gate 2 and to operate the output-side load 22 without interruption. Compensating currents in the case of fluctuations of the input voltage U.sub.IN at or with use of a highly inductive power source 4 are also suppressed.

(21) The control device is furthermore configured to conductively connect the switching device 11 in the case of the failure of the power source 20. The auxiliary energy source 10 is thus connected to the output-side load 22 and supplies this in the manner of an interruption-free power supply. Accordingly, the auxiliary voltage applied across the contacts 9 is provided as an output voltage U.sub.OUT at the output gate 3. The operation of the output-side load 22 is thus maintained. As soon as the correct function of the power source 20 is determined by the control device, the output-side load 22 is fed again from the power supply 20 via the separating device 6, and the switching device 11 separates the auxiliary energy source 10. The switching device 11 is additionally actuated by the control device in order to charge the auxiliary energy source 10 at the power source 20.

(22) A method for operating the separating device 6 will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

(23) In one operating state, the input voltage U.sub.IN is greater than the output voltage U.sub.OUT. Accordingly, a difference between the input voltage U.sub.IN and the output voltage U.sub.OUT lies above a limit value, as is the case by way of example between the moments in time 1 and 2 in FIG. 5. Accordingly, the transistors 15 are both conductively connected by the control device, and the separating device 6 is located in the “bidirectionally conductive, low loss” operating state in accordance with the table in FIG. 4.

(24) In one operating state, which is present by way of example between the moments in time 2 and 3 in FIG. 5, the input voltage U.sub.IN is greater than the output voltage U.sub.OUT. However, the difference between the input voltage U.sub.IN and the output voltage U.sub.OUT is below the limit value. Accordingly, the transistor 15 characterised by V2 is connected in a blocking manner by the control device. The current flows again through the diode 16 characterised by D2, and the separating device 6 is operated in the “unidirectionally conductive from 121 to 122” state in accordance with the table in FIG. 4.

(25) As soon as the output voltage U.sub.OUT is greater than the input voltage U.sub.IN, the diode 16 characterised by D2 blocks automatically, and a flow of current through the input gate 2 in the direction to the input-side load 21 and the power source 20 is prevented. By way of example, this concerns the moment in time 3 in FIG. 5.

(26) Following the moment in time 3, the transistor 15 characterised by V1 is connected so as to be blocking in a manner unaffected by time. The separating device 6 is thus in the “bidirectionally blocking” operating state in accordance with the table in FIG. 4. This state is changed by a conductive switching, unaffected by time, of the transistor 15 characterised by V1 by the control device prior to the moment in time 4 in FIG. 5 back into the “unidirectionally conductive from 121 to 122” state, as described previously.

(27) As soon as the input voltage U.sub.IN is greater again than the output voltage U.sub.OUT, the flow of current from the power source 20 through the input gate 2 in the direction to the output gate 3 is automatically released by the diode 15 characterised by D2, and therefore the output-side load 22 is supplied again by the power source 20. This occurs by way of example at the moment in time 4 in FIG. 5.

(28) When the difference between the input voltage U.sub.IN and the output voltage U.sub.OUT rises again above the limit value, for example as is the case at the moment in time 7 in FIG. 5, a change is made again into the “bidirectionally conductive, low loss” operating state in order to reduce the losses.

(29) Hatched areas 42, which are shown in FIG. 5, in each case represent the changes to the operating states, unaffected by time, as described above.

(30) At the moment in time 14 in FIG. 5, a short circuit occurs at the output gate 3 due to the output-side load 22, whereby the output is overloaded. In order to reduce the voltage drop at the input gate 2, the transistor 15 characterised by V1 is opened and the flow of current from the power source 20 is interrupted by the separating device 6. By means of a rapid actuation of the transistor 15 characterised by V1 by the control device, the power source 20 is protected, and the input-side load 21 can continue to be operated by the power source 20. The separating device 6 initially functions “unidirectionally conductively from 122 to 121” in accordance with table 4. With disconnection of the transistor 15 characterised by V2 by the control device, the separating device 6 acts in a bidirectionally blocking manner.

(31) Following the moment in time 14 in FIG. 5, the transistor 15 characterised by V1 is conductively connected by the control device with a predefined frequency in order to examine the behaviour of the output-side load 22. Here, the transistor 15 characterised by V1 can be clocked at low or high frequency. As soon as the short circuit has been overcome, a change is made back into the operation of the energy supply module 1 in order to supply the output-side load 22.

(32) Similarly to the previously described operation of the separating device 6 by the control device, a failure of the power source 20 is detected thereby. In addition, the supply of the output-side load 22 by the auxiliary energy source 10 by actuation of the switching device 11 is started in this case by the control device. Following the end of the failure, the switching device 11 is actuated by the control device in order to terminate the supply of the output-side load 22 by the auxiliary energy source 10.

(33) Various embodiments of modified energy supply modules 1 will be described hereinafter. The modified energy supply modules 1 correspond substantially to the energy supply module previously described, and therefore only the differences between the respective embodiments will be discussed hereinafter. Accordingly, identical reference signs will be used for like or similar components.

(34) A second exemplary embodiment, which is shown in FIG. 7, differs from the first merely by the embodiment of the transistors 15 of the separating device 6 and of the switching device 11. In this exemplary embodiment, the transistors 15 are configured as NPN bipolar transistors. Alternatively, the use of PNP bipolar transistors is also possible.

(35) A third exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 8. The third exemplary embodiment differs from the first merely by an additional capacitor 8 and the embodiment of the auxiliary energy source 10. The capacitor 8 is positioned parallel to the input gate 2 and the output gate 3 between the separating device 6 and the output gate 3. The auxiliary energy source 10 in detail comprises a capacitor module 13 and an accumulator 14. The capacitor module 13 comprises a plurality of capacitors (not shown here individually), which are formed as electrolytic capacitors or double-layer capacitors. The accumulator 14 is configured in this exemplary embodiment as a lead accumulator. In an alternative embodiment, the accumulator 14 is configured as a lithium accumulator.

(36) The control device is configured in the third exemplary embodiment so as to cover the energy demand of the output-side load 22 initially via the capacitor 8 in the case of the failure of the power source 20. It is therefore necessary for the control device to actuate the separating device 6 quickly in order to prevent a flow of current from the capacitor 8 via the input gate 2. Compensating currents through the capacitor 8 in the case of fluctuations of the input voltage U.sub.IN or with the use of a highly inductive power source 4 are thus also suppressed.

(37) In accordance with the third embodiment, the auxiliary energy source 10 is also connected by means of the switching device 11 to the output-side load 22 and supplies this in the manner of an interruption-free power supply. Accordingly, the auxiliary voltage applied across the contacts 9 is provided as an output voltage U.sub.OUT at the output gate 3. The operation of the output-side load 22 is thus maintained. As soon as the correct function of the power source 20 is determined by the control device, the switching device 11 is switched back again, and the output-side load 22 is supplied by the power source 20. In addition, the auxiliary energy source 10 is charged via the switching device 11 by the power source 20.

(38) An energy supply module 1 in accordance with a fourth embodiment is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The energy supply module 1 of the fourth embodiment corresponds substantially to that of the third embodiment and additionally comprises a charging unit 12, which is arranged parallel to the switching device 11. The charging unit 12 is used to charge the auxiliary energy source 10 via the input gate 2. An auxiliary voltage is applied across the contacts 9, and in this exemplary embodiment corresponds substantially to the input or output voltage U.sub.IN, U.sub.OUT. The level of the input voltage U.sub.IN is thus delivered both as charging voltage in order to charge the auxiliary energy source 10 and also as auxiliary voltage in the event of discharge of the auxiliary energy source 10 and can be applied across the output gate 3 directly as output voltage U.sub.OUT.

(39) An energy supply module 1 will be described in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention with reference to FIG. 11. In FIG. 11, the energy supply module 1 is shown with an auxiliary energy source 10 and a consumer 22 attached on the output side.

(40) The auxiliary energy source 10 of the fifth embodiment is configured for operation with an auxiliary voltage and a charging voltage at the contacts 9, said voltages being different from the input voltage U.sub.IN and the output voltage U.sub.OUT. Accordingly, the charging unit 12 comprises a charging voltage adjustment apparatus 30, which is configured as a voltage converter, in order to adjust the input voltage U.sub.IN for the charging of the auxiliary energy source 10 to the charging voltage.

(41) The energy supply module 1 additionally comprises a discharging unit 31, which comprises the switching device 11 of the energy supply module 1 of the first embodiment and is positioned at the same point in the energy supply module 1. The discharging unit 31 further comprises an auxiliary voltage adjustment apparatus 32, which is connected in series with the switching device 11 and which is configured as a voltage converter, in order to adjust the auxiliary voltage to the output voltage U.sub.OUT.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(42) energy supply module 1

(43) input gate 2

(44) output gate 3

(45) separating device 6

(46) capacitor 8

(47) contacts 9

(48) auxiliary energy source, rechargeable energy store 10

(49) switching device 11

(50) charging unit 12

(51) capacitor module 13

(52) accumulator 14

(53) transistors 15

(54) diode 16

(55) supply line 19

(56) power source 20

(57) input-side load 21

(58) output-side load 22

(59) charging voltage adjustment apparatus 30

(60) discharging unit 31

(61) auxiliary voltage adjustment apparatus 32

(62) PID controller 40

(63) hatched area 42

(64) first switch contact 121

(65) second switch contact 122