초록 ▼

In the described embodiments, a spacecraft is powered by paralleled solar panels, which supply power to a load. The panels are ORed together, and each is controlled by a switched shunt, which provides coarse control of the load voltage. A control loop senses the load voltage, and logic selects those

In the described embodiments, a spacecraft is powered by paralleled solar panels, which supply power to a load. The panels are ORed together, and each is controlled by a switched shunt, which provides coarse control of the load voltage. A control loop senses the load voltage, and logic selects those shunts which are conductive at any particular time in a manner which tends to maintain the load voltage constant. The control loop may undesirably become unstable because of gain changes caused by changes in solar panel insolation. A further controller adjusts the clock frequency at which the shunts are switched in a manner which tends to stabilize the loop. The further controller responds (a) to the current of one or more of the panels, (b) to the frequency of oscillations across the load, or (c) to both.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A spacecraft, comprising:a payload which consumes electrical power when in use;a solar power generator for producing electrical power in response to insolation;switch means coupled with said solar power generator and said payload, for controllably coupling said solar powe

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A spacecraft, comprising:a payload which consumes electrical power when in use;a solar power generator for producing electrical power in response to insolation;switch means coupled with said solar power generator and said payload, for controllably coupling said solar power generator with said payload, so that when said switch means assumes a first state, said electrical power flows toward said payload, and when said switch means assumes a second state, said electrical power is blocked from flowing to said payload;controllable clock signal generating means for generating a clock signal, and responsive to a clock control signal for generating said clock signal at one of at least first and second different rates;control means coupled to said switch means, to said payload, and to said clock signal generating means, for controlling said state of said switch means at a rate of said clock signal, to thereby form a feedback loop in a manner which controls said electrical power flowing toward said payload in a manner which tends to maintain a predetermined value of an electrical characteristic at said payload, whereby said feedback loop assumes an unstable condition in which it may not maintain said predetermined value in the face of changes in said insolation;electrical characteristic sensing means coupled to said controllable clock signal generates means and to one of said payload and said solar power generator, for sensing an electrical characteristic of said one of said solar power generator and said payload, and for generating said clock control signal in a manner which selects among said clock rates to improve said unstable condition.