초록 ▼

The invention involves systems and methods of providing energy to land-based telemetry devices wherein the energy storage and power conditioning system is comprised of an input power supply, an energy storage element, an output supply and a control system. The input power supply provides energy to t

The invention involves systems and methods of providing energy to land-based telemetry devices wherein the energy storage and power conditioning system is comprised of an input power supply, an energy storage element, an output supply and a control system. The input power supply provides energy to the output power supply and charges the energy storage element. The energy storage element is comprised of one or more UltraCaps and supplies energy to the output power supply at times of peak need and when the primary energy source to the input power supply is removed. The control system adjusts the voltage supplied to the energy storage element by the input power supply according to changes in the ambient temperature to compensate for changes in the internal equivalent series resistance of the UltraCaps caused by the change in ambient temperature. The output power supply provides energy to the land-based telemetry device. Adjusting the voltage supplied to the energy storage element helps extend the operating life of the UltraCaps.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system connected to a primary source of energy for supplying energy to a land-based telemetry device, comprising:an input power supply;a secondary source of energy;an output power supply; anda control system,wherein the primary source of energy supplies energy to the input power supply, the inp

1. A system connected to a primary source of energy for supplying energy to a land-based telemetry device, comprising:an input power supply;a secondary source of energy;an output power supply; anda control system,wherein the primary source of energy supplies energy to the input power supply, the input power supply charges the secondary source of energy and provides energy to the output power supply, the secondary source of energy supplies energy to the output power supply, the output power supply supplies energy to the land-based telemetry device and the control system provides one or more signals to control the input power supply such that an output voltage from the input power supply is adjusted according to the ambient temperature. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the output voltage from the input power supply is relatively lower at comparatively high ambient temperatures and the output voltage from the input power supply is relatively higher at comparatively low ambient temperatures. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the secondary source of energy supplies all the energy to the output power supply in the event of removal of the primary source of energy. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the secondary source of energy supplies sufficient energy for the land-based telemetry device to transmit a power fail message in the event of removal of the primary source of energy. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the secondary source of energy is comprised of one or more capacitors with each capacitor having a relatively high capacitance value and a relatively low equivalent series resistance value. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the secondary source of energy is comprised of six capacitors connected in series. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the output voltage from the input power supply is 12 volts at ambient temperatures above 30 C, 13 volts at ambient temperatures between 0 C and 29 C, 14 volts at ambient temperatures between −20 C and −1 C, and 15 volts for ambient temperatures less than −20 C. 8. A power supply system connect to a primary source of energy for extending the operational life of an energy storage device, comprised of:an input power supply having an adjustable output voltage; anda control system,the primary source of energy supplying energy to the input power supply, the input power supply supplying energy to the energy storage device and the control system adjusting the output voltage of the input power supply according to the ambient temperature. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the energy storage device is comprised of one or more capacitors with each capacitor having a relatively high capacitance value and a relatively low equivalent series resistance value. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the energy storage device is comprised of six capacitors connected in series. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the output voltage from the input power supply is 12 volts at ambient temperatures above 30 C, 13 volts at ambient temperatures between 0 C and 29 C, 14 volts at ambient temperatures between −20 C and −1 C, and 15 volts for ambient temperatures less than −20 C. 12. An apparatus connected to a primary source of energy and supplying electric power to a wireless telemetry device, the apparatus also connected to a controller that senses ambient temperature and generates a control signal based thereon, the controller further generating a power fail signal in the event of a failure of the primary power supply, the apparatus comprising:an input power supply connected to receive electric power from the primary source of energy, the input power supply also receiving the control signal from the controller and using the received electric power to generate an output voltage having a level depending upon the control signal, the input power supply further receiving the power fail signal;a secondary source of energy connected to receive the output voltage from the input power su pply, the secondary source of energy having at least one capacitor for storage of secondary energy with said capacitor having an equivalent series resistance (ESR); andan output power supply connected to receive energy from an output of the input power supply, and supplying energy to a wireless telemetry device based thereon,the input power supply adjusting its output voltage based on the control signal so that its output voltage decreases with increasing temperature, and conversely increases with decreasing temperature to adjust for change in the ESR of the capacitor in the secondary source of energy with change in temperature, andin the event of a failure in the primary source of energy, the controller activating the control signal causing the input power supply to shut down by entering a high impedance state, and the output power supply receives electric power from the capacitor of the second source of energy. 13. An apparatus for providing electric power to a wireless telemetry device, the apparatus comprising:a temperature sensor sensing ambient temperature and generating a temperature signal based thereon;a primary source of energy generating primary electric power;a controller connected to the temperature sensor to receive the temperature signal, and generating a control signal based thereon, the controller also connected to the primary source of energy and generating a power fail signal based on a level of the electric power generated by the primary source of energy;an energy storage and supply device includingan input power supply connected to receive the control signal and the primary electric power, and generating an output voltage with a level dependent upon the control signal;a secondary source of energy including at least one capacitor with an equivalent series resistance (ESR), said capacitor connected to receive the output voltage from the input power supply; andan output power supply connected to receive the output voltage from the input power supply in normal operation, and to receive output voltage from the secondary source of energy in the event of a failure in the primary source of energy, and supplying output voltage to the wireless telemetry device based on the output voltage received from the input power supply,the controller generating the control signal so as to adjust the input power supply to decrease its output voltage with increasing temperature, and conversely, to decrease the output voltage of the input power supply with decreasing temperature to accommodate change in the ESR of the capacitor. 14. A method of supplying energy to a land-based telemetry device comprising:supplying a primary source of energy to an input power supply, the input power supply providing energy to an energy storage device and an output power supply and the output power supply providing energy to the land-based telemetry device;supplying energy to the output power supply from the energy storage device when the output power supply requires more energy than can be supplied by the input power supply;monitoring ambient air temperature with a temperature sensor;monitoring output voltage of the input power supply; andadjusting the output voltage of the input power supply according to the ambient air temperature. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the output voltage of the input power supply is relatively low when the ambient air temperature is comparatively high and the output voltage of the input power supply is relatively high when the ambient air temperature is comparatively low. 16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:monitoring the voltage of the primary source of energy supplied to the input power supply; andsupplying all the energy to the output power supply from the energy storage device when the primary source of energy is removed. 17. A method of extending the life of an energy storage system comprising the steps of:supplying a primary source of energy to an input power supply, the input power su pply providing energy to an energy storage device;monitoring ambient air temperature with a temperature sensor;monitoring output voltage of the input power supply; andadjusting the output voltage of the input power supply according to the ambient air temperature. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the output voltage of the input power supply is relatively lower when the ambient air temperature is comparatively high and the output voltage of the input power supply is relatively high when the ambient air temperature is comparatively low.