초록

A modular and scalable power source can be used to supplement an existing source of power. In one embodiment, a DC source can be used to maintain a power source of a host system in a specific state in order to cause a desired behavior.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for providing power, comprising: receiving state of charge information from a host about a power source for said host;automatically providing charge to said power source for said host from an auxiliary power source only if said state of charge information indicates that said power source

1. A method for providing power, comprising: receiving state of charge information from a host about a power source for said host;automatically providing charge to said power source for said host from an auxiliary power source only if said state of charge information indicates that said power source for said host is not meeting a target for state of charge; andstopping the use of said auxiliary power source to charge said power source for said host for a first period of time only if a current associated with said power source for said host is negative and said power source for said host has been connected to said auxiliary power source for less than a predetermined time duration, stopping the use of said auxiliary power source to charge said power source for said host for a second period of time different from said first period of time only if said current associated with said power source for said host is negative and said power source for said host has been connected to said auxiliary power source for longer than the predetermined time duration, said negative current associated with said power source for said host indicates that said power source for said host is presently being charged by said host. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein: said target is a target voltage level;charge is provided to said power source for said host from said auxiliary power source only if said state of charge information indicates that said power source for said host has a current state of charge below said target voltage level. 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein: said host is a hybrid automobile;said power source for said host is a rechargeable battery for a hybrid engine system for said hybrid automobile;said auxiliary power source is a battery that is selectively connected and disconnected to said rechargeable battery; andsaid automatically providing charge to said power source for said host includes maintaining said rechargeable battery for said hybrid engine system at high enough charge to avoid said hybrid engine system from using gas. 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein: said receiving state of charge information includes receiving messages from said host over a communication bus. 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein: said automatically providing charge to said power source for said host from said auxiliary power source only if said state of charge information indicates that said power source for said host is not meeting said target for state of charge includes opening and closing relays that connect said auxiliary power source to said power source for said host. 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said automatically providing charge to said power source includes: receiving speed information for said host;using said speed information to determine a range, wherein using said speed information to determine a range includes using a look-up table to determine a range based on said speed information, said target for state of charge is said range;determining whether said state of charge information indicates that said power source for said host has a state of charge within said range; andproviding charge to said power source for said host if said state of charge information indicates that said power source for said host has a state of charge outside said range. 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein: said automatically providing charge to said power source for said host from said auxiliary power source only if said state of charge information indicates that said power source for said host is not meeting said target for state of charge includes attempting to maintain said power source for said host at a predetermined state of charge. 8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: determining a state of charge for said auxiliary power source; andstopping use of said auxiliary power source if said determined state of charge for said auxiliary power source is below a trigger. 9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: determining multiple state of charge values for said auxiliary power source, said auxiliary power source comprises multiple battery units connected together, said determining multiple state of charge values includes determining state of charge values for each of said battery unites; andstopping use of battery units having state of charge values below a trigger. 10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: monitoring temperature of said auxiliary power source;monitoring voltage of said auxiliary power source;activating a cooling system if said temperature is above a first level or said voltage is above a first voltage; andstopping use of said auxiliary power source if said temperature is above a second level. 11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: receiving a message from said host that a safety device has deployed; andstopping use of said auxiliary power source in response to said message. 12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: receiving a message from said host that an airbag has deployed, said host is an automobile; andstopping use of said auxiliary power source in response to said message. 13. A power source, comprising: a controller, said controller includes an interface to a host system to receive state of charge information and current information from said host system about a power source for said host system;a battery; anda switch receiving an input from said battery and a control input from said controller, said switch selectively provides and does not provide charge from said battery to said power source for said host system based on said control input from said controller, said controller provides said control input based on said state of charge information;wherein said controller instructs said switch to stop providing charge to said power source for said host system from said battery for a first period of time only if a current associated with said power source for said host system is negative and said power source for said host system has been connected to said battery for less than a predetermined duration, said controller instructs said switch to stop providing charge to said power source for said host system for a second period of time different from said first period of time only if said current associated with said power source for said host system is negative and said power source for said host system has been connected to said battery for longer than said predetermined duration, said negative current indicates that said power source for said host system is currently being charged by said host system. 14. A power source according to claim 13, wherein: said controller instructs said switch, via said control input, to provide charge from said battery to said power source only if said power source is below a threshold state of charge. 15. A power source according to claim 14, wherein: said controller instructs said switch, via said control input, to provide charge from said battery to said power source only if said power source is within a range of charge. 16. A power source according to claim 13, wherein: said interface to a host system is an interface to an automobile. 17. A method for providing power, comprising: repeatedly receiving state of charge information from a host about a power source for said host;maintaining said power source for said host at a range of state of charge by selectively providing and not providing charge to said power source for said host from an auxiliary power source; andwherein maintaining said power source for said host includes stopping charging said power source for said host from said auxiliary power source for a first period of time only if a current associated with said power source for said host is negative and said power source for said host has been connected to said auxiliary power source for less than a predetermined duration, wherein maintaining said power source for said host includes stopping use of said auxiliary power source to charge said power source for said host for a second period of time different from said first period of time only if said current associated with said power source for said host is negative and said power source for said host has been connected to said auxiliary power source for longer than said predetermined duration, said negative current associated with said power source for said host indicates that said power source for said host is currently being charged by said host. 18. A method according to claim 17, wherein: said receiving state of charge information includes receiving messages from an automobile about a hybrid engine system's battery; andsaid maintaining said power source for said host at said range of state of charge includes maintaining said battery at said range of state of charge to reduce said hybrid engine system's use of gasoline. 19. A method according to claim 17, further comprising: determining a state of charge for said auxiliary power source; andstopping use of said auxiliary power source if said determined state of charge for said auxiliary power source is below a trigger. 20. A method according to claim 17, further comprising: monitoring temperature of said auxiliary power source;increasing a cooling system if said temperature is reaches a first level; andstopping use of said auxiliary power source if said temperature reaches a second level. 21. A method according to claim 17, further comprising: monitoring voltage of said auxiliary power source;determining whether said voltage reaches a first voltage; andincreasing a cooling system if said voltage is above said first voltage. 22. A method for providing power, comprising: repeatedly receiving information from a host; andcausing a host to continue performing certain behavior by selectively charging a power source for said host using an auxiliary power source based on said information; andstopping using said auxiliary power source to charge said power source for said host for a first duration only if a current associated with said power source for said host indicates that said power source for said host is presently being charged by the host and said power source for said host has been connected with said auxiliary power source for less than a threshold duration, stopping using said auxiliary power source to charge said power source for said host for a second duration only if said current associated with said power source for said host indicates that said power source for said host is presently being charged by the host and said power source for said host has been connected with said auxiliary power source for longer than said threshold duration. 23. A method according to claim 22, wherein: said host is an automobile with a hybrid engine system;said power source for said host is a battery for said automobile;said certain behavior includes operation with reduced use of gasoline;said causing includes selectively providing charge to said battery for said automobile from a rechargeable auxiliary battery. 24. A method according to claim 22, wherein: said information is about said power source for said host. 25. A method according to claim 22, wherein: said information includes state of charge information regarding said power source for said host; andsaid selectively charging a power source for said host based on said information includes maintaining said power source at a range of state of charge.