Dynamic Power Management

Abstract

A circuit that has one or more control units that divide a load into two or more load groups, with each load group comprised of at least one load element. The one or more control units directing power from a power source to one or more of the load groups based on voltage variations in an output of the power source, load grouping, and operational parameters of the load elements. The circuit further includes one or more pass stages that regulate current flow from the power source to the load groups.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 a circuit controller dividing a load into a plurality of load groups, wherein each load group of the plurality of load groups comprises one or more load elements; and   the circuit controller directing respective power to the plurality of load groups based on at least a magnitude of voltage applied to the load, wherein directing respective power to the plurality of load groups comprises, for each load group:
 establishing a group voltage across a given load group, wherein the group voltage comprises a magnitude that is less than or equal to the magnitude of voltage applied to the load; 
 establishing a load element voltage across at least one load element of the given load group, wherein the load element voltage comprises a magnitude that is less than or equal to the magnitude of the group voltage; and 
 directing a group current through the given load group based on one or more operational parameters of the given load element. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein dividing the load into the plurality of load groups comprises the circuit controller closing one or more switches corresponding to the plurality of load groups. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein dividing the load into the plurality of load groups comprises the circuit controller opening one or more switches corresponding to the plurality of load groups. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 before directing respective power to the plurality of load groups, the circuit controller determining the magnitude of voltage applied to the load.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of load groups comprise a first and second load group, and wherein directing the respective power to the plurality of load groups comprises directing power to the first load group and not directing power to the second load group. 
     
     
         6 . A method comprising:
 a circuit controller dividing a load into at least a first and second load group, wherein each load group comprises one or more load elements;   the circuit controller directing power to the first load group;   thereafter, the circuit controller determining that an instantaneous voltage applied to the load exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage; and   based on determining that the instantaneous voltage applied to the load exceeds the predetermined threshold voltage, the circuit controller directing respective power to the first and second load groups, wherein directing respective power to the first and second load groups comprises, for each of the first and second load groups:
 establishing a group voltage across a given load group, wherein the group voltage comprises a magnitude that is less than a magnitude of the instantaneous voltage applied to the load; 
 establishing a load element voltage across at least one load element of the given load group, wherein the load element voltage comprises a magnitude that is less than or equal to the magnitude of the group voltage; and 
 directing a group current through the given load group. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined threshold voltage corresponds to a minimum level of voltage required to power the first and second load groups. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein dividing the load into at least a first and second load group further comprises dividing the load into a third load group comprising one or more load elements. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the instantaneous voltage is a first instantaneous voltage and the predetermined threshold voltage is a first predetermined threshold voltage, the method further comprising:
 after directing respective power to the first and second load groups, the circuit controller determining that a second instantaneous voltage applied to the load exceeds a second predetermined threshold voltage that is greater than the first predetermined threshold voltage.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the predetermined threshold voltage corresponds to a minimum level of voltage required to power the first, second, and third load groups. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 based on determining that the second instantaneous voltage exceeds the second predetermined threshold voltage, the circuit controller directing respective power to the first, second, and third load groups.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 after directing respective power to the first, second, and third load groups, the circuit controller determining that a third instantaneous voltage applied to the load is less than the second predetermined threshold voltage; and   based on determining that the third instantaneous voltage applied to the load is less than the second predetermined threshold voltage, the circuit controller removing power from the third load group.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 after removing power from the third load group, the circuit controller determining that a fourth instantaneous voltage applied to the load is less than the first predetermined threshold voltage; and   based on determining that the third instantaneous voltage applied to the load is less than the first predetermined threshold voltage, the circuit controller removing power from the second load group.   
     
     
         14 . A circuit comprising:
 a load comprising a plurality of load groups, wherein each load groups comprises one or more load elements;   one or more switches electrically coupled to the load, wherein a given switch is electrically coupled to two load elements; and   a controller comprising one or more control units, wherein the controller is electrically coupled to the load, and wherein the controller is configured to:
 close the one or more switches and thereby direct power to a first load group comprising a first load element; 
 thereafter, determine that an instantaneous voltage applied to the load exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage; 
 based on determining that the instantaneous voltage applied to the load exceeds the predetermined threshold voltage, open a first switch that couples the first load group and a second load group comprising a second load element, and thereby direct respective power to the first and second load groups; and 
 wherein directing respective power to the first and second load groups comprises, for each of the first and second load groups:
 establishing a group voltage across a given load group, wherein the group voltage comprises a magnitude that is less than a magnitude of the instantaneous voltage applied to the load; 
 establishing a load element voltage across at least one load element of the given load group, wherein the load element voltage comprises a magnitude that is less than or equal to the magnitude of the group voltage; and 
 directing a group current through the given load group. 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The circuit of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined threshold voltage corresponds to minimum level of voltage required to power the first and second load groups. 
     
     
         16 . The circuit of  claim 14 , wherein the controller further comprises at least one comparator configured to compare a voltage applied to the load to one or more threshold voltages. 
     
     
         17 . The circuit of  claim 16 , wherein determining that the instantaneous voltage applied to the load exceeds the predetermined threshold voltage comprises the at least one comparator comparing the instantaneous voltage to the predetermined threshold voltage. 
     
     
         18 . The circuit of  claim 17 , wherein opening the first switch comprises the at least one comparator outputting to the first switch a low output voltage. 
     
     
         19 . The circuit of  claim 14 , wherein the instantaneous voltage is a first instantaneous voltage, and wherein the controller is further configured to:
 after opening the first switch, determine that a second instantaneous voltage applied to the load is less than the predetermined threshold voltage.   
     
     
         20 . The circuit of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 based on determining that the second instantaneous voltage applied to the load is less than the predetermined threshold voltage, close the first switch and thereby direct power to the first load group.