Wide range power combiner

Abstract

A wide range power combiner (WRPC) includes an electronics system that combines power from a plurality of input sources, which can differ in level, to at least a single output. In certain embodiments, a circuit can be constructed as shown in the figures (FIG. 1 ); a controller is used to generate a control signal to the switches, and for monitoring the energy storage elements. A possible control signal to the switches is shown in the figures (FIG. 2 ). The control signal, or signals, can dynamically change the frequency and order of switching to cause the switches to change the electrical connections of the energy storage elements, between the input and the output or outputs. A possible dynamic control algorithm is shown in the figures (FIG. 4 ). Switches can be any electrical switch, including transistors and relays. Energy storage elements can be any energy storage element, including capacitors and inductors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 ) A wide range power combiner (WRPC) system comprising:
 a plurality of input power sources;   a set of energy storage elements, with at least two energy storage elements per power source, such that each of the energy storage elements can be connected to a power source or an output or outputs;   a set of switches, connecting the energy storage elements to the input power sources and the output(s);   at least one measurement device, for the measurement of energy storage elements;   a controller comprising:   a control loop for the system, wherein the control loop learns the maximum power point for each power source, and connects and disconnects different storage elements to and from the system output;   systems constraints for managing limitations to maintain energy output, voltages, currents, and other variables within system parameters.   
     
     
         2 ) The WRPC system in  claim 1 , where the energy storage elements are provided in at least a 2:1 ratio of storage elements to power sources. 
     
     
         3 ) The WRPC system in  claims 1 - 2  where the energy storage elements are substantially identical. 
     
     
         4 ) The WRPC system in  claims 1 - 3  where input power of each source is controlled to achieve the maximum power point of that source 
     
     
         5 ) The WRPC system in  claims 1 - 4  where in maximum power point is detected automatically by the system controller. 
     
     
         6 ) The WRPC system in  claims 4  and  5  where the controller is configured to measure the energy stored in the energy storage elements, to determine the output power of the power sources. 
     
     
         7 ) The WRPC system in  claim 6 , where the controller uses voltage measurements and the properties of the energy storage element to calculate the energy stored in the energy storage element. 
     
     
         8 ) The WRPC system in  claims 1 - 7  where all but one of the energy storage elements are each connected to their respective input power sources, and all but one of the input power sources each being connected to at least two energy storage elements. 
     
     
         9 ) The WRPC system in  claims 1 - 8  where the controller selects which energy storage element to connect to the output, in order to maintain the maximum power point of each input power source.