Smart power system

Abstract

A smart power system is described. In one or more implementations, the smart power system comprises a microcontroller and a power converter electrically connected to the microcontroller and is configured to convert electrical energy from one form to another. The system also includes a switch element electrically connected to the microcontroller and configured to control distribution of the converted electrical energy to an electrical load. A sense element is electrically connected to the electrical load and to the microcontroller and is configured to monitor the converted electrical energy distributed to the electrical load and to furnish a feedback signal based upon the converted electrical energy. The microcontroller is configured to verify and to monitor the power converter, as well as to control and to monitor distribution of the converted electrical energy to the electrical load based upon the feedback signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A smart power system comprising:
 a microcontroller;   a power converter electrically connected to the microcontroller, the power converter configured to convert electrical energy from one form to another;   a switch element electrically connected to the microcontroller, the switch element configured to control distribution of the converted electrical energy to at least one electrical load;   a sense element electrically connected to the at least one electrical load and to the microcontroller, the sense element configured to monitor the converted electrical energy distributed to the at least one electrical load, the sense element configured to furnish a feedback signal based upon the converted electrical energy; and   wherein the microcontroller is configured to verify and to monitor the power converter and configured to control and to monitor distribution of the converted electrical energy to the at least one electrical load based upon the feedback signal.   
     
     
         2 . The smart power system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrical load comprises an intelligent electrical load that comprises a processor. 
     
     
         3 . The smart power system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a controller electrically connected to the at least one electrical load and to the microcontroller, the controller configured to receive diagnostic information from the at least one electrical load and to bi-directionally communicate with the microcontroller, the controller configured to furnish the diagnostic information to the microcontroller. 
     
     
         4 . The smart power system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the controller comprises a slave device and the microcontroller comprises a master device. 
     
     
         5 . The smart power system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the switch element comprises an H bridge device configured to modify the converted electrical energy, the H bridge including at least one common field-effect transistor (FET) pair. 
     
     
         6 . The smart power system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sense element is configured to furnish a feedback signal to the microcontroller based upon the converted energy distributed to the at least one electrical load, the microcontroller configured to control and to monitor distribution of the converted electrical energy to the at least one electrical load based upon the feedback signal. 
     
     
         7 . The smart power system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrical load comprises an input/output (I/O) device. 
     
     
         8 . The smart power system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller includes a processor and a memory, the memory configured to store tangible computer-readable medium embodying a program executable by the processor to cause the processor to control operation of at least one of the switch element or the power converter based upon a first power characteristic. 
     
     
         9 . The smart power system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to receive tangible computer-readable medium embodying an upgraded program executable by the processor to cause the processor to control operation of at least one of the switch element or the power converter based upon a second power characteristic, the second power characteristic different from the first power characteristic. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a backplane including a connector;   at least one electrical load configured to mate with the connector; and   a smart power system integrated within the backplane, the smart power system comprising:
 a microcontroller; 
 a power converter electrically connected to the microcontroller, the power converter configured to convert electrical energy from one form to another; 
 a switch element electrically connected to the microcontroller, the switch element configured to control distribution of the converted electrical energy to at least one electrical load; 
 a sense element electrically connected to the at least one electrical load and to the microcontroller, the sense element configured to monitor the converted electrical energy distributed to the at least one electrical load, the sense element configured to furnish a feedback signal based upon the converted electrical energy; and 
 wherein the microcontroller is configured to verify and to monitor the power converter and configured to control and to monitor distribution of the converted electrical energy to the at least one electrical load based upon the feedback signal. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one electrical load comprises an intelligent electrical load that comprises a processor. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a controller integrated with the backplane and electrically connected to the at least one electrical load and to the microcontroller, the controller configured to receive diagnostic information from the at least one electrical load and to bi-directionally communicate with the microcontroller, the controller configured to furnish the diagnostic information to the microcontroller. 
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the controller comprises a slave device and the microcontroller comprises a master device. 
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the switch element comprises an H bridge device configured to modify the converted electrical energy, the H bridge including at least one common field-effect transistor (FET) pair. 
     
     
         15 . The smart power system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the sense element is configured to furnish a feedback signal to the microcontroller based upon the converted energy distributed to the at least one electrical load, the microcontroller configured to control and to monitor distribution of the converted electrical energy to the at least one electrical load based upon the feedback signal. 
     
     
         16 . The smart power system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one electrical load comprises an input/output (I/O) device. 
     
     
         17 . The smart power system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the microcontroller includes a processor and a memory, the memory configured to store tangible computer-readable medium embodying a program executable by the processor to cause the processor to control operation of at least one of the switch element or the power converter based upon a first power characteristic. 
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to receive tangible computer-readable medium embodying an upgraded program executable by the processor to cause the processor to control operation of at least one of the switch element or the power converter based upon a second power characteristic, the second power characteristic different from the first power characteristic. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a second smart power system integrated within the backplane, the second smart power system configured to furnish redundant functionality to the backplane. 
     
     
         20 . A method for operating a smart power system, the method comprising:
 converting electrical energy from one form to another at a power converter;   controlling distribution of the converted electrical energy to at least one electrical load at a switch element;   generating a feedback signal based upon the converted electrical energy at a sense element;   controlling operation of the switch element based upon the feedback signal at a microcontroller, the switch element configured to transition between a closed configuration for allowing distribution of the converted electrical energy to the at least one electrical load and an open configuration for at least substantially preventing distribution of the converted electrical energy to the at least one electrical load.   
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the at least one electrical load comprises an intelligent electrical load that includes a processor.