WO2021140085A2

WO2021140085A2 - Apparatus having a control apparatus and method for controlling a power supply of said apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2021140085A2
Application number: PCT/EP2021/050052
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sabah Badri-Höher; Uwe Björn Ruhland; Lukas SCHÄFER; Lars Wolff
Original assignee: Fachhochschule Kiel
Priority date: 2020-01-08
Filing date: 2021-01-05
Publication date: 2021-07-15
Also published as: WO2021140085A3; EP4088359A2; DE102020200117A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (100), comprising: - at least one power source (3) for providing electrical power, - at least two consumers (1, 2) of electrical power and - an electronic control apparatus (4) for controlling a supply of the at least two consumers (1, 2) with electrical power from the at least one power source (3), wherein the electronic control apparatus (4) is designed to control the supply of the at least two consumers (1, 2) with electrical power on the basis of a hardware, firmware and/or software-based closed-loop control depending on a state of the at least one power source (3) that is measured and/or determined, in particular calculated, from available technical parameters of the at least one power source (3), wherein the hardware, firmware and/or software-based closed-loop control is designed for external access for a slave control.

Description

Device with a control device and method for controlling a

Power supply of the device

The entire content of the priority application DE 10 2020 200 117.0 is hereby incorporated by reference into the present application.

The invention relates to a control device and a method for controlling an energy supply of a device. The invention also relates to a device with such a control device.

The present invention is used in particular in connection with those devices which themselves have an energy source for providing electrical energy and at least two consumers of electrical energy. The question arises as to how the at least two consumers are supplied with electrical energy from the at least one energy source.

In the simplest case known from the prior art, the supply of at least two consumers with electrical energy follows Ohm's law and possibly other fundamental laws of physics, ie there is essentially no control of the energy supply for the at least two consumers. The inventors have recognized that such a system for supplying energy is inadequate for many applications, in particular when the energy requirement of the at least two consumers cannot (no longer) or cannot (no longer) completely be covered by the energy source. Such a situation exists, for example, when the power that can be supplied by the energy source is less than the sum of the nominal power of the consumers, or when the energy source only has a certain (residual) amount of energy, in particular if this (residual) amount of energy is one certain percentage of falls below the maximum energy capacity of the energy source. The inventors have also recognized that in such a device the energy supply to the consumers is unregulated and, under certain circumstances, breaks down unpredictably.

Devices with at least one energy source, at least two consumers and a control device are also known from the prior art, in which the control device controls a supply of the at least two consumers with electrical energy from the at least one energy source.

Against this background, it is an object of the invention to provide an alternative control device, an alternative device with such a control device or an alternative control method, in particular an improved control device, an improved device with such a control device or an improved control method.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a control device, a device with a control device and a method having the features according to the respective independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

A device according to the invention has: at least one energy source for providing electrical energy, at least two consumers of electrical energy and an electronic control device for controlling a supply of the at least two consumers with electrical energy from the at least one energy source, the electronic control device being set up for this is the supply of the at least two consumers with electrical energy based on a hardware, firmware and / or software control, depending on a measured and / or determined from existing technical parameters of the at least one energy source, in particular calculated, state of the at least one energy source to regulate wherein the hardware, firmware and / or software control is set up for an external intervention for a follow-up control.

The term “state” can in particular be understood to mean whether or to what extent the at least one energy source can supply the at least two consumers with electrical energy. In this context, it can also be taken into account how long or up to what point in time is to be expected that the at least one energy source can supply the at least two consumers with (sufficient) electrical energy.

A measured technical parameter can be determined by direct measurement, for example the output voltage of a battery (if the energy source has or is, for example, a battery). The term “measured technical parameters” preferably also includes parameters that are indirectly determined, but nonetheless based on a measurement, in the present case. For example, a remaining amount of energy in a battery can be determined by measuring the output voltage (and possibly in combination with other measured or existing parameters).

The measurement of a parameter does not necessarily have to take place on or in the device itself. Such a measurement can namely also be carried out by an external device which interacts with the device according to the invention. If the device is a vehicle, for example, the position of the vehicle and thus possibly a distance covered by the vehicle can be detected by an external device, for example by a satellite-supported positioning system or by sensors in the vicinity of the vehicle.

An existing technical parameter can in particular mean parameters that result from a data sheet of the energy source or that are otherwise already known. This can include, for example, the maximum energy content of a battery, the maximum output voltage of a battery or solar cell or the maximum fill quantity of a tank of a fuel cell, etc. In the present case, a hardware, firmware and / or software control is preferably understood to be a control that is or is defined by or with the assistance of hardware, firmware and / or software.

In the present case, an external intervention is preferably understood to mean that the intervention is not carried out, caused or triggered by the device itself.

A follow-up control is preferably understood to mean that it is at least partially or completely defined how the supply of electrical energy to the at least two consumers is to be controlled. The subsequent regulation then has priority over the regulation. However, it is possible that aspects of the regulation remain under the follow-up regulation. For example, the follow-up regulation can provide that parts of the regulation are overridden, but that the regulation is otherwise (continued).

According to one embodiment, the intervention comprises the transmission of an instruction, the device having means for receiving the instruction from a further device or a user so that the follow-up regulation is followed, in particular this is carried out.

The means for receiving the instruction can for example have a wired or wireless interface via which the instruction can be transmitted to the device. The interface can be designed so that a user can communicate directly with the device (in particular can transmit an instruction to it), for example in the form of an input keyboard or even just a single switch, sensor or the like. The interface can, however, also be designed in such a way that a user can communicate with the device only indirectly, that is to say with the aid of a further device. Such a further device can be, for example, a remote control, a smartphone or some other input device.

The transmission of an instruction does not necessarily have to come from a user or be initiated explicitly, but can be done by another device. processing can be carried out without the participation of a user, for example when the further device detects that one or more criteria are met.

After execution, the instruction can specify the follow-up control. In particular, the instruction can contain in detail the steps or the like to be carried out according to the subsequent regulation. In this case, the device can proceed according to the follow-up regulation, even if the follow-up regulation of the device was not or not fully known up to the receipt of the instruction. Alternatively, the follow-up regulation may have been stored beforehand, in particular in the device or in such a way that the device has access to the follow-up regulation, and the device is set up to be prompted by the instruction to proceed according to the follow-up regulation. In this case, the instruction does not have to specify the follow-up control (with individual steps, etc.) in detail because the follow-up control was already known to the device or the device had access to the follow-up control before the instruction was received. This alternative has the particular advantage that the instruction can be very brief.

According to one embodiment, at least one technical parameter of the at least one energy source is a remaining amount of energy, in particular a usable amount of energy, an emergency reserve, a capacity, a state of charge, an age and / or an aging state of the at least one energy source.

In this way, the device can be operated, for example, in such a way that at a stage in which it can be foreseen that the energy source can only (completely) supply the at least two consumers with energy for a comparatively short time, only those of the at least two consumers are supplied with electrical energy that carry out important or essential functions, while other consumers who do not carry out any important or essential functions are not (no longer) or not (no longer) fully supplied with electrical energy.

According to one embodiment, the electronic control device is set up to also use at least one measured and / or available technical parameter when regulating the supply of the at least two consumers with electrical energy. at least one of the at least two consumers to be taken into account, preferably several or all consumers.

In this way, for example, a first consumer, which in comparison to a second consumer loads the energy source less, is preferably supplied with electrical energy compared to the second consumer. In the present case, the term “comparatively less load” can be understood in particular to mean that the consumer in question is or can be operated with a lower voltage and / or current strength compared to another consumer and / or that the consumer in question is operated in comparison to another consumer has a lower power consumption. Furthermore, in the present case, the term “operate preferentially” is or can be understood in particular to mean that the relevant consumer is operated with the voltage and / or current intensity and / or power that it “wishes”, while another consumer is operated with a lower level Voltage and / or amperage and / or power as "desired" by him. In addition or as an alternative, this term can also be understood to mean that the consumer in question is operated for a longer period of time than another consumer. This can mean, for example, that the consumer in question is only switched off later than another consumer and / or that the consumer in question is operated continuously, while another consumer is operated intermittently. In this way it can be achieved, for example, that at least some functions of the totality of the consumers are retained for as long as possible.

According to one embodiment, the at least one energy source has at least two units which are set up in particular to provide different voltages, and / or wherein the at least one energy source has at least one of the following: a battery, a photovoltaic module, a fuel cell Combustion powered generator a wind or water powered generator a solar powered generator. Because the at least one energy source has at least two units, the flexibility of the device can be increased. This flexibility can manifest itself in various ways. Some examples are listed here:

1. A first unit can be provided for "normal operation" of the device, while a second unit serves as a reserve, for example if a malfunction occurs in the first unit or if it can no longer (completely) ensure the supply of the consumer.

2. A first consumer can be supplied with electrical energy by a first unit and a second consumer by a second unit.

3. In particular, if the at least two units provide different voltages, the control device can ensure through suitable control or switching that the loads are supplied with a (different) voltage that is suitable for them.

4. The control device allows the at least two units to be connected in series, and in turn the control device can supply the voltage increased by the series connection to at least one consumer. In this case, the control device can ensure that another consumer, for example, is supplied with the voltage from only one unit. In particular, if the at least two units can provide different voltages, the flexibility can be increased further.

5. If the energy source has more than two units, the flexibility can be increased even further, analogous to the previous examples.

The invention is used in particular with the above-mentioned types of energy source (battery, photovoltaic module, fuel cell or the above-mentioned types of generators) because the voltage, current, power, amount of energy and / or amount of charge is generally limited here. According to one embodiment, the device has no permanent, in particular no electrical connection to a public power supply network and / or represents an autonomous system, in particular a mobile system, in particular a portable system, and / or the maximum electrical power that the device can provide is at most 1 MW, in particular less than 500kW, less than 200kW, less than 100kW, less than 50kW, less than 20kW, less than 10kW, less than 5kW, less than 2kW, less than 1kW, less than 500W, less than 200W, less than 100W, less than 50W, less than 20W, less than 10W, less than 5W, less than 2W or less than 1W, and / or the maximum achievable electrical power of the device is at least 1W, in particular at least 2W, in particular at least 5W, in particular at least 10W, in particular at least 20W, in particular at least 50W, in particular at least 100W, in particular at least 200W, in particular little At least 500W, in particular at least 1kW, in particular at least 2kW, in particular at least 5kW, in particular at least 10kW, in particular at least 20kW, in particular at least 50kW, in particular at least 100kW, in particular at least 200kW, in particular at least 500kW, in particular at least 1 MW.

A device without a permanent electrical connection to a public power supply network can be, for example, a rechargeable battery or fuel cell that can be connected to a public power supply network for recharging. Under certain circumstances, however, it can also be an energy source that in principle has a permanent electrical connection to a public power supply network, but that this connection is interrupted by a switch or the like and / or with a wired connection to a public power supply network exists, but this or this is not permanently under tension.

A device without an electrical connection to a public power supply network can, for example, be a vehicle, in particular an aircraft, in particular a drone, or be part of such, and can, for example, obtain the required energy from a photovoltaic module, in particular without ever to be connected to a public power supply network. The device can also represent a self-sufficient system, in particular a mobile system, in particular a portable system. The boundaries to the examples mentioned above are fluid. An example of a self-sufficient system is therefore not only a vehicle, but also, for example, a stationary device, such as a local power supply network that is not connected to a public power supply network, for example a small island or a small (particularly remote) settlement, research station, etc. .

A mobile system not only includes a vehicle (for transporting people or goods), but also drones that, for example, only carry a camera but are not primarily intended to transport the camera from a first location to a second location. A mobile system also includes any other devices that are not essentially rigidly attached relative to their surroundings. This also includes portable systems, such as a laptop computer, a tablet device or a smartphone, or generally a device that can be carried by a person.

The present invention relates with regard to the performance information listed above preferably not to large or very large systems such as a power plant, but rather to medium-sized, small or very small devices.

According to one embodiment, the control device is set up to be supplied with electrical energy from the at least one energy source.

According to this embodiment, it is therefore not necessary to provide a further energy source that supplies the control device.

According to one embodiment, the device has means for determining a voltage and / or a current at at least one point, in particular at two or more points, of the device, the device in particular having means for communicating determined voltages and / or currents to the control device has, in particular special to a microcontroller of the control device, in particular via a UART interface or a CAN bus. By means of the means for determining a voltage and / or a current, the device can be monitored in a suitable manner or can monitor itself. In this way, in particular, conclusions can be drawn about technical parameters of the energy source and / or the consumer or their state. Likewise, anomalies or malfunctions of the device can possibly be recognized in this way.

The points at which a voltage and / or a current can be determined can be, for example, points on or in the electrical lines to the at least two consumers, in particular at a suitable point for each of the at least two consumers, so that a voltage and / or current measurement and / or the monitoring of a state for each of the at least two consumers can in particular take place separately.

The means for determining a voltage and / or a current can also be designed such that they can themselves carry out a specific measure in response to a voltage and / or current measurement, for example the interruption of an electrical connection by a switch or the like. Additionally or alternatively, however, as mentioned above, the device can also have means for communicating determined voltages and / or currents to the control device. In this way, the determined voltages and / or currents can be processed by the control device and, if necessary, stored, and the control device can initiate suitable measures on the voltage or current information, for example the interruption of an electrical connection, for example to one or more of the loads, or can de-energize certain areas of the device.

According to one embodiment, the at least one energy source has at least one battery and the control is set up to protect the at least one battery from deep discharge and / or to protect the at least two consumers from overvoltages when the battery is being charged. In this way, the service life of the battery and / or the consumer or the device as a whole can possibly be extended. Likewise, in this embodiment it can also be ensured that important or essential functions of the device are maintained for as long as possible, for example by switching off one or more of the consumers, while avoiding or at least reducing the risk of deep discharge of the battery.

According to one embodiment, the control is set up to energize the at least two consumers so that the maximum strength of the total required current is reduced, and / or energize the at least two consumers with a time delay, and / or increase a current for energizing to slow down at least one of the at least two consumers.

Such a control can be implemented, for example, by means of suitable switches or other electronic components. By means of such a control, the device can in turn be operated as gently as possible and, if necessary, its service life can be extended.

According to one embodiment, the device has a switching means for applying voltage to the at least two consumers and / or for energizing the at least two consumers, in particular wherein the switching means has at least one solid-state relay and / or at least one reed contact.

By means of the switching means, in particular the control device can determine which consumer is supplied with energy and when. Low-loss switching means, for example those mentioned above, are suitable for this purpose.

According to one embodiment, the device has at least one sensor, in particular at least one water sensor, the at least one sensor being set up to detect a potentially harmful event for the device, in particular a short circuit or the presence of water, and in particular where the control The device is set up, in response to the detection of a potentially harmful event, to change the supply of electrical energy to the at least two consumers or at least a partial area of the device, in particular to reduce it, in particular to interrupt it.

In this way, the device can be operated as safely as possible, in particular an operation that protects the device and / or a user or, in general, the environment of the device from harmful events.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a device comprising: at least one energy source for providing electrical energy, at least two consumers of electrical energy and an electronic control device for controlling a supply of the at least two consumers with electrical energy from the at least one energy source, wherein the electronic control device is set up to supply the at least two consumers with electrical energy based on a hardware, firmware and / or software control, depending on a measured and / or determined from existing technical parameters of the at least one energy source, in particular to regulate the calculated state of the at least one energy source, wherein the device is set up to the measured and / or determined, in particular calculated, state of the at least one energy source by means of a UART interface or via a Capture CAN bus.

By using a UART interface or a CAN bus, the status of the at least one energy source can be recorded or monitored in a particularly advantageous manner. The acquired information can then be used by the control device.

A third aspect of the invention relates to a control device for use in one of the devices described above. A fourth aspect of the invention relates to a method for controlling a device, the device having at least one energy source for providing electrical energy and at least two consumers of electrical energy, the method electronically controlling a supply of the at least two consumers with electrical energy from the has at least one energy source, the method supplying the at least two consumers with electrical energy based on a hardware, firmware and / or software control, depending on a measured and / or determined from existing technical parameters of the at least one energy source, In particular, the calculated state of the at least one energy source is carried out, the hardware, firmware and / or software control being set up for an external intervention for a follow-up control.

The explanations presented in relation to a device according to the invention and their advantages also apply accordingly to a control device according to the invention and a method according to the invention, and vice versa.

Further features of the invention emerge from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. All of the features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the specified combination, but also in other combinations or on their own.

The invention will now be explained in more detail using at least one exemplary embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows, at least partially schematically, an embodiment of a device according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows, at least partially schematically, a further embodiment of a device according to the invention; and Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of a fiction, contemporary method.

Fig. 1 shows, at least partially schematically, an embodiment of a device according to the invention. 1 shows in particular components of the device and electrical connections between them.

The device 100 has a first consumer 1 of electrical energy and a second consumer 2 of electrical energy. In addition, the device 100 has an energy source 3 for providing electrical energy and an electronic control device 4 for controlling a supply of the loads 1 and 2 with electrical energy from the energy source 3.

In the example shown, the energy source 3 has two electrical connections 31 and 32. If the energy source 3 is a battery, this can be, for example, the (plus and minus) poles of the battery. As a variant of this, the energy source 3 can also have further electrical connections. In addition, the energy source 3 can optionally provide an alternating voltage.

The basic structure of the circuit shown in Fig. 1 provides that the consumers 1 and 2 and the control device 4 are connected in parallel to each other and are supplied by electrical lines (shown as solid, straight lines) that the voltage, which is applied between the connections 31 and 32 of the energy source 3, also (essentially) applied to the consumers 1 and 2 and the device 4 Steuervorrich. The consumers 1 and 2 and the control device 4 are thus supplied with electrical energy from the energy source 3.

In the example shown, a switching means 11 or 21 (hereinafter also referred to as “switch” for short) and an ammeter 13 or 23 are arranged in or on each supply line to the loads 1 and 2, respectively. These are each arranged in series with the consumers 1 and 2, so that the switches 11 and 21 can interrupt the flow of current to the consumers 1 and 2 and the ammeters 13 and 23 the current in the lines to the consumers 1 or 2 can measure. The switches 11 and 21 are connected to the control device 4 by further electrical lines 12 and 22, so that the control device 4 can actuate the switches 11 and 21 in order to control the supply of the loads 1 and 2 with electrical energy. For this purpose, the control device 4 can have a microcontroller 40 which can actuate the switches 11 and 21 according to a regulation. The regulation can essentially be implemented by hardware and / or stored as firmware or software regulation, for example in a data memory 41 to which the microcontroller 40 has access. Internal connections of the control device 4 are not shown for the sake of clarity.

The regulation can be permanent or changeable. To change the regulation, for example, an interface 42 can be used, for example a keyboard in or on the control device 4, or a wireless or wired interface, via which a user can use a further device (e.g. computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone) if necessary Regulation can change.

The current measuring devices 13 and 23 are connected to the control device 4 by further electrical lines 14 and 24, respectively. The measuring devices 13 and 23 can use this to transmit measured values to the control device 4.

Furthermore, the device shown in FIG. 1 has a voltage measuring device 45 which can determine the voltage between the poles 31 and 32 of the energy source. The voltage determined by the measuring device 45 can also be transmitted to the control device 4 via a further electrical connection 46.

The measuring devices 13, 23 and 45 can serve or contribute to obtaining information about the state of the loads 1 or 2 or the energy source 3. The control device 4 can then, based on the regulation and depending on a state of the energy source 3 and possibly also the consumers 1 and 2, which state can result from the transmitted measured values, the supply of the consumers 1 and 2 with electrical energy from the energy source 3 control. The device 100 or the regulation is set up for an external intervention so that the device 100, in particular the control device 4, can control the supply of the at least two consumers 1 and 2 with electrical energy according to a follow-up regulation. For example, the interface 42 (or possibly another interface, not shown) can be used for this purpose. An instruction can be transmitted to device 100, in particular control device 4, via interface 42. The follow-up regulation can be specified in this instruction, ie the instruction can explicitly contain all the details of the follow-up regulation which are required by the device 100 in order to proceed according to the follow-up regulation. In particular, it can be specified in the instruction which consumer is supplied with energy when and / or how. The voltage, amperage or power can be specified. Additionally or alternatively, the instruction can contain criteria on the basis of which the control device 4 can manage the energy supply to one or more consumers.

Alternatively, the follow-up control can already be stored in advance at least partially in the device 100, in particular in the control device 4, in particular in the data memory 41 or in an additional data memory 43. The previous storage in an external data memory (not shown) to which the control device 4 has access is also conceivable.

In this case, the instruction does not have to contain all the details of the follow-up regulation, but can only instruct the control device 4 to proceed in accordance with the (previously stored and thus already known) follow-up regulation.

According to a variant, the device 100 has a sensor 50 which can communicate with the control device 4, in particular is connected to it, as shown in FIG. 1. The sensor 50 can, for example, detect events or operating conditions which could be harmful to the device 100 or parts thereof or to a user or the surroundings of the device or the environment. The occurrence of a short circuit in the device 100 or the (unexpected) occurrence of water on or in the device 100 are mentioned here as just two of many examples. After receiving a corresponding signal from the sensor 50, the control device 4 can de-energize at least part of the device 100, for example by opening the switches 11 and / or 21 in order to prevent the flow of current through the loads 1 and / or 2.

Various variants or further developments of the device 100 shown in FIG. 1 are possible within the scope of the invention. Some of these are briefly described below.

According to one variant, the device 100 does not have an assigned switch for each consumer. In the example shown in FIG. 1, for example, only the switch 11 could be present, but not the switch 21. The consumer 2 would then be supplied with energy from the energy source 3 as long as the energy source 3 can maintain the energy supply. The energy supply for the consumer 1, on the other hand, is controlled by the control device 4 via the switch 11, as described above.

In a further variant, one or more of the measuring devices 13 and 23 could be dispensed with. In such a case, the control device 4 would supply the consumers 1 and / or 2 with energy in accordance with the control or follow-up control, without measured values being supplied for the individual branches of the consumer 1 or 2.

According to a further variant, the device 100 can additionally or alternatively have further / other measuring devices. For this purpose, voltage measuring devices would come into consideration, in particular, which measure the voltage at (or between) suitable points of the circuit and pass on corresponding measured values to the control device 4.

In further variants, the voltage measuring device 45 could even be dispensed with. In such a case, the regulation and / or subsequent regulation of the energy supply to the consumers could be based on existing technical parameters of the energy source 3. For example, a relevant technical parameter of the energy source 3 could already be known from a data sheet or the like. For example, it can be known in advance how high the total energy content of the energy source 3 is (for example e.g. in the case of a battery or a generator filled with a certain amount of fuel), so that the control device 4 can determine, in particular calculate, the state of the energy source based on this information and, for example, the previous operating time of the device 100 and the power consumption of the consumers.

According to a further variant, the state can be determined by external means or it can be calculated or at least estimated. If the device 100 is, for example, a vehicle (or part of such a vehicle), the distance the vehicle has covered can be determined, for example, by a satellite-based positioning system or by sensors in the vicinity of the vehicle. From this, if necessary, the remaining range of the vehicle can be estimated and a corresponding signal can be transmitted to device 100. The control device can take into account the information contained in this signal when controlling the energy supply to consumers 1 and 2.

Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment that is based on the embodiment shown in FIG. The circuit shown in FIG. 2 essentially consists of two halves. The right half is larger and shown in more detail than the left for better clarity. The straight lines shown in Fig. 2, for example between the reference numerals 37 and 63, are again electrically conductive connections. Points 35 to 37 and 61 to 65 shown in black are only used for a clear description and can be conventional electrical connection points at which several, in particular three or more, electrical lines are linked.

In the example in FIG. 2, the energy source has two units 33 and 34. These can be, for example, individual batteries, but together they can be viewed as (one) energy source. The voltage V1 provided by the first unit 33 is applied between the points 35 and 36, and the voltage V2 provided by the second unit 34 between the points 36 and 37. The sum of the voltages provided by the two units 33 and 34, V1 + V2, is present between points 35 and 37. The same applies to points 61, 62 and 63. The circuit shown in FIG. 2 in turn has a control device 4, which is supplied with energy here by the first unit V1. Alternatively, it could also be supplied with energy from the second unit 34, or it could be connected to points 35 and 37 so that it is supplied with the sum of the voltages V1 + V2.

Fig. 2 also shows a consumer 1 between points 64 and 65. Reference numeral 71 represents a switch between points 61 and 64, switch 72 between points 62 and 64, switch 73 between points 62 and 65, and switch 74 between rule the points 63 and 65. Like the switches 11 and 21 in FIG. 1, these can be controlled by the control device 4, in particular opened and closed. In FIG. 2, this control is only indicated for switches 71 and 72 by arrows, but can take place analogously for switches 73 and 74.

Assuming the points 35 and 61 are at the potential 0, the points 36 and 62 at the potential V1 and the points 37 and 63 at the potential V1 + V2, this results for the potential at the points 64 and 65 and for the The voltage applied to consumer 1 at different positions of switches 71 to 74 has the following:

Abbreviations: switch position 0 = switch open

Switch position 1 = switch closed

It should be noted that switches 71 and 72 should not be closed at the same time, otherwise a short circuit will result. Accordingly, switches 73 and 74 should not be closed at the same time. Through the circuit shown in Fig. 2, the consumer 1 can be supplied with four different voltages, namely 0 V, V1, V2 or V1 + V2. In particular, if the voltages V1 and V2 are different, this results in an advantageous flexibility.

The left half of the circuit shown in FIG. 2 can be designed analogously to the right half, as indicated in FIG. 2 by dashed lines and the consumer 2. The control device 4 (shown in the right half) can control switches, not shown, in the left half of the circuit in a corresponding manner. An additional control device in the left half is not necessary.

The circuit shown in FIG. 2 makes it possible, in particular, to supply consumers 1 and 2 with energy independently of one another, in particular by applying different voltages to consumers 1 and 2.

Within the scope of the invention, the circuit can in principle be expanded as required by adding further consumers and / or further energy sources or units of an energy source. In order to utilize the entire flexibility, the required number of electrical connections can be increased significantly when using more than two consumers and in particular more than two energy sources / units of an energy source. With the aid of the present description, however, a suitable design of the circuit is in principle possible for the skilled person.

Measuring devices such as the measuring devices 13, 23 and 45 shown in FIG. 1 are not shown in FIG. 2 for a better overview, but can be present at suitable locations or between suitable points.

3 shows a flow chart of a method according to the invention. After the start 90 of the method, the energy supply of the consumers is carried out according to the regulation in a step 91. In a step 92 it is determined whether an external attack has occurred. If this is not the case (93), the method returns to step 91, ie the control continues. If, on the other hand, it is determined in step 92 that an external intervention has occurred (94), the method proceeds to step 95. in the In step 95 the energy supply of the consumers is carried out according to the follow-up regulation. The method can then end (step 96). Alternatively, the method remains at step 95, ie it is in principle indefinitely proceeded according to the follow-up control. In practice, however, a further external intervention is possible, for example, in order to end the method (step 96) or to reset the device, see above that the method returns to step 91, as shown in Fig. 3 by a dashed arrow.

In embodiments according to the invention, measured values can be transmitted to the control device 4, for example via a UART interface or a CAN bus, from the various measuring devices, such as measuring devices 13, 23 and 45 or the sensor 50.

In embodiments according to the invention, the various switches or switching means, such as switches 11, 21 and 71 to 74, can have a solid-state relay or a reed contact.

In all the exemplary embodiments, the switches can also be replaced by electronic devices that not only have two switching states (closed / open), but that allow a voltage and / or a current (current strength) to be varied, in particular a variation of one applied to a consumer Voltage and / or a variation in a current flowing through a consumer.

Embodiments according to the invention are particularly suitable for devices in which the energy supply is subject to a restriction. Such a restriction can be, for example, a time restriction, ie the energy supply cannot be guaranteed or cannot be guaranteed to the full extent at all times (example: photovoltaic cell at night). Such a restriction can also be expressed in terms of the amount of energy or voltage or current or power available (example: battery). By means of embodiments according to the invention, the energy supply to the consumer can be controlled in a targeted manner in view of the possible restrictions, normally by means of the hardware, firmware and / or software control. Out- However, embodiments of the invention allow a deviation from this regulation in that this regulation is set up for an external intervention for a follow-up regulation.

Two specific examples of regulation and follow-up regulation are explained below, it being understood that other embodiments according to the invention can (clearly) differ from these.

example 1

The device comprises a drone driven by an electric motor, which is equipped with a camera. With reference to the circuits shown in Fig. 1 or 2, for example, the motor is consumer 1 and the camera is consumer 2. In this example, the control specifies that the on-board energy source (here e.g. a battery) both the motor and the camera are supplied with energy. The regulation also stipulates that if the remaining amount of energy in the battery falls below a certain level (which may depend on the distance to a support point where the battery can be recharged), only the motor is operated, but not the camera (or similar) - that the camera is only operated intermittently). In this way it can be ensured that the amount of energy remaining in the battery is sufficient since the drone can return to the base with it, preferably also avoiding deep discharge of the battery.

An external intervention (for example by operating personnel, possibly by wireless transmission) can now consist in the fact that the power supply for the camera is not switched off, for example because the camera is to record an important event. Such an event could, for example, be a natural event (e.g. volcanic eruption). The risk of deep discharge of the battery or even the threat of crashing is accepted, for example if the camera recording the event (and the timely transmission of the recordings to a recipient) is viewed as more important than the careful operation of the Battery or as the drone itself. Example 2

In this example the device is, for example, a road vehicle that is electrically powered. In this example, the equipment of this vehicle also includes an interior heater.

According to the regulation, up to a certain discharge state of the battery, not only the motor is operated as consumer 1, but also the interior heater as consumer 2, if the ambient temperature so requires. It is now assumed that the vehicle has a sufficient amount of energy available to control a certain charging station while avoiding deep discharge, this amount of energy also being sufficient to operate the interior heating on the route to this charging station.

An external intervention can now consist in the vehicle being notified by corresponding external reporting services that the targeted charging station is not functional, for example due to flooding or a fire. The vehicle must now control a different charging station, possibly further away. The follow-up regulation, according to which the vehicle must now operate, stipulates that the interior heating cannot be operated or cannot be operated to the full extent, despite the corresponding outside temperatures, because otherwise the remaining amount of energy in the battery of the vehicle is not sufficient for the distance to be covered to the (more distant) charging station or because otherwise the battery is likely to be deeply discharged. The details of the follow-up control can be explicitly transmitted to the vehicle as part of the external intervention, or the follow-up control can also have been known to the vehicle in advance and, as part of the external intervention, the vehicle receives the instruction to power up the consumers (engine and interior heating) tion) according to the follow-up regulation.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been described above, it should be understood that a large number of variations exist therefor. It should also be noted that the exemplary embodiments described are only non-limiting examples, and it is not intended to thereby limit the scope, limit the applicability or configuration of the devices and methods described herein. Rather, the preceding description will provide the person skilled in the art with instructions for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes in the mode of operation and the arrangement of the elements described in an exemplary embodiment can be made without departing from the claims in the appended claims The subject matter defined in each case and its legal equivalents are deviated from.

List of reference symbols

1, 2 consumers

3 energy source

4 control device

11, 21 switches 12, 22 feed lines for controlling the switches

13, 23 measuring device

14, 24 measuring lines from the measuring devices 31, 32 electrical connections of the energy source 33, 34 units of the energy source 35, 36, 37 electrical connection points

40 microcontrollers

41 data memory (for control)

42 interface

43 data memory (for succession planning)

45 measuring device

46 test lead 50 sensor

61 to 65 electrical connection points 71 to 74 switches 90 to 96 process steps 100 device

Claims

1. Device (100) comprising: at least one energy source (3) for providing electrical energy, at least two consumers (1, 2) of electrical energy and an electronic control device (4) for controlling a supply of the at least two consumers (1, 2) with electrical energy from the at least one energy source (3), the electronic control device (4) being set up to supply the at least two consumers (1, 2) with electrical energy based on hardware, firmware and / or software control, depending on a measured and / or from existing technical parameters of the at least one energy source (3) determined, in particular calculated, the state of the at least one energy source (3), whereby the hardware, firmware and / or software control is set up for an external intervention for a follow-up control.

2. The device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the intervention comprises the transmission of an instruction and wherein the device (100) comprises means (42) for receiving the instruction from a further device or a user so that the follow-up regulation is followed, in particular this is carried out.

3. The device (100) according to claim 2, wherein the instruction specifies the follow-up regulation, or wherein the follow-up regulation was previously stored, in particular in the device (100) or in such a way that the device (100) has access to the follow-up regulation, and the Device (100) is set up, caused by the instruction to who to proceed according to the follow-up control.

4. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one technical parameter of the at least one energy source (3) a remaining amount of energy, in particular a usable amount of energy, an emergency reserve, a capacity, a state of charge, an age and / or an aging state that is at least one energy source (3).

5. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic cal control device (4) is set up to control the supply of the at least two consumers (1, 2) with electrical energy and at least one measured and / or available technical Parameters to take into account at least one of the at least two consumers (1, 2).

6. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one energy source (3) has at least two units (33, 34), which are in particular specially designed to provide different voltages, and / or wherein the at least one energy source (3) has at least one of the following: a battery a photovoltaic module a fuel cell a generator driven by combustion a generator driven by wind or water power a generator driven by solar energy.

7. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the Vorrich device (100) has no permanent, in particular no, electrical connection to egg nem public power supply network and / or a self-sufficient system, in particular a mobile system, in particular a portable system represents, and / or wherein the maximum achievable electrical power of the device (100) is at most 1 MW, in particular less than 500kW, less than 200kW, less than 100kW, less than 50kW, less than 20kW, less than 10kW, less than 5kW, less than 2kW, less than 1kW, less than 500W, less than 200W, less than 100W, less than 50W, less than 20W, less than 10W, less than 5W, less than 2W or less than 1 W, and / or where the maximum achievable electrical power of the device (100) at least 1W, in particular at least 2W, especially at least 5W, especially at least 10W, especially at least 20W, especially at least 50W, especially at least 100W, especially at least 200W, especially at least 500W, especially at least 1kW, especially at least 2kW, especially at least 5kW, especially at least 10kW, especially at least 20 kW, in particular at least 50 kW, in particular at least 100 kW, in particular at least 200 kW, in particular at least 500 kW, in particular at least 1 MW.

8. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (4) is set up to be supplied with electrical energy from the at least one energy source (3).

9. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the Vorrich device (100) means (13, 23, 45) for determining a voltage and / or a current at at least one point, in particular at two or more points, the device device (100), the device (100) in particular having means (14, 24, 46) for communicating determined voltages and / or currents to the control device (4), in particular to a microcontroller (40) of the control device ( 4), especially via a UART interface or a CAN bus.

10. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one energy source (3) has at least one battery and wherein the Rege ment is set up to protect the at least one battery from deep discharge and / or the at least two consumers (1 , 2) to protect against overvoltages when charging the battery.

11. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control is set up to energize the at least two consumers (1, 2) in such a way that the maximum strength of the total current required is reduced, and / or energizing the at least two consumers (1, 2) with a time delay and / or slowing down an increase in a current for energizing at least one of the at least two consumers (1, 2).

12. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the Vorrich device (100) has a switching means (11, 21) for applying voltage to the at least two consumers (1, 2) and / or for energizing the at least two consumers ( 1, 2), in particular wherein the switching means (11, 21) has at least one solid-state relay and / or at least one reed contact.

13. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the Vorrich device (100) has at least one sensor (50), in particular at least one water sensor, wherein the at least one sensor (50) is set up, one for the device (100) to detect a potentially harmful event, in particular a short circuit or the presence of water, and in particular wherein the control device (4) is set up to supply the at least two consumers (1, 2) or at least at least in response to the detection of a potentially harmful event to change a portion of the device (100) with electrical energy, in particular to reduce it, in particular to break it.

14. Device (100) comprising: at least one energy source (3) for providing electrical energy, at least two consumers (1, 2) of electrical energy and an electronic control device (4) for controlling a supply of the at least two consumers (1, 2) with electrical energy from the at least one energy source (3), the electronic control device (4) being set up to supply the at least two consumers (1, 2) with electrical energy based on hardware, firmware and / or software control, depending on a measured and / or available technical parameters of the few at least one energy source (3) determined, in particular calculated, to regulate the state of the at least one energy source (3), the device (100) being set up to record the measured and / or determined, in particular calculated, state of the at least one energy source ( 3) to be recorded using a UART interface or a CAN bus.

15. Control device (4) for use in a device (100) according to one of the preceding claims.

16. A method for controlling a device (100), the device (100) having at least one energy source (3) for providing electrical energy and we at least two consumers (1, 2) of electrical energy, the method being an electronic control a supply of the at least two consumers (1, 2) with electrical energy from the at least one energy source (3), the method supplying the at least two consumers (1, 2) with electrical energy based on hardware, firmware - and / or software technical control, depending on a measured and / or from the existing technical parameters of the at least one energy source (3) determined, in particular calculated, state of the at least one energy source (3), the hardware, firmware and / or software control is set up for an external intervention for a follow-up control.