Electrical power load switch with connection sensor
First Claim
1. An electrical power coupler comprising:
- a first ferromagnetic metal adjacent to a first magnet, a hall sensor operable to detect a magnetic field in the first ferromagnetic metal, and at least two first electrical contacts, each first contact coupled to a respective one of at least two power conductors that are coupled to a power source;
a control unit in electrical communication with said power conductors, said control unit comprising an electrical switch associated with at least one of said power conductors and operable to selectively allow a flow of electricity through said power conductors when said hall sensor detects said magnetic field;
wherein said hall sensor detects said magnetic field when said first electrical contacts are in contact with at least two second electrical contacts of an other electrical power coupler, and wherein the second electrical contacts make contact with said first electrical contacts when said first magnet is aligned with a second ferromagnetic metal of the other electrical power coupler and when a second magnet of the other electrical power coupler is aligned with said first ferromagnetic metal.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical power coupler is configured to convey electrical power upon detecting that a compatible other coupler is properly aligned and no undesirable operating conditions are detected. The power coupler includes a first ferromagnetic metal adjacent a first magnet, a hall sensor for detecting a magnetic field in the first ferromagnetic metal, and at least two first electrical contacts. A control unit is in electrical communication with the power conductors, and includes an electrical switch operable to selectively allow a flow of electricity from a power source through the associated power conductors when the hall sensor detects the magnetic field, such as when the first electrical contacts are in contact with at least two second electrical contacts of another electrical power coupler. The second electrical contacts make contact with the first electrical contacts upon proper alignment of a correspondingly configured other electrical power coupler.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electrical power coupler comprising:
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a first ferromagnetic metal adjacent to a first magnet, a hall sensor operable to detect a magnetic field in the first ferromagnetic metal, and at least two first electrical contacts, each first contact coupled to a respective one of at least two power conductors that are coupled to a power source; a control unit in electrical communication with said power conductors, said control unit comprising an electrical switch associated with at least one of said power conductors and operable to selectively allow a flow of electricity through said power conductors when said hall sensor detects said magnetic field; wherein said hall sensor detects said magnetic field when said first electrical contacts are in contact with at least two second electrical contacts of an other electrical power coupler, and wherein the second electrical contacts make contact with said first electrical contacts when said first magnet is aligned with a second ferromagnetic metal of the other electrical power coupler and when a second magnet of the other electrical power coupler is aligned with said first ferromagnetic metal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electrical power distribution system comprising:
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a first power coupler comprising a first ferromagnetic metal adjacent to a first magnet, a first hall sensor operable to detect a first magnetic field in the first ferromagnetic metal, and at least two first electrical contacts, each first contact coupled to a respective one of at least two first power conductors that are coupled to a power source; a first control unit in electrical communication with said first power conductors, said first control unit comprising a first electrical switch associated with at least one of said first power conductors and operable to selectively conduct a flow of electricity through said first power conductors when said first hall sensor detects said first magnetic field; and at least one power cable assembly comprising a second power coupler having at least two second electrical contacts and a second ferromagnetic metal adjacent to a second magnet, said second power coupler at an end portion of said power cable assembly; wherein said first hall sensor detects said first magnetic field when said second electrical contacts are in contact with said first electrical contacts, and wherein contacting said second electrical contacts with said first electrical contacts axially aligns said first magnet with said second ferromagnetic metal and said second magnet with said first ferromagnetic metal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for selectively powering an electrical power distribution system, the method comprising:
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aligning a first ferromagnetic metal and a first magnet of a first power coupler to a second magnet and a second ferromagnetic metal, respectively, of a second power coupler; measuring, with a hall sensor, a first magnetic field strength in the second ferromagnetic metal; comparing, with a control unit, the first magnetic field strength to a first threshold, wherein the hall sensor is communicatively coupled to the control unit; and with the control unit, selectively connecting power via a power source to two second electrical contacts of the second power coupler when the first magnetic field strength is above the first threshold. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification