Electrical load management system and method
First Claim
1. A method for distributing electrical power to a plurality of electrical loads, the method comprising:
- coupling an existing group of electrical loads to a common power source through a load management system;
measuring an aggregate group current drawn by at least the existing group of electrical loads and comparing the measured aggregate group current to an aggregate group current threshold value;
when the measured aggregate group current exceeds the aggregate group current threshold value;
increasing a number of subgroups of the existing group, using subgroups that are formed without requiring information about individual current associated with the individual electrical loads;
sequentially applying power to individual subgroups during non-overlapping time periods;
sequentially measuring at least a corresponding current drawn by the individual subgroups while power is applied to the subgroups; and
sequentially comparing the measured current to a threshold value, andwhen the measured current exceeds the threshold value, repeating the increasing the number of subgroups, the sequentially applying power, the sequentially measuring at least the corresponding current, and the sequentially comparing at least the measured current to a threshold value; and
when the measured current does not exceed the threshold value, repeating the sequentially applying power, the sequentially measuring at least the corresponding current, and the sequentially comparing the measured current to a threshold value.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for distributing electrical power to a plurality of electrical loads can include coupling an existing group of electrical loads to a common power source through a load management system, measuring an aggregate group current drawn by at least the existing group of electrical loads and comparing the measured aggregate group current to an aggregate group current threshold value. When the measured aggregate group current exceeds the aggregate group current threshold value, increase a number of subgroups of the existing group, using subgroups that are formed without requiring information about individual current associated with the individual electrical loads, sequentially apply power to individual subgroups during non-overlapping time periods, sequentially measure at least a corresponding current drawn by the individual subgroups while power is applied to the subgroups, and sequentially comparing the measured current to a threshold value.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for distributing electrical power to a plurality of electrical loads, the method comprising:
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coupling an existing group of electrical loads to a common power source through a load management system; measuring an aggregate group current drawn by at least the existing group of electrical loads and comparing the measured aggregate group current to an aggregate group current threshold value; when the measured aggregate group current exceeds the aggregate group current threshold value; increasing a number of subgroups of the existing group, using subgroups that are formed without requiring information about individual current associated with the individual electrical loads; sequentially applying power to individual subgroups during non-overlapping time periods; sequentially measuring at least a corresponding current drawn by the individual subgroups while power is applied to the subgroups; and sequentially comparing the measured current to a threshold value, and when the measured current exceeds the threshold value, repeating the increasing the number of subgroups, the sequentially applying power, the sequentially measuring at least the corresponding current, and the sequentially comparing at least the measured current to a threshold value; and when the measured current does not exceed the threshold value, repeating the sequentially applying power, the sequentially measuring at least the corresponding current, and the sequentially comparing the measured current to a threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for distributing electrical power to a plurality of electrical loads, the apparatus comprising:
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a load management system, coupling an existing group of electrical loads to a common power source; a current measurement circuit to measure an aggregate group current drawn by at least the existing group of electrical loads; a comparator circuit, coupled to the current measurement circuit, comparing the measured aggregate group current to an aggregate group current threshold value; a controller circuit, coupled to the comparator circuit, configured for, when the measured aggregate group current exceeds the aggregate group current threshold value; increasing a number of subgroups of the existing group, using subgroups that are formed without requiring information about individual current associated with the individual electrical loads; sequentially applying power to individual subgroups during non-overlapping time periods, using the load management system; sequentially measuring, using the comparator circuit, at least a corresponding current drawn by the individual subgroups while power is applied to the subgroups; and sequentially comparing, using the comparator circuit, the measured current to a threshold value, and when the measured current exceeds the threshold value, repeating the increasing the number of subgroups, the sequentially applying power, the sequentially measuring at least the corresponding current, and the sequentially comparing at least the measured current to a threshold value; and when the measured current does not exceed the threshold value, repeating the sequentially applying power, the sequentially measuring at least the corresponding current, and the sequentially comparing the measured current to a threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for distributing electrical power to electrical loads, the method comprising:
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applying power to a plurality of electrical loads coupled to a common power source through a load management system; measuring a current drawn by the plurality of electrical loads and comparing the measured current to a threshold value; if the measured current exceeds the threshold value; grouping the plurality of electrical loads into at least a first load group and a second load group; applying power to the first load group; measuring a current drawn by the first load group and comparing the measured current of the first load group to the threshold value; and if the measured current of the first load group does not exceed the threshold value; applying power to the second load group; measuring a current drawn by the second load group and comparing the measured current of the second load group to the threshold value.
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Specification