Intelligent electrical power distribution system

• US 10,425,236 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2017
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norman R. Byrne, Peter J. Maher
• Original Assignee: Norman R. Byrne
• Inventors: Byrne, Norman R., Maher, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Amrany, Adi
• Application Number:
  US15/723,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20180097641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 307116
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/44 Testing lamps
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/04 with warning or supervision in addition to disconnection, e.g. for indicating that protective apparatus has functioned watching of pilot wires H02H1/0084; protection of protective arrangements H02H7/008; indication of the state of electronic switches H03K17/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

An electrical power and data system for group seating arrangements includes a DC power supply for converting an AC voltage input to a DC low voltage output, a low voltage main line and at least one branch line with a power output in communication with the DC output, and an occupancy sensor at a seating area for generating an occupancy signal. The power output of the branch line positionable at the seating area, and configured to supply power to a portable electronic communications device. A switch energizes and de-energizes the electrical power output in response to the occupancy signal, and the branch line, main line, and DC power supply cooperate to provide electronic communications between the portable electronic device and the electronic data network when the DC power supply is energized.

Claims

1. An electrical power and data system for a group seating area, said electrical power and data system comprising:

an electrical power supply;

a plurality of occupancy sensors positionable at respective seats in the group seating area, wherein said occupancy sensors are each operable to generate a respective occupancy signal that is indicative of the occupancy status of the respective seat;

a main power line having a power input end electrically coupled to said electrical power supply and a downstream end opposite said power input end, said main power line comprising at least two electrical power conductors;

a plurality of branch power lines in spaced arrangement along said main line and electrically coupled to said main power line, said branch power lines each having an electrical power output configured to supply electrical power to a portable electronic communications device, wherein said electrical power outputs are each positionable at the seating area and are accessible from at least one of the seats; and

a controller in electronic communication with said occupancy sensors and with an electronic data network associated with the group seating area, said controller comprising a switch that is operable to selectively energize one or more of said electrical power outputs in response to receiving one or more of the occupancy signals;

wherein said controller is operable to establish two-way electronic communications between one or more of the portable electronic communications devices and the electronic data network in response to the one or more portable electronic communications devices receiving electrical power from a respective one or more of said electrical power outputs.

2. The electrical power and data system of claim 1, wherein said branch power line and said main power line are operable to provide the two-way electronic communications between one or more of the portable electronic communications devices and the electronic data network.

3. The electrical power and data system of claim 2, wherein said branch power line and said main power line each comprise an electronic signal line for providing the two-way electronic communications between one or more of the portable electronic communications devices and the electronic data network.

4. The electrical power and data system of claim 3, wherein said electronic signal line comprises at least one chosen from (i) a twisted pair of electronic data conductors, and (ii) a fiber optic line.

5. The electrical power and data system of claim 1, wherein said electrical power supply comprises a low voltage DC power supply.

6. The electrical power and data system of claim 5, wherein said low voltage DC power supply is operable to receive an AC voltage input and to convert the AC voltage input to a DC low voltage output.

7. The electrical power and data system of claim 1, wherein said electrical power outputs comprise direct-contact electrical receptacles each configured to be engaged by an electrical plug associated with the portable electronic device.

8. The electrical power and data system of claim 7, wherein said branch power line and said main power line each comprise an electronic signal line for providing the two-way electronic communications between one or more of the portable electronic communications devices and the electronic data network, and wherein said direct-contact electrical receptacles comprise electronic data interfaces configured to be engaged by a corresponding electronic data interface of the electrical plug associated with the portable electronic device.

9. The electrical power and data system of claim 7, wherein said electrical power outputs comprise respective voltage reduction circuits operable to receive a first voltage from said branch line and to output a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage to said direct-contact electrical receptacles.

10. The electrical power and data system of claim 1, wherein said electrical power output comprises said switch and said controller, and wherein said controller is in wireless electronic communication with said occupancy sensor.

11. The electrical power and data system of claim 1, wherein said electrical power supply comprises said controller and said switch, and wherein said switch is operable to energize and de-energize said main power line.

12. The electrical power and data system of claim 1, wherein said occupancy sensor comprises a seat pressure sensor or a seat angle sensor.

13. The electrical power and data system of claim 1, wherein each of said electrical power outputs of each of said branch lines is in wireless electronic communication with a respective one of said occupancy sensors, and wherein said electrical power outputs are selectively individually energized in response to the occupancy signal received from said respective one of said occupancy sensors.

14. The electrical power and data system of claim 13, wherein said electrical power outputs are de-energized in response to a predetermined amount of lapsed time after a respective one of the occupancy signals was last received from said respective one of said occupancy sensors.

15. An electrical power and data system for a group seating area, said electrical power and data system comprising:

a DC power supply operable to receive an AC voltage input and to convert the AC voltage input to a DC voltage output;

a controller in communication with said DC power supply and operable to selectively energize said DC power supply;

a low voltage DC electrical main power line having a proximal power input end and a distal end opposite said proximal power input end, wherein said proximal power input end is coupled to said DC voltage output of said DC power supply;

a plurality of splitters disposed in spaced arrangement along said main power line, said splitters each having a main input end disposed toward said proximal power input end of said main power line, a main output end disposed toward said distal end of said main power line, and a branch output end in electrical communication with said main line;

a plurality of branch power lines having respective branch proximal ends coupled to said branch output ends of respective ones of said splitter, said branch power lines having respective branch distal ends spaced from said branch proximal ends;

an electrical receptacle at each of said branch distal ends and configured to be engaged by an electrical connector associated with a hand-held electronic communications device, wherein said electrical receptacles are accessible from respective seats in the group seating area; and

an occupancy sensor disposed in each seat of the seating area, wherein said occupancy sensors are in communication with said controller and said occupancy sensors are operable to generate respective occupancy signals indicative of the occupancy status of the respective seats;

wherein said controller is operable to energize said DC power supply to thereby electrically energize said main power line in response to receiving one of said occupancy signals from any one of said occupancy sensors.

16. The electrical power and data system of claim 15, wherein said electrical receptacles are individually selectively energizable by said controller in response to said controller receiving one or more of said occupancy signals from one or more of said occupancy sensors.

17. The electrical power and data system of claim 15, wherein said occupancy sensors comprise seat pressure sensors or seat angle sensors.

18. The electrical power and data system of claim 15, wherein said controller is in electronic communication with an electronic data network associated with the group seating area, and said controller is operable to establish two-way electronic communications between one or more of the portable electronic communications devices and the electronic data network in response to the one or more portable electronic communications devices receiving electrical power from a respective one or more of said electrical receptacles.

19. The electrical power and data system of claim 18, wherein said branch power line and said main power line each comprise an electronic signal line for providing the two-way electronic communications between the one or more of the portable electronic communications devices and the electronic data network.

20. A method of electrically charging portable electronic communications devices and establishing two-way electronic communications between the portable electronic communications devices and an electronic data network in a group seating area, said method comprising:

positioning one of the portable electronic communications devices so as to be capable of receiving electrical charging power from an electrical power output associated with a seat in the group seating area;

detecting seat occupancy with an occupancy sensor disposed in the seat in the group seating area, wherein the occupancy sensor is operable to detect at least one of seat pressure and seat angle;

generating an occupancy signal with the occupancy sensor upon said detecting seat occupancy;

receiving the occupancy signal with a controller associated with at least one of the electrical power output and an electrical power supply, wherein the electrical power supply is operable to supply electrical power to the electrical power output via a main power line and a branch power line corresponding to the seat and in electrical communication with the main power line;

electrically energizing the electrical power output in response to said receiving the occupancy signal to thereby provide the electrical charging power to the portable electronic communications device; and

establishing two-way electronic communications between the portable electronic communications device and the electronic data network in response to said receiving the occupancy signal and said electrically energizing the electrical power output.