Vertical-mount electrical power distribution plugstrip

• US 20020002593A1
• Filed: 08/15/2001
• Published: 01/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Server Technology Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Server Technology Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Cleveland, Andrew J., Auclair, Brian P., Maskaly, James P., McGlumphy, Dennis W., Ewing, Carrel W., Bigler, Mark J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,043,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/212
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3246 by software initiated power-off
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/261 PC controlled powerstrip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/76 with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/34 Racks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0005 the elements or equipment being or involving power plugs or sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1492 having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

A vertical-mount electrical power distribution plugstrip comprises a long, thin plugstrip body with several power outlet plugs distributed along the length of one face. A power input cord is provided at one end, and this supplies operating power to each of the power outlet plugs through individual relay control.

Claims

1. An electrical power distribution plugstrip, comprising:

a strip enclosure for mounting vertically within an equipment rack cabinet and for providing electrical power distribution to a number of electrical loads mounted within such cabinet;

a plurality of power outlet sockets disposed along one longitudinal face of the strip enclosure and each providing for independent supply of operating power to corresponding ones of said electrical loads;

a power input cord for receiving all electrical operating power to be ultimately supplied to every one of said number of electrical loads;

a plurality of power control relays each connected to independently switch electrical current from the power input cord to corresponding ones of the plurality of power outlet sockets; and

a user display disposed on said longitudinal face of the strip enclosure and for providing a digital readout of a total current passing in from the power input cord.

2. The plugstrip of claim 1, further comprising:

an intelligent power module (IPM) in which is disposed at least one of the plurality of power control relays and a corresponding power outlet socket.

3. The plugstrip of claim 2, further comprising:

a power manager connected to the IPM and providing for user control of operating power to selectable ones of said electrical loads.

4. The plugstrip of claim 3, further comprising:

a network interface controller (NIC) connected to the power manager and providing for remote user control of operating power to selectable ones of said electrical loads over a TCP/IP network.

5. The plugstrip of claim 3, further comprising:

a network interface controller (NIC) connected to the power manager and providing for a TCP/IP network report of said total current passing in from the power input cord to a remote user.

6. The plugstrip of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of intelligent power modules (IPM'"'"'s) in which each hosts at least one of the plurality of power control relays and a corresponding power outlet socket.

7. The plugstrip of claim 2, further comprising:

a power manager connected in parallel to the plurality of IPM'"'"'s and providing for user control of operating power to selectable ones of said electrical loads.

8. The plugstrip of claim 2, further comprising:

a power manager connected in serial to the plurality of IPM'"'"'s and providing for user control of operating power to selectable ones of said electrical loads by a serial communication channel.

9. The plugstrip of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of intelligent power modules (IPM'"'"'s) in which each hosts at least one of the plurality of power control relays and a corresponding power outlet socket;

wherein each IPM is identical in its hardware and software implementation to each other one.