System power control using multiple power levels

• US 20040021371A1
• Filed: 02/04/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corporation (Astronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Dynamics OTS Incorporated (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Inventors: Jouper, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US10/357,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20040021371A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/29
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention comprises apparatus for and method of managing and distributing power from a supply of limited power. A plurality of outlets is connected to a plurality of power units. In accordance with the present invention, an amount of power drawn by the outlets is measured and compared to a first predetermined electrical power level and a second predetermined electrical power level. When the amount of measured power being drawn exceeds the second predetermined maximum electrical power level, all outlets are disabled. When the amount of measured power being drawn is less than both the first predetermined electrical power level and the second predetermined electrical power level, all outlets are enabled. When the amount of measured power being drawn exceeds the first predetermined electrical power level, outlets currently in use by a power utilizing device are enabled while outlets not currently in use by a power utilizing device are disabled.

Claims

1. An electrical power distribution system comprising:

an electrical power source;

a plurality of outlets for receiving power from said electrical power source; and

a power distribution circuit coupling said electrical power source to each of said plurality of outlets, said power distribution circuit comprising;

a plurality of power sensing circuits for monitoring a total power load in the electrical power distribution system;

a power comparator, coupled to said plurality of power sensing circuits, for summing a total amount of electrical power being drawn by the outlets and for comparing the sum to a first predetermined electrical power level and a second predetermined electrical power level; and

a plurality of power available circuits, each coupled to a corresponding one of said plurality of power sensing circuits and coupled to said power comparator, for providing individual output signals;

and whereby;

each of said plurality of outlets coupled to a corresponding one of said plurality of power available circuits and coupled to a corresponding one of said plurality of power sensing circuits;

each of said plurality of outlets is enabled by said corresponding one of said plurality of power available circuits when said first predetermined electrical power level has not been exceeded;

each of said plurality of outlets not coupled to a power utilizing device are disabled when said first predetermined electrical power level has been exceeded;

each of said plurality of outlets coupled to a power utilizing device remains enabled by said corresponding one of said plurality of power available circuits when said second predetermined electrical power level has not been exceeded;

each of said plurality of outlets are disabled when said second predetermined electrical power level has been met or exceeded; and

each of said plurality of outlets coupled to a power utilizing device when the first predetermined electrical power level is met or exceeded remains enabled.

2. There system as claimed in claim 1 whereby each of a plurality of outlets initially coupled to power utilizing devices while the total amount of power to the plurality of outlets was restricted is enabled after performing a disconnect of the power utilizing devices initially coupled to the plurality of outlets while the total amount of power was restricted and a subsequently performing a reconnect of the power utilizing devices initially coupled to the plurality of outlets while the total amount of power was restricted.

3. A method of power distribution comprising:

defining a first predetermined electrical power level and a second predetermined electrical power level;

monitoring a total power consumed by power utilizing devices coupled to selected ones of a plurality of outlets;

monitoring a total power consumed by substantially all nonshedable power utilizing devices

summing a total amount of electrical power consumed by power utilizing devices coupled to the selected ones of a plurality of outlets and the nonshedable power utilizing devices;

comparing the total amount of electrical power consumed to the first predetermined electrical power level and to the second predetermined electrical power level;

enabling all of the plurality of outlets if the first predetermined electrical power level is not exceeded;

disabling all of the plurality of outlets if the second predetermined electrical power level is met or exceeded;

disabling all of the plurality of outlets not coupled to a power utilizing device if the first predetermined electrical power level is met or exceeded; and

restricting a total amount of electrical power consumed to all of the plurality of outlets coupled to a power utilizing device when the first predetermined electrical power level is met or exceeded.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

disconnecting power utilizing devices that initially coupled to select ones of a plurality of outlets while the total amount of power to the plurality of outlets was restricted;

reconnecting power utilizing devices that initially coupled to select ones of a plurality of outlets while the total amount of power to the plurality of outlets was restricted after disconnecting the power utilizing devices as set forth in the previous step;

whereby the disconnecting and reconnecting of power utilizing devices causes electrical power to be supplied to the power utilizing devices that were initially coupled to the selected ones of a plurality of outlets while the total amount of power to the plurality of outlets was restricted.

5. A method of power distribution comprising:

monitoring a total load generated by power utilizing devices coupled to selected ones of a plurality of outlets;

summing a total amount of electrical power being drawn;

comparing the total amount of electrical power being drawn to a first predetermined electrical power level and to a second predetermined electrical power level;

disabling all of the plurality of outlets not coupled to a power utilizing device when the total power drawn exceeds the first predetermined electrical power level; and

disabling all of the plurality of outlets when the total power being drawn exceeds the second predetermined electrical power level.