Power Control system
First Claim
1. A power control system comprises:
- an integration coupling mechanism for mechanical and electrical coupling of a plurality of power control system components;
a communication link configured for providing a communication among a plurality of power control system components utilizing the coupling mechanism;
a power switch component adapted for coupling by the unit integration coupling mechanism, the power switch component selectively providing electrical energy to a load, said power switch component including a power supply interface for receiving power from a power supply, a power load interface for providing, at least a portion, of the received supply power to the power load, and a power switch communication interface configured to communicate over the communication link, said power switch component adapted to the coupling mechanism for mechanical, electrical and communication coupling; and
a power controller component for controlling the power switch component, said power controller component having a controller communication interface for communicating over the communication link to the power switch component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power control assembly for use in an integrated power control system has a base with a housing that defines a cavity adapted for receiving a power switch. The control assembly includes a control module configured for generating control signals for controlling the power switch for selectively providing power to a load. A control housing houses the control module and is adapted to be releasably coupled to the base housing and is configured for electrically coupling to control couplers on the base housing for providing the generated control signals to the power switch within the housing cavity upon coupling the control housing to the base housing.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. A power control system comprises:
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an integration coupling mechanism for mechanical and electrical coupling of a plurality of power control system components;
a communication link configured for providing a communication among a plurality of power control system components utilizing the coupling mechanism;
a power switch component adapted for coupling by the unit integration coupling mechanism, the power switch component selectively providing electrical energy to a load, said power switch component including a power supply interface for receiving power from a power supply, a power load interface for providing, at least a portion, of the received supply power to the power load, and a power switch communication interface configured to communicate over the communication link, said power switch component adapted to the coupling mechanism for mechanical, electrical and communication coupling; and
a power controller component for controlling the power switch component, said power controller component having a controller communication interface for communicating over the communication link to the power switch component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A power control system having a plurality of components, the system comprising:
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a system control component for generating a switch control signal;
a limit control component for receiving a sensed limit operating characteristic and generating a limit control signal as a function of the sensed limit operating characteristic;
a communication link configured for providing a communication between two of the plurality of power control system components; and
a power control unit including a plurality of power control components and a unit integration coupling mechanism for mechanical and electrical coupling of the components of the power control unit, the power control unit including;
a power supply interface for receiving power from a power supply, a power load interface for providing, at least a portion of, the received supply power to a power load, a power switch component for selectively providing electrical energy to a load responsive to the switch control signal and adapted to the coupling mechanism, the power switch component including a power switch communication interface configured to communicate with the communication link, and a limit component for controlling the delivery of the supply power to the power switch component responsive to the limit control signal. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A power control system having a plurality of components, the control system comprising:
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a first control component having a plurality of first component versions;
a second control component having a plurality of second component versions; and
a system integration coupling mechanism for mechanical, electrical, and communication coupling the first component and the second component, wherein each of the first component versions being operable with each of the second component versions when coupled with the system integration coupling mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A power control system including a plurality of control system components, the control system comprising:
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a system integration coupling mechanism for mechanical, electrical, and communication coupling of a plurality of components into the power control system;
a plurality of self-identifying components; and
a plurality of self-configuring components, the self-configuring being responsive to a received self-identification of another one of the plurality of components. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of controlling power in a power control system having a plurality of power control component, the method comprising:
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generating self-identification of each component within a power control system;
comparing the identity of each component as self-identified to a at least one of a predetermined configuration and a profile; and
reconfiguring a characteristic of one or more components responsive to the comparing.
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36. A power control system comprising:
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a base including a housing configured for releasably receiving a control unit and a cavity within the housing for receiving a power switch, the base including an input power terminal for coupling to an input power source, an output power terminal for coupling to a power receiving load, and coupling fixtures for fixedly and electrically coupling to input and output power terminals and control terminals of the received power switch; and
a control unit configured to control the power switch for selectively providing, at least a portion of, the power received at the input power terminal to the output power terminal, the control unit having a housing adapted to be releasably coupled to the base housing, the control unit and base each are each configured to electrically couple the control unit to the control terminals of the received power switch as a function of the control unit being coupled to the base.
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37. A power control system comprising:
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a base including a housing for releasably receiving a control unit and defining a first cavity for receiving a power switch, a second cavity for receiving a limit switch, an input power terminal, an output power terminal coupled to receive switched power from an output terminal a received power switch, control couplers for coupling to an input and an output control terminal of the received power switch, and a plurality of electrical connections;
a limit switch within the second cavity and coupled by a portion of the electrical connections in series with the input power terminal, an input terminal of the received power switch received within the first cavity, and the output power terminal;
a control unit for providing control signals to the limit switch and control signals to the received power switch for selectively providing, at least a portion of, the power received at the input power terminal to the output power terminal, the control unit having a housing adapted to be releasably coupled to the base housing, the control unit and base are each configured to electrically couple the control unit to the control terminals of the received power switch as a function of the control unit being releasably coupled to the base, the control unit including a limit component having a threshold limit function, the limit switch control signals being a function of the threshold limit function.
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38. A control assembly for use in an integrated power control system having a base including a housing and defining a cavity within the housing for receiving a power switch, the control assembly comprising:
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a control module configured for generating control signals for controlling the power switch for selectively providing power to a load; and
a control housing for housing the control module and adapted to be releasably coupled to the base housing, the control housing being configured for electrically coupling to control couplers on the base housing for providing the generated control signals to the power switch within the housing cavity upon coupling the control housing to the base housing.
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39. A method of assembling a power control unit, the method comprising:
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inserting a power switch into a cavity defined by a base having housing;
coupling an input power terminal to an input terminal of the power switch;
coupling an output power terminal to an output terminal of the power switch;
coupling a first control attachment fixture to a first control terminal of the power switch;
coupling a second control attachment fixture to a second control terminal of the power switch; and
inserting a control unit having a control housing onto the base housing, the control housing and the base housing being configured for releasably coupling the inserted control unit to the base, the inserting a control unit including compressively coupling the control unit to the first control attachment fixture and the second control attachment fixture and completing an electrical connection between the control unit and each of the control terminals of the power switch.
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Specification