Current Protection Apparatus and Method

• US 20100214109A1
• Filed: 01/08/2010
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cyber Switching Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cyber Switching Incorporated
• Inventors: Reynolds, Charles H., Silorio, Ron L., Reynolds, Gregory A.
• Application Number:
  US12/684,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20100214109A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/664
• 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 2200/261 PC controlled powerstrip
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/08 responsive to excess current responsive to abnormal temperature caused by excess current H02H5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A current protection apparatus (200) and current protection method (1000) that may include programmable current protection characteristics has been disclosed. A current protection apparatus (200) may include a power distribution unit (230) with power distribution outlets (PDO-1 to PDO-8), each having a corresponding circuit breaker unit (CB1 to CB8). Each circuit breaker unit (CB1 to CB8) may operate in response to a processing unit (236) that can sample current values flowing between a respective power distribution outlet (PDO-1 to PDO-8) and a load device (LD1 to LD8). Processing unit 236 may operate under control of software stored on a memory (238) to control a switching circuit (320). Current protection characteristics for each circuit breaker unit may be independently programmed and/or altered by a user, for example by way of a computer (250). In this way, each power distribution outlet (PDO-1 to PDO-8) may have current rating characteristics independently provided for a particular load device (LD1 to LD8).

Claims

1-22. -22. (canceled)

23. A method for monitoring current for power management, comprising the steps of:

sampling a plurality of current values for a plurality of currents, each of the plurality of currents comprising a current flowing between one of a plurality of power distribution outlets and a corresponding load device; and

comparing each of the plurality of current values with a corresponding one of a plurality of predetermined low current values and taking a predetermined action if the corresponding current value is less than the corresponding low current value.

24. The method for monitoring current for power management, according to claim 23, wherein the predetermined action includes providing a low current warning.

25. The method for monitoring current for power management, according to claim 24, wherein the low current warning is provided in a pop-up window on a computer.

26. The method for monitoring current for power management, according to claim 23, further including the steps of:

sampling the plurality of current values during a low grace period; and

taking the predetermined action if the corresponding current value is less than the corresponding low current value for essentially the low grace period.

27. The method for monitoring current for power management, according to claim 26, wherein the low grace period is programmable.

28. The method for monitoring current for power management, according to claim 23, further including the steps of:

comparing each of the plurality of current values with a corresponding one of a plurality of predetermined current limit values; and

interrupting the current flowing between the corresponding power distribution outlets and the corresponding load device if the corresponding current value is greater than the corresponding predetermined current limit value;

29. The method for monitoring current for power management, according to claim 28, wherein each of the predetermined current limit values is programmable.

30. The method for monitoring current for power management, according to claim 28, further including the steps of:

dividing the plurality of power distribution outlets into a plurality of power distribution outlet banks, each power distribution bank including a total bank current value essentially equal to a summation of the plurality of current values of the plurality of power distribution outlets in the corresponding power distribution bank;

comparing each of the plurality of bank current values with a corresponding one of a plurality of predetermined bank current limit values; and

interrupting the current flowing between each power distribution outlet and each load device in the corresponding power distribution bank if the corresponding bank current value is greater than the corresponding predetermined bank current limit value.

31. The method for monitoring current for power management, according to claim 30, wherein:

the step of interrupting the current flowing between each power distribution outlet and each load device in the corresponding power distribution bank includes essentially simultaneously interrupting the current flowing between each power distribution outlet and each load device by opening a corresponding switching circuit for each corresponding power distribution outlet in the corresponding power distribution bank.

32. The method for monitoring current for power management, according to claim 23, wherein each of the plurality of power distribution outlets is a power distribution outlet receptacle and each of the plurality of currents comprises a current flowing between one of the plurality of power distribution outlet receptacles and a corresponding load device through a corresponding power cord that is plugged into the corresponding power distribution outlet receptacle.