METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING DISTRIBUTION OF POWER

• US 20110254371A1
• Filed: 05/19/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: American Power Conversion Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Liu, Xuetao, Shen, Ray, Galsim, Marlon, Lee, Jinsong
• Granted Patent: US 9,041,247 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/261 PC controlled powerstrip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6666 with built-in overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/70 with built-in switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/30 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/78 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• 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: 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 20/20 End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

Aspects of the invention are directed to apparatus and methods for controlling power distribution to a plurality of devices including a primary device and at least one secondary device, the primary device having at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, with the second mode of operation being a lower power mode of operation than the first mode of operation.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling application of power to a plurality of devices including a master device and at least one controlled device, the apparatus comprising:

a power inlet constructed and arranged to receive power from a power source;

a plurality of power outlets including a master power outlet and at least one controlled power outlet;

a first circuit adapted to sense a characteristic of power delivered to the master power outlet;

a second circuit adapted to determine a characteristic of a stand-by power consumption level of a device electrically connected to the master power outlet;

a third circuit adapted to compare the characteristic of power delivered to the master power outlet sensed by the first circuit with the characteristic of the stand-by power consumption level determined by the second circuit; and

a fourth circuit adapted to control a supply of power from the power inlet to the at least one controlled outlet responsive to the comparison performed by the third circuit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of power delivered to the master power outlet sensed by the first circuit is current.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the characteristic of power delivered to the master power outlet sensed by the first circuit further comprises voltage.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the stand-by power consumption level determined by the second circuit is total power.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the stand-by power consumption level determined by the second circuit is current.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of master power outlets, wherein the first circuit is adapted to sense a characteristic of power delivered to each of the plurality of master power outlets, wherein the second circuit is adapted to determine a characteristic of a stand-by power consumption of devices electrically connected to each of the plurality of master power outlets, wherein the third circuit is adapted to compare the characteristic of power delivered to each of the plurality of master power outlets sensed by the first circuit with the characteristic of the stand-by power consumption determined by the second circuit, and wherein the fourth circuit is adapted to control the supply of power from the power inlet to the at least one controlled outlet responsive to the comparison performed by the third circuit.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a non-volatile memory configured to store a representation of the stand-by power consumption level.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an uninterruptable power supply.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller and an indicator coupled to the controller and controlled by the controller to provide an indication of a stand-by power consumption level test being performed.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller and an indicator coupled to the controller and controlled by the controller to provide an indication of a stand-by power consumption level test being completed.

11. A method of controlling power distribution to a plurality of devices including a master device and at least one controlled device, the master device having at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, with the second mode of operation being a lower power mode of operation than the first mode of operation, the method comprising:

providing power to the master device through a primary outlet;

sensing at least one characteristic of the power provided through the primary outlet with the master device in the second mode of operation;

setting a first threshold characteristic of the power provided through the primary outlet based on the sensed characteristic of the power provided through the primary outlet;

providing power to the at least one controlled device through a secondary outlet;

measuring an operating characteristic of power provided through the primary outlet; and

controlling power to the at least one controlled device responsive to the measured operating characteristic of power provided through the primary outlet.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein sensing the at least one characteristic of power provided through the primary outlet with the master device in the second mode of operation is initiated manually.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein sensing the at least one characteristic of power provided through the primary outlet with the master device in the second mode of operation is initiated automatically.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing an indication that the master device is operating in the second mode of operation.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising removing power to the at least one controlled device responsive to the operating characteristic of power provided through the primary outlet being at least one of the same as or less than the first threshold characteristic of the power provided through the primary outlet.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising setting a second threshold characteristic of power provided through the primary outlet based on the sensed characteristic of the power provided through the primary outlet.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing power to the at least one controlled device responsive to the operating characteristic of power provided through the primary outlet being greater than the second threshold characteristic of the power provided through the primary outlet.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising replacing the master device with a second master device, the second master device having at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation;

providing power to the second master device through a primary outlet;

sensing at least one characteristic of the power provided through the primary outlet with the second master device in the second mode of operation; and

setting a third threshold characteristic of the power provided through the primary outlet based on the sensed at least one characteristic of the power provided through the primary outlet.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein sensing the at least one characteristic of the power provided through the primary outlet with the second master device in the second mode of operation is initiated manually.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein sensing the at least one characteristic of the power provided through the primary outlet with the second master device in the second mode of operation is initiated automatically.

21. An apparatus for controlling application of power to a plurality of devices including a master device and at least one controlled device, the apparatus comprising:

a power inlet constructed and arranged to receive power from a power source;

a plurality of power outlets including a master power outlet and at least one controlled power outlet; and

means for determining a characteristic of a stand-by power consumption level of a master device electrically connected to the master power outlet and controlling a supply of power from the power inlet to the at least one controlled power outlet responsive to a comparison of a characteristic of power delivered to the master device with the characteristic of the stand-by power consumption level of the master device.