RELAY WITH INTEGRATED POWER SENSOR

• US 20130294014A1
• Filed: 07/24/2012
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Server Technology Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Server Technology Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Irons, Travis
• Application Number:
  US13/556,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20130294014A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/626
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/00 Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 7/00 Enclosed substations, e.g. compact substations
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1492 having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for power parameter sensing using power sensing components integrated into a relay are described. A power distribution unit may be provided with switched outputs that may provide or interrupt power provided to the output through a plurality of relays. The plurality of relays may include an integrated power sensor configured to sense one or more power parameters associated with power delivered to a respective power output. A power-related information reporting system may be coupled with the relays and configured to report power-related information derived from the power sensor to a remote system.

Claims

1. A power control relay apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a power input, a control input, a power output, and a sense output;

a switch coupled with the power input, control input, and power output that interrupts power provided from the power input to the power output responsive to the control input; and

a power sensor coupled with one or more of the power input and power output and the sense output, and configured to output, through the sense output, a signal representative of the magnitude of power flowing through the power output.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a printed circuit board located in the housing, and wherein the switch and power sensor are mounted to the printed circuit board.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the printed circuit board comprises a plurality of through holes, the power input, control input, power output, and sense output provided to contacts that penetrate the through holes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power sensor comprises a current sensing transformer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power sensor comprises a hall effect sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power sensor comprises a MEMS-based power sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power sensor comprises a resistive voltage divider based power sensor.

8. A power distribution apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a power input;

a plurality of power outputs disposed in the housing, each connectable in power supply communication with the power input and at least one electronic appliance; and

at least one power control relay coupled with one or more of the plurality of power outputs, the power control relay comprising a relay housing that comprises a switching element and a power sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a power-related information reporting system coupled with the at least one power control relay and configured to report power-related information derived from the power sensor to a remote system.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a display system coupled with the power-related information reporting system comprising a digital visual display located on a face of the housing adjacent the plurality of power outputs, and configured to display at least a subset of the power-related information derived from the power sensor.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the power input comprises a polyphase power input, different subsets of the plurality of power outputs being coupled with a different phase of power from the polyphase power input, and

wherein the display system is configured to simultaneously display at least a subset of the power-related information derived from two or more of the different phases of power.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the power sensor comprises a current sensing transformer.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the power sensor comprises a hall effect sensor.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the power sensor comprises a MEMS-based power sensor.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the power sensor comprises a resistive voltage divider based power sensor.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the relay housing further comprises:

a printed circuit board located in the relay housing, and wherein the switching element and power sensor are mounted to the printed circuit board.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the printed circuit board comprises a plurality of through holes, the power input, control input, power output, and sense output provided to contacts that penetrate the through holes.

18. A power distribution apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a power input;

a plurality of power outputs disposed in the housing, each connectable in power supply communication with the power input and at least one electronic appliance; and

a plurality of power control relays, each of the power control relays coupled with a respective one of the plurality of power outputs, each of the power control relays comprising a relay housing that comprises a switching element and a power sensor.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

a power-related information reporting system coupled with the at least one power control relay and configured to report power-related information derived from the power sensor to a remote system.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the relay housings each comprise:

a printed circuit board located in the relay housing, and wherein the switching element and power sensor are mounted to the printed circuit board.