POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A power supply system including:
- a power supply configured to provide a constant AC current;
a power transmission line connected to the power supply to form a closed circuit; and
a plurality of pickups configured to accept and slidingly engage with the power transmission line such that each pickup completely encircles a portion of the power transmission line threaded through said pickup, and to inductively couple to the power transmission line,wherein each of the plurality of pickups can be positioned at any point along the length of the power transmission line by being slid along the power transmission line.
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Abstract
A power supply system including: a power supply configured to provide a constant AC current; a power transmission line connected to the power supply to form a closed circuit; and at least one pickup configured to accept and slidingly engage with the power transmission line such that the pickup completely encircles a portion of the power transmission line threaded through the pickup, and to inductively couple to the power transmission line, wherein the at least one pickup can be positioned at any point along the length of the power transmission line by sliding it along the power transmission line.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A power supply system including:
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a power supply configured to provide a constant AC current; a power transmission line connected to the power supply to form a closed circuit; and a plurality of pickups configured to accept and slidingly engage with the power transmission line such that each pickup completely encircles a portion of the power transmission line threaded through said pickup, and to inductively couple to the power transmission line, wherein each of the plurality of pickups can be positioned at any point along the length of the power transmission line by being slid along the power transmission line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A pickup configured to be used with a power supply system, the system having a power supply configured to provide a constant AC current to a power transmission line connected to the power supply to form a closed circuit,
wherein the pickup is configured, in use, to thread onto and to inductively couple to the power transmission line such that the pickup completely encircles a portion of the power transmission line threaded through the pickup and wherein the pickup is capable of being positioned at any point along the length of the power transmission line by sliding the pickup along the power transmission line, wherein the power supply is configured to provide power to a plurality of said pickups.
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24. A circuit including a pickup, the pickup configured to be used with a power supply system, the system having a power supply configured to provide a constant AC current to a power transmission line connected to the power supply to form a closed circuit,
wherein the pickup is configured, in use, to thread onto and to inductively couple to the power transmission line such that the pickup completely encircles a portion of the power transmission line threaded through the pickup and wherein the pickup is capable of being positioned at any point along the length of the power transmission line by sliding the pickup along the power transmission line, wherein the power supply is configured to provide power to a plurality of said pickups, the circuit including a switched mode power supply configured to supply a load of varying wattage whilst drawing a constant current input.
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28. A method of attaching a pickup to a power supply system having a power transmission line connected to form a closed loop with a power supply configured to provide a constant AC current, the pickup being configured to accept and slidingly engage with the power transmission line such that the pickup completely encircles a portion of the power transmission line threaded through it and to inductively couple to the power transmission line, the method including:
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breaking the closed circuit power transmission line by way of separating the power transmission line, threading the pickup onto the power transmission line at the separation, and re-connecting the power transmission line to form a closed circuit, wherein a plurality of pickups can be positioned along the length of the power transmission line and wherein each of said plurality of pickups can be slid along the power transmission line. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A method of controlling a circuit including a pickup inductively coupled to a power transmission line, the power transmission line connected to form a closed loop with a power supply configured to provide a constant AC current through the power transmission line to a plurality of pickups, the method including:
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operating a communications interface associated with the power supply system to transmit a signal on the power transmission line, the signal configured to provide instructions to the circuit; receiving the signal by way of a communications interface associated with the circuit, and operating the circuit in accordance with the instructions within the transmitted signal, wherein the pickup is configured to accept and slidingly engage with the power transmission line such that the pickup completely encircles a portion of the power transmission line threaded through it, and to inductively couple to the power transmission line wherein the pickup can be positioned at any point along the length of the power transmission line by sliding it along the power transmission line. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. A method of performing diagnostics on a power supply system including a power transmission line connected to form a closed loop with a power supply, the power supply configured to provide a constant AC current through the power transmission line to a plurality of pickups, and one or more circuits including communications interfaces coupled to the transmission line, the method including:
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using a pickup to inductively couple a circuit communications interface to the power transmission line; using the circuit communications interface to send communication signals to at least one of the one or more circuits attached to the power transmission line; and controlling the at least one circuit using the communicated signal, wherein the one or more circuits and the circuit communications interface include pickups that are configured to accept and slidingly engage with the power transmission line such that the pickup completely encircles a portion of the power transmission line threaded through it, and to inductively couple to the power transmission line, wherein the pickup can be positioned at any point along the length of the power transmission line or circuit by sliding the pickup along the power transmission line or circuit.
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34. (canceled)
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35. (canceled)
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36. (canceled)
Specification