SAFETY POWER DISCONNECTION FOR POWER DISTRIBUTION OVER POWER CONDUCTORS TO POWER CONSUMING DEVICES

• US 20190097457A1
• Filed: 11/28/2018
• Published: 03/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Optical Communications Wireless Ltd. (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hazani, Ami
• Granted Patent: US 11,177,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/16571 comparing AC or DC current with one threshold, e.g. load current, over-current, surge current or fault current G01R19/16514, G01R19/16519, G01R19/16528, G01R19/16533, G01R19/1659 take precedence; measuring currents by using elements sensitive to the magnetic field generated G01R15/14; measuring earth resistance G01R27/18; testing for leakage or short circuits in electrical apparatus G01R31/52
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/08 Locating faults in cables, transmission lines, or networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/086 in power transmission or distribution networks, i.e. with interconnected conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0007 concerning the detecting means in general G01R or other subclasses of G01; reed switches H01H71/2445
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/261 involving signal transmission between at least two stations transmission of signals in general H02H1/0061
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/263 involving transmissions of measured values comparison of currents or voltages using pilot wires H02H3/30
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00019 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0004 involved in a protection system
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/0773 Network aspects, e.g. central monitoring of transmission parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25753 Distribution optical network, e.g. between a base station and a plurality of remote units
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/808 Electrical power feeding of an optical transmission system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2210/08 Shut-down or eye-safety
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0071 Provisions for the electrical-optical layer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/08 Power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 : in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 : Access point devices with remote components
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Safety power disconnection for remote power distribution in power distribution systems is disclosed. The power distribution system includes one or more power distribution circuits each configured to remotely distribute power from a power source over current carrying power conductors to remote units to provide power for remote unit operations. A remote unit is configured to decouple power from the power conductors thereby disconnecting the load of the remote unit from the power distribution system. A current measurement circuit in the power distribution system measures current flowing on the power conductors and provides a current measurement to the controller circuit. The controller circuit is configured to disconnect the power source from the power conductors for safety reasons in response to detecting a current from the power source in excess of a threshold current level indicating a load.

Claims

1. A power distribution system comprising:

one or more power distribution circuits each comprising;

a distribution power input configured to receive current distributed by a power source;

a distribution power output configured to distribute the received current over a power conductor coupled to an assigned remote unit among a plurality of remote units;

a distribution switch circuit coupled between the distribution power input and the distribution power output, the distribution switch circuit comprising a distribution switch control input configured to receive a distribution power connection control signal indicating a distribution power connection mode;

the distribution switch circuit configured to be closed to couple the distribution power input to the distribution power output in response to the distribution power connection mode indicating a distribution power connect state; and

the distribution switch circuit further configured to be opened to decouple the distribution power input from the distribution power output in response to the distribution power connection mode indicating a distribution power disconnect state; and

a current measurement circuit coupled to the distribution power output and comprising a current measurement output;

the current measurement circuit configured to measure a current at the distribution power output and generate a current measurement on the current measurement output based on the measured current at the distribution power output; and

a controller circuit comprising;

one or more current measurement inputs communicatively coupled to the one or more current measurement outputs of the one or more current measurement circuits of the one or more power distribution circuits; and

the controller circuit configured to, for a power distribution circuit among the one or more power distribution circuits;

generate the distribution power connection control signal indicating the distribution power connection mode to the distribution switch control input of the power distribution circuit indicating the distribution power connect state;

determine if the measured current on a current measurement input among the one or more current measurement inputs of the power distribution circuit exceeds a predefined threshold current level when the distribution switch circuit is closed to couple the distribution power input to the distribution power output; and

in response to the measured current of the power distribution circuit exceeding the predefined threshold current level, communicate the distribution power connection control signal indicating the distribution power connection mode to the distribution switch control input of the power distribution circuit indicating the distribution power disconnect state.

2. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more power distribution circuits each further comprise;

a distribution management communications output coupled to a management communications link coupled to the assigned remote unit among the plurality of remote units; and

the controller circuit is further configured to, for a power distribution circuit among the one or more power distribution circuits;

communicate a remote power connection signal comprising a remote power connection mode indicating a remote power disconnect state over the distribution management communications output coupled to the assigned remote unit to the power distribution circuit to cause the assigned remote unit to decouple current from the power conductor of the power distribution circuit.

3. The power distribution system of claim 2, in response to the measured current of the power distribution circuit not exceeding the predefined threshold current level, communicate the distribution power connection control signal comprising the distribution power connection mode to the distribution switch control input of the power distribution circuit indicating the distribution power connect state.

4. The power distribution system of claim 2, wherein the controller circuit is further configured to, for the power distribution circuit among the one or more power distribution circuits:

communicate the remote power connection signal comprising the remote power connection mode indicating the remote power disconnect state over the distribution management communications output before determining if the measured current on a current measurement input among the one or more current measurement inputs of the power distribution circuit exceeds the predefined threshold current level.

5. The power distribution system of claim 2, wherein the controller circuit is further configured to, for the power distribution circuit among the one or more power distribution circuits:

communicate the remote power connection signal comprising the remote power connection mode indicating a remote power connect state over the distribution management communications output coupled to the assigned remote unit to the power distribution circuit to cause the assigned remote unit to couple to a power conductor of the power distribution circuit.

6. The power distribution system of claim 5, wherein the controller circuit is configured to, for the power distribution circuit among the one or more power distribution circuits:

communicate the remote power connection signal comprising the remote power connection mode indicating the remote power connect state after a predefined time has elapsed after communicating the remote power connection signal comprising the remote power connection mode indicating the remote power disconnect state.

7. The power distribution system of claim 5, wherein the controller circuit is configured to, for the power distribution circuit among the one or more power distribution circuits:

communicate the remote power connection signal comprising the remote power connection mode indicating the remote power connect state before communicating the remote power connection signal comprising the remote power connection mode indicating the remote power disconnect state.

8. The power distribution system of claim 6, wherein the controller circuit is configured to, for the power distribution circuit among the one or more power distribution circuits, repeatedly:

communicate the remote power connection signal comprising the remote power connection mode indicating the remote power disconnect state over the distribution management communications output; and

communicate the remote power connection signal comprising the remote power connection mode indicating the remote power connect state over the distribution management communications output after the predefined time has elapsed after communicating the remote power connection signal comprising the remote power connection mode indicating the remote power disconnect state.

9. The power distribution system of claim 2, wherein the predefined threshold current level is less than 200 milliAmps (mA).

10. The power distribution system of claim 2, wherein the predefined threshold current level is less than 100 milliAmps (mA).

11. The power distribution system of claim 2, further comprising a housing containing the controller circuit, the current measurement circuit, and the power source.

12. The power distribution system of claim 2, wherein for each power distribution circuit among the one or more power distribution circuits:

the distribution power output comprises the distribution management communications output; and

further comprising a combining circuit coupled between the distribution switch circuit and the distribution power output;

the combining circuit configured to combine the distribution power connection control signal and the remote power connection signal over the distribution power output to the assigned remote unit.

13. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein for each power distribution circuit among the one or more power distribution circuits:

the distribution power output comprises the distribution management communications output; and

further comprising a multiplexing circuit coupled between the distribution switch circuit and the distribution power output;

the multiplexing circuit configured to multiplex the distribution power connection control signal and the remote power connection signal over the distribution power output to the assigned remote unit.

14. The power distribution system of claim 13, wherein the predefined threshold current level is less than 200 milliAmps (mA).

15. The power distribution system of claim 13, wherein the predefined threshold current level is less than 100 milliAmps (mA).

16. The power distribution system of claim 13, further comprising a housing containing the controller circuit, the current measurement circuit, and the power source.

17. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein each power distribution circuit of the one or more power distribution circuits further comprises a second current measurement circuit coupled to the current measurement circuit, and comprising a second current measurement output, the second current measurement circuit configured to measure the current at the distribution power output and generate a second current measurement on the second current measurement output based on the measured current at the distribution power output.

18. The power distribution system of claim 17, wherein the controller circuit further comprises one or more second current measurement inputs communicatively coupled to the one or more second current measurement outputs of the one or more second current measurement circuits of the one or more power distribution circuits.

19. The power distribution system of claim 18, wherein the controller circuit further is configured to, for a power distribution circuit among the one or more power distribution circuits:

determine if the measured current on a second current measurement input among the one or more second current measurement inputs of the power distribution circuit exceeds the predefined threshold current level; and

in response to the second measured current of the power distribution circuit exceeding the predefined threshold current level, communicate the distribution power connection control signal comprising the distribution power connection mode to the distribution switch control input of the power distribution circuit indicating the distribution power disconnect state.

20. The power distribution system of claim 17, wherein the predefined threshold current level is less than 200 milliAmps (mA).

21. The power distribution system of claim 17, wherein the predefined threshold current level is less than 100 milliAmps (mA).

22. The power distribution system of claim 17, further comprising a housing containing the controller circuit, the current measurement circuit, and the power source.

23. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein:

each power distribution circuit of the one or more power distribution circuits further comprises;

a second current measurement circuit coupled to the current measurement circuit, and comprising a second current measurement output;

the second current measurement circuit configured to measure the current at the distribution power output and generate a second current measurement on the second current measurement output based on the measured current received on the distribution power output;

the controller circuit further comprising;

one or more second current measurement inputs communicatively coupled to the one or more second current measurement outputs of the one or more second current measurement circuits of the one or more power distribution circuits; and

the controller circuit further configured to, for a power distribution circuit among the one or more power distribution circuits;

determine if the measured current on a second current measurement input among the one or more second current measurement inputs of the power distribution circuit exceeds the predefined threshold current level; and

in response to the second measured current of the power distribution circuit exceeding the predefined threshold current level, communicate the distribution power connection control signal comprising the distribution power connection mode to the distribution switch control input of the power distribution circuit indicating the distribution power disconnect state.

24. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein:

each power distribution circuit of the one or more power distribution circuits further comprises;

a second current measurement circuit comprising a second current measurement output;

the second current measurement circuit configured to measure the current at a second distribution power output and generate a second current measurement on the second current measurement output based on the measured current received on the second distribution power output;

the controller circuit further comprising;

one or more second current measurement inputs communicatively coupled to the one or more second current measurement outputs of the one or more second current measurement circuits of the one or more power distribution circuits; and

the controller circuit further configured to, for a power distribution circuit among the one or more power distribution circuits;

determine a differential measured current between the measured current on the current measurement input and the second measured current on the second current measurement input;

determine if the differential measured current exceeds the predefined threshold current level; and

in response to the differential measured current of the power distribution circuit exceeding the predefined threshold current level, communicate the distribution power connection control signal comprising the distribution power connection mode to the distribution switch control input of the power distribution circuit indicating the distribution power disconnect state.

25. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the controller circuit is further configured to periodically generate a watchdog signal;

and

further comprising a watchdog controller configured to;

receive the watchdog signal;

in response to not receiving the watchdog signal within a predefined time period, cause the distribution power connection control signal to indicate the distribution power disconnect state.

26. The power distribution system of claim 25, wherein the predefined threshold current level is less than 200 milliAmps (mA).

27. The power distribution system of claim 25, wherein the predefined threshold current level is less than 100 milliAmps (mA).

28. The power distribution system of claim 25, further comprising a housing containing the controller circuit, the current measurement circuit, and the power source.

29. The power distribution system of claim 1, wherein the controller circuit is further configured to:

lower a voltage level on the distribution power output from a first voltage level to second voltage level distributing the received current over the power conductor coupled to the assigned remote unit; and

raise the voltage level on the distribution power output from the second voltage level to the first voltage level distributing the received current over the power conductor coupled to the assigned remote unit.

30. The power distribution system of claim 29, wherein the predefined threshold current level is less than 200 milliAmps (mA).

31. The power distribution system of claim 29, wherein the predefined threshold current level is less than 100 milliAmps (mA).

32. The power distribution system of claim 29, further comprising a housing containing the controller circuit, the current measurement circuit, and the power source.