Multichannel power distribution system
First Claim
1. A multichannel power distribution system for individually controlling power from at least one source to a plurality of loads, comprising:
- a plurality of power control devices, each connectable between said at least one source and one of said loads, the power control devices providing at least one status signal representative of current or voltage at the load;
at least one logic stage responsive to said status signals to impose preselected operational characteristics on the power control devices; and
isolation circuitry between the power control devices and the logic stage;
the isolation circuitry having a modulator for converting the status signal to a status pulse train of modulated pulse width; and
the logic stage including decoder logic for measuring the pulse width of the status pulse train.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multichannel power distribution system for individually controlling power from a source to a plurality of loads has individual power control devices and at least one logic stage responsive to status signals to impose preselected operational characteristics on the devices. In one embodiment, isolation circuitry is provided between the power control devices and the logic stage. The isolation circuitry then includes a modulator for converting the status signal to a status pulse train of modulated pulse width, and the logic stage includes decoder logic for measuring the pulse width of the status pulse train. In another embodiment, the logic stage is programmable to alter the operational characteristics of the devices in response to external inputs.
47 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A multichannel power distribution system for individually controlling power from at least one source to a plurality of loads, comprising:
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a plurality of power control devices, each connectable between said at least one source and one of said loads, the power control devices providing at least one status signal representative of current or voltage at the load; at least one logic stage responsive to said status signals to impose preselected operational characteristics on the power control devices; and isolation circuitry between the power control devices and the logic stage; the isolation circuitry having a modulator for converting the status signal to a status pulse train of modulated pulse width; and the logic stage including decoder logic for measuring the pulse width of the status pulse train. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A multichannel power distribution system for individually controlling power from at least one source to a plurality of loads, comprising:
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a system processing unit; a plurality of power control devices remote from said processing unit, each of said power control devices connectable between said at least one source and one of said loads to generate a status signal; a logic stage connected individually to a plurality of said power control devices to concurrently process a respective status signal from each of said power control devices to impose certain preselected operational characteristics defined by said system processing unit on the power control devices; said logic stage being programmable by said processing unit to alter said preselected operational characteristics of said power control devices. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A multichannel method for individually controlling power from at least one source to a plurality of loads, comprising:
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providing a plurality of power control devices, each connected between said at least one source and one of said loads; generating at least one status signal representative of current or voltage at the load; using a logic stage to impose preselected operational characteristics on the power control devices in response to said status signals; electronically isolating the power control devices from the logic stage by converting the status signal to a status pulse train of modulated pulse width and passing the status pulse train across an isolation device; and decoding the status pulse train by measuring its pulse width. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A multichannel method for individually controlling power from at least one source to a plurality of loads, comprising:
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providing a system processing unit; providing a plurality of power control devices remote from said processing unit, each of said power control devices connectable between said at least one source and one of said loads to generate a status signal; using a logic stage to concurrently process a respective status signal from each of said power control devices to impose certain preselected operational characteristics defined by said system processing unit on the power control devices, said logic stage being connected individually to said plurality of power control devices; and programming the logic stage using said processing unit to alter said preselected operational characteristics of said power control devices. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification