Device for controlling power distribution to subsystems

• US 6,759,762 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BITS Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: BITS Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Barton, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MATTHEW VAN
• Application Number:
  US10/143,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20030209943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 307/38, 307/39, 307/41, 307/113, 307/115, 307/116, 307/125, 307/126, 307/130, 307/131, 307/154, 307/155
• US Class Current: 307/39
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/261 PC controlled powerstrip
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/001 Functional circuits, e.g. logic, sequencing, interlocking circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network

Abstract

A device for controlling a power distribution to subsystems, comprising a power input to be connected to a power source; a primary power output to be connected to a primary device; at least one secondary power output to be connected to at least one secondary device; sensing means for sensing when a current level falls below a threshold in response to the primary device being turned off and when the current level raises above a threshold in response to the primary device being turned on; executing means operatively connected with said sensing means and operative for interrupting a power supply to said at least one secondary device when the sensing means sense the current level below the threshold and supplying power to said at least one secondary device when said sensing means sense the current level above the threshold correspondingly; power limiting means for limiting voltage across said sensing means; and a low current operating means which increases the voltage to provide triggering of said executing means despite the limiting of the voltage by the said power limiting means.

Claims

1. A device for controlling a power distribution to subsystems, comprising a power input to be connected to a power source;

a primary power output to be connected to a primary device;

at least one secondary power output to be connected to at least one secondary device;

sensing means for sensing when a current level falls below a threshold in response to the primary device being turned off and when the current level raises above a threshold in response to the primary device being turned on;

executing means operatively connected with said sensing means and operative for interrupting a power supply to said at least one secondary device when the sensing means sense the current level below the threshold and supplying power to said at least one secondary device when said sensing means sense the current level above the threshold correspondingly;

power limiting means for limiting voltage across said sensing means; and

a low current operating means which increases the voltage to provide triggering of said executing means despite the limiting of the voltage by the said power limiting means.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said executing means includes a DC relay.