Intelligent power distribution system
First Claim
1. A power strip, comprising:
- a housing having a first end and a second end;
at least one power outlet mounted on an exterior surface of the housing;
a power management circuit defined on an interior region of the housing, including;
a micro-controller coupled to the power supply and to a relay driver, the relay driver receiving control signals from the micro-controller;
an input power source sensor circuit is coupled intermediate the power supply and the micro-controller, to receive primary input power from the power supply and secondary input power from a secondary power source, whereby the input power source sensor circuit provides the primary input power to the micro-controller and if the primary input power fails, the input power source sensor circuit provides the secondary input power to the micro-controller; and
at least one relay coupled to the relay driver and to the at least one power outlet,wherein the relay receives a control signal from the relay driver to actuate the relay to a conductive state to powering-on the power outlet and the relay receives another control signal from the relay driver to actuate the relay to a non-conductive state to powering-off the power outlet; and
an under voltage sensor coupled to the micro-controller and adapted to receive a predetermined voltage value from the power supply,wherein the micro-controller is configured to indicate that current from the power supply has exceeded a predetermined threshold value.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An intelligent power distribution system including one or more intelligent power strips. The power strips can each include an elongated housing that may be adapted for mounting in an equipment rack. The housing can include a first end, a second end and plurality of power outlets mounted thereon. The first end can have a number of apertures that enable power and signal conductors to enter an interior region of the housing. The second end can include a first and a second communication port. The first communication port may be adapted to enable a computer to communicate with the power the strip. The second communication port may be adapted to enable the power the strip to be daisy chained with a second intelligent power strip. The power strip further includes power management circuitry that can power-on and power-off the power outlets in accordance with an operator defined sequence and delays. The power management circuitry can further sense electrical current drawn by the power strip and control operation of the power strip based on the sensed electrical current to minimize branch circuit breaker tripping.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A power strip, comprising:
-
a housing having a first end and a second end; at least one power outlet mounted on an exterior surface of the housing; a power management circuit defined on an interior region of the housing, including; a micro-controller coupled to the power supply and to a relay driver, the relay driver receiving control signals from the micro-controller; an input power source sensor circuit is coupled intermediate the power supply and the micro-controller, to receive primary input power from the power supply and secondary input power from a secondary power source, whereby the input power source sensor circuit provides the primary input power to the micro-controller and if the primary input power fails, the input power source sensor circuit provides the secondary input power to the micro-controller; and at least one relay coupled to the relay driver and to the at least one power outlet, wherein the relay receives a control signal from the relay driver to actuate the relay to a conductive state to powering-on the power outlet and the relay receives another control signal from the relay driver to actuate the relay to a non-conductive state to powering-off the power outlet; and an under voltage sensor coupled to the micro-controller and adapted to receive a predetermined voltage value from the power supply, wherein the micro-controller is configured to indicate that current from the power supply has exceeded a predetermined threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A power distribution method comprising the steps of:
-
energizing an input power line to power-up a group of power outlets on a power distribution system; initializing the power distribution system according to at least one system parameter or at least one operating configuration, wherein initializing according to a system parameter or an operating configuration includes the steps of; programming at least one of a normal-threshold value, an overload threshold value or an under-voltage threshold value into the power distribution system; programming delays into the power distribution system, the delays being related to powering-on and powering-off a power outlet in the group of power outlets; programming a sequence for which the power outlet from the group of power outlets is powered-on and powered-off with respect to a second power outlet from the group of power outlets; and controlling a relay to actuate to a conductive state in accordance with a predetermined sequence and a predetermined delay to power-on the power outlet in the group of power outlets on the power distribution system with respect to the second power outlet in the group of power outlets. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification