Inductively powered power bus apparatus

• US 7,667,482 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2007
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Rentel, Carlos H., Mort, Deborah K., Pier, Brian Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Ha Tran T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan; Emily Y
• Application Number:
  US11/859,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20090079417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 324/771, 324/508, 324/103.R, 324/117, 324/117.R
• US Class Current: 324/764.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/14 Adaptations providing voltage or current isolation, e.g. for high-voltage or high-current networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0092 measuring current only all subgroups of G01R19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling

Abstract

An apparatus for a power bus includes an inductive power harvesting unit structured to provide a first power output arising from current flowing in the power bus, an energy storage unit structured to store energy from the first power output and to provide a second power output, and a selector structured to select one of the first and second power outputs and to provide a third power output from the selected one. A processor is powered from the third power output of the selector. The selector is further structured to normally provide the third power output from the first power output of the inductive power harvesting unit. The processor is structured to determine that the first power output of the inductive power harvesting unit is inadequate and to cause the selector to provide the third power output from the second power output of the energy storage unit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a power bus including a current flowing therein, said apparatus comprising:

an inductive power harvesting unit structured to provide a first power output arising from the current flowing in said power bus;

an energy storage unit structured to store energy from the first power output of said inductive power harvesting unit and to provide a second power output;

a selector structured to select one of the first power output of said inductive power harvesting unit and the second power output of said energy storage unit and to provide a third power output from said selected one; and

a processor powered from the third power output of said selector,

wherein said selector is further structured to normally provide the third power output from the first power output of said inductive power harvesting unit, and

wherein said processor is structured to determine that the first power output of said inductive power harvesting unit is inadequate and to cause said selector to provide the third power output from the second power output of said energy storage unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said processor includes an output and wherein said energy storage unit is further structured to provide the second power output to power said processor through said selector for at least a period of time sufficient for said processor to output an alarm at the output of said processor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said processor includes a wireless transceiver powered from the third power output of said selector.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said power bus carries current wherein said processor includes a sensor structured to sense the current of said power bus;

and wherein said wireless transceiver is structured to output a wireless message including the sensed current of said power bus.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said inductive power harvesting unit is further structured to output a signal that indicates that the first power output of said inductive power harvesting unit is in adequate;

wherein said processor is structured to receive said signal; and

wherein said wireless transceiver is structured to output a wireless message including said signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said wireless message is a wireless alarm message.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said processor is further structured to determine that the second power output of said energy storage unit is inadequate and responsively send a predetermined number of wireless messages from said wireless transceiver in anticipation of lass of power from the second power output of said energy storage unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said processor is further structured to determine that the second power output of said energy storage unit is inadequate and responsively become inactive.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said processor is further structured to become active responsive to the first power output of said inductive power harvesting unit being adequate and to signal said selector to receive power from the first power output of said inductive power harvesting unit.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said energy storage unit comprises at least one of a capacitor, a supercapacitor, an ultracapacitor, and a rechargeable battery.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inductive power harvesting unit is further structured to continuously charge said energy storage unit.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said selector is an electronic relay.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said electronic relay is a two pole, single throw solid state relay including a first pole inputting the first power output of said inductive power harvesting unit, a second pole inputting the second power output of said energy storage unit, and a common output outputting said third power output from said selected one.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said electronic relay includes a first FET inputting the first power output of said inductive power harvesting unit, a second FET inputting the second power output of said energy storage unit, and a common output from said first end second FETs outputting said third power output from said selected one;

and wherein said processor includes a first output controlling said first PET and a second output controlling said second FET.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said selector includes a transient suppressor electrically connected between the third power output and ground.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said selector is an electromagnetic device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said electromagnetic device is a relay including form C contacts.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said form C contacts include a normally open contact having a first terminal and a second terminal, a normally closed contact having a first terminal and a second terminal, and a common terminal electrically connected to the second terminals of said normally open contact and said normally closed contact;

wherein the first terminal of said normally closed contact inputs the first power output of said inductive power harvesting unit;

wherein the first terminal of said normally open contact inputs the second power output of said energy storage unit; and

wherein said common terminal outputs said third power output from said selected one.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said processor includes a current sensor structured to sense the current flowing in said power bus and an output structured to output the sensed current.

20. An apparatus for a power bus including a current flowing therein, said apparatus comprising:

a sensor structured to sense the current of said power bus,

an inductive power harvesting unit structured to provide a first power output arising from the current flowing in said power bus;

an energy storage unit structured to store energy from the first power output of said inductive power harvesting unit and to provide a second power output;

a selector structured to select one of the first power output of said inductive power harvesting unit and the second power output of said energy storage unit and to provide a third power output from said selected one;

a processor powered from the third power output of said selector; and

a wireless transceiver powered from the third power output of said selector) cooperating with said processor, and structured to output a wireless message including or related to the sensed current of said power bus,

wherein said selector is further structured to normally provide the third power output from the first power output of said inductive power harvesting unit, and

wherein said processor is structured to determine that the first power output of said inductive power harvesting unit is inadequate and to cause said selector to provide the third power output from the second power output of said energy storage unit.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said processor is further structured to determine that the second power output of said energy storage unit is inadequate and responsively cause said wireless transceiver to send a predetermined number of wireless messages in anticipation of loss of power from the second power output of said energy storage unit before becoming inactive.