Monitoring power-related parameters in a power distribution unit
First Claim
1. A power distribution unit comprising:
- a power distribution unit housing;
a power input penetrating the housing;
a voltage sensor;
a plurality of power outputs disposed in the housing, each in electrical communication with the power input and each connectable to a respective electrical load;
a plurality of current sensors, each in electrical communication with one of the power outputs; and
a power monitoring section having an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in electrical communication with the voltage sensor and the current sensors, processing logic in electrical communication with the ADC, and a memory in electrical communication with the processing logic;
wherein the ADC is responsive to signals provided by the sensors to sample the signals and obtain samples of voltage and current over more than one cycle of input power;
wherein the processing logic is configured to (1) calculate raw RMS values of voltage and current from the samples, (2) scale the raw RMS values according to a predetermined calibration factor to obtain calibrated RMS voltage and current values, and (3) compare samples of voltage and current obtained with respect to at least one of the electrical loads during a first cycle of input power with respective samples of voltage and current obtained with respect to the at least one of the electrical loads during a second cycle of input power and generate an alert signal if there is a difference of at least a predetermined magnitude therebetween; and
wherein the memory stores at least the samples of voltage and current.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power distribution unit (PDU) disposable in an electrical equipment rack. The PDU has a housing, a power input penetrating the housing, outlets in the housing, a processor disposed in the housing, voltage and current sensors, and a voltage calculation procedure communicable with the processor. The processor samples voltage and current waveforms and calculates RMS values and other power parameters. A method of managing electrical loads each drawing electrical power from a PDU includes repeatedly sampling voltage across and current flowing through each of the loads, calculating raw RMS values of voltage and current, and scaling the raw RMS values to obtain corrected RMS voltage and current values and other power parameters.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A power distribution unit comprising:
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a power distribution unit housing; a power input penetrating the housing; a voltage sensor; a plurality of power outputs disposed in the housing, each in electrical communication with the power input and each connectable to a respective electrical load; a plurality of current sensors, each in electrical communication with one of the power outputs; and a power monitoring section having an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in electrical communication with the voltage sensor and the current sensors, processing logic in electrical communication with the ADC, and a memory in electrical communication with the processing logic; wherein the ADC is responsive to signals provided by the sensors to sample the signals and obtain samples of voltage and current over more than one cycle of input power; wherein the processing logic is configured to (1) calculate raw RMS values of voltage and current from the samples, (2) scale the raw RMS values according to a predetermined calibration factor to obtain calibrated RMS voltage and current values, and (3) compare samples of voltage and current obtained with respect to at least one of the electrical loads during a first cycle of input power with respective samples of voltage and current obtained with respect to the at least one of the electrical loads during a second cycle of input power and generate an alert signal if there is a difference of at least a predetermined magnitude therebetween; and wherein the memory stores at least the samples of voltage and current. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A power distribution unit comprising:
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a power distribution unit housing; a power input penetrating the housing; a voltage sensor; a plurality of power outputs disposed in the housing, each in electrical communication with the power input and each connectable to a respective electrical load; a plurality of current sensors, each in electrical communication with one of the power outputs; and a power monitoring section having an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in electrical communication with the voltage sensor and the current sensors, processing logic in electrical communication with the ADC, and a memory in electrical communication with the processing logic; wherein the ADC is responsive to signals provided by the sensors to sample the signals and obtain samples of voltage and current during a cycle of input power; wherein the processing logic is configured to (1) calculate raw RMS values of voltage and current from the samples, (2) scale the raw RMS values according to a predetermined calibration factor to obtain calibrated RMS voltage and current values, and (3) compare model waveform samples for at least one of the electrical loads with respective samples obtained with respect to the one of the electrical loads during the cycle of input power and generate an alert signal if there is a difference of at least a predetermined magnitude therebetween; wherein the memory stores at least the samples of voltage and current.
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13. A method of managing a plurality of electrical loads each drawing electrical power from a power distribution unit, the method comprising:
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sampling voltage across and current flowing through each of the electrical loads repeatedly during a cycle of input power; calculating raw RMS values of voltage and current from the samples; scaling the raw RMS values according to a predetermined calibration factor to obtain calibrated RMS voltage and current values for each of the electrical loads; and comparing samples of voltage and current obtained with respect to at least one of the electrical loads during a first cycle of input power with respective samples of voltage and current obtained with respect to the at least one of the electrical loads during a second cycle of input power, and generating an alert signal if there is a difference of at least a predetermined magnitude therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of managing a plurality of electrical loads each drawing electrical power from a power distribution unit, the method comprising:
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sampling voltage across and current flowing through each of the electrical loads repeatedly during a cycle of input power; calculating raw RMS values of voltage and current from the samples; scaling the raw RMS values according to a predetermined calibration factor to obtain calibrated RMS voltage and current values for each of the electrical loads; and comparing model waveform samples for at least one of the electrical loads with respective samples of voltage and current obtained with respect to the at least one of the electrical loads during the cycle of input power, and generating an alert signal if there is a difference of at least a predetermined magnitude therebetween.
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24. A power distribution unit comprising:
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a power distribution unit housing; a power input penetrating the housing; a voltage sensor; a plurality of power outputs disposed in the housing, each in electrical communication with the power input and each connectable to a respective electrical load; a plurality of current sensors, each in electrical communication with a respective one of the power outputs; and a power monitoring circuit in electrical communication with the voltage sensor and the current sensors and responsive to signals provided by the sensors to generate and compare samples of voltage and current obtained with respect to at least one of the electrical loads during a first cycle of input power with respective samples of voltage and current obtained with respect to the at least one of the electrical loads during a second cycle of input power and generate an alert signal if there is a difference of at least a predetermined magnitude therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A power distribution unit comprising:
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a power distribution unit housing; a power input penetrating the housing; a voltage sensor; a plurality of power outputs disposed in the housing, each in electrical communication with the power input and each connectable to a respective electrical load; a plurality of current sensors, each in electrical communication with a respective one of the power outputs; and a power monitoring circuit in electrical communication with the voltage sensor and the current sensors and responsive to signals provided by the sensors to generate and compare samples of voltage and current obtained with respect to at least one of the electrical loads during a cycle of input power with respective model waveform samples for the at least one of the electrical loads and generate an alert signal if there is a difference of at least a predetermined magnitude therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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Specification