Electrical power distribution device having a current display

• US 9,627,888 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2016
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Server Technology Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Server Technology Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Ewing, Carrel W., Auclair, Brian P., Cleveland, Andrew J., Maskaly, James P., McGlumphy, Dennis W., Bigler, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaplan, Hal
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ortiz, Elim
• Application Number:
  US15/074,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20160204608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 307 38
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• 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 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3246 by software initiated power-off
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/261 PC controlled powerstrip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/76 with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/34 Racks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0005 the elements or equipment being or involving power plugs or sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/12 The local stationary network supplying a household or a building
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1492 having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

An electrical power distribution unit can include a power distribution unit enclosure, a power input associated with the power distribution unit enclosure, and a plurality of power outputs associated with the power distribution unit enclosure. At least certain power outputs can be connectable to one or more electrical loads external to the power distribution unit enclosure and to the power input. In some embodiments, an intelligent power section can communicate with at least one of the power outputs and can connect to a communications network external to the power distribution unit enclosure.

Claims

1. An electrical power distribution plugstrip connectable to one or more electrical loads in a vertical electrical equipment rack, the electrical power distribution plugstrip comprising in combination:

A. a vertical strip enclosure having a thickness and a length longer than a width of the enclosure;

B. a power input penetrating said vertical strip enclosure;

C. a plurality of power outputs disposed along a face of said length of the strip enclosure, each among the plurality of power outputs being connectable to a corresponding one of said one or more electrical loads;

D. a plurality of power control relays disposed in said vertical strip enclosure, each among said plurality of power control relays being connected to said power input and in independent power controlling communication with one or more corresponding power outputs among said plurality of power outputs;

E. at least one intelligent power section disposed in the vertical strip enclosure and in which is disposed at least one of the plurality of power control relays, wherein said at least one intelligent power section comprises a plurality of intelligent power modules disposed in the vertical strip enclosure, each of said intelligent power modules being in independent communication with one or more corresponding power outputs among said plurality of power outputs, wherein a first group of power outputs is mounted on a first one of said intelligent power modules and a second group of power outputs is mounted on a second one of said intelligent power modules;

F. a current-related information display disposed on said vertical strip enclosure in current-related information-determining communication with at least one among said power input and said plurality of power outputs, wherein the current-related information display is a digital current information display; and

G. a current-related information reporting system associated with said vertical strip enclosure and being (i) in current-related information-determining communication with at least one among said power input and said plurality of power outputs, and (ii) connectable in current-related information transfer communication with a separate communications network distal from the electrical power distribution plugstrip, wherein the current-related information reporting system is disposed within the vertical strip enclosure and comprises;

a network interface controller (NIC), and

a chained slave personality module in communication with the at least one intelligent power section disposed in the vertical strip enclosure, the chained slave personality module providing a daisy chain interface.

2. The electrical power distribution plugstrip of claim 1 wherein said electrical power distribution plugstrip further comprises a printed circuit board that includes at least one control jack and said current-related information display.

3. The electrical power distribution plugstrip of claim 1 wherein said first one of said intelligent power modules and said second one of said intelligent power modules are of like construction.

4. The electrical power distribution plugstrip of claim 1 wherein each of said intelligent power modules comprises an associated power controller board.

5. The electrical power distribution plugstrip of claim 3 wherein a first said power controller board associated with said first one of said intelligent power modules serves as a gateway and is daisy chain connected, via serial cables, to power controller boards associated with said other intelligent power modules.

6. The electrical power distribution plugstrip of claim 5 wherein said power controller boards communicate with one another to coordinate actions, and wherein each power control board includes associated control ports and independently stores user configuration data for its associated control ports.

7. The electrical power distribution plugstrip of claim 5 comprising at least one microprocessor associated with said plurality of intelligent power modules, said at least one microprocessor containing at least one stored program which, upon execution, detects where in said daisy chain each power control board is located.

8. The electrical power distribution plugstrip of claim 5 wherein each of said intelligent power modules includes at least one associated microprocessor having at least one stored program which, upon execution, detects where in the daisy chain each power control board is located.

9. The electrical power distribution plugstrip of claim 8 further comprising an inter-IC (I2C) peripheral board that includes a microcontroller with a serial connection to an I2C control bus.

10. The electrical power distribution plugstrip of claim 1 further comprising an inter-IC (I2C) peripheral board that includes a microcontroller with a serial connection to an I2C control bus.

11. An electrical power distribution device connectable to one or more electrical loads in an electrical equipment rack, the electrical power distribution device comprising in combination:

A. a vertical strip enclosure;

B. a power input penetrating said vertical strip enclosure;

C. a plurality of power outlets disposed along a face of said vertical strip enclosure, each among the plurality of power outlets being connectable to a corresponding one of said one or more electrical loads;

D. a plurality of power control relays disposed in said vertical strip enclosure, each among said plurality of power control relays being connected to said power input and in independent power controlling communication with one or more corresponding power outlets among said plurality of power outlets;

E. at least one intelligent power section disposed in the vertical strip enclosure, each of said intelligent power sections comprising at least one of the plurality of power control relays, wherein said at least one intelligent power section comprises a plurality of intelligent power modules disposed in the vertical strip enclosure, each of said intelligent power modules being in independent communication with one or more corresponding power outlets among said plurality of power outlets, wherein a first group of power outlets is mounted on a first one of said intelligent power modules and a second group of power outlets is mounted on a second one of said intelligent power modules;

F. a digital current display disposed on said vertical strip enclosure in communication with at least one among said power input and said plurality of power outlets; and

G. a current reporting system disposed within said vertical strip enclosure and being in current determining communication with at least one among said power input and said plurality of power outlets; and

H. at least one input output (10) module disposed in said vertical strip enclosure in communication with the at least one intelligent power section, said IO module comprising at least a chained slave personality providing a daisy chain interface, whereby a user of an external power manager may control power provided to selectable ones of said plurality of power outlets via said IO module.

12. The electrical power distribution device of claim 11 wherein said electrical power distribution device further comprises a printed circuit board that includes at least one control jack and said digital current display.

13. The electrical power distribution device of claim 11 wherein said first one of said intelligent power modules and said second one of said intelligent power modules are of like construction.

14. The electrical power distribution device of claim 11 wherein each of said intelligent power modules comprises an associated power controller board.

15. The electrical power distribution device of claim 13 wherein a first said power controller board associated with said first one of said intelligent power modules serves as a gateway and is daisy chain connected, via serial cables, to power controller boards associated with said other intelligent power modules.

16. The electrical power distribution device of claim 15 wherein said power controller boards communicate with one another to coordinate actions, and wherein each power control board includes associated control ports and independently stores user configuration data for its associated control ports.

17. The electrical power distribution device of claim 15 comprising at least one microprocessor associated with said plurality of intelligent power modules, said at least one microprocessor containing at least one stored program which, upon execution, detects wherein said daisy chain each power control board is located.

18. The electrical power distribution device of claim 15 wherein each of said intelligent power modules includes at least one associated microprocessor having at least one associated stored program which, upon execution, detects where in the daisy chain its respective power control board is located.

19. The electrical power distribution device of claim 18 further comprising an inter-IC (I2C) peripheral board that includes a microcontroller with a serial connection to an I2C control bus.

20. The electrical power distribution device of claim 11 further comprising an inter-IC (I2C) peripheral board that includes a microcontroller with a serial connection to an I2C control bus.