System and method for storing and distributing DC power

• US 9,711,997 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2015
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Clover Design, LLC
• Original Assignee: Blue Clover Design, LLC
• Inventors: Raghavan, Arvind, Staples, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Wells, Kenneth B
• Application Number:
  US14/639,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20150256031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 108 5002
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/06 Two-wire systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00002 characterised by monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/00 Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting

Abstract

A system and method for storing and distributing DC power, comprising: a first desk with a horizontal desktop surface and vertical support surfaces, batteries, a charging circuit with an AC to DC power converter, one AC power input channel, one DC power input channel, and DC power output channels; a second desk with a horizontal desktop surface and vertical support surfaces, batteries, a charging circuit with an AC to DC power converter, one AC power input channel, one DC power input channel, and DC power output channels; and electrical information processors adapted to the charging circuits to regulate and allocate DC power between batteries and DC power output channels within a chain of electrically connected desks by measuring and controlling charges and electric currents from charging circuits to batteries, from charging circuits to DC power output channels, and from batteries to DC output channels.

Claims

1. A DC power distribution system, comprising:

a first desk with a horizontal desktop surface and vertical support surfaces, at least one battery, a charging circuit with an AC to DC power converter, at least one AC power input channel, at least one DC power input channel, and at least one DC power output channel;

a second desk with a horizontal desktop surface and vertical support surfaces, at least one battery, a charging circuit with an AC to DC power converter, at least one AC power input channel, at least one DC power input channel, and at least DC power output channels; and

at least one electrical information processor connected to the charging circuits with an AC to DC power converter to regulate and allocate DC power between at least one battery and at least one DC power output channel within a chain of electrically connected desks, including a first desk and a second desk, by measuring and controlling charges and electric currents from charging circuits with an AC to DC power converter to at least one battery, from charging circuits to at least one DC power output channel, and from at least one battery to at least one DC output channel.

2. A DC power distribution system, comprising:

a first desk with a charging circuit with an AC to DC power converter, at least one battery, at least one AC power input channel, at least one DC power input channel, and at least one DC power output channel;

a second desk electrically connected to the first desk with a second charging circuit with an AC to DC power converter, at least one battery, at least one AC power input channel, at least one DC power input channel, and at least one DC power output channel; and

with an AC to DC power converter to regulate and allocate DC power between at least one battery and at least one DC power output channel within a chain of electrically connected desks.

3. A DC power distribution system as in claim 2, wherein the first and second desk each comprise a horizontal desktop surface and vertical support surfaces.

4. A DC power distribution system as in claim 3, wherein the first and second desk each comprise at least one AC power input channel and at least one DC power input channel.

5. A DC power distribution system as in claim 4, wherein at least one AC power input channel and at least one DC power input channel face outward from the same vertical support surface of the desk, a single DC power output channel faces outward from another vertical support surface of the desk, and at least one DC power output channel faces outward from the horizontal desktop surface.

6. A DC power distribution system as in claim 2, wherein at least one electrical information processor are controlled by operating instructions from a cloud management system that receives electrical charge information from the chain of desks.

7. A DC power distribution system as in claim 6, wherein a first electrical information processor in the first desk sends operating instructions to a second electrical information processor in the second desk.

8. A method for storing and distributing DC power among a chain of electrically connected desks, comprising:

providing a first desk with a first charging circuit for converting AC power to DC power;

providing an electrical connection between the first charging circuit and at least one battery, at least one AC power input channel, at least one DC power input channel, and at least one DC power output channel;

providing a second desk with a second charging circuit for converting AC power to DC power;

providing an electrical connection between the second charging circuit and at least one battery, at least one AC power input channel, at least one DC power input channel, and at least one DC power output channel;

providing an electrical connection between the first charging circuit to the second charging circuit; and

responsive to operating instructions for regulating and allocating DC power within a chain of electrically connected desks, measuring and controlling charges and electric currents between charging circuits, at least one battery, and at least one DC power output channel, wherein the chain of electrically connected desks comprise the first desk and the second desk.

9. A method for storing and distributing DC power as in claim 8, wherein the first desk is the only desk in the chain of desks that converts AC power to DC power.

10. A method for storing and distributing DC power as in claim 9, wherein the first desk converts AC power from an electrical grid powered by a renewable energy source.

11. A method for storing and distributing DC power as in claim 8, wherein the operating instructions for regulating and allocating DC power are measured and controlled by a network of processors that receives charge information from at least one battery and at least one DC power output channel within the chain of electrically connected desks.

12. A method for storing and distributing DC power as in claim 11, wherein the operating instructions regulate and allocate DC power by supplying DC power from the charging circuits to at least one battery or from the charging circuits to the at least one DC power output channel or from at least one battery to the at least one DC output channel.

13. A method for storing and distributing DC power as in claim 12, wherein the operating instructions have priority in that order.

14. A method for storing and distributing DC power as in claim 8, wherein operating instructions for regulating and allocating electrical power are automatically controlled by a cloud management system that receives electric charge information and sends the operating instructions to charging circuits within a chain of desks, including the first desk and the second desk.

15. A method for storing and distributing DC power as in claim 14, wherein a first charging circuit sends operating instructions to a second charging circuit within a chain of desks, including a first desk and a second desk.

16. A method for storing and distributing DC power as in claim 8, wherein operating instructions for regulating and allocating DC power are manually controlled from the desks, including the first desk and the second desk.

17. A method for storing and distributing DC power as in claim 8, wherein operating instructions for regulating and allocating DC power are manually controlled from a wireless device.