Networked, channelized power distribution, monitor and control for security and life safety applications
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a power distribution bus;
a plurality of power distribution channels, each power distribution channel comprising;
an input terminal, for connection to an external access control device that is external from the apparatus, to receive a control input signal therefrom;
an optical coupler, comprising an optical coupler input, where the optical coupler input is the power distribution channel input terminal, the optical coupler input operative to be connected to an external access control device that is external from the apparatus, to receive a control input signal therefrom, and an optical coupler output;
an output device, comprising a power input operatively coupled to the power distribution bus, a control input, and an output for connection to an external controlled device that is external from the apparatus;
a controller, operatively coupled to each power distribution channel, such that for each power distribution channel, the controller comprises;
a first input, operatively coupled to the optical coupler output, the first input operative to receive a control input signal from an external access control device that is external from the apparatus;
a second input operatively coupled to the output device power input;
a third input operatively coupled to the output device output;
a control output operatively coupled to the output device control input, the controller operative to;
receive an access control input signal from an external access control device at the corresponding input terminal of each power distribution channel;
provide a control signal to the output device of each power distribution channel, in response to a corresponding access control input signal at the corresponding power distribution channel input terminal, such that each power distribution channel provides a control output signal at the output device output according to requirements of a corresponding external controlled device that corresponds to the respective power distribution channel;
determine that a particular controlled device corresponding to a particular power distribution channel is not operating within a required voltage range or a required current range; and
send a warning message to a remote device over a network interface identifying the particular controlled device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus includes a plurality of power distribution control output channels operatively coupled to at least one power source, and comprising an access control input from an access control device, and a control output for a controlled device. A controller receives an access control input signal for each power distribution control output channel and provides a control signal to each power distribution control output channel such that each power distribution control output channel provides a control output signal according to requirements of a corresponding controlled device. The controller can individually isolate one or more power distribution control output channels from the at least one power source such that the control output signal is removed from the corresponding controlled device, while any other power distribution control output channels coupled to the same power source continues to operate without interruption.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a power distribution bus; a plurality of power distribution channels, each power distribution channel comprising; an input terminal, for connection to an external access control device that is external from the apparatus, to receive a control input signal therefrom; an optical coupler, comprising an optical coupler input, where the optical coupler input is the power distribution channel input terminal, the optical coupler input operative to be connected to an external access control device that is external from the apparatus, to receive a control input signal therefrom, and an optical coupler output; an output device, comprising a power input operatively coupled to the power distribution bus, a control input, and an output for connection to an external controlled device that is external from the apparatus; a controller, operatively coupled to each power distribution channel, such that for each power distribution channel, the controller comprises; a first input, operatively coupled to the optical coupler output, the first input operative to receive a control input signal from an external access control device that is external from the apparatus; a second input operatively coupled to the output device power input; a third input operatively coupled to the output device output; a control output operatively coupled to the output device control input, the controller operative to; receive an access control input signal from an external access control device at the corresponding input terminal of each power distribution channel; provide a control signal to the output device of each power distribution channel, in response to a corresponding access control input signal at the corresponding power distribution channel input terminal, such that each power distribution channel provides a control output signal at the output device output according to requirements of a corresponding external controlled device that corresponds to the respective power distribution channel; determine that a particular controlled device corresponding to a particular power distribution channel is not operating within a required voltage range or a required current range; and send a warning message to a remote device over a network interface identifying the particular controlled device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus comprising:
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a power distribution bus; a plurality of power distribution channels, each power distribution channel comprising; an input terminal, for connection to an external access control device that is external from the apparatus, to receive a control input signal therefrom; an output device, comprising a power input operatively coupled to the power distribution bus, a control input, and an output for connection to an external controlled device that is external from the apparatus; a controller, operatively coupled to each power distribution channel, such that for each power distribution channel, the controller comprises; a first input, operative to receive a control input signal from an external access control device that is external from the apparatus; a second input operatively coupled to the output device power input; a third input operatively coupled to the output device output; a control output operatively coupled to the output device control input, the controller operative to; receive an access control input signal from an external access control device at the corresponding input terminal of each power distribution channel; provide a control signal to the output device of each power distribution channel, in response to a corresponding access control input signal at the corresponding power distribution channel input terminal, such that each power distribution channel provides a control output signal at the output device output according to requirements of a corresponding external controlled device that corresponds to the respective power distribution channel; determine that a particular controlled device corresponding to a particular power distribution channel is not operating within a required voltage range or a required current range; send a warning message to a remote device over a network interface identifying the particular controlled device; and data manager and interface logic, operatively coupled to the controller and to the power distribution bus, the data manager and interface logic operative to; obtain status information from the controller for each power distribution channel, including measured parameters and alert condition notifications related to power distribution channel faults, controlled device faults or potential controlled device failure; write and email a report conforming to a plurality of configurable report settings in response to occurrence of an alert condition or a specified reporting interval; obtain settings updates for each power distribution channel from a remote device over a network interface port; and provide the settings updates to the controller. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A method of operating a power management system, comprising:
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receiving, at a power distribution channel input, from an external access control device, a corresponding access control signal for each power distribution channel of a plurality of power distribution channels; and providing, by a controller, a control signal to each power distribution channel, in response to each power distribution channel'"'"'s corresponding received access control signal, such that each power distribution channel provides a control output signal according to requirements of a corresponding external controlled device that corresponds to the respective power distribution channel; determining, by the controller, that a particular controlled device corresponding to a particular power distribution channel is not operating within a required voltage range or a required current range; and sending a warning message to a remote device over a network interface identifying the particular controlled device; individually isolating a power distribution channel from a power distribution bus such that the control output signal is removed from the corresponding controlled device, while any other power distribution channel of the plurality of power distribution channels that is operatively coupled to the same power distribution bus continues to operate without interruption; obtaining, by a data manager and interface logic component operatively coupled to the controller, status information for each power distribution channel, including measured parameters and alert condition notifications related to power distribution channel faults, external controlled device faults or potential controlled device failure; writing and emailing a report conforming to a plurality of configurable report settings in response to occurrence of an alert condition or a specified reporting interval; obtaining settings updates for each power distribution channel from a remote device over a network interface port; and providing the settings updates to the controller for controlling each power distribution channel according to the setting updates. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification