Distribution of universal DC power in buildings

• US 20070029879A1
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Flexsil, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Flexsil, Inc.
• Inventors: Eldredge, James
• Application Number:
  US11/198,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20070029879A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/18
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/08 Three-wire systems; Systems having more than three wires

Abstract

Two embodiments for distributing DC power in a building are provided. In the first embodiment, a centralized DC power converter is connected to the building'"'"'s standard AC power wiring. The centralized DC power converter generates DC power for at least one DC-powered electronic device. The DC power is routed to DC outlets throughout the building over DC conductor sets. A second embodiment embeds a DC power converter in the outlet, which connects to standard AC power wiring. The embedded DC power converter then generates DC power for at least one DC-powered electronic device. A DC power outlet is also provided which may comprise one or more DC power receptacles or DC power cords and plugs, one or more status indicator LEDs, a retraction mechanism for each of the DC power cords, a cooling fan, and an embedded DC power converter. The DC power converters may be universal DC power converters.

Claims

1. A DC power distribution system, comprising:

a DC power converter configured to provide DC power to at least one DC-powered electronic device;

at least one DC conductor set for coupling the DC power converter to at least one DC outlet, the DC outlet for connecting the at least one DC-powered electronic device to the DC power distribution system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the DC power converter comprises:

an AC-DC converter for converting AC power to a DC input voltage;

at least one DC-DC power converter coupled to the AC-DC converter for converting the DC input voltage to a DC output voltage; and

a DC power controller coupled to the at least one DC-DC power converter for controlling the DC output voltage to the DC-powered electronic device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the DC power converter comprises a universal DC power controller for controlling the DC power to the at least one DC-powered electronic device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the DC conductor set comprises:

a first conductor for conducting positive voltage to the DC outlet; and

a second conductor for providing a reference voltage to the DC outlet.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the DC-powered electronic device connected to the DC outlet communicates its power request to the DC power converter via the first conductor.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the DC conductor set further comprises a third conductor for controlling a status indicator.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the DC conductor set further comprises a fourth conductor for communicating power requests from a DC-powered electronic device connected to the DC outlet to the DC power converter.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the DC outlet comprises at least one DC receptacle.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the DC outlet further comprises at least one status indicator.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the DC outlet further comprises at least one standard AC receptacle.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the DC outlet comprises at least one DC power plug connected to the DC outlet by a DC power cord.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the DC outlet comprises at least one status indicator.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the DC outlet further comprises a retraction mechanism means to reel the DC power cord into the DC outlet.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the DC outlet further comprises a user accessible button that is pushed to initiate retraction of the DC power cord into the DC outlet.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the DC outlet further comprises at least one AC receptacle.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the DC outlet comprises a selection means allowing the user to select a DC voltage level.

17. A DC power outlet, comprising:

at least one DC receptacle for connecting at least one DC-powered electronic device to a DC power distribution system.

18. The DC power outlet of claim 17, further comprising at least one DC power plug connected to the DC power outlet by a DC power cord.

19. The DC power outlet of claim 18, further comprising at least one status indicator.

20. The DC power outlet of claim 18, further comprising a retraction mechanism to reel the DC power cord into the DC outlet.

21. The DC power outlet of claim 20, further comprising a user accessible button that is pushed to initiate retraction of the DC power cord into the DC outlet.

22. The DC power outlet of claim 21, further comprising at least one AC receptacle.

23. The DC power outlet of claim 17, further comprising at least one DC power converter.

24. The DC power outlet of claim 23, wherein the at least one DC power converter comprises:

a first rectifier and filter means for converting an AC line voltage to a primary DC voltage;

at least one switching transistor for modulating current through a primary winding of an isolation transformer at a higher frequency than the AC line voltage; and

a second rectifier and filter means for converting a modulated voltage induced on a secondary winding of the isolation transformer into a DC input voltage for the embedded DC power converter.

25. The DC power outlet of claim 24, wherein the at least one DC power converter is a universal DC power converter.

26. The DC power outlet of claim 17, further comprising a fan.

27. The DC power outlet of claim 17, further comprising at least one standard mounting bracket for mounting the DC power outlet in a standard in-wall or wall-mounted outlet box.

28. The DC power outlet of claim 17, further comprising a means for connecting standard AC power wiring.

29. The DC power outlet of claim 17, further comprising:

a means for connecting a first conductor carrying a positive DC voltage, and

a means for connecting a second conductor carrying a reference DC voltage.

30. The DC power outlet of claim 29, further comprising a means for connecting at least one conductor for powering a status indicator.

31. The DC power outlet of claim 29, further comprising a means for connecting at least one conductor for communicating power requirements from the DC-powered electronic device to a centralized DC power converter.

32. The DC power outlet of claim 17, further comprising a selection means allowing the user the select a DC voltage level.

33. A centralized DC power converter comprising:

a means to connect the centralized DC power converter to standard AC power;

an AC-DC converter to generate a DC input voltage from the AC power;

at least one DC-DC power converter to convert a DC input voltage to a DC output voltage; and

a means to connect the centralized DC power converter to at least one DC conductor set.

34. The centralized DC power converter of claim 33, further comprising a universal DC power controller coupled to the at least one DC-DC power converter.