Electrical Power Distribution System and Method Thereof

• US 20110101783A1
• Filed: 01/10/2011
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hoffman, Peter F.
• Application Number:
  US12/987,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20110101783A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/72
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0029 with safety or protection devices or circuits

Abstract

An electrical power distribution system and method are provided, wherein the system includes a primary generator and a secondary harvester. The primary generator includes a primary coil configured to emit an electromagnetic field when an electrical power is supplied to the primary coil, and a first communication device configured to communicate a signal. The secondary harvester includes a secondary coil configured to supply an electrical power when receiving the emitted electromagnetic field, and a second communication device configured to communicate the signal, such that the first and second communication devices communicate the signal independent from the emitted electromagnetic field.

Claims

1. A power distribution system comprising:

a load having load requirements, the load requirements include a time based schedule of use;

a primary generator having a primary circuit, a primary communication device, and a primary coil, the primary coil emits an electromagnetic field, the primary circuit controlling characteristics of the electromagnetic field according to received power from a power source and the load requirements;

a secondary harvester having a secondary circuit, a secondary communication device and a secondary coil, the secondary coil receives the emitted electromagnetic field, the secondary circuit determines the load requirements of the load and provides power to the load that meets the load requirements, the secondary communication device communicates the load characteristics to the primary communication device of the primary generator; and

a system controller coupled to the primary generator and the secondary harvester.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary communication device communicates with the primary communication device independent of the electromagnetic field.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the load is one or more of an enhanced outlet, an extension cord, a power distributor, and an inductive device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the received power is AC power.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the primary generator receives power at a voltage greater than 220 volts.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary harvester generates AC power.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondary harvester generates DC power.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second primary generator that receives power from the secondary harvester, the second primary generator emits a second electromagnetic field.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising an additional secondary harvester that receives the emitted second electromagnetic field.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a second load that receives power from the additional secondary harvester.

11. A power distribution system comprising:

an attachment device to receive a first electrical power and supply a second electrical power, the supplied electrical power is based upon load requirements communicated from at least one load to the attachment device;

the attachment device includes a secondary harvester having a secondary circuit, a secondary communication device and a secondary coil, the secondary coil receives the first electrical power;

a controller in communication with the attachment device, and configured to command the attachment device to supply the second electrical power; and

a plurality of additional attachment devices, one of the plurality of additional attachment devices configured to receive the first electrical power and supply a third electrical power.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a high voltage distribution that provides the first electrical power.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the high voltage distribution receives a power input at a lower voltage than the provided first electrical power.

14. A method of distributing electrical power, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first electrical power having a first distribution characteristic by a converter;

altering said first distribution characteristic of said first electrical power by said converter;

supplying a second electrical power having a second distribution characteristic different than said first distribution characteristic from said converter; and

supplying a third electrical power having a third distribution characteristic different than said first and second distribution characteristics from said converter.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first distribution characteristic includes a first frequency and the second distribution characteristic includes a second frequency different than the first frequency.

16. The method of any one of claim 15, wherein the first distribution characteristic includes a first voltage and the second distribution characteristic includes a second voltage varied from the first voltage.