Method of facilitating communications across open circuit breaker contacts
US7680561B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 14, 2006 |
| Grant date | Mar 16, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 3, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B2203/5483
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An intelligent power management system that includes a circuit breaker containing a PLC module that spans open contacts of the circuit breaker to provide a communication path for PLC messages between communication paths on each of the line and load sides of the circuit when the contacts are open. The contacts are motorized to permit remote operation through PLC messaging. Coupled to the PLC module is a controller, which controls the opening and closing of the motorized contacts under user control or via an adaptive load management algorithm that reduces peak power consumption and adapts a set of loads to changed power supply conditions. The controller can also dynamically alter operational current and fault threshold levels on a real-time basis based upon circuit requirements or environmental conditions. The algorithm runs a state machine and also manages loads in a limited power source environment such as when loads are powered by a generator.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.