# US 10,371,727 B2 · Dynamic sensitivity adjustment for ADC measurements > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,727 B2 - Document ID: US10371727B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/897,465 - Filed: 2013-06-12 - Published: 2016-05-19 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-12 - Assignees: Schneider Electric It Corporation - Applicants: Schneider Electric It Corporation - Inventors: Steven M. Watson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371727B2 ## CPC - G01R 19/257: using analogue/digital converters of the type with comparison of different reference values with the value of voltage or current, e.g. using step-by-step method - G05F 1/625: wherein it is irrelevant whether the variable actually regulated is AC or DC - G06F 1/26: Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) - G06F 1/3296: by lowering the supply or operating voltage - G01R 21/133: by using digital technique - G01R 35/005: {Calibrating; Standards or reference devices, e.g. voltage or resistance standards, "golden" references (G01R33/0035, G01R35/002 take precedence)} - Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - G05F: SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract Systems and methods of measuring dynamic signals for power distribution units. In one embodiment, a power distribution unit (PDU) includes an analog to digital converter (ADC) including a plurality of channels, each channel corresponding to a respective outlet of a plurality of outlets of the PDU. The PDU further includes a microprocessor coupled to the ADC and configured to measure a scale of a signal output from a first channel of the ADC, compare the scale of the signal to a sensitivity threshold, and select, for a first outlet corresponding to the first channel, a reference voltage of a plurality of reference voltages for input to the ADC based on a result of comparing. Various embodiments allow using an ADC to measure low level outlet currents of less than around 300 mA in addition to high level currents such as around 20 A. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of measuring dynamic signals using an analog to digital converter (ADC) in a power distribution unit (PDU), the method comprising acts of: associating a plurality of outlets of the PDU with a plurality of channels of the ADC; providing a plurality of reference voltages; measuring a scale of a signal output from a first channel of the ADC; comparing the scale of the signal to a sensitivity threshold; and selecting, for a first outlet corresponding to the first channel, a reference voltage of the plurality of reference voltages for input to the ADC based on a result of the comparing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising after selecting a reference voltage, determining a measured value from the signal output from the first channel and applying a calibration value to the measured value based on the reference voltage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a plurality of sensitivity thresholds, each sensitivity threshold corresponding to a respective reference voltage of the plurality of reference voltages. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sensitivity threshold is based on a current reference voltage of the plurality of reference voltages. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising measuring the scale of the signal output from the first channel of the ADC based on the current reference voltage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the sensitivity threshold includes a threshold range and comparing further includes determining whether the scale of the signal is within the threshold range, the method further comprising switching from using the current reference voltage to a different reference voltage in response to a determination that the scale of the signal is outside the threshold range. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: switching from using the current reference voltage to a different reference voltage that is lower than the current reference voltage in response to a determination that the scale of the signal is less than or equal to a lower bound of the threshold range; and switching from using the current reference voltage to a different reference voltage that is higher than the current reference voltage in response to a determination that the scale of the signal is greater than or equal to an upper bound of the threshold range. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the signal corresponds to a value of current through the first outlet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a microprocessor coupled to the ADC and using the microprocessor to perform the acts of measuring, comparing and selecting. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising calibrating the microprocessor based on the reference voltage and measuring the scale of a second signal output from the first channel of the ADC based on the reference voltage using the calibrated microprocessor. ### Claim 11 A power distribution unit (PDU) comprising: an input configured to receive input power from an input power source; a plurality of outlets configured to provide output power from the input power; an analog to digital converter (ADC) including a plurality of channels; a microprocessor coupled to the ADC and configured to: measure a scale of a signal output from a first channel of the ADC, compare the scale of the signal to a sensitivity threshold, and select, for a first outlet corresponding to the first channel, a reference voltage of a plurality of reference voltages for input to the ADC based on a result of comparing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The PDU of claim 11, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to measure the scale of the signal based on a current reference voltage of the plurality of reference voltages and the sensitivity threshold is based on the current reference voltage. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The PDU of claim 12, wherein the sensitivity threshold includes a threshold range and the microprocessor is further configured to: determine whether the scale of the signal is within the threshold range, and switch from the current reference voltage to a different reference voltage in response to a determination that the scale of the signal is outside the threshold range. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The PDU of claim 13, wherein the different reference voltage is lower than the current reference voltage in response to a determination that the scale of the signal is less than or equal to a lower bound of the threshold range, and the different reference voltage is higher than the current reference voltage in response to a determination that the scale of the signal is greater than or equal to an upper bound of the threshold range. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The PDU of claim 11, further comprising: a reference voltage switch configured to receive the plurality of reference voltages and a control signal indicative of the selected reference voltage and to provide the selected reference voltage to the ADC; and a memory configured to store a plurality of sets of calibration values, each set of calibration values corresponding to a respective reference voltage of the plurality of reference voltages; wherein the microprocessor is further configured to receive a set of calibration values corresponding to the selected reference voltage. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The PDU of claim 11, wherein the signal corresponds to a value of current through the first outlet. ### Claim 17 A power distribution unit (PDU) comprising: an input configured to receive input power from an input power source; a plurality of outlets configured to provide output power; an analog to digital converter (ADC) including a plurality of channels; means for measuring, for each outlet of the plurality of outlets, a value output by a respective channel of the ADC and corresponding to a value of current through the outlet and for selecting a reference voltage for input to the ADC based on the value measured. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The PDU of claim 17, wherein the means for measuring is configured to switch from a current reference voltage to the selected reference voltage in response to a determination that the value measured is outside a threshold range of the current reference voltage. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The PDU of claim 18, wherein the selected reference voltage is lower than the current reference voltage in response to a determination that the value measured is less than or equal to a lower bound of the threshold range, and the selected reference voltage is higher than the current reference voltage in response to a determination that the value measured is greater than or equal to an upper bound of the threshold range. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The PDU of claim 17, further comprising means for calibrating the means for measuring based on the reference voltage.