# US 10,374,438 B2 · Distributed low voltage power systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,374,438 B2 - Document ID: US10374438B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/803,253 - Filed: 2017-11-03 - Published: 2018-05-03 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-28 - Assignees: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited - Applicants: Cooper Technologies Company - Inventors: James Christopher Andrews; Kenneth Dale Walma; William Lee Shiley; Liang Fang; James Moan; Brian Eugene Elwell; Anthony Audenzio Mangiaracina; Michael Troy Winslett - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10374438B2 ## CPC - H02J 4/00: Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as AC or DC; Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks combining AC and DC sections or sub-networks (arrangements using intermediate DC-AC-DC conversion H02J1/002; arrangements using high-voltage DC [HVDC] links H02J3/36) - H05B 47/10: Controlling the light source - H05B 47/165: following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC] - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A distributed low voltage power system is disclosed herein. The system can include a power source generating line voltage power, and a first line voltage cable having a first line voltage end and a second line voltage end, where the first line voltage end is coupled to the power source. The system can also include a first power distribution module (PDM) comprising a first power transfer device and a first output channel. The system can further include a first LV cable having a first LV end and a second LV end, where the first LV end is coupled to the first output channel of the first PDM. The system can also include at least one first LV device operating on the first LV signal, where the second LV end of the first LV cable is coupled to the at least one first LV device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A distributed low voltage power system, comprising: a power source generating line voltage power; a first line voltage cable comprising a first line voltage end and a second line voltage end, wherein the first line voltage end is coupled to the power source; a controller comprising a plurality of controller output channels; a first power distribution module (PDM) coupled to the power source and a first controller output channel of the plurality of controller output channels of the controller, wherein the first PDM comprises a first power transfer device, wherein the second line voltage end of the first line voltage cable is coupled to the first PDM, wherein the first PDM receives the input power from the power source through the first line voltage cable, wherein the first power transfer device generates, based on instructions from the controller, a first low-voltage (LV) signal comprising a first instruction and a second LV signal comprising a second instruction, and wherein the first PDM comprises a first PDM output channel; and at least one first LV device coupled to the first PDM output channel of the first PDM, wherein the at least one first LV device operates using the first instruction upon receiving the first LV signal, and wherein the at least one first LV device ignores the second LV signal based on the second instruction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, further comprising: at least one second LV device coupled to the first PDM output channel of the first PDM, wherein the at least one first LV device operates using the second instruction upon receiving the second LV signal, and wherein the at least one first LV device ignores the first LV signal based on the first instruction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, further comprising: a second line voltage cable having a third line voltage end and a fourth line voltage end, wherein the second line voltage end is coupled to the power source; a second PDM coupled to the power source and a second controller output channel of the plurality of controller output channels of the controller, wherein the second PDM comprises a second power transfer device, wherein the fourth line voltage end of the second line voltage cable is coupled to the second PDM, wherein the second PDM receives the input power from the power source through the second line voltage cable, wherein the second power transfer device generates, based on instructions from the controller, a second LV signal comprising a first instruction and a second LV signal comprising a second instruction, and wherein the second PDM comprises a second PDM output channel; and at least one second LV device coupled to the first PDM output channel of the first PDM, wherein the at least one second LV device operates using the second instruction upon receiving the second LV signal, and wherein the at least one second LV device ignores the first LV signal based on the first instruction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, wherein the at least one first LV device comprises at least one first point-of-load (POL) controller that tracks activity of the at least one first LV device and that is coupled to the first PDM output channel of the first PDM. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The distributed low voltage power system of claim 4, wherein the first PDM further comprises a PDM controller communicably coupled to the at least one first POL controller, wherein the PDM controller is configured to send local data to and receive the local data from the at least one first POL controller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, further comprising: a wireless communication link that couples the first PDM output channel of the first PDM to the at least one first LV device, wherein the at least one first LV device receives the first LV signal from the first PDM using the first wireless communication link. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The distributed low voltage power system of claim 6, wherein the wireless communication link transfers power and communication signals between the first PDM and the at least one first LV device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The distributed low voltage power system of claim 6, further comprising: at least one multiple output channel point-of-load (POL) control module disposed between the first PDM and the at least one first LV device, wherein the at least one multiple output channel POL control module uses the wireless communication link. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, wherein the controller is coupled to the first PDM using a wireless communication link. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, wherein the first LV signal is direct current power. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, wherein the at least one first LV device qualifies as a Class 2 device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, wherein the at least one LV device is used for lighting applications. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, wherein the first LV signal and the second LV signal are based on instructions from the controller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The distributed low voltage power system of claim 1, wherein the controller and the first PDM communicate using at least one wireless communication link. ### Claim 15 A power distribution module (PDM), comprising: an input portion configured to receive: high-voltage (HV) power from a power source; and control signals from a controller; a power transfer device electrically coupled to the input portion, wherein the power transfer device is configured to generate a first low-voltage (LV) signal comprising a first instruction and a second LV signal comprising a second instruction using the HV power and the control signals; an output section electrically coupled to the power transfer device and comprising a plurality of channels, wherein each channel of the plurality of channels of the output section is configured to deliver the first LV signal and the second LV signal to at least one LV device; and a PDM controller configured to send local data to and receive the control signals from the controller using at least one wireless communication link, wherein the at least one wireless communication link is further configured to transfer the first LV signal and the second LV signal to the at least one LV device, wherein the at least one LV device operates using the first LV signal based on the first instruction, and wherein the at least one LV device ignores the second LV signal based on the second instruction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The power distribution module of claim 15, wherein the first LV signal comprises power and communications. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The power distribution module of claim 15, wherein each channel of the plurality of channels of the output section is further configured to receive a status of the at least one LV device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The power distribution module of claim 15, wherein the output section sends the first LV signal and the second LV signal to the at least one LV device using at least one wireless communication link.