Central management of DC energy devices
AssigneeiLLUMA-Drive Inc.
InventorsDerek Hopkins, Najeeb Khan, Willy Liu, Gary Wagstaffe, David Wayne Mackinnon, Robert Keane
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A direct current (DC) energy and data providing system to various modules associated with loads, wherein the modules are hot swappable in that the modules may be both installed and removed via a standard interface, without powering down the system to provide a simplified network for the management of a DC energy and data for facilitating both upgrade of the system and integration of the system with external systems associated with control, automation and/or security.
Claims19
A system comprising:
- a power supply;
- a cabinet unit;
- and
- a plurality of modules configured to control electricity provided to a corresponding plurality of loads;
- the cabinet unit including:
- a memory;
- a processor;
- an external Interface allowing connection between building automation systems, external sensors and third party lighting networks;
- and
- an interface configured to allow a connection between the plurality of modules and the cabinet unit to, thereby, allow provision of electricity from the power supply to selectively, under control of the processor, provide electricity from the power supply to the plurality of loads.
A method of self-configuring a direct current power supply module, the method comprising:
- increasing a voltage available to a load;
- monitoring a measured current drawn by the load;
- monitoring a measured voltage across the load;
- estimating a first voltage threshold and a second voltage threshold, wherein the first voltage threshold and the second voltage threshold define limits of a linear relationship between rate of change of the measured current relative to the measured voltage;
- determining a particular voltage between the first voltage threshold and the second voltage threshold;
- selecting an optimum current as a measured current associated with the particular voltage;
- and
- storing an indication of the optimum current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.