Method and apparatus for controlling distribution of power
AssigneeAmerican Power Conversion Corporation
InventorsMarlon Galsim, Jinsong Lee, Ray Shen, Xuetao Liu
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Abstract
Aspects of the invention are directed to apparatus and methods for controlling power distribution to a plurality of devices including a primary device and at least one secondary device, the primary device having at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, with the second mode of operation being a lower power mode of operation than the first mode of operation.
Claims21
An apparatus for controlling application of power to a plurality of devices including a master device and at least one controlled device, the apparatus comprising:
- a power inlet constructed and arranged to receive power from a power source;
- a plurality of power outlets including a master power outlet and at least one controlled power outlet;
- a first circuit adapted to sense a characteristic of power delivered to the master power outlet;
- a second circuit adapted to determine a characteristic of a stand-by power consumption level of a device electrically connected to the master power outlet;
- a third circuit adapted to compare the characteristic of power delivered to the master power outlet sensed by the first circuit with the characteristic of the stand-by power consumption level determined by the second circuit;
- and
- a fourth circuit adapted to control a supply of power from the power inlet to the at least one controlled outlet responsive to the comparison performed by the third circuit.
A method of controlling power distribution to a plurality of devices including a master device and at least one controlled device, the master device having at least a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, with the second mode of operation being a lower power mode of operation than the first mode of operation, the method comprising:
- providing power to the master device through a primary outlet;
- sensing at least one characteristic of the power provided through the primary outlet with the master device in the second mode of operation;
- setting a first threshold characteristic of the power provided through the primary outlet based on the sensed characteristic of the power provided through the primary outlet;
- providing power to the at least one controlled device through a secondary outlet;
- measuring an operating characteristic of power provided through the primary outlet;
- and
- controlling power to the at least one controlled device responsive to the measured operating characteristic of power provided through the primary outlet.
An apparatus for controlling application of power to a plurality of devices including a master device and at least one controlled device, the apparatus comprising:
- a power inlet constructed and arranged to receive power from a power source;
- a plurality of power outlets including a master power outlet and at least one controlled power outlet;
- and
- means for determining a characteristic of a stand-by power consumption level of a master device electrically connected to the master power outlet and controlling a supply of power from the power inlet to the at least one controlled power outlet responsive to a comparison of a characteristic of power delivered to the master device with the characteristic of the stand-by power consumption level of the master device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.