Switched power distribution unit
AssigneeServer Technology, Inc.
InventorWilliam H. Avery
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided in which power control relay switches may be configured to switch at or near a predetermined time during an AC cycle and/or that are configured to control a velocity of an armature of the relay switch during switching. An input power source may provide alternating current (AC) power and a voltage or current level of the AC power may be sensed. A relay controller may switch the relay switch based on a time at which the voltage or current is at or near a zero-crossing. The relay controller may be configured to close the relay switch based on when a voltage of the power input is at a zero-crossing, and is configured to open the relay switch based on when a current of the power input is at a zero-crossing.
Claims23
A power control relay apparatus, comprising:
- a relay housing comprising a power input, a control input, a power output, and a relay switch, the relay switch coupled with the power input, control input, and power output and configured to interrupt power from the power input to the power output in response to the control input;
- a sensor coupled with the power input and configured to output a signal representative of a sensed parameter of an input power source;
- and
- a relay controller coupled with the control input and the sensor, and configured to control one or more of a time for switching the relay switch based on the sensed parameter or a velocity of an armature of the relay switch during switching.
A power distribution apparatus, comprising:
- a housing having a power input and a sensor coupled with the power input that is configured to output a signal representative of a sensed parameter of an input power source;
- a plurality of power outputs disposed in the housing, each connectable in power supply communication with the power input and at least one electronic appliance;
- at least one power control relay coupled with one or more of the plurality of power outputs, the power control relay comprising a relay housing that comprises a switching element;
- and
- a relay controller coupled with the at least one power control relay and the sensor, and configured to control one or more of a time for switching the power control relay based on the sensed parameter or a velocity of an armature of the power control relay during switching.
A power distribution apparatus, comprising:
- a housing having a power input and a sensor coupled with the power input that is configured to output a signal representative of a sensed parameter of an input power source;
- a plurality of power outputs disposed in the housing, each connectable in power supply communication with the power input and at least one electronic appliance;
- a plurality of power control relays each coupled with a respective power output, each power control relay comprising a relay housing that comprises a switching element;
- and
- a relay controller coupled with the power control relays and the sensor, and configured to control one or more of a time for switching each power control relay based on the sensed parameter or a velocity of an armature of the associated power control relay during switching.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.