Method and apparatus for initializing a power distribution circuit
AssigneeGE Aviation Systems LLC
InventorsPeter James Handy, James Angelo Elder, David Alan Elliott, Denis Vaughan Weale
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power distribution node and method of initializing the node, includes a node communication input port and a node communication output port, a first power controller having a first switchable element and a first controller module configured to operate the first switchable element, the first controller module having a first communication input port connected with the node communication input port and a first communication output port, and a second power controller having a second switchable element.
Claims20
A method of initializing a set of power switches in a power distribution system, the method comprising:
- A) obtaining, by a power switch controller module in a sequence of the power switches, a discovery message on a non-addressable data pathway;
- B) broadcasting on an addressable data bus, by the power switch controller module, an identity of the power switch;
- C) transmitting the discovery message to another power switch controller module in the sequence of the power switches by way of the non-addressable data pathway;
- and
- D) recording, by the system controller module, the broadcasted identity of the power switch.
A method of initializing a set of power switches in a power distribution system, the method comprising:
- A) transmitting, by a system controller module, a discovery message on a non-addressable and sequentially arranged data pathway, to the set of power switches;
- B) obtaining, by a power switch in the data pathway sequence, the discovery message;
- C) broadcasting on an addressable data bus, by the power switch controller module, an identity of the power switch, the addressable data bus is connected with the system controller module and the set of power switches;
- D) transmitting, by the power switch, the discovery message to the next power switch in the data pathway sequence;
- and
- E) recording, by the system controller module, the broadcasted identity of the power switch.
A power distribution node comprising:
- a node communication input port and a node communication output port;
- a first power controller having a first switchable element and a first controller module configured to operate the first switchable element, the first controller module having a first communication input port connected with the node communication input port and a first communication output port;
- and
- a second power controller having a second switchable element and a second controller module configured to operate the second switchable element, the second controller module having a second communication input port connected with the first communication output port and a second communication output port connected with the node communication output port;
- wherein the first and second power controllers are adapted to broadcast identifying information on a broadcast-type communication bus, different from the first and second communication input and output ports, in response to a discovery message.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.