In-line bypass module and line drop compensating power converter
AssigneeABB Schweiz AG
InventorBrandon Michael Kamphaus
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for compensating a voltage line drop includes a shelving unit comprising at least one receiving port, wherein the at least one receiving port includes a connector. The system also includes a power converter operable to generate a line drop compensated output voltage, and a bypass module physically coupled between the connector and the power converter, wherein the bypass module is operable to selectively switch between providing the line drop compensated output voltage from the power converter to a load and bypassing the power converter to provide an uncompensated output voltage to the load.
Claims22
A system for compensating a voltage line drop, the system comprising:
- a shelving unit comprising at least one receiving port, said at least one receiving port comprising a unit connector;
- a power converter operable to generate a line drop compensated output voltage;
- and
- a bypass module including a pair of bypass module connectors disposed on opposing sides of said bypass module, said bypass module configured to selectively slidably engage, via said bypass module connectors, said unit connector and said power converter to establish a physical and electrical coupling between said shelving unit and said power converter, said bypass module operable to selectively switch between providing the line drop compensated output voltage from said power converter to a load and bypassing said power converter to provide an uncompensated output voltage to the load;
- wherein said power converter is operable to selectively slidably engage said shelving unit via said unit connector to provide the line drop compensated output voltage directly thereto when said bypass module is removed.
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A bypass module for use with a power converter, said bypass module arranged to physically engage in-line between a connector of a shelving unit and the power converter, said bypass module comprising:
- a first side configured to receive an input voltage from a power supply;
- a second side configured to receive a line drop compensated output voltage from the power converter;
- and
- a bypass switch electrically coupled between said first side and said second side, said bypass switch operable to selectively switch between directing the line drop compensated output voltage from the power converter to a load and bypassing the power converter to direct an uncompensated output voltage to the load, wherein said bypass module, said power converter, and said power supply are configured to slidably and selectively engage one another such that said power converter is operable to directly engage said power supply when the bypass module is removed.
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A method for physically interposing a bypass module between a connector of a shelving unit and a power converter, said method comprising:
- slidably and selectively coupling a first side of the bypass module to the connector of the shelving unit;
- slidably and selectively coupling the power converter to a second side of the bypass module, wherein the bypass module includes a bypass switch electrically coupled between the first side of the bypass module and the second side of the bypass module, wherein the bypass switch is configured to:
- relay an input voltage received from a power supply from the first side to the second side for conversion by the power converter to a line drop compensated output voltage;
- relay the line drop compensated output voltage received from the power converter to the first side when the power converter is functional;
- and
- relay the input voltage received from the power supply as an uncompensated output voltage back to the first side in response to a loss of functionality of the power converter;
- wherein the power converter is operable to directly engage the power supply when the bypass module is removed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.