# US 2021/0242703 A1 · Power Distribution System

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- Number: US 2021/0242703 A1
- Document ID: US20210242703A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/238,053
- Filed: 2021-04-22
- Published: 2021-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2018-10-25
- Assignees: Corning Optical Communications LLC
- Applicants: Corning Optical Communications LLC
- Inventors: Ami Hazani
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210242703A1

## CPC

- H02J 1/04: Current-controlled supply systems, e.g. constant-current supply systems
- H02J 7/865: {Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply (H02J7/50 takes precedence)}
- G05F 1/46: wherein the variable actually regulated by the final control device is DC (G05F1/625 takes precedence)
- H02J 1/14: Balancing load and power generation in DC networks
- H02J 7/34: Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other DC sources, e.g. providing buffering (H02J7/14 takes precedence)
- H04B 10/25753: {Distribution optical network, e.g. between a base station and a plurality of remote units}
- H02J 7/345: {using capacitors as storage or buffering devices}
- H04W 52/0206: {in access points, e.g. base stations}
- H04W 88/085: {Access point devices with remote components}
- Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- G05F: SYSTEMS FOR REGULATING ELECTRIC OR MAGNETIC VARIABLES
- H04B: TRANSMISSION
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

Distributing higher currents demanded by a power consuming load(s) exceeding overcurrent limits of a current limiter circuit for a power source in a power distribution system. The power distribution system receives and distributes power from the power source to a power consuming load(s). The power distribution circuit is configured to limit current demand on the power source to not exceed a designed source current threshold limit. The power distribution circuit includes an energy storage circuit. The power distribution circuit is configured to charge the energy storage circuit with current supplied by the power source. Current demanded by the power consuming load(s) exceeding the source current threshold limit of the power source is supplied by the energy storage circuit. Thus, limiting current of the power source while supplying higher currents demanded by power consuming load(s) exceeding the source current limits of the power source can both be accomplished.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A power distribution circuit, comprising:
a source power management circuit (PMC) comprising:
a source power input;
a source current limiter circuit coupled to the source power input and a source power output;
the source PMC configured to receive source current of a source power on a source power input from a power source;
the source current limiter circuit configured to limit the source current to a source current threshold limit to generate a limited source current; and
the source PMC further configured to distribute the limited source current on the source power output;
one or more remote PMCs comprising:
a remote power output coupled to a remote unit among one or more remote units;
each of the one or more remote PMCs configured to:
receive a remote current on a remote power input coupled to the source power output based on the limited source current; and
distribute the remote current to the remote unit coupled to the remote power output; and
an energy storage circuit coupled to source power output, the energy storage circuit configured to:
store energy from the limited source current on the source power output in response to a current demand by the one or more remote PMCs being less than the source current threshold limit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The power distribution circuit of claim 1, wherein the energy storage circuit is further configured to not store energy from the limited source current on the source power output in response to the current demand by the one or more remote PMCs being greater than the source current threshold limit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The power distribution circuit of claim 1, wherein the energy storage circuit is configured to store energy from the limited source current on the source power output in response to the current demand by the one or more remote PMCs being less than the limited source current.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The power distribution circuit of claim 1, wherein the energy storage circuit is further configured to not store energy from the limited source current on the source power output in response to the current demand by the one or more remote PMCs being greater than the limited source current.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The power distribution circuit of claim 1, wherein further in response to the current demand by the one or more remote PMCs being greater than the limited source current, the energy storage circuit is further configured to discharge stored energy on the source power output.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The power distribution circuit of claim 1, wherein:
the source PMC further comprises a source voltage sensing circuit coupled to the source power output;
the source voltage sensing circuit is configured to:
sense a source voltage on the source power output; and
generate a source voltage state signal on a source voltage state output based on the sensed source voltage; and
the one or more remote PMCs each further comprise:
a remote control circuit comprising a remote voltage state input coupled the source voltage state output;
a remote switch coupled to the remote power output and between the remote power input and the remote power output; and
the remote control circuit configured to:
cause the remote switch to be opened to decouple the distribution of the remote current to the remote power output in response to the source voltage state signal indicating a voltage across the energy storage circuit less than the source voltage.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The power distribution circuit of claim 6, wherein the voltage across the energy storage circuit is less than the source voltage when the energy storage circuit is not fully charged.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The power distribution circuit of claim 6, wherein the remote control circuit is further configured to cause the remote switch to be closed to couple the distribution of the remote current to the remote power output in response to the voltage across the energy storage circuit being equal to the source voltage.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The power distribution circuit of claim 8, wherein the voltage across the energy storage circuit is equal to the source voltage when the energy storage circuit is fully charged.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The power distribution circuit of claim 8, wherein the one or more remote PMCs each further comprise:
a remote current sensor circuit coupled to the remote power input, the remote current sensor circuit configured to generate a remote current signal on a remote current state output coupled to the remote control circuit; and
the remote control circuit is further configured to cause the remote switch to be opened to decouple the distribution of the remote current to the remote power output in response to the remote current signal indicating a current level of the remote current greater than a remote current threshold.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The power distribution circuit of claim 10, wherein the remote control circuit is further configured to cause the remote switch to be opened to decouple the distribution of the remote current to the remote power output in response to the source voltage state signal indicating a voltage level of the source voltage greater than a source voltage, and the remote current signal indicating a current level of the remote current greater than the remote current threshold.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The power distribution circuit of claim 11, wherein the remote control circuit is further configured to periodically check a remote current state in response to the remote current signal indicating a current level of the remote current greater than the remote current threshold.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The power distribution circuit of claim 1, wherein the one or more remote PMCs each further comprise a remote current limiter circuit coupled to the remote power input and between the remote power input and the remote power output, the remote current limiter circuit configured to:
limit the received remote current to a limited remote current; and
distribute the limited remote current to the remote unit coupled to the remote power output.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The power distribution circuit of claim 13, wherein the remote current limiter circuit comprises a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) resistor circuit.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The power distribution circuit of claim 10, wherein the one or more remote PMCs each further comprise:
a remote current sensor circuit coupled to the remote power output, the remote current sensor circuit configured to generate a remote current signal on a remote current state output coupled to the remote control circuit;
a remote current limiter circuit coupled to the remote current sensor circuit and the remote power output, the remote current limiter circuit configured to:
limit the received remote current to a limited remote current; and
distribute the limited remote current to the remote unit coupled to the remote power output; and
a remote current limiter bypass switch coupled to the remote power output;
the remote control circuit further configured to:
cause the remote current limiter bypass switch to be opened to cause the remote current limiter circuit to limit the received remote current to the limited remote current, in response to the voltage across the energy storage circuit being equal to the source voltage and the remote current signal indicating a remote non-overcurrent state.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The power distribution circuit of claim 15, wherein the remote control circuit is further configured to cause the remote current limiter bypass switch to be closed to bypass the remote current to the remote power output in response to the remote control circuit causing the remote switch to be closed and a passage of a defined time after the the remote control circuit causes the remote switch to be closed.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The power distribution circuit of claim 15, wherein the remote control circuit is further configured to cause the remote current limiter bypass switch to be opened to cause the remote current limiter circuit to limit the received remote current to the limited remote current in response to the remote current signal indicating a remote non-overcurrent state.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The power distribution circuit of claim 1, wherein:
the source PMC further comprises:
a current measurement circuit coupled to the source power input, the current measurement circuit configured to measure the source current at the source power input and generate a current measurement on a current measurement output based on measured source current at the source power input; and
a safety control circuit configured to:
determine if the measured source current exceeds a predefined current threshold level; and
in response to the measured source current exceeding the predefined current threshold level, communicate a distribution power connection control signal to the one or more remote units to cause the one or remote units to decouple from the one or more remote power outputs of the respective one or more remote PMCs.

### Claim 19

A method of distributing power to one or more remote units in a power distribution system, comprising:
receiving a source current of a source power from a power source;
limiting the source current to a source current threshold limit to generate a limited source current;
distributing the limited source current to at least one remote power management circuit (PMC) among one or more remote PMCs;
receiving a remote current at each remote PMC among the at least one remote PMC based on the limited source current;
distributing the remote current to a remote unit coupled to the remote PMC in response to a current demand by the at least one remote PMC among the one or more remote PMCs;
storing energy from the limited source current in an energy storage circuit coupled to the at least one remote PMC in response to the current demand by the at least one remote PMC among the one or more remote PMCs being less than the source threshold current limit; and
discharging stored energy in the energy storage circuit in response to the current demand of the at least one remote PMC being greater than the source threshold current limit.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further comprising not storing energy from the limited source current in the energy storage circuit in response to the current demand by the at least one remote PMC being greater than the source current threshold limit.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, comprising storing energy from the limited source current in the energy storage circuit in response to the current demand by the at least one remote PMC being less than the limited source current.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further comprising:
sensing a source voltage of the received source power; and
decoupling the distribution of the remote current to the at least one remote PMC in response a voltage across the energy storage circuit being less than the source voltage of the source power.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, further comprising coupling the distribution of the remote current to the at least one remote PMC in response to the voltage across the energy storage circuit being equal to the source voltage.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, further comprising:
sensing the remote current received by the at least one PMC;
decoupling the distribution of the remote current to the at least one remote PMC in response to a current level of sensed remote current being greater than a remote current threshold.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, further comprising decoupling the distribution of the remote current to the at least one remote PMC in response to a voltage level of the sensed source voltage of the source power being greater than a source voltage, and the current level of the sensed remote current being greater than the remote current threshold.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25, further comprising periodically re-sensing the remote current and decoupling the distribution of the remote current to the at least one remote PMC in response to the current level of sensed remote current being greater than the remote current threshold.

### Claim 27 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, further comprising:
limiting the received remote current at each remote PMC among the at least one remote PMC to a limited remote current; and
distributing the limited remote current to the remote unit coupled to each remote PMC among the at least one remote PMC.

### Claim 28 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, further comprising:
limiting the received remote current at each remote PMC among the at least one remote PMC to a limited remote current;
distributing the limited remote current to the remote unit coupled to each remote PMC among the at least one remote PMC; and
causing the limiting of the received remote current at each remote PMC among the at least one remote PMC, in response to the voltage across the energy storage circuit being equal to the source voltage and the current level of the sensed remote current being greater than the remote current threshold level.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, further comprising bypassing the limiting of the received remote current in response to a remote control circuit after a passage of a defined time after the limiting of the received remote current.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, further comprising not bypassing the limiting of the received remote current in response to the current level of the sensed remote current being less than the remote current threshold.

### Claim at position 31

-43. (canceled)