Digital Power Distribution System with a Non-Linear Load

A digital power distribution system for regulating transfer of energy via transmission lines from a source side including a power source and source terminals electrically coupled with the power source to a load side including load terminals, the power distribution system comprising:

• a) a source sensor configured to provide feedback that includes at least a signal indicative of voltage across the source terminals;
• b) a non-linear load, wherein the non-linear load is on the load side and is electrically coupled with the load terminals to draw electrical current from the load terminals, wherein the non-linear load is configured such that the electrical current that the non-linear load draws from the load terminals drops by at least an order of magnitude when an applied voltage drops below a non-zero voltage threshold during a sample period in which supply of power from the load terminals to the non-linear load is interrupted, and wherein the digital power distribution system is configured without a disconnect switch between the load terminals and the non-linear load to thereby maintain the non-linear load in electrical contact with the load terminals during the sample period;
• c) a source controller on the source side of the power distribution system configured to receive the feedback from the source sensor and to respond to the feedback and configured to periodically generate control signals;
• d) capacitance configured for storing charge and discharging that charge to the non-linear load during a sample period;
• e) a source disconnect switch, wherein the source disconnect switch is responsive to the control signals from the source controller, and wherein the source controller is configured to periodically interrupt the supply of power to the non-linear load by opening the source disconnect switch to start the sample period via at least one of the control signals, allowing at least the source terminal voltage to be measured during the interruption, and wherein the source controller is configured to be able to close the source disconnect switch at the end of the sample period in via at least one of the other control signals,
• wherein a logic device is implemented in at least the source controller and is configured to:
• generate the control signal to open the source disconnect switch to start the sample period;
• perform the at least one source-terminal voltage measurement when the source disconnect switch is opened, wherein the source-terminal voltage measurement is representative of impedance between the source terminals and a corresponding discharge rate of capacitance between the source terminals;
• determine if the source-terminal voltage measurement falls outside of predetermined high and low limits, wherein the source-terminal voltage measurement being outside of the predetermined high and low limits indicates that there is a foreign object or individual making contact with the source or load terminals or with the transmission line or that there is a failure in the digital power distribution system;
• and
• generate the control signal to close the source disconnect switch at the end of the sample period if the voltage measurement falls within the predetermined high and low limits.