US 2025/0155518 A1 · FAULT MANAGED POWER SYSTEMS

Abstract

A fault managed power system (FMPS) and method monitors and detects fault currents in PoE, PFC, and other cables that indicate likely human contact with cable conductors. The level of current detected through the human body combined with a fast response time limits the energy to prevent a person from experiencing ventricular fibrillation, resulting in a so-called touch-safe level. For overload and short-circuit fault protection, the system automatically and immediately removes power from the cables. This limits the amount of energy provided into the fault, thereby maintaining touch-safe operation and also preventing electrical fires and system component protection. The system/method can accomplish this even at voltage levels considerably higher than existing touch-safe standards, for example, Class 2 (below 50 Vac) power supplies. Such a system/method allows the amount of power in applications like PoE and PFC to be safely increased to levels much greater than the current maximum (100 W).

Claims24

Dependent claims

A fault managed power system (FMPS) configured to provide at least 100 Watts of power, the FMPS comprising:

a receiver including a DC/DC converter and a receiver switch that is configured to provide to the DC/DC converter a series of current pulses that would not result in a person going into ventricular fibrillation from an electrical shock;
and
a source controller connected to the receiver by a pair of electrical conductors, the source controller including a source switch configured to connect electrical power from a power source to the pair of electrical conductors,
wherein the source controller is configured to determine whether a leakage current is present on either or both of the electrical conductors during a current-off interval of the series of current pulses, the leakage current being greater than a predetermined current threshold on either or both of the electrical conductors, and
wherein the source controller is further configured to control the source switch to disconnect the power source from the electrical conductors in response to determining that the leakage current is present on either or both of the electrical conductors during the current-off interval of the series of current pulses.

2 more elements

A method of managing fault in a power system operable to provide at least 100 Watts of power, the method comprising:

connecting, at a source controller, electrical power from a power source to a pair of electrical conductors;
receiving, at a receiver, electrical power from the power source on the pair of electric conductors connected to the receiver;
providing, at the receiver, a series of current pulses to a DC/DC converter that would not result in a person going into ventricular fibrillation from an electrical shock;
determining, at the source controller, whether a leakage current is present on either or both of the electrical conductors during a current-off interval of the series of current pulses, the leakage current being greater than a preset current threshold on either or both of the electrical conductors;
and
disconnecting, at the source controller, the power source from the electrical conductors in response to determining that the leakage current is present on either or both of the electrical conductors during the current-off interval of the series of current pulses.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fault managed power systems

Life of this patent

Fault managed power systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24