Apparatus and method for optimizing power distributed in a broadband signal system

A method for optimizing power distributed in a broadband system, the broadband system including a plurality of nodes coupled for receipt of a broadband signal, the nodes each comprising a power supply having a plurality of power outlets to supply power to a plurality of distribution lines coupled to the nodes, and a combiner for coupling the broadband signal to the power outlets, said method comprising the steps of:

• establishing a plurality of status parameters critical to the optimization of power distribution in the broadband system;
• categorizing said status parameters into a plurality of tasks, each said task of different priority;
• monitoring said status parameters of each said task in the nodes, according to said tasks' priority level;
• detecting a critical change in said status parameters, said critical change indicating a problem in the power supplied to at least one of the distribution lines;
• identifying a source of said critical change;
• and
• modifying an operating parameter of said source to correct said problem in the power supplied to the distribution line.

A method for optimizing power distributed in a broadband system comprising a power supply having a plurality of power outlets to supply power to a plurality of distributions lines, a plurality of inverters each having a memory for storing status parameters and a controller for monitoring said status parameters in said inverter, wherein each controller includes a scheduler that executes a plurality of tasks according to a priority level assigned to each task, said broadband system including a combiner for coupling a broadband signal to the power outlets said method comprising the steps of:

• storing status parameters in the memory of each respective inverter;
• monitoring said status parameters according to the task priority level assigned by the scheduler;
• detecting a change in said status parameters;
• and
• storing control data in the memory of appropriate inverters responsive to said detected change.

A power supply for a power-distribution optimized broadband system, said power supply comprising:

• a rectifier comprising an input for receiving AC power, rectifying means for rectifying said input AC power, and an output for supplying said rectified power, said output comprising a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
• a back-up battery for providing power in case of failure of the rectifier or in case of failure of AC input power;
• said back-up battery comprising a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
• an inverter comprising an input, said input comprising a positive terminal and a negative terminal, said inverter further comprising circuitry for the inversion of a signal supplied to the inverter input, said inversion circuitry comprising a positive terminal and a negative terminal, said inverter including a memory for storing status parameters, said inverter also comprising a power output to supply power to the optimized broadband system;
• and
• a DC auxiliary power source having a DC output for providing auxiliary power to the inverter in case of failure of the rectifier or in case of failure of AC input power, and for charging said back-up battery, said output of said DC auxiliary power source comprising a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
• a first power bus interconnecting the positive terminals of said rectifier output, said inverter's input, said DC auxiliary source output and said back-up battery;
• and
• a second power bus interconnecting the negative terminals of said rectifier output, said inverter's input, said DC auxiliary source output and said back-up battery;
• and
• said inverter further comprising at least one diode for isolating the output of said rectifier from the output of said back-up battery such that said back-up battery is charged independently of said rectifier.

A power supply for a power-distribution optimized broadband system, said power supply comprising:

• a rectifier comprising an input for receiving AC power, rectifying means for rectifying said input AC power, and an output for supplying said rectified power, said output comprising a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
• a back-up battery for providing power in case of failure of the rectifier or in case of failure of AC input power, said battery comprising a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
• an inverter comprising an input, inversion circuitry comprising a positive terminal and a negative terminal an input, said inverter input further comprising a first positive terminal, a second positive terminal and a negative terminal, said first positive terminal and said second positive terminal of said inverter's input functionally connected to said positive terminal of said inversion circuitry, and said negative terminal or said inverter's input functionally connected to said negative terminal of said inversion circuitry, said inverter also comprising a power output to supply power to the optimized broadband system;
• and
• said inverter further comprising a first diode having an anode and a cathode, said first diode's anode connected to the first positive input terminal of said inverter and said first diode's cathode connected to the positive terminal of said inversion circuitry;
• and
• said inverter further comprising a second diode having an anode and a cathode, said second diode's anode connected to the second positive input terminal of said inverter and said second diode's cathode connected to the positive terminal of said inversion circuitry;
• and
• a DC auxiliary power source having a DC output for providing auxiliary power to the inverter in case of failure of the rectifier, or failure of AC input power;
• and for charging said back-up battery;
• said output of said DC auxiliary power source comprising a positive terminal and a negative terminal;
• a first power bus comprising a first, second and third conductors, said first conductor connecting said positive terminal of said rectifier output to said first positive terminal of said inverter, said second conductor connecting the positive terminals of said DC auxiliary source output and the positive terminal of said back-up battery to said second positive terminal of said inverter, and said third conductor connecting the positive terminal of said DC auxiliary source output to the positive terminal of said rectifier output;
• and
• a second power bus comprising a first, second and third conductors, said first conductor connecting said negative terminal of said rectifier output to said negative terminal of said inverter, said second conductor connecting the negative terminal of said DC auxiliary source output to said negative terminal of said back-up, and said third conductor connecting said negative terminal of said DC auxiliary source output to the negative terminal of said rectifier output;
• and
• wherein, the diode isolation of the output of said rectifier from the output of said DC auxiliary power source allows the continued supply of power to the inverter even in case of failure or servicing of said rectifier, or failure or servicing of said DC auxiliary power source.

A power supply for use in a node of a broadband communications system, said node receiving a broadband signal and said power supply having a plurality of power outlets to supply power to a plurality of distribution lines coupled to said node, said node having a combiner for coupling said broadband signal to each distribution line, said power supply comprising:

• means for establishing a plurality of status parameters associated with power distribution;
• means for categorizing said status parameters into a plurality of tasks, each said task having a different priority;
• means for monitoring said status parameters of each said task in said node according to said task's priority level;
• means for detecting a critical change in said status parameters, said critical change indicating a problem in said power supplied to at least one of said distribution lines;
• means for identifying a source of said critical change;
• means for modifying an operating parameter of said source to correct said problem in said power supplied to said distribution line;
• and
• means for transmitting said status parameters to said broadband system.