US 6,181,027 B2 · DC power distribution

Abstract

Apparatus and method is disclosed for overcoming the voltage attenuation and ground shifts normally associated with providing DC power to distributed loads from a DC power supply without the need for excessively large conductors, the need to distribute the DC power supply or the need to provide converters at or near each load. Reasonably accurate voltage regulation at each load is provided according to the invention while using low but not insignificant resistance power conductors by providing similarly low resistance voltage sense conductors. The loads are connected between the sense conductors in a distributed fashion. Current approximating that drawn by each load is injected from the power conductors to the sense conductors at or near each load. Dynamic current requirements are supplied by capacitors connected across each load, usually mounted on the load circuit boards. Stability during power up is provided by capacitors connected between each power conductor and it's respective sense conductor at the power supply.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A machine having a DC power supply and a number of DC current consuming loads comprising:

a current supply conductor connected to a current and voltage supplying terminal of the DC power supply;
a sense conductor connected to a voltage sensing terminal of the DC power supply;
a ground conductor connected to a ground terminal of the DC power supply;
a first DC current consuming load connected between the sense conductor and the ground voltage conductor at a first distance from the power supply;
a first current supply resistor connected between the current supply conductor and the sense conductor at substantially the first distance from the power supply;
a second DC current consuming load connected between the sense conductor and the ground voltage conductor at a second distance from the power supply;
a second current supply resistor connected between the current supply conductor and the sense conductor at substantially the second distance from the power supply.

4 more elements

A machine having a DC power supply and a number of DC current consuming devices comprising:

a positive current supply conductor connected to a positive supply terminal of the DC power supply;
a negative current supply conductor connected to a negative supply terminal of the DC power supply;
a positive sense voltage conductor connected to a positive sense voltage terminal of the DC power supply;
a negative sense voltage conductor connected to a negative sense voltage terminal of the DC power supply;
a first DC current consuming device connected between the positive sense conductor and the negative sense conductor at a first distance from the power supply;
a first positive current supply resistor connected between the positive current supply conductor and the positive sense conductor at substantially the first distance from the power supply;
a first negative current supply resistor connected between the negative current supply conductor and the negative sense conductor at substantially the first distance from the power supply;
a second DC current consuming device connected between the positive sense conductor and the negative sense conductor at a second distance from the power supply;
a second positive current supply resistor connected between the positive current supply conductor and the positive sense conductor at substantially the second distance from the power supply;
a second negative current supply resistor connected between the negative current supply conductor and the negative sense conductor at substantially the second distance from the power supply.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

DC power distribution

Life of this patent

DC power distribution

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18