Current Protection Apparatus and Method

Abstract

A current protection apparatus ( 200 ) and current protection method ( 1000 ) that may include programmable current protection characteristics has been disclosed. A current protection apparatus ( 200 ) may include a power distribution unit ( 230 ) with power distribution outlets (PDO- 1 to PDO- 8 ), each having a corresponding circuit breaker unit (CB 1 to CB 8 ). Each circuit breaker unit (CB 1 to CB 8 ) may operate in response to a processing unit ( 236 ) that can sample current values flowing between a respective power distribution outlet (PDO- 1 to PDO- 8 ) and a load device (LD 1 to LD 8 ). Processing unit 236 may operate under control of software stored on a memory ( 238 ) to control a switching circuit ( 320 ). Current protection characteristics for each circuit breaker unit may be independently programmed and/or altered by a user, for example by way of a computer ( 250 ). In this way, each power distribution outlet (PDO- 1 to PDO- 8 ) may have current rating characteristics independently provided for a particular load device (LD 1 to LD 8 ).

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method for monitoring current for power management, comprising the steps of:
 sampling a plurality of current values for a plurality of currents, each of the plurality of currents comprising a current flowing between one of a plurality of power distribution outlets and a corresponding load device; and   comparing each of the plurality of current values with a corresponding one of a plurality of predetermined low current values and taking a predetermined action if the corresponding current value is less than the corresponding low current value.   
     
     
         24 . The method for monitoring current for power management, according to  claim 23 , wherein the predetermined action includes providing a low current warning. 
     
     
         25 . The method for monitoring current for power management, according to  claim 24 , wherein the low current warning is provided in a pop-up window on a computer. 
     
     
         26 . The method for monitoring current for power management, according to  claim 23 , further including the steps of:
 sampling the plurality of current values during a low grace period; and   taking the predetermined action if the corresponding current value is less than the corresponding low current value for essentially the low grace period.   
     
     
         27 . The method for monitoring current for power management, according to  claim 26 , wherein the low grace period is programmable. 
     
     
         28 . The method for monitoring current for power management, according to  claim 23 , further including the steps of:
 comparing each of the plurality of current values with a corresponding one of a plurality of predetermined current limit values; and   interrupting the current flowing between the corresponding power distribution outlets and the corresponding load device if the corresponding current value is greater than the corresponding predetermined current limit value;   
     
     
         29 . The method for monitoring current for power management, according to  claim 28 , wherein each of the predetermined current limit values is programmable. 
     
     
         30 . The method for monitoring current for power management, according to  claim 28 , further including the steps of:
 dividing the plurality of power distribution outlets into a plurality of power distribution outlet banks, each power distribution bank including a total bank current value essentially equal to a summation of the plurality of current values of the plurality of power distribution outlets in the corresponding power distribution bank;   comparing each of the plurality of bank current values with a corresponding one of a plurality of predetermined bank current limit values; and   interrupting the current flowing between each power distribution outlet and each load device in the corresponding power distribution bank if the corresponding bank current value is greater than the corresponding predetermined bank current limit value.   
     
     
         31 . The method for monitoring current for power management, according to  claim 30 , wherein:
 the step of interrupting the current flowing between each power distribution outlet and each load device in the corresponding power distribution bank includes essentially simultaneously interrupting the current flowing between each power distribution outlet and each load device by opening a corresponding switching circuit for each corresponding power distribution outlet in the corresponding power distribution bank.   
     
     
         32 . The method for monitoring current for power management, according to  claim 23 , wherein each of the plurality of power distribution outlets is a power distribution outlet receptacle and each of the plurality of currents comprises a current flowing between one of the plurality of power distribution outlet receptacles and a corresponding load device through a corresponding power cord that is plugged into the corresponding power distribution outlet receptacle.