Digital Power Distribution System with a Non-Linear Load

Abstract

A digital power distribution system includes a source sensor configured to provide feedback that includes a signal indicative of voltage across the source terminals; a source controller configured to receive the feedback from the source sensor and to generate a control signal that substantially increases or decreases impedance between the power source and the source terminals; a non-linear load configured such that the electrical current it draws from the load terminals drops by at least an order of magnitude below a non-zero voltage threshold; reduced capacitance on the load side for storing charge and discharging that charge during the sample period, wherein the reduced capacitance is reduced to a level for providing the at-least-an-order-of-magnitude-lower electrical current drawn by the non-linear load below the voltage threshold; and a source disconnect device responsive to the control signal from the source controller.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A digital power distribution system for regulating transfer of energy 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 source controller on the source side of the power distribution system configured to receive the feedback from the source sensor and responsive to the feedback and configured to generate a control signal that substantially increases or decreases impedance between the power source and the source terminals;   c) a non-linear load on the load side and 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 it draws from the load terminals drops by at least an order of magnitude when an applied voltage drops below a non-zero voltage threshold;   d) reduced capacitance on the load side for storing charge and discharging that charge during a sample period, wherein the reduced capacitance is reduced to a level for providing the at-least-an-order-of-magnitude-lower electrical current drawn by the non-linear load below the voltage threshold;   e) a source disconnect device responsive to the control signal from the source controller, wherein the source controller is configured to periodically interrupt the supply of power to the non-linear load by opening the source disconnect device during the sample period, allowing at least the source terminal voltage to be measured during the interruption; and   f) a logic device implemented in at least the source controller and configured to open the source disconnect device and to perform at least one source-terminal voltage measurement when the source disconnect device 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 and to 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 to close the source disconnect device if the voltage measurement falls within the predetermined high and low limits.   
     
     
         2 . The digital power distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the source controller is configured to vary the time that the source disconnect switch is open in ratio to the time that it is closed such that the power from the power source to the non-linear load is varied. 
     
     
         3 . The digital power distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the non-linear load is equipped with a current regulator to allow regulation of electrical current through the non-linear load under parallel operation or with varying transmission line voltage. 
     
     
         4 . The digital power distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the non-linear load is configured to have a voltage indicative of the temperature of load components, thereby adding the ability to estimate conditions that may be thermally damaging to the load and to adjust source current to optimize load life or performance. 
     
     
         5 . A method for regulating transfer of energy from a power source on a source side of a digital power distribution system to a load side of the digital power distribution system, the method comprising:
 a) measuring a voltage across source terminals on the source side and generating feedback including at least a signal indicative of the voltage using a source sensor;   b) receiving the feedback at a source controller, and generating a control signal in response to the feedback, wherein the control signal substantially increases or decreases impedance between the power source and the source terminals;   c) supplying electrical current from the power source to a non-linear load on the load side, wherein the electric current drawn by the non-linear load decreases by at least an order of magnitude when the applied voltage drops below a non-zero voltage threshold;   d) storing a charge using reduced capacitance on the load side and discharging that charge to provide at-least-an-order-of-magnitude-lower electrical current to the non-linear load during a sample period with a voltage below the voltage threshold applied to the non-linear load;   e) periodically interrupting the supply of power to the non-linear load by opening a source disconnect device during the sample period discharging a charge from the reduced capacitance, measuring the source terminal voltage during the interruption; and   f) using a logic device in at least the source controller, opening the source disconnect device and performing at least on source-terminal voltage measurement when the source disconnect device 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, and determining 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 closing the source disconnect device if the voltage measurement falls within the predetermined high and low limits.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising using the source controller to vary the time that the source disconnect switch is open in ratio to the time that it is closed to vary the power from the power source to the non-linear. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the non-linear load is equipped with a current regulator, the method further comprising using the current regulator to regulate electrical current through the non-linear load under parallel operation or with varying transmission line voltage. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the non-linear load is configured to have a voltage indicative of the temperature of load components, the method further comprising estimating conditions that may be thermally damaging to the load and adjusting source current to optimize load life or performance.