Wireless Power Distribution System and Device
The invention pertains to a system for monitoring and controlling power distribution including a power distribution device which has a module, a input line, and an output line. The input and output lines carry electrical power into an out of the module. The module has a switch in open or close position and a device wireless unit and a sensor. The sensor sends information regarding the electrical characteristics of the electric power being carried to the device microcontroller which causes a data to be sent wirelessly to the base unit. The base unit maintains a wireless connection for transmitting and receiving RF signals. The base unit receives the information regarding the electrical characteristics and sends it to a computer over a network.
1 . A system for monitoring and control of power distribution comprising:
a power distribution device having a module,
said module having a switch with an open and closed position,
a relay which controls the switch,
a sensor which senses certain electrical characteristics,
a device wireless unit for maintaining a wireless connection including a device antennae for transmitting and receiving RF signals, and
a device microcontroller which controls the relay, the sensor, and the device wireless unit;
an input line for carrying electric power with certain electrical characteristics into the module, and
an output line for carrying electric power with the certain electrical characteristics out of the module;
a base station having an antennae for transmitting and receiving RF signals,
a base wireless unit for maintaining a wireless connection,
a network port, and
an interface to a computer
a base microcontroller for controlling the base wireless unit, the network port,
and the interface to a computer,
a wireless connection between said power distribution device and base station;
wherein said base microcontroller may issue instructions to said device microcontroller over said wireless connection to have said relay set the switch in a open or closed position; and
wherein said sensor may transmit data regarding the certain electrical characteristics from said power distribution device to said base station via said wireless connection
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the power distribution device is embodied in a switched power cord.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the power distribution device is embodied in a power distribution unit.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the device wireless unit is embodied in a USB stick.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electrical characteristics comprise either voltage or current.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the power distribution device is embodied in a plug-in wall outlet.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the power distribution device is embodied in an integrated wall outlet.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the device wireless unit employs a Z-Wave protocol.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the device wireless unit employs a Wi-Fi protocol.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the device wireless unit employs a Bluetooth protocol.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the device wireless unit employs a Zigbee protocol.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the device wireless unit employs a Wireless USB protocol.
13 . A method for monitoring power distribution, comprising the steps of:
sensing electrical characteristics of power transmitted over a power line via a sensor;
sending said sensed electrical charaicteristic data through a device microcontroller of a power distribution device to a device wireless unit;
transmitting said electrical characteristics data from said device wireless unit through a device antenna over a wireless connection;
receiving said electrical characteristics data over said wireless connection at a antenna of a base wireless unit of a base station;
processing said received electrical characteristics data at said base microcontroller;
sending said electrical characteristics data via a network port or interface to a computer.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of sensing electrical characteristics data of power over a power line includes sensing the voltage or current.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of transmitting said electrical characteristics data includes the step of formatting the data to be transmitted over a Z-Wave, protocol.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of transmitting said electrical characteristics data includes the step of formatting data to be transmitted over a Wi-Fi protocol.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of transmitting said electrical characteristics data includes the step of formatting data to be transmitted over a Wireless USB protocol.
18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of transmitting said electrical characteristics data includes the step of formatting data to be transmitted over a Bluetooth protocol.
19 . A method of controling power distribution, comprising the steps of:
receiving a software switch command a via a network port or interface to a computer;
processing said software switch command via a base unit microcontroller;
transmitting said software switch command from a base wireless unit through a base antenna to a antenna in a power distribution device;
interpreting the switch command via a device microcontroller;
actuating a relay to open or close a switch in the power distribution device depending on the switch command.
20 . A system for monitoring and controling power distribution in a data center, comprising the steps of:
establishing a mesh network between a number of power distribution devices and a base station using the Z-Wave protocol;
introducing interference between any one of the number of power distribution devices and the base station;
rerouting transmissions from the one of the number of participation devices to the base station through other of the number of power distribution devices;
wherein the transmissions include electrical data and or switch commands.