Power management device with communications capability and method of use

Abstract

A power management device can include a power management device housing, a power input associated with the power management device housing, and a plurality of power outputs associated with the power management device housing. At least certain power outputs can be connectable to one or more electrical loads external to the power management device housing and to the power input. In some embodiments, a communications bus can be associated with the power management device housing and one or more power control sections can also be associated with the power management device housing. In some embodiments, one ore more power control sections can communicate with the communications bus and with one or more corresponding power outputs among the plurality of power outputs. In some embodiments, a power information display can communicate with the communications bus. If desired, a power information determining section can be associated with the power management device housing and in communication with the communications bus. The power information determining section may communicate power-related information to the power information display.

1 . A power management device comprising in combination: 
 A a power management device housing;    B. a plurality of power inputs disposed in the power management device housing;    C. a first plurality of power outputs disposed in the power management device housing, each among the first plurality of power outputs being connectable to one or more electrical loads external to the power management device housing and connected to a first power input among the plurality of power inputs;    D. a second plurality of power outputs disposed in the power management device housing, each among the second plurality of power outputs being connectable to one or more electrical loads external to the power management device housing and connected to a second power input among the plurality of power inputs;    E. a communications bus associated with the power management device housing;    F. a plurality of power control sections associated with the power management device housing, each among the plurality of power control sections being in communication with the communications bus and thereby in power controlling communication with one or more corresponding power outputs among the first or second plurality of power outputs;    G. a communications system associated with the power management device housing, being in communication with said communications bus, and having a communications processor system in communication with (i) said communications bus; (ii) at least one among said plurality of power control sections through the communications bus; and (iii) a communications port connectable to an external communications link external to the power management device housing;    H. a power information display associated with the power management device housing in communication with the communications bus; and    I. a power information determining section associated with the power management device housing in communication with the communications bus, whereby the power information determining section may communicate power-related information to the power information display.    
     
     
         2 . The power management device of  claim 1  wherein said communications processor system comprises an Internet Protocol network communications processor in selectively removable communication with the external communications link through the communications port.  
     
     
         3 . The power management device of  claim 1  wherein each among the plurality of power control sections includes a power-on status determination circuit, whereby the power-on status determination circuit may report power-on status of said corresponding power output through said communications bus.  
     
     
         4 . The power management device of  claim 1  wherein each among the plurality of power control sections includes a power control relay in power-controlling communication with at least one corresponding power output.  
     
     
         5 . The power management device of  claim 2  wherein each among the plurality of power control sections includes a power control relay in power controlling communication with at least one corresponding power output.  
     
     
         6 . The power management device of  claim 3  wherein each among the plurality of power control sections includes a power control relay in power-controlling communication with at least one corresponding power output.  
     
     
         7 . The power management device of  claim 1  wherein said communications section includes a slave application in communication with a slave communications port mounted in the power management device housing, whereby the communications system may serve as a slave to a master communications section in a separate power management device,  
     
     
         8 . A power management device of the type useable to remotely control, or assess information relating to, power provided to external electrical loads from a manager location distal from the external electrical loads, the power management device comprising in combination: 
 A. a power management device housing;    B. a power input disposed in the power management device housing;    C. a plurality of power outputs disposed in the power management device housing, each said power output being connectable to an electrical load external to the power management device housing;    D. at least one intelligent power section disposed in the power management device housing in power controlling communication with at least one corresponding power output among said plurality of power outputs;    E. a network communications module (i) having memory and a transfer-control-protocol/Internet Protocol network interface application system residing in the memory and providing a web page interface, and (ii) being associated with the power management device housing in communication with the intelligent power sections and in communication with at least a first external network communications port; and    F. a current display mounted in association with the power management device housing in current-determining communication with at least one among the plurality of power outputs;    whereby an external power manager and the network communications module may exchange, through the first external network communications port and an external network link, information relating to the intelligent power sections in the power management device housing.    
     
     
         9 . The power management device of  claim 8  wherein the network communications module also includes a second communications port communicatingly connectable to at least an additional power management device.  
     
     
         10 . The power management device of  claim 9  wherein the first communications port provides a first communications service format and the second communications port provides a second communications service format.  
     
     
         11 . The power management device of  claim 8  wherein the network communications module alternately comprises a master application or a slave application, whereby the master application may communicate with a slave network communications module in an additional power management device.  
     
     
         12 . The power management device of  claim 9  wherein the network communications module alternately comprises a master application or a slave application, whereby the master application may communicate with a slave network communications module in an additional power management device.  
     
     
         13 . The power management device of  claim 10  wherein the network communications module is removably mounted in the power management device housing and alternately comprises a master application or a slave application, whereby the master application may communicate with a slave network communications module in an additional power management device.  
     
     
         14 . The power management device of  claim 8  wherein the current display mounted in association with the power management device housing is in current-determining communication with the plurality of power outputs.  
     
     
         15 . The power management device of  claim 9  wherein the current display mounted in association with the power management device housing is in current-determining communication with the plurality of power outputs.  
     
     
         16 . The power management device of  claim 11  wherein the current display mounted in association with the power management device housing is in current-determining communication with the plurality of power outputs.  
     
     
         17 . The power management device of  claim 8  wherein the network communications module alternately comprises a master application or a plural slave application, whereby the master application may communicate with a plurality of slave network communications modules in an additional power management device.  
     
     
         18 . The power management device of  claim 9  wherein the network communications module alternately comprises a master application or a plural slave application, whereby the master application may communicate with a plurality of slave network communications modules in an additional power management device.  
     
     
         19 . The power management device of  claim 10  wherein the network communications module is removably mounted in the power management device housing and alternately comprises a master application or a plural slave application, whereby the master application may communicate with a plurality of slave network communications modules in an additional power management device.  
     
     
         20 . The power management device of  claim 14  wherein the network communications module may alternately comprise a master application or a plural slave application, whereby the master application may communicate with a plurality of slave network communications modules in an additional power management device.  
     
     
         21 . The power management device of  claim 15  wherein the network communications module is removably mounted in the power management device housing and may alternately comprise a master application or a plural slave application, whereby the master application may communicate with a plurality of slave network communications modules in an additional power management device.