Personal portable power distribution apparatus

Abstract

A personal portable power distribution apparatus including a portable central power source, a power management module coupled to receive power from the central power source, and a harness assembly having at least one power supply node for distributing power from the power management module, wherein the power management module is operable to control supply of power through each individual power supply node, each power supply node terminating in a like connector, and an adaptor module is fitted to a power input terminal of an electronic accessory device to adapt the device for operation with the power distribution apparatus by providing a corresponding connector suitable for interconnection with said like connector(s).

1 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus including a portable central power source, a power management module coupled to receive power from the central power source, and a harness assembly having at least one power supply node for distributing power from the power management module, wherein the power management module is operable to control supply of power through each individual power supply node, each power supply node terminating in a like connector, and an adaptor module is fitted to a power input terminal of an electronic accessory device to adapt the device for operation with the power distribution apparatus by providing a corresponding connector suitable for interconnection with said like connector(s). 
     
     
         2 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the harness assembly includes a plurality of power supply nodes, the power management module is operable to control supply of power through the individual power supply nodes, each of the power supply nodes terminates in a like connector, and the corresponding connector is suitable for interconnection with the like connectors. 
     
     
         3 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of electronic accessory devices are retro-fitted for operation with the power distribution apparatus by fitting an adaptor module to each of the devices, to provide each device with a corresponding connector suitable for interconnection with the like connectors. 
     
     
         4 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the power management module is adapted to identify the electronic accessory devices and to control characteristics of supply of power to the devices accordingly such that the locations of the different devices may be interchanged between different connectors. 
     
     
         5 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein each adaptor module may have the additional feature of a back-up battery for powering the respective device in the event that power is not supplied from the central power source. 
     
     
         6 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the apparatus is fitted to a garment for wearing by a user. 
     
     
         7 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the garment is a webbing type garment, and wherein the apparatus is fitted to the garment by routing power leads of the harness assembly through apertures formed in the garment, and by locating the or each electronic accessory device in a pouch or other location for being supported by the webbing. 
     
     
         8 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein each power lead terminates in at least one, but preferably more, power supply nodes. 
     
     
         9 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein each power lead is held in place relative to a respective aperture in the garment by at least two power supply nodes which are sized relative to the aperture such that they require being fed one at a time through the aperture in order to withdraw the power lead from the aperture. 
     
     
         10 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the power distribution apparatus further includes removable splitter leads for increasing the number of power supply nodes available. 
     
     
         11 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the power leads are routed through said apertures of the garment with the power leads being at least partly concealed behind modular pouches of the webbing type garment. 
     
     
         12 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the harness assembly comprises a plurality of power leads of sufficient length to reach chest, abdominal and/or shoulder regions of the garment. 
     
     
         13 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the harness assembly comprises a number of power leads for reaching left-hand, right-hand and central parts of the garment. 
     
     
         14 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the harness assembly is adapted to transmit information between components of the power distribution apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the harness assembly is adapted to transmit information between the electronic accessory devices coupled to the connectors and the power management module, and wherein the power management module is adapted to identify the electronic accessory devices from said information transmitted and to control characteristics of supply of power to the devices accordingly. 
     
     
         16 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further including a control unit connected to the power management module for controlling power distribution. 
     
     
         17 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the control unit has a display indicating power remaining in the central power source. 
     
     
         18 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the control unit is adapted to enable the user to control the electronic accessory devices by operating the control unit. 
     
     
         19 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the control unit is adapted to enable the user to control the central power source by operating the control unit. 
     
     
         20 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus including a portable central power source, a power management module coupled to receive power from the central power source, and a harness assembly having at least one power supply node for distributing power from the power management module, wherein the power management module is operable to control supply of power through each individual power supply node, each power supply node terminating in a like connector, and the power management module is adapted to identify electronic devices coupled to the connectors and to control characteristics of supply of power to the devices accordingly. 
     
     
         21 . A personal portable power distribution apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the power management module is operable to distribute power to the individual electronic accessory devices at the highest possible voltage so as to reduce current and thus energy loss through resistance. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled)