Power system

Abstract

An electrical power system includes a power connector, a contact configured to electrically connect a power source to a load, a first sensor configured to sense a first characteristic of the power connector, a second sensor configured to sense a second characteristic of the power connector, and an electronic controller. The electronic controller is configured to receive the first characteristic and the second characteristic, analyze the first characteristic and the second characteristic, and determine an abnormal condition based on the analysis.

Description

[0001] Information related to divisional application

[0002] This case is a divisional application. The parent application of this divisional application is the invention patent application filed on May 30, 2018, with application number 201880040412.4 and invention title "Power Connector with Integrated Status Monitoring".

[0003] Cross-references to related applications

[0004] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 544,097, filed August 11, 2017, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 512,479, filed May 30, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0005] The embodiments involve power connectors. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Power connectors provide a connection between a power source and a load. Such power connectors are described in U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 072,672, filed March 17, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0007] Power measurement is commonly used to monitor the power consumption of devices connected via power connectors. In some cases, the ability to accurately measure power consumption allows operators to allocate energy costs to individual users based on device usage.

[0008] Internal and environmental monitoring, particularly temperature, current, and voltage, can be used to identify normal and abnormal operating conditions. Continuous measurements can identify changes in operating parameters that exceed acceptable ranges, triggering alarms to notify the operator of this condition. Furthermore, data analysis and understanding of normal operating parameters help provide users with predictive or preventative alerts before potential failures caused by environmental, installation, or internal hardware anomalies occur.

[0009] Other aspects of this application will become apparent from consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 This is a block diagram of a power system according to an embodiment of this application.

[0011] Figure 2 According to some embodiments of this application Figure 1 A perspective view of the power connectors of the power system.

[0012] Figure 3A According to some embodiments of this application Figure 2 Exploded view of the contact bracket of the power connector.

[0013] Figure 3B According to some embodiments of this application Figure 2 Exploded view of the contact bracket of the power connector.

[0014] Figure 4 This is a top view of a transformer winding according to another embodiment of this application.

[0015] Figure 5 According to an embodiment of this application, it includes Figure 4 A top view of the contact support of the transformer.

[0016] Figure 6 This shows what can be applied to Figure 1 A block diagram of the logic of the power system.

[0017] Figure 7A It is shown Figure 1 A graph showing the voltage parameters and parameter thresholds of the power system.

[0018] Figure 7B It is shown Figure 1 The curves of current parameters and parameter thresholds of the power system.

[0019] Figure 7C It is shown Figure 1 A graph showing the temperature parameters and parameter thresholds of the power system. Detailed Implementation

[0020] Before explaining any embodiments of this application in detail, it should be understood that this application is not limited to applying it to the construction details and component settings set forth in the following description or shown in the accompanying drawings. For ease of description, some or all of the example systems presented herein are illustrated with a single example of each of its constituent components. Some examples may not describe or illustrate all components of the system. Other exemplary embodiments may include more or fewer of each of the components shown, may combine some components, or may include additional or alternative components. This application is capable of having other embodiments and can be practiced or implemented in various ways.

[0021] It should be understood that although the described example system is an electrical connector system, this application can be applied to other systems that include electrical connectors. For example, in other embodiments, also shown as pin and sleeve devices, the power system may include switches, circuit breakers, or other line devices.

[0022] Figure 1A power system 100 according to some embodiments of this application is illustrated. The power system 100 includes a power source 105, a load 110, a power connector or connector 115, and a power cable 120. In some embodiments, the power source 105 is a single-phase power source outputting a voltage in the range of approximately 100 VAC to approximately 240 VAC. In other embodiments, the power source 105 is a three-phase power source outputting a voltage in the range of approximately 208 VAC to approximately 600 VAC. In some embodiments, the power source 105 is a DC power source outputting a voltage in the range of approximately 350 VDC to approximately 450 VDC. In other embodiments, the power source 105 is a DC power source outputting a voltage in the range of approximately 44 VDC to approximately 60 VDC (e.g., 48 VDC). In yet another embodiment, the power source 105 is a DC power source outputting a voltage in the range of approximately 15 VDC to approximately 30 VDC (e.g., 48 VDC). The load 110 may be an electrical device or system configured to receive power.

[0023] Figure 2 A connector 115 according to an embodiment of this application is shown. The power connector 115 is configured to provide an electrical connection between a power source 105 and a load 110. The connector 115 can be configured to handle 20 amps, 30 amps, 60 amps, 100 amps, etc. As shown, the connector 115 includes a contact holder 200 and a sleeve connector 205. The contact holder 200 includes one or more power terminals 210 located at a first end 215 of the contact holder 200. Although not shown, the contact holder 200 may further include one or more second power terminals located at a second end 220 of the contact holder 200. Although shown as having four power terminals 210, the connector 115 may include any number of power terminals and second power terminals, such as one power terminal and one second power terminal, two power terminals and two second power terminals, three power terminals and three second power terminals, four power terminals and four second power terminals, five power terminals and five second power terminals, etc. In some embodiments, the power terminals 210 are electrically connected to the load 110 while the second power terminals are electrically connected to the power source 105.

[0024] Figure 3A and 3BA contact holder 200 according to various embodiments of this application is illustrated. As shown, the contact holder 200 includes a housing 300, a cover 305, one or more contact transformer (CT) modules 400, one or more sensors 325, an electronic controller 335, and an antenna 330. Each CT module 400 includes one or more connector contacts 310 and one or more contact cores 315. The housing 300 is formed of a non-conductive material, such as, but not limited to, plastic. The cover 305 is also formed of a non-conductive material, such as, but not limited to, plastic. The housing 300 and the cover 305 together house the various components of the contact holder 200. One or more connector contacts 310 provide an electrical connection between a power terminal 210 and a second power terminal. The contact cores 315 are configured to receive a corresponding connector contact 310. The contact cores 315 include a transformer winding 320 integrated into the contact cores 315. The transformer winding 320 senses the current flowing through the corresponding connector contact 310. Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, the transformer winding 320 has a substantially toroidal shape. In some embodiments, two sets of transformer windings 320 may be used to monitor a three-phase power supply.

[0025] In some embodiments, the electronic controller 335 includes an electronic processor and memory (not shown). The electronic processor (e.g., from memory, sensor 325, and / or antenna 330) obtains and provides information, and processes that information by, for example, executing one or more software instructions or modules that can be stored in memory or another non-transitory computer-readable medium (not shown). The software may include firmware, one or more applications, program data, filters, rules, one or more program modules, and other executable instructions. In some embodiments, the electronic controller 335 may further include a user interface (not shown). The user interface may receive input from a user, provide system output, or a combination of both, from, for example, a connector 115. System output may be provided via audio and / or visual feedback. For example, the connector 115 may include a display as part of the user interface. The display may be a suitable display, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) touchscreen or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) touchscreen. Alternative embodiments may include other output mechanisms, such as a light source (not shown). Input may be provided via, for example, a keypad, soft keys, icons or soft buttons, scroll balls, buttons, etc., on the display. The user interface may include a graphical user interface (GUI) (e.g., generated by an electronic processor according to instructions stored in memory and displayed on a display) that enables a user to interact with connector 115. In some embodiments, connector 115 may utilize the user interface of an external communication device and / or load 110 to receive input and provide information. In other embodiments, a user may provide and / or receive input / output with connector 115 via an external device (e.g., a smartphone, tablet, etc.).

[0026] In some embodiments, one or more of the sensors 325 are temperature sensors configured to sense the temperature of the center of the connector 115 core. In some embodiments, the sensor 325 may sense the temperature of one or more points on the contact support 200. For example, such sensors may be located at multiple connection points and terminals within the connector 115 and configured to sense the individual temperature of a particular terminal. Such sensors may also include an ambient temperature sensor for sensing the temperature outside the contact support 200 and / or outside the connector 115. Such sensors may be located inside or outside the connector 115. In some embodiments, the sensor 325 includes a thermistor, thermocouple, resistance temperature detector (RTD), or any similar sensor. In some embodiments, the sensor 325 includes one or more humidity and / or moisture sensors. In some embodiments, one or more sensors 325 are configured to sense the electrical characteristics of the power system 100. For example, such sensors may be configured to sense the voltage between the power source 105 and the load 110 and / or the temperature of the contacts 310. In some embodiments, one or more of the sensors 325 are located outside the connector 115.

[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, antenna 330 is wired from electronic controller 335 along the outer wall of housing 300. In such embodiments, antenna 330 may be disposed inside and / or outside housing 300. In some embodiments, antenna 330 may be held in place by one or more slots in support ribs and / or holes adjacent to the outer wall. Antenna 330 may be a dipole antenna, a loop antenna, a flat chip antenna, or any other known antenna. Antenna 330 is configured to wirelessly transmit various characteristics of connector 115. For example, antenna 330 may wirelessly transmit current, voltage, and temperature measurements from one or more sensors 325 within connector 115. In some embodiments, characteristics are wirelessly transmitted to one or more external devices. Such external devices may include load device 110, communication devices (i.e., telephones, tablets, computers), line devices, and / or remote servers / databases or cloud networks. In some embodiments, instead of or as a complement to antenna 330, contact holder 200 may include input / output ports. In such embodiments, the various characteristics described above may be transmitted via physical coupling (e.g., wired connection). In some embodiments, the electronic controller 335 is partially (i.e., some components of the electronic controller 335) located within the connector 115 and partially located on at least one of the group consisting of external communication devices, external line devices, remote servers, and cloud networks.

[0028] The memory may include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), or one or more other non-transitory computer-readable media, and may include program storage areas and data storage areas. The program storage areas and data storage areas may include combinations of different types of memory, as described herein. In one embodiment, the electronic processor of the electronic controller 335 is configured to retrieve from memory and, among other things, execute software relating to a control process (e.g., the methods described herein). For example, as follows regarding… Figure 4 More specifically, the electronic controller 335 (particularly the electronic processor) can be fully configured to determine the state of the load device based on one or more environmental or operational inputs. In some embodiments, the electronic controller 335 can be configured to provide information to external devices and / or remote servers / databases, enabling the external devices and / or remote servers / databases to determine the state of the load device based on one or more environmental or operational inputs.

[0029] Figure 3B A contact holder 200 according to another embodiment is shown. Such embodiments further include an insulating sleeve 311 and a spacer 312. The insulating sleeve 311 is configured to receive one or more connector contacts 310.

[0030] Figure 4 A bias transformer winding 320 according to another embodiment of this application is shown. For example... Figure 5 As shown, the bias transformer winding 320 can be integrated into or around the CT module 400. In such embodiments, the bias transformer winding 320 can be a Ragowski spiral coil or a bias winding toroidal coil. Such embodiments allow the CT module 400 to be placed within geometry that would typically be too small for a full transformer winding. Such embodiments can achieve more accurate current readings.

[0031] Figure 6 It shows that it can be applied to Figure 1 The processing block diagram 600 of the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 of the power system 100 is shown below. For ease of description, Figure 6This includes two types of functions that can be implemented in the hardware and / or software and hardware components of the power system 100. In one embodiment, some or all of the functions of the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 are implemented by the electronic processor of the electronic controller 335 (using software, hardware, or a combination of both). In a further embodiment, some or all of the functions of the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 are implemented by external communication devices, external line devices, and / or remote servers / databases outside the power system 100. For example, the electronic processor can transmit the measurements from the sensor 325 to one or more of the external communication devices, external line devices, and / or remote servers / databases or cloud networks for further processing. In some embodiments, some or all of the functions of the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 are implemented on a user interface (e.g., a graphical user interface).

[0032] The diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 is configured to receive data and information from various sources, including, for example, sensors 325, antennas 330, and electronic processors. The diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 may also receive information (including installation condition information 604, measured / calculated parameters 606, and parameter threshold information 608) from one or more of the following: load 110, power supply 105, external communication devices, external line equipment, and / or remote servers / databases or cloud networks. The received data and information are related to the operation of the power system 100. For example, such as... Figure 6 As shown, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 receives application and installation condition information 604, measured / calculated parameters 606, and parameter threshold information 608 of the power system 100 from the load 110, sensor 325, antenna 330, and / or power supply 105. It should be understood that other types of data and information related to the operation of the power system 100 may also be received. As described in more detail below, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 is configured to process the received data and information to monitor the operation of the power system 100 and detect one or more anomalies in the system 100.

[0033] It should be understood that although the process performed by the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 is described herein as static logic, in some embodiments, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 may be configured to execute one or more machine learning or artificial intelligence processing algorithms to perform or improve predictive or diagnostic capabilities based on information received from the load 110 and / or connector 115. In such embodiments, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 may be configured to utilize predictive monitoring and diagnostic analysis to predict one or more potential anomalies.

[0034] Installation condition information 604 relates to expected environmental conditions, such as the expected / permissible temperature range used to derive parameter thresholds (described in more detail below) and expected operating cycles, indoor versus outdoor use, degree of climate control or non-climate control, moisture / humidity levels, natural temperature variations, geographical location, and installation location.

[0035] For example, installation in a non-climate-controlled location may allow for low-temperature operation. In such cases, installation cannot rely solely on the highest measured temperature to determine normal operation and identify potential problems, such as poor termination or connection issues. For instance, connector 115 may operate at an ambient temperature of approximately -20°C, while the terminal temperature of connector 115 may be measured at approximately 20°C; thus, a 40-degree temperature rise might indicate an abnormality somewhere within connector 115 or within the power system 100. Another example is installing connector 115 in a climate where the temperature can vary from approximately 10°C to approximately 50°C throughout the day. In this case, system 100 can be configured to allow for periodic temperature fluctuations while also monitoring for abnormalities. Ambient temperature / climate conditions can be inferred from sensors 325 inside or outside connector 115 and / or received from remote environmental sensors or external communication devices. In some embodiments, diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 is configured to use one or more machine learning / artificial intelligence processes to learn the thermal environment in which connector 115 is installed.

[0036] In some embodiments, information relating to the operational requirements and acceptable operating range of power system 100 and / or load 110 may indicate the type of installation, such as an installation in an industrial facility or data center. The installation identifier allows for default values / predetermined thresholds for certain parameters, which can be used as an initial configuration rather than requiring the user to set each parameter individually. For example, in an industrial environment where connector 115 supplies power to multiphase, balanced industrial machines, it can be expected that the current and voltage of each machine will be the same. However, when supplying power to a data center, depending on the load on each phase, it can be expected that the current and voltage of the phases will be unbalanced. The default configuration can be further adjusted based on additional information and / or user input. Such information regarding operating range and parameters can be received from load 110, external communication devices, or a server, or it can be received directly via user input through a graphical interface communicating with logic unit 602.

[0037] The measured / calculated parameter 606 may include data received from one or more sensors 325 and / or derived from values ​​from one or more sensors. The measured / calculated parameter 606 includes one or more electrical and / or thermal characteristics within the power system 100. For example, the sensor 325 may be configured to measure electrical and / or thermal characteristics at the input and output sides of each contact (e.g., contact 310) or at other electrical connections within the connector 115. In some embodiments, the sensor 325 may be configured to measure characteristics at the power supply 105 and power terminal 210. In a further embodiment, the measured / calculated parameter 606 may include humidity characteristics.

[0038] Diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 uses electrical characteristic measurements and calculated values ​​to identify abnormal operating conditions of other types of devices, such as soldered contacts or stuck switches when phase voltage and current do not meet expectations. For example, if a switch is expected to be open, the current and voltage on one side of the electrical connection can be expected to be approximately zero. The presence of voltage or current flow on the load side of the electrical connection can indicate that the contacts are closed. Alternatively, diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 combines multiple voltage measurements from sensor 325 with current levels to identify high-resistance conditions, which can indicate poor connections. Electrical characteristic information can also be used to identify and verify the correct coupling sequence of components within connector 115. For example, if a switch is expected to be closed, voltage and current are expected. If no voltage and / or current are sensed, incorrect coupling may exist.

[0039] In some embodiments, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 uses measured / calculated parameters 606 to identify the correct sequence of connections / disconnections within the power system 100. In some cases, certain connections within connector 115 may need to be connected to electrical ground (or power supply) before being connected. For example, after connecting one or more power connections to electronic controller 335, data connections within electronic controller 335 may need to be connected. Based on the measured / calculated parameters 606, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 is able to determine whether one or more power connections were connected (and their connection sequence) before data connections were made, and if connections were not made correctly, an abnormal condition is identified. Similarly, the sequence of disconnections can be evaluated to determine the correct disconnections within the power system 100.

[0040] The diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 can also use temperature measurements to monitor and identify abnormal conditions within the power system 100. For example, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 can receive temperature data from sensor 325 regarding each connection point (or line input) within connector 115. Based on this data, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 can identify operation-related changes in the installation environment of the power system 100. Unlike single-point measurements, the multi-point measurement method implemented using sensor 325 allows the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 to distinguish between operational conditions and fault conditions. For example, when the power supply 105 and / or connector 115 are three-phase, if the temperatures of the first and second phase contacts 310 within connector 115 are measured to be approximately equal, or within a predetermined range, the ambient temperature may be approximately equal to or lower than these temperatures. Therefore, if the temperature of the third phase contact 310 within connector 115 differs from the temperatures of the first and second phase contacts 310 (outside the predetermined range), the difference can be a temperature rise indicating a possible abnormal condition. An abnormal condition might be, for example, a loose terminal block. Therefore, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 identifies which phase contacts 310 have abnormal conditions based on data from the sensor 325.

[0041] In some embodiments, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 is configured to calculate the effective ambient temperature. In some embodiments, the effective ambient temperature, or minimum predicted operating temperature, is the effective temperature of the environment surrounding the contact holder 200. The diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 calculates the effective ambient temperature based at least on data from the sensor 325. The diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 can also calculate the effective ambient temperature using current and previously obtained electrical and temperature measurements obtained from other sensors 325 at various points within the connector 115. The effective ambient temperature can be used to determine anomalies within the connector 115.

[0042] For example, in some embodiments, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 acquires a series of current measurements over time from each sensor 325 corresponding to one or more contacts 310 to form a temperature rise profile of the contacts 310 and connector 115. The diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 then identifies the contact 310 with the lowest measured temperature. Next, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 calculates the expected temperature rise for the lowest current. Under normal conditions, for an unbalanced system, the contact 310 with the lowest current is likely to be the coldest. An anomaly may exist when the contact 310 with the lowest current does not exhibit the lowest measured temperature of contact 310 within a predetermined error threshold.

[0043] The diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 calculates the effective / predicted ambient temperature by subtracting the expected temperature rise from the measured temperature. The diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 can also calculate the temperature deviation of each measured temperature of each contact 310 from the effective / predicted ambient temperature by comparing the temperature rise of each contact 310 with the expected temperature rise for a given current. An anomaly may exist when the temperature rise of one or more contacts 310 at a given current does not fall within a predetermined range of the expected temperature rise.

[0044] The abnormal condition can be further diagnosed based on additional information provided to the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602. For example, if the temperature of each contact 310 is different, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 can examine / analyze the current values ​​received from the sensor 325 to determine if their temperature difference is abnormal. If the current within each contact 310 is the same, the temperature difference may indicate an abnormal condition. However, if the current within each contact 310 is different, a limited or predetermined temperature difference can be expected during normal operation. The diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 can further use this information to identify the location and / or component relative to the abnormal condition.

[0045] The parameter threshold information 608 includes parameter thresholds, and the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 compares the parameter thresholds with the measured parameters 606 to determine the operating state and condition of the power system 100. Each parameter threshold corresponds to a desired parameter at a specific connection point and / or terminal within the connector 115. Figures 7A to 7C Each parameter is shown separately over time series of voltage, current, and temperature threshold parameters.

[0046] In some embodiments, parameter thresholds may be fixed values. For example, a parameter threshold may be a maximum threshold (e.g., 708) or a minimum threshold (e.g., 710). Parameter thresholds may be based on material properties (e.g., corresponding absolute current or temperature material limits 720 and 734), material or product ratings (e.g., maximum rated threshold 721), or application constraints (e.g., application limit 724). Parameter thresholds may also be based on a set of parameter data points indicating known operating behavior of the connector system. For example, known operating behavior may be the expected temperature rise (or no temperature rise) per ampere current or the rate of temperature change for a given current change. Such known operating behavior may be stored in memory or retrieved from a remote server / database or cloud network. Other parameter thresholds may be based on calibration or configuration at manufacturing time or set at installation time. When set at installation time, in some embodiments, these parameter thresholds may be configurable by the user. In some embodiments, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 may receive user input via a user interface (e.g., included in load 110, connector 115, and / or external communication devices) to specify default parameter values / predetermined thresholds or custom parameter threshold settings. In such embodiments, user input may be a predetermined parameter threshold profile that specifies a set of parameter thresholds for a particular application and / or environment. For example, a predetermined limit threshold curve may adjust the parameter thresholds based on the application, load type (balanced or unbalanced), and climate / temperature of the installation settings.

[0047] In some embodiments, the parameter threshold is dynamically adjusted based on the measured / calculated parameter 606. The parameter threshold can be adjusted according to ambient temperature, current level, operating cycle, historical data, or other parameters. By adjusting to the conditions for measurement and known parameters, and by being able to set these limits independently for each connection point, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 can determine the precise location of abnormal conditions and avoid false alarms.

[0048] When a condition is suspected based on initial settings, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 can notify the user of the condition and provide the user with the option to mark the condition as acceptable under certain conditions, such as higher absolute temperatures in cases of significantly increased ambient temperatures. Another example requiring normalization is when connector 115 is oriented in a way that brings one of the connections closer to an external heat source. This connection will permanently display higher temperatures. Therefore, the user can choose to accept it as a "normal" condition.

[0049] In some embodiments, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 is configured to learn or normalize operational limits. The diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 can learn operational limits, for example, by implementing one or more machine learning / artificial intelligence processes. In such embodiments, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 may use machine learning or artificial intelligence in addition to or as an alternative to user input. For example, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 may automatically determine whether a situation is acceptable, or without providing options to the user.

[0050] Figures 7A to 7C A parameter graph including possible parameter thresholds is shown. It should be understood that additional thresholds can also be considered for each parameter. Figure 7A A graph 700 shows the voltage as a function of time. Graph 700 shows the first phase voltage 702, the second phase voltage 704, and the third phase voltage 706 measured within connector 115. Graph 700 also shows the maximum voltage threshold 708 and the minimum voltage threshold 710.

[0051] Figure 7B A graph 712 shows the current versus time. Graph 712 shows the first phase current 714, the second phase current 716, and the third phase current 718 measured within connector 115. An average current 719 is also measured or calculated. Graph 712 shows absolute material limits 720, a maximum rated current threshold 721, and a maximum current difference threshold 722. These parameter thresholds may be based on the material and application limits of connector 115 and / or load device 110, as well as the application. In some embodiments, similar parameter thresholds may be used for voltage. Figure 7A ). Graph 712 also shows the application limit 724, which can be a user-defined custom parameter threshold.

[0052] Figure 7C A graph 726 shows the temperature as a function of time. Graph 726 shows the first-phase contact temperature 728, the second-phase contact temperature 730, and the third-phase contact temperature 732 measured within connector 115. An average temperature 733 was also measured or calculated. Graph 726 shows the maximum difference between absolute material limits 734 and temperature limits 735, as well as a temperature rise rate threshold 736 (based on application limits). Graph 726 also includes a custom, user-selected application temperature rise rate threshold 737.

[0053] return Figure 6The diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 is configured to determine the operating state of the power system 100 based on the analysis of one or more received inputs. For example, the state of connector 115, load 110, power supply 105, and the connections between them are evaluated / analyzed to determine the operating state of the power system 100. If no abnormal conditions are determined, the operating state is likely normal. If at least one abnormal condition is determined, the operating state is likely abnormal. Connector 115 is configured to adaptively provide power to various loads and various types of equipment. For example, when connector 115 serves multiphase, balanced industrial machinery, the expected current and voltage magnitudes are similar, therefore the system's response to power and current variations via connector 115 differs from that of a power board serving a data center where phase imbalance is expected based on the load on each phase.

[0054] In some embodiments, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 is also configured to determine the operating state of the power system 100 based on information received from the load device 110. For example, if the load device 110 provides its own measured electrical characteristics, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 compares the received electrical characteristics with corresponding electrical characteristics within the measured / calculated parameters 606 to identify possible anomalies (e.g., power loss between connector 115 and load device 110). In further embodiments, the results of the comparison can be used with machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms to further improve the predictive capabilities of the machine or mitigate process deviations or failures.

[0055] The diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 can then generate a status indication 610 based on the status. The status indication 610 is at least one selected from the group consisting of auditory, visual, and tactile signals. This indication can be presented by visual signals displayed on a display of the communication device, audio signals, or error signals recorded in logs on the communication device or a remote server / database. In some embodiments, the electronic processor is also configured to send error signals to error logs stored in local memory (e.g., a memory) or a remote server and / or database.

[0056] In some embodiments, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 is configured to determine the degree of operational status based on a comparison between the measured / calculated parameter 606 and the corresponding parameter threshold, and to generate a specific type of indication based on the severity of the abnormality. For example, depending on the severity of the abnormality, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 may generate a notification, alarm, or warning.

[0057] In some embodiments, the diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 further includes a maintenance schedule tracker. The maintenance schedule tracker is configured to provide reminders via a user interface and to log maintenance events in memory and / or a remote server / database. Maintenance schedules can be defined by the user, for example, via a user interface, or can be default / predetermined schedules defined based on the application and / or environment of the power system 100. The diagnostic analysis logic unit 602 can also dynamically adjust the maintenance schedule based on installation condition information 604, measured / calculated parameters 606, parameter threshold information 608, and / or other operating conditions within the power system 100.

[0058] Therefore, this application provides, in particular, an improved method and system for sensing various characteristics of electronic power connectors. Specific embodiments have been described in the foregoing specification. However, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. Therefore, the specification and drawings should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this teaching.

[0059] Benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may lead to or make more apparent any benefit, advantage, or solution should not be construed as key, essential, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims, including any modifications made during the pending period of this application and all equivalents of those claims.

[0060] Furthermore, in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, etc., may be used only to distinguish one entity or action from another, and are not required to require or imply any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “having,” “includes,” “including,” “contains,” “containing,” or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes, has, contains, or contains a list of elements includes not only those elements but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element beginning with “comprises…a,” “has…a,” “includes…a,” or “contains…a” does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes, has, contains, or contains that element. Unless otherwise expressly stated herein, the terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more. The terms “substantially,” “essentially,” “approximately,” “about,” or any other version thereof are defined as close to what is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment, the term is defined as within 20%, in another within 10%, in yet another within 2%, and in yet another within 1%. As used herein, the term “coupled” is defined as a connection, although not necessarily direct and not necessarily mechanical. A device or structure “configured” in a certain way is configured at least in this manner, but may also be configured in ways not listed.

[0061] It should be understood that some embodiments may be comprised of one or more general-purpose or special-purpose processors (or "processing devices"), such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, custom processors, and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and a unique stored program instruction set (including software and firmware) that controls one or more processors to implement some, most, or all of the functions of the methods and / or apparatuses described herein, together with some non-processor circuitry. Alternatively, some or all of the functions may be implemented by a state machine without stored program instructions, or in one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), wherein each function or some combinations of certain functions is implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of both approaches may be used.

[0062] Furthermore, embodiments can be implemented as computer-readable storage media on which computer-readable code for programming a computer (e.g., including a processor) to perform the methods described and claimed herein is stored. Examples of such computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to, hard disks, CD-ROMs, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, read-only memories (ROMs), programmable read-only memories (PROMs), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), and flash memory. Moreover, although available time, current technology, and economic considerations may necessitate considerable effort and numerous design choices, it is expected that those skilled in the art, guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein, will be able to readily generate such software instructions and programs with minimal experimentation.

[0063] The abstract is provided to allow the reader to quickly determine the nature of the technical disclosure. It is understood at the time of submission that it is not intended to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Furthermore, as can be seen in the foregoing detailed description, various features have been combined in various embodiments for the purpose of simplifying this disclosure. The approach of this disclosure should not be construed as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as reflected in the following claims, the subject matter of the invention lies in fewer than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Therefore, the following claims are thus incorporated into the detailed description, wherein each claim is, in itself, the subject matter of a separate implementation claim.

Claims

1. An electric power system comprising: Power connector; Contacts configured to electrically connect a power source to a load; A first sensor is configured to sense a first characteristic of the power connector; A second sensor is configured to sense a second characteristic of the power connector; as well as The electronic controller is configured as follows: Receive the first feature and the second feature, Analyze the first characteristic and the second characteristic, and Anomalies are determined based on the analysis by comparing the first characteristic and the second characteristic with one or more predetermined thresholds. as well as The one or more predetermined thresholds are dynamically adjusted based on at least one selected from a group consisting of learned operational limits and known operational behaviors. Wherein at least one of the first characteristic and the second characteristic is based on installation conditions, and The installation conditions are selected from at least one of the following groups: expected / permissible temperature range, indoor and outdoor use, degree of climate control or non-climate control, moisture / humidity level, natural temperature variation, geographical location, and installation location.

2. The power system according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor is a voltage sensor, or a temperature sensor, or a current sensor.

3. The power system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold is a default value based on the application of the power system.

4. The power system of claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is further configured to dynamically adjust the one or more predetermined thresholds based on at least one selected from the group consisting of: measured or calculated parameters, installation conditions, and parameter threshold information.

5. The power system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is located within the power connector.

6. The power system of claim 1, wherein the electronic controller is located on at least one of the following: external communication equipment, external line equipment, remote server, and cloud network.

7. The power system of claim 1, wherein the controller is partially located within the electrical connector and partially located on at least one selected from the group consisting of: external communication equipment, external line equipment, remote server, and cloud network.

8. The power system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first characteristic and the second characteristic is selected from the group consisting of temperature, voltage, and current.

9. The power system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to provide a maintenance plan tracker.

10. The power system of claim 1, further comprising a load, wherein the controller is further configured to determine an abnormal condition of the power system based on information received from the load.

11. The power system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to perform or improve predictive or diagnostic capabilities based on information received from the load using machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms.

12. The power system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to utilize machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms to further improve predictive capabilities based on the information received from the load.

13. An electric power system comprising: Power connector; Contacts configured to electrically connect a power source to a load; A first sensor is configured to sense a first characteristic of the power connector; A second sensor is configured to sense a second characteristic of the power connector; as well as The electronic controller is configured as follows: Receive a first signal indicating the first characteristic. Receive a second signal indicating the second characteristic. The first signal is compared with a first parameter threshold, wherein the first parameter threshold corresponds to at least one desired parameter selected from a group consisting of the connection points of the power connector and the terminals of the power connector. The second signal is compared with the second parameter threshold, and The dynamic adjustment is based on at least one selected from a group consisting of the first parameter threshold and the second parameter threshold, wherein the dynamic adjustment is based on at least one selected from a group consisting of operating limits and known operating behaviors.

14. The power system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to determine an abnormal condition based on a comparison of the first signal with the first parameter threshold.

15. The power system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to determine an abnormal condition based on a comparison of the second signal with the second parameter threshold.

16. The power system according to claim 13, wherein the first sensor is a voltage sensor.

17. The power system according to claim 13, wherein the first sensor is a temperature sensor.

18. The power system according to claim 13, wherein the first sensor is a current sensor.

19. The power system of claim 13, wherein the predetermined threshold is a default value based on the application of the power system.

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