Method for determining the device wiring of a plurality of electrical devices

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining the device wiring of a plurality of electrical devices which are communicatively coupled to one another in a communication network, wherein the devices comprise at least one voltage supply device having a voltage supply output for providing a supply voltage and at least one load having a voltage supply input for receiving a supply voltage. The method comprises the following: temporarily changing the provided supply voltage at the voltage supply output of a first voltage supply device of the communication network; determining, by all devices, respective information which indicates whether a change corresponding to the change in the provided supply voltage has taken place at the respective voltage supply inputs and / or outputs of the devices and at which of the respective inputs and / or outputs the change has taken place; and determining the device wiring on the basis of the respective information which indicates whether and where the change has taken place.

Description

[0001] Method for determining the wiring configuration of a plurality of electrical devices

[0002] The invention relates to a method for determining the wiring configuration of a plurality of electrical devices, such as power supplies, that communicate with each other via communication links. In particular, the invention relates to the automatic detection of the electrical wiring configuration of several electrical devices on the input and output sides. The invention further relates to a power supply device that is electrically connected to several other power supply devices via wiring and that automatically detects the wiring configuration.

[0003] Electrical devices can include powering devices, such as power supplies, and powered devices, such as loads powered by the power supplies, and can be operated together in an electrical network. This allows the capacity of a power supply system to be easily expanded or reduced. However, when several such electrical devices are connected together, the electrical connections are not automatically detected. For cross-device functions, knowledge of the connections between the electrical devices is necessary. Instead, the electrical connections must be communicated to the devices manually through configuration or via direct communication wiring. This is time-consuming, as it always requires interaction with the user or operating personnel during installation or expansion.Reduction of the electrical system is required, or strict and complex wiring regulations for direct communication wiring must be observed. Direct communication wiring may, for example, require 1:1, 1:n, or even m:n wiring of a bus and further require that only devices from one electrical subnetwork may be connected to this bus.

[0004] The invention aims to provide an automatic detection system for the electrical connection of electrical devices in a communication network. This objective is achieved by the objects with the features according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings.

[0005] The communication network can be flexibly configured; it can include electrically connected devices as well as devices that are not electrically connected. The electrical connections between the devices, i.e., the electrical network of the electrical devices, are referred to here as device wiring, in contrast to the communication connections between the electrical devices, which can also be wired or unwired, but are not referred to here as device wiring. The communication connections do not necessarily follow the electrical connections. Electrical devices can also be coupled to each other via communication connections in two or more electrical networks, i.e., coupled to each other in a communication network. Electrical devices that are not participants in the communication network can also be present in the electrical network; however, these devices do not participate in automatic detection.

[0006] An electrical system, the wiring of which can be determined according to the invention, comprises, for example, power supply devices, such as uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), and loads which are electrically supplied by the power supply devices.

[0007] An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) ensures the power supply to critical electrical loads during power grid disruptions. A UPS can compensate for local fluctuations and outages by supplying connected devices with electrical energy from accumulators or batteries, which are continuously recharged from the grid. Battery-backed UPS systems are widely used.

[0008] Such an electrical network of power supply devices or voltage supply units can be mounted, for example, on a DIN rail in a control cabinet, and is therefore flexibly expandable or reducible depending on on-site requirements, such as customer needs. The invention is based on the idea of ​​automatically detecting the electrical wiring of multiple devices on the input and output sides. Thanks to this automatic detection, the user does not need to manually enter information to identify the corresponding devices. The cross-device functions can automatically begin operating without further configuration. In the event of partial failures or changes / replacements of devices, the detection process is repeated, allowing the system to be restarted or remain operational more quickly.

[0009] Automated detection accelerates and increases system availability during initial commissioning and maintenance, particularly with regard to cross-device functionalities. In a communication network, as described here, several independent, electrically connected systems can be present.

[0010] The technical advantages of the solution presented here include the elimination of manual configuration by the user. Furthermore, there is no need to align the communication connection with the electrical connection. Multiple electrically connected systems can be connected to a gateway or a higher-level control device. The wiring of the electrical devices can be detected by selectively controlling the outputs and measuring the inputs. The results obtained can then be communicated accordingly.

[0011] The solution presented here to the task described above is based on the automatic detection of the electrical wiring, i.e., the device wiring, of several electrical devices on the input and output side.

[0012] The detection process can be carried out in several phases, as described in more detail below with reference to the figures. In the first phase (Phase 1), one of the electrical devices takes the lead. In the second phase (Phase 2), for example, the electrical devices with a detected parallel output can be considered together as the active electrical device. Phase two can be repeated for any further detected parallel devices, if necessary. Once an electrical circuit has been detected, the next electrical device outside the circuit can take over the detection and begin again with Phase 1.

[0013] In Phase 1, one of the electrical devices in the communication network can initiate automatic detection. To do this, the electrical device can notify all other electrical devices that detection is starting. The electrical device can then slightly change its output voltage for a short time. All electrical devices in the communication network can check whether they can detect a change at their inputs or outputs.

[0014] The electrical device itself can detect a load change in the same direction if other devices are connected in parallel. Electrical devices with parallel outputs can detect either a voltage change directly or a load change in the opposite direction. Devices without other parallel power supplies can detect the voltage change at their input. All electrical devices can report whether and where (input and / or output) a corresponding change has occurred. Each electrical device can store information about which other electrical devices are connected to it and how. Some electrical devices, for example, may have a direct connection between their input and output and therefore detect the corresponding change at both the input and the output.

[0015] In Phase 2, electrical devices with parallel outputs can act as a single device and briefly change their output voltage together. These devices can detect a load change in the same direction if other parallel devices are present. Other devices with parallel outputs can detect a load change in the opposite direction. Electrical devices connected to their input side can detect the voltage change.

[0016] Electrical devices can generally only detect a change on their input side if all suppliers or the devices themselves make a change on their output side. Under special conditions, a load or a supplied electrical device may also be able to detect the electrical connection before a simultaneous change by all suppliers. Therefore, phase 2 may generally be necessary for detection.

[0017] According to a first aspect, the problem described above is solved by a method for determining the wiring of a plurality of electrical devices that are electrically interconnected via the wiring and additionally communicatively coupled in a communication network, wherein the plurality of electrical devices includes at least one power supply device with a power supply output for providing a supply voltage and at least one load with a power supply input for maintaining a supply voltage, wherein the method comprises: temporarily changing the supplied supply voltage at the power supply output of a first power supply device of the communication network;Determining the respective information transmitted by all electrical devices in the communication network, indicating whether a change corresponding to the change in the supplied voltage of the first power supply device has occurred at the respective power supply inputs and / or outputs of the electrical devices in the communication network, and at which of the respective power supply inputs and / or outputs the change has occurred; and determining the device wiring of the majority of the electrical devices based on the respective information indicating whether and where the change has occurred.

[0018] Some devices can pass the input directly to the output.

[0019] The change in the supplied voltage can include, for example: a static change for a predetermined time interval, a periodic change of a square wave signal, a periodic change of a sawtooth wave signal, a periodic change of a triangle wave signal, a change in a pulse pattern to transmit a short bit pattern, or a change of a staircase signal, especially when there is no load at the output.

[0020] This method allows for the automatic detection of electrical connections between devices within a communication network. Thanks to this automatic detection, the user does not need to manually enter information to name the connected devices. The cross-device functions can then automatically begin operating without further configuration. In the event of partial failures or device changes / replacements, the detection process is repeated, allowing the system to resume operation more quickly or remain operational.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the method comprises: sending an announcement message by the first power supply device of the communication network to all other electrical devices of the communication network prior to the temporary change of the supplied supply voltage, wherein the announcement message includes information that a temporary change of the supplied supply voltage is being carried out.

[0022] By sending the announcement message, all participants in the communication network—that is, power supplies and loads—are informed that the first power supply is performing a wiring detection. The participants can then prepare to take measurements and transmit the results to the first power supply. The first power supply can be considered the communication requester, and the other participants in the communication network can be considered the communication responders.

[0023] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the method comprises: detecting a voltage and current at the respective power supply inputs and / or outputs of the other electrical devices of the communication network in response to the other electrical devices receiving the announcement message; and detecting a voltage and current at the power supply output of the first power supply device of the communication network after a temporary change in the supplied voltage of the first power supply device.

[0024] After the announcement message, the voltage and current at the respective power supply inputs and / or outputs of the other electrical devices, as well as at the power supply output of the first power supply device, can be recorded, for example, by measuring the voltage. For loads, the voltage and current are measured at the power supply input, and for the power supplies, including the first power supply device, the voltage and current are measured at the power supply output. The voltage should be slightly higher or lower than before the announcement message if the power supply inputs or outputs are wired to the first power supply device; otherwise, no change should be observed if no electrical device is wired to the first power supply device.Based on the measured voltages, it can be concluded whether the respective electrical device is electrically connected to the first power supply device via the device wiring.

[0025] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the method comprises: sending a recovery message by the first power supply device of the communication network to all other electrical devices of the communication network prior to a recovery of the provided supply voltage, wherein the recovery message includes information that a recovery of the provided supply voltage is being carried out.

[0026] The recovery message allows the other electrical devices to infer that the temporary voltage change at the power supply output of the first power supply device is complete and the original, unchanged voltage has been restored. The other electrical devices can then perform a reference voltage measurement to compare it to the previously measured changed voltage.

[0027] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the method comprises: detecting a voltage and current at the respective power supply inputs and / or outputs of the other electrical devices in the communication network in response to the reception of the recovery message by the other electrical devices; and detecting a voltage and current at the power supply output of the first power supply device in the communication network after the first power supply device has restored the supplied voltage. A change in load can also be detected by measuring the current at the supplying devices.

[0028] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the method comprises: determining whether and where a change has occurred at the respective power supply inputs and / or outputs of the electrical devices of the communication network in response to the reception of the recovery message by the other electrical devices; and determining whether and where a change has occurred at the first power supply device after the first power supply device has restored the provided supply voltage and after the voltage and current at the power supply output of the first power supply device.

[0029] After receiving the recovery message, the previously measured voltages and currents, and the power values ​​derived from them, can be compared with the subsequently measured voltages, currents, and power values ​​to determine whether the respective electrical devices are electrically connected to the first power supply device via the device wiring. This applies both to the other devices (i.e., the passive devices) and to the first power supply device (i.e., the active device).

[0030] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, determining whether and where a change has occurred at the respective voltage supply inputs and / or outputs of the electrical devices of the communication network is based on a deviation of the voltage and / or current detected in response to the receipt of the announcement message from the voltage and / or current detected in response to the receipt of the recovery message;Determining whether and where a change has occurred at the first power supply device is based on a deviation in the voltage and / or current measured at the power supply output of the first power supply device after the temporary change in the supplied voltage, compared to the voltage and / or current measured at the power supply output of the first power supply device after the supply voltage has been restored. The power can also be determined from the voltage and current.

[0031] By determining the deviation of the voltage or power from its original value, it can be determined in a simple and efficient way whether the respective electrical devices, i.e., power supply devices and loads, are wired to the first power supply device and are thus part of the electrical network formed via the device wiring.

[0032] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the method comprises: sending the information determined by the respective electrical devices, which indicates whether and where a change has taken place at the respective voltage supply inputs and / or outputs of the electrical devices, to all electrical devices of the communication network.

[0033] This allows information indicating whether and where a change has occurred at the respective power supply inputs and / or outputs to be transmitted to all participants in the communication network, so that the user can easily retrieve the results from all electrical devices.

[0034] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the method comprises: receiving and storing the information determined by the respective electrical devices, which indicates whether and where a change has taken place at the respective voltage supply inputs and / or outputs of the electrical devices, as well as the device wiring determined therefrom, in all electrical devices of the communication network.

[0035] This allows information about the device wiring to be stored on all devices in the communication network and easily retrieved by the user.

[0036] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the method comprises: determining power supply devices of the communication network with parallel-connected power supply outputs based on the device wiring; combining the power supply devices with parallel-connected power supply outputs into a single, in particular virtual, first power supply device; and repeating the temporary modification, determining the respective information, and determining the device wiring based on the combined first power supply device.

[0037] Power supplies can be connected in parallel to, for example, increase output power, achieve good current sharing between the power supplies, match output impedance and temperature drift, and increase the reliability of the power supply system or enable redundant power supply. With parallel-connected power supply outputs, the positive terminals of the respective power supplies are connected to the positive terminal(s) of the load(s), and the negative terminals of the respective power supplies are connected to the negative terminal(s) of the load(s).

[0038] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the method comprises: detecting a load change and / or voltage change in the same or opposite direction by one of the power supply devices with a parallel-connected power supply output; and / or detecting a voltage change at the power supply input of a load supplied by a power supply device with a non-parallel-connected output.

[0039] The power supply output is supplied.

[0040] The method advantageously allows for the detection of load changes, such as when a load is switched on or off, and the system can be expanded or reduced accordingly.

[0041] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the communication network comprises electrical devices that are interconnected via one or more communication channels. The communication channels can be implemented flexibly in various ways, for example, wirelessly or wired. Different communication protocols can be used, such as IP-over-Ethernet, WLAN, IR, Bluetooth, NFC, radio, etc.

[0042] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the communication network comprises electrical devices whose power supply outputs and / or power supply inputs are electrically wired together.

[0043] The device wiring may or may not correspond to the communication network. All electrical devices in the communication network, or only some of them, may be electrically connected via the device wiring. Device wiring detection can be flexible and independent of the electrical network topology.

[0044] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the communication network comprises additional electrical devices whose power supply inputs and / or outputs are not electrically wired to the power supply inputs and / or outputs of the electrical devices, and which are wired to each other via separate device wiring.

[0045] This offers the advantage that not only can one device wiring configuration within the communication network be detected, but also a second device wiring configuration or multiple device wiring configurations that are implemented separately from each other.

[0046] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the method comprises: repeating the temporary modification, the determination of the respective information, and the determination of the device wiring based on a first power supply device of the electrical devices interconnected via the separate device wiring.

[0047] This offers the advantage that different device wiring configurations within a communication network can be reliably identified. The communication network can, for example, encompass all power supply systems in a control cabinet or control room, whereby the respective power supply systems are electrically interconnected via their own device wiring, but electrically (but not communication-wise) separated from other power supply systems.

[0048] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the majority of the electrical devices of the communication network are additionally wired to further electrical devices that are not part of the communication network; and the determination of the device wiring is based on the electrical devices that are part of the communication network, and disregards any device wiring to the electrical devices that are not part of the communication network.

[0049] This creates flexibility in the installation of the communication network. The communication network can thus also include electrical devices that are not intended to be connected to the electrical devices of the power supply system via the device wiring. For example, these can also be devices that do not represent loads or power supply devices, such as standalone measuring instruments, probes, actuators, etc.

[0050] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the communicative coupling of the majority of the electrical devices is implemented separately from the device wiring.

[0051] This allows for effective separation of the power supply and the system's communication pathways. Therefore, a failure of one path within the system does not necessarily lead to a failure of the other path.

[0052] According to a second aspect, the problem described above is solved by a power supply device for a plurality of electrical devices which are electrically connected to each other via device wiring and are additionally communicatively coupled to each other in a communication network, wherein the plurality of electrical devices includes at least one power supply device with a power supply output for providing a supply voltage and at least one load with a power supply input for maintaining a supply voltage, wherein the power supply device is configured to carry out the method according to the first aspect described above.

[0053] A first power supply device can be determined using the procedure described above and below. Any power supply device of a majority of electrical devices can be the first power supply device. Therefore, the first power supply device can be the initial or the first active power supply device. In principle, depending particularly on its technical design, such as software and / or hardware, any electrical device can be the communication requester.

[0054] Such a power supply unit enables automatic detection of the electrical connections between devices in a communication network. Thanks to this automatic detection, the user does not need to manually enter information to name the connected devices. As described above, the cross-device functions can automatically begin operating without further configuration. In the event of partial failures or device changes / replacements, the detection process is repeated, allowing the system to be restarted or remain operational more quickly.

[0055] According to a third aspect, the problem described above is solved by a communication system comprising a plurality of electrical devices which are electrically connected to each other via device wiring and are additionally communicatively coupled to each other in the communication system, wherein the plurality of electrical devices includes at least one power supply device with a power supply output for providing a supply voltage and at least one load with a power supply input for maintaining a supply voltage, wherein a first power supply device of the communication system is configured to temporarily change the provided supply voltage at the power supply output of the first power supply device;and wherein the electrical devices of the communication system are configured to determine respective information indicating whether a change corresponding to the change in the supplied voltage of the first power supply device has occurred at the respective power supply inputs and / or outputs of the electrical devices of the communication system, and at which of the respective power supply inputs and / or outputs the change has occurred; and wherein at least one of the electrical devices of the communication system is configured to determine the device wiring of the majority of the electrical devices based on the respective information indicating whether and where the change has occurred.

[0056] The first power supply device can be a starting power supply device, which can be specifically configured to first change its provided supply voltage at its power supply output in the communication system.

[0057] The communication system can correspond to the communication network described above. Alternatively, the communication system can correspond to one of the communication networks described below with reference to Figures 1 to 3. It can perform the procedure described in Figure 4 to determine the device wiring.

[0058] Further examples of implementation are explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show:

[0059] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a communication network 400a of electrical devices 100, 200, which are electrically connected to each other via a device wiring 300, according to a first embodiment;

[0060] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a communication network 400b of electrical devices 100, 200, which are electrically connected to each other via various device wirings 300, 300b according to a second embodiment;

[0061] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a communication network 400c of electrical devices 100, 200, which are electrically connected to each other via various device wiring 300, 300b, wherein additional electrical devices 101, 201 are wired which are not part of the communication network 400c, according to a third embodiment; and

[0062] Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of a method 500 for determining the wiring of a plurality of electrical devices according to one embodiment.

[0063] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings, which form part thereof and illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be implemented. It is understood that other embodiments can also be used and structural or logical modifications can be made without deviating from the concept of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be understood as limiting. Furthermore, it is understood that the features of the various embodiments described herein can be combined with one another, unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0064] The aspects and embodiments are described with reference to the drawings, whereby identical reference numerals generally refer to identical elements.

[0065] Devices and procedures are described. It is understood that fundamental properties of the devices also apply to the procedures and vice versa. Therefore, for the sake of brevity, a duplicate description of such properties will be omitted where necessary.

[0066] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a communication network 400a of electrical devices 100, 200 which are electrically connected to each other via a device wiring 300, according to a first embodiment.

[0067] The communication network 400a comprises one or more supplies 100, such as power supplies or voltage supplies 100 with a corresponding voltage supply output 310, for example, a DC output for providing a supply voltage, such as a DC voltage. In the example shown in Figure 1, three such supplies 100 are depicted; however, any other number of supplies 100 can also be present, for example, only one or two, or four, five, six, etc. The supplies 100 are communicatively coupled to each other in the communication network 400a via communication channels 400.

[0068] The communication network 400a also includes one or more loads 200, such as electrical devices with a corresponding power supply input 320, for example, a DC input to maintain a supply voltage, such as a DC voltage. In the example shown in Figure 1, three such loads 200 are depicted; however, any other number of loads 200 can also be present, for example, only one or two, or four, five, six, etc. The loads 200 are communicatively coupled to each other and to the power supplies 100 in the communication network 400a via communication channels 400.

[0069] The power supplies 100 and the loads 200 are also interconnected via a device wiring system 300, for example via a DC connection, and thus electrically connected. In this example, all power supplies 100 and all loads 200 are electrically interconnected via the device wiring system 300.

[0070] The loads 200 shown in Figure 1 are to be considered optional, i.e., the method described above can also be carried out if there are no loads 200 but only power supply devices 100 in the communication network 400a, although this is a less preferred embodiment, for example in the case that the power supply system is yet to be installed and no loads are yet connected.

[0071] The communication connections 400 can be wireless or wired. For example, they can be Ethernet connections, WLAN connections, Bluetooth, IR, radio, cellular, NFC, or any other common communication connection.

[0072] The method presented in this disclosure for determining a device wiring 300 of a plurality of electrical devices 100, 200, which are electrically connected to each other via the device wiring 300 and additionally communicatively coupled to each other in a communication network 400a, as shown in Figure 1, and wherein the plurality of electrical devices 100, 200 comprises at least one power supply device 100 with a power supply output 310 for providing a supply voltage and at least one load 200 with a power supply input 320 for maintaining a supply voltage, comprises the following:

[0073] Temporarily changing 12 the supplied voltage at the power supply output 310 of a first power supply device 10 of the communication network 400a, as shown in more detail in Figure 4;

[0074] Determining information for each electrical device 10, 20 of the communication network 400a, indicating whether a change corresponding to the change in the supplied voltage of the first power supply device 10 has occurred at the respective power supply inputs 320 and / or outputs 310 of the electrical devices 10, 20 of the communication network 400a, and at which of the respective power supply inputs 320 and / or outputs 310 the change has occurred; and

[0075] Determining the device wiring 300 of the majority of electrical devices 100, 200 based on the respective information which indicates whether and where the change has taken place.

[0076] The first power supply device 10 is one of the electrical devices 100 shown in Figure 1, which initiates the detection of the device wiring 300. It can be a previously defined device, for example, a device installed first, or it can be defined as the first device 10 via the communication network 400a, for example, by a control unit.

[0077] As described above, the detection process can be carried out in several phases. In the first phase (Phase 1), one of the electrical devices takes the lead, here referred to as the first power supply device 10. In the second phase (Phase 2), the electrical devices 100 with a detected parallel output can be considered together as the active electrical device. Phase two can be repeated for any further detected parallel devices, if necessary.

[0078] Once an electrical group has been detected, for example all devices that are electrically connected to each other via the device wiring 300, the next electrical device outside the electrical group 300 can take over the detection and start again with phase 1.

[0079] In Phase 1, one of the electrical devices in the communication network can initiate automatic detection; here, it is referred to as the first power supply device 10. For this purpose, the electrical device 10 can notify all other electrical devices 20 that detection is being started, as explained in more detail below with reference to Figure 4. The electrical device 10 can then slightly change its output voltage for a short time. All electrical devices in the communication network 400a can check whether they can detect a change at their inputs or outputs.

[0080] The electrical device itself can detect a load change in the same direction for devices connected in parallel. Electrical devices with parallel outputs can detect a load change in the opposite direction. Electrical devices with non-parallel power supplies can detect voltage changes at their inputs. All electrical devices can report whether and where (input or output) a corresponding change has occurred. Each electrical device can remember which electrical devices are connected to it and how.

[0081] Depending on the selected initial device, detection by other power supplies or power supply units can also occur via voltage changes, and connected devices can detect the change as early as phase 1. This is particularly true when the power supply unit with the highest voltage setting increases the voltage. All connected devices can directly detect this change.

[0082] For example, as described above and below, an algorithm can be used to determine the first power supply device 10. The first power supply device 10 can be the power supply device with the highest set voltage that does not yet belong to a group. If several power supplies have the same set voltage, then the first power supply device 10 can be the one with the lowest ID. This allows all electrical devices connected to this first power supply device 10 to advantageously detect the change in the first step.

[0083] In Phase 2, electrical devices with parallel outputs can act as a single device and briefly change their output voltage together. These devices can detect a load change in the same direction if other parallel devices are present. Other electrical devices with parallel outputs can detect a load change in the opposite direction. For example, the changing electrical devices, i.e., power supply devices, might be those with the highest voltage and designed to increase it. In this case, the parallel power supplies can also detect the voltage change. Electrical devices connected to their input side can detect the voltage change.

[0084] Electrical devices can only detect a change on their input side if all electrical devices on their output side also make a change. Otherwise, the input voltage would remain constant, and only the load on the outputs would be redistributed. Therefore, phase 2 may be necessary for detection.

[0085] A first power supply device 10 that initiates the detection can, for example, be designed as follows.

[0086] Such a first power supply device 10 of a plurality of electrical devices 100, 200, which are electrically interconnected via a device wiring 300 and additionally communicatively coupled to one another in a communication network 400a-c, wherein the plurality of the electrical devices 100, 200 comprises at least one power supply device 100 with a power supply output 310 for providing a supply voltage and at least one load 200 with a power supply input 320 for maintaining a supply voltage, can be configured to carry out the method as described in more detail above and below with reference to Figure 4. Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a communication network 400b of electrical devices 100, 200, which are electrically interconnected via various device wiring 300, 300b, according to a second embodiment.

[0087] The communication network 400b comprises one or more supplies 100, such as power supplies or voltage supplies 100 with a corresponding voltage supply output 310, as described above with reference to Figure 1, for example, a DC output for providing a supply voltage, such as a DC voltage. In the example shown in Figure 2, three such supplies 100 are depicted; however, any other number of supplies 100 can also be present, for example, only one or two, or four, five, six, etc. The supplies 100 are communicatively coupled to each other in the communication network 400b via communication channels 400.

[0088] The communication network 400b also includes one or more loads 200, such as electrical devices with a corresponding power supply input 320, as described above with reference to Figure 1, for example, a DC input to maintain a supply voltage. In the example shown in Figure 2, three such loads 200 are depicted; however, any other number of loads 200 can also be present, for example, only one or two, or four, five, six, etc. The loads 200 are communicatively coupled to each other and to the power supplies 100 in the communication network 400b via communication channels 400.

[0089] The two power supplies 100 and the two loads 200 shown on the left and in the middle of Figure 2 are also wired to each other via a first device wiring 300, for example via a DC connection, and thus electrically connected. The power supply 100 and the load 200 shown on the right of Figure 2 are also wired to each other via a second device wiring 300b, for example via a DC connection, and thus electrically connected. There is no electrical connection, in particular no DC connection 301, between the first device wiring 300 and the second device wiring 300b.The method presented in this disclosure for determining a device wiring 300 of a plurality of electrical devices 100, 200, which are electrically connected to each other via the device wiring 300 and additionally communicatively coupled to each other in a communication network 400b, as shown in Figure 2, and wherein the plurality of electrical devices 100, 200 comprises at least one power supply device 100 with a power supply output 310 for providing a supply voltage and at least one load 200 with a power supply input 320 for receiving a supply voltage, comprises the following:

[0090] Temporarily changing 12 the supplied voltage at the power supply output 310 of a first power supply device 10 of the communication network 400b, as shown in more detail in Figure 4;

[0091] Determining information for each electrical device 10, 20 of the communication network 400b, indicating whether a change corresponding to the change in the supplied voltage of the first power supply device 10 has occurred at the respective power supply inputs 320 and / or outputs 310 of the electrical devices 10, 20 of the communication network 400b, and at which of the respective power supply inputs 320 and / or outputs 310 the change has occurred; and

[0092] Determining the device wiring 300 of the majority of electrical devices 100, 200 based on the respective information which indicates whether and where the change has taken place.

[0093] The first power supply device 10 is one of the electrical devices 100 shown in Figure 2, for example, the left-hand electrical device 100, which initiates the detection of the (first) device wiring, for example, device wiring 300. It can be a previously defined device, for example, a device installed first, or it can be designated as the first device 10 via the communication network 400b, for example, by a control unit. After determining the first device wiring, for example, device wiring 300, the second device wiring, for example, device wiring 300b, can also be determined by repeating the procedure described above. For this purpose, for example, a first power supply device 10 can be used that is wired to other devices of the communication network 400b via the second device wiring, for example, device wiring 300b.

[0094] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a communication network 400c of electrical devices 100, 200 which are electrically connected to each other via various device wirings 300, 300b, wherein additional electrical devices 101, 201 are wired which are not part of the communication network 400c, according to a third embodiment.

[0095] The communication network 400c comprises one or more power supplies 100, such as power supplies or voltage supplies 100 with a corresponding voltage supply output 310, as described above with reference to Figure 1, for example, a DC output for providing a supply voltage, such as a DC voltage. In the example shown in Figure 3, two such power supplies 100 are depicted; however, any other number of power supplies 100 can also be present, for example, only one, three, four, five, six, etc. The power supplies 100 are communicatively coupled to each other in the communication network 400c via communication channels 400. Additionally, Figure 3 shows another voltage supply 101 with a corresponding voltage supply output 310, which, however, is not communicatively coupled to the other voltage supplies 100 of the communication network 400c via a communication channel 400.However, this additional power supply 101 is wired via the first device wiring 300 to the power supply 100 shown on the left.

[0096] The communication network 400c also includes one or more loads 200, such as electrical devices with a corresponding power supply input 320, as described above with reference to Figure 1, for example, a DC input to maintain a supply voltage. In the example shown in Figure 3, such a load 200 is depicted (bottom left), but any other number of loads 200 can also be present, for example, two, three, four, five, six, etc. The load 200 is communicatively coupled to the power supplies 100 in the communication network 400c via a communication channel 400. The load 200 is wired to the power supply 100 shown in the top left via the first device wiring 300.

[0097] The power supply 101 shown in the center of Figure 3 and the two loads 201 shown at the bottom right and in the center of Figure 3 are not part of the communication network 400c, as they are not connected to the communication network 400c via any communication channels 400. However, they are part of the first device wiring 300 or the second device wiring 300b, as shown in Figure 3. These power supplies 101 and loads 201, which are not part of the communication network 400c, cannot participate in the detection of the device wiring 300, 300b, or in the procedure described above.

[0098] As described above, the method presented in this disclosure for determining a device wiring 300 comprises a plurality of electrical devices 100, 200, which are electrically interconnected via the device wiring 300 and additionally communicatively coupled to one another in a communication network 400c, as shown in Figure 3, and wherein the plurality of electrical devices 100, 200 comprises at least one power supply device 100 with a power supply output 310 for providing a supply voltage and at least one load 200 with a power supply input 320 for maintaining a supply voltage. The method comprises the following:

[0099] Temporarily changing 12 the supplied voltage at the power supply output 310 of a first power supply device 10 of the communication network 400b, as shown in more detail in Figure 4;

[0100] Determining information for each electrical device 10, 20 of the communication network 400b, indicating whether a change corresponding to the change in the supplied voltage of the first power supply device 10 has occurred at the respective power supply inputs 320 and / or outputs 310 of the electrical devices 10, 20 of the communication network 400b, and at which of the respective power supply inputs 320 and / or outputs 310 the change has occurred; and

[0101] Determining the device wiring 300 of the majority of electrical devices 100, 200 based on the respective information which indicates whether and where the change has taken place.

[0102] After determining the first device wiring 300, the second device wiring 300b can also be determined by repeating the procedure described above. For this purpose, for example, a first power supply device 10 can be used, which is wired to other devices of the communication network 400b via the second device wiring 300b.

[0103] However, as described above, the supplies 101 and loads 201, which are not part of the communication network 400c, cannot participate in the detection of the device wiring 300, 300b or the procedure described above.

[0104] Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of a method 500 for determining the wiring of a plurality of electrical devices according to one embodiment.

[0105] Method 500 serves to determine a device wiring configuration 300 for a plurality of electrical devices 100, 200, which are electrically interconnected via the device wiring configuration 300 and additionally communicatively coupled to one another in a communication network 400a-c, as shown above with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The plurality of electrical devices 100, 200 comprises at least one power supply device 100 with a power supply output 310 for providing a supply voltage and at least one load 200 with a power supply input 320 for maintaining a supply voltage, as shown above with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Method 500 comprises the following:

[0106] Temporary modification 12 of the supplied voltage at the power supply output 310 of a first power supply device 10 of the communication network 400a-c, as shown above in Figures 1 to 3;

[0107] Determining information for each electrical device 10, 20 of the communication network 400a-c, indicating whether a change corresponding to the change in the supplied voltage of the first power supply device 10 has occurred at the respective power supply inputs 320 and / or outputs 310 of the electrical devices 10, 20 of the communication network 400a-c, and at which of the respective power supply inputs 320 and / or outputs 310 the change has occurred; and

[0108] Determining the device wiring 300 of the majority of electrical devices 100, 200 based on the respective information which indicates whether and where the change has taken place.

[0109] The first power supply device 10 is referred to here in Figure 4 as the active device, while all other devices 20 are referred to as passive devices. The active device 10 can be one of the power supply devices 100 according to Figures 1 to 3. The passive devices 20 can be power supply devices 100 or loads 200 according to Figures 1 to 3.

[0110] The method 500 may further include: sending an announcement message 11 by the first power supply device 10 of the communication network 400a-c to all other electrical devices 20 of the communication network 400a-c prior to the temporary change of the supplied supply voltage, wherein the announcement message 11 includes information that a temporary change of the supplied supply voltage is being carried out.

[0111] Method 500 can further comprise: detecting a voltage and current 22, 23 at the respective power supply inputs 320 and / or outputs 310 of the other electrical devices 20 of the communication network 400a-c in response to the other electrical devices 20 receiving the announcement message 11; and detecting a voltage and current 13 at the power supply output 310 of the first power supply device 10 of the communication network 400a-c after a temporary change in the supply voltage provided by the first power supply device 10. With the additional detection of the current or amperage (in addition to the voltage), the change in power can then also be determined.

[0112] Method 500 may further include: sending a recovery message 14 by the first power supply device 10 of the communication network 400a-c to all other electrical devices 20 of the communication network 400a-c prior to a recovery 15 of the provided supply voltage, wherein the recovery message 14 includes information that a recovery 15 of the provided supply voltage is being carried out.

[0113] Method 500 can further comprise: detecting a voltage and current 25, 26 at the respective power supply inputs 320 and / or outputs 310 of the other electrical devices 20 of the communication network 400a-c in response to the other electrical devices 20 receiving the recovery message 14; and detecting a voltage and current 16 at the power supply output 310 of the first power supply device 10 of the communication network 400a-c after the first power supply device 10 has restored the supplied voltage. As already described above, the change in power can then also be determined by additionally detecting the current or amperage (in addition to the voltage).

[0114] The procedure 500 may further comprise: Determining 27 whether and where a change has taken place at the respective power supply inputs 320 and / or outputs 310 of the electrical devices 20 of the communication network 400a-c in response to the reception of the recovery message 14 by the other electrical devices 20; and Determining 17 whether and where a change has taken place at the first power supply device 10 after the first power supply device 10 has restored the supplied voltage and after the voltage and current 16 have been measured at the power supply output 310 of the first power supply device 10.

[0115] Determining whether and where a change has occurred at the respective power supply inputs 320 and / or outputs 310 of the electrical devices 20 of the communication network 400a-c can be based on a deviation of the voltage and current 22, 23, which was recorded in response to the receipt of the announcement message 11, from the voltage and current 25, 26, which was recorded in response to the receipt of the recovery message 14.

[0116] Determining whether and where a change has taken place on the first power supply device 10 can be done based on a deviation of the voltage and current 13, which was detected after the temporary change of the supplied voltage at the power supply output 310 of the first power supply device 10, from the voltage and current 23, which was detected after the restoration of the supplied voltage at the power supply output 310 of the first power supply device 10.

[0117] The procedure 500 may further include: sending 27, 17 of the information determined by the respective electrical devices 10, 20, which indicates whether and where a change has taken place at the respective power supply inputs 320 and / or outputs 310 of the electrical devices 10, 20, to all electrical devices 10, 20 of the communication network 400a-c.

[0118] The method 500 may further include: receiving 28, 18 and storing 29, 19 the information determined by the respective electrical devices 10, 20, which indicates whether and where a change has taken place at the respective power supply inputs 320 and / or outputs 310 of the electrical devices 10, 20, as well as the device wiring 300 determined therefrom, in all electrical devices 10, 20 of the communication network 400a-c.

[0119] The procedure 500 may further comprise: determining power supply devices 100 of the communication network 400a-c with parallel-connected power supply outputs 310 based on the device wiring 300; combining the power supply devices 100 with parallel-connected power supply outputs 310 into a first power supply device 10; and repeating the temporary modification 12, determining the respective information and determining the device wiring 300 based on the combined first power supply device 10.

[0120] Power supplies can be connected in parallel to, for example, increase output power, achieve good current sharing between the power supplies, match output impedance and temperature drift, and increase the reliability of the power supply system or enable redundant power supply. With parallel-connected power supply outputs, for example, the positive terminals of the respective power supplies are connected to the positive terminal of the load, and the negative terminals of the respective power supplies are connected to the negative terminal of the load.

[0121] Method 500 may further include: detecting a load change in the same or opposite direction by one of the power supply devices 100 with parallel connection

[0122] Power supply output 310; and / or detection of a voltage change at the power supply input 320 of a load 200 supplied by a power supply device 100 with a non-parallel power supply output 310.

[0123] The communication network 400a-c can comprise electrical devices 100, 200 which are interconnected via one or more communication channels 400, as shown in Figures 1 to 3.

[0124] The communication network 400a-c can include electrical devices 100, 200, whose power supply outputs 310 and / or power supply inputs 320 are electrically wired together as shown in Figures 1 to 3.

[0125] The communication network 400b, 400c can include additional electrical devices 100, 200, whose power supply inputs 320 and / or outputs 310 are not electrically wired 301 to the power supply inputs 320 and / or outputs 310 of the electrical devices 100, 200, and which are wired together via a separate device wiring 300b, as shown, for example, in Figures 2 and 3.

[0126] The procedure 500 may include: repeating the temporary modification 12, determining the respective information and determining the device wiring 300b based on a first power supply device 10 of the electrical devices 100, 200 connected to each other via the separate device wiring 300b, as shown, for example, in Figures 2 and 3.

[0127] The majority of the electrical devices 100, 200 of the communication network 400a-c can additionally be wired to other electrical devices 101, 201 that are not part of the communication network 400a-c, as shown, for example, in Figure 3.

[0128] Determining the device wiring 300 can then be done based on the electrical devices 100 and 200, which are part of the communication network 400a-c. Device wiring to the electrical devices 101 and 201, which are not part of the communication network 400a-c, can be disregarded.

[0129] The communicative coupling of the majority of the electrical devices 100, 200 can be implemented separately from the device wiring 300. In a special embodiment, such as powerline communication, the communicative coupling can also take place via the device wiring 300.

[0130] The procedure 500 shown in Figure 5 can also be represented as a flow chart of the recognition in the form of individual process steps, which are carried out according to the sequence specified by the arrows in Figure 5, and can be represented as follows (in English notation):

[0131] 10: Active Device

[0132] 11: Send Message: “I start detection”

[0133] 12: Reduce Output Voltage

[0134] 13: Measure Output 1 14: Send Message: “I restore output”

[0135] 15: Restore Output Voltage

[0136] 16: Measure Output 2

[0137] 17: Send Message: “My detection”

[0138] 18: Receive Messages: “My detection”

[0139] 19: Store Results

[0140] 20: Passive Devices

[0141] 21: Message Received: “I start detection”

[0142] 22: Measure Input 1

[0143] 23: Measure Output 1

[0144] 24: Message Received: „I restore output”

[0145] 25: Measure Input 2

[0146] 26: Measure Output 2

[0147] 27: Send Message “My detection”

[0148] 28: Receive Messages “My detection”

[0149] 29: Store Results

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Method (500) for determining a device wiring (300) of a plurality of electrical devices (100, 200) which are electrically connected to each other via the device wiring (300) and additionally communicatively coupled to each other in a communication network (400a-c), wherein the plurality of electrical devices (100, 200) comprises at least one power supply device (100) with a power supply output (310) for providing a supply voltage and at least one load (200) with a power supply input (320) for receiving a supply voltage, wherein the method (500) comprises: temporarily changing (12) the supplied supply voltage at the power supply output (310) of a first power supply device (10) of the communication network (400a-c); Determining information for each electrical device (10, 20) of the communication network (400a-c) indicating whether a change corresponding to the change in the supplied voltage of the first power supply device (10) has occurred at the respective power supply inputs (320) and / or outputs (310) of the electrical devices (10, 20) of the communication network (400a-c), and at which of the respective power supply inputs (320) and / or outputs (310) the change has occurred; and Determining the device wiring (300) of the majority of the electrical devices (100, 200) based on the respective information indicating whether and where the change has taken place.

2. Method (500) according to claim 1, comprising: Sending an announcement message (11) by the first power supply device (10) of the communication network (400a-c) to all other electrical devices (20) of the communication network (400a-c) prior to the temporary change of the supplied supply voltage, wherein the announcement message (11) includes information that a temporary change of the supplied supply voltage is being carried out.

3. Method (500) according to claim 2, comprising: Detection of a voltage and a current (22, 23) at the respective power supply inputs (320) and / or outputs (310) of the other electrical devices (20) of the communication network (400a-c) in response to a reception of the announcement message (11) by the other electrical devices (20); and detection of a voltage and a current (13) at the Power supply output (310) of the first power supply unit (10) of the communication network (400a-c) after the temporary change of the supplied voltage of the first power supply unit (10).

4. Method (500) according to claim 3, comprising: Sending a recovery message (14) by the first power supply device (10) of the communication network (400a-c) to all other electrical devices (20) of the communication network (400a-c) prior to a recovery (15) of the provided supply voltage, wherein the The recovery message (14) includes information that a recovery (15) of the supplied voltage is being carried out.

5. Method (500) according to claim 4, comprising: Detection of a voltage and a current (25, 26) at the respective power supply inputs (320) and / or outputs (310) of the other electrical devices (20) of the communication network (400a-c) responding to a reception of the recovery message (14) by the other electrical devices (20); and Detection of a voltage and a current (16) at the power supply output (310) of the first power supply unit (10) of the communication network (400a-c) after the first power supply unit (10) has restored the supplied voltage.

6. Method (500) according to claim 5, comprising: Determine (27) whether and where a change has taken place at the respective power supply inputs (320) and / or outputs (310) of the electrical devices (20) of the communication network (400a-c) responsive to the reception of the recovery message (14) by the other electrical devices (20); and Determine (17) if and where a change has taken place on the first power supply device (10) after the first power supply device (10) has restored the supplied voltage and after measuring the voltage and current (16) at the power supply output (310) of the first power supply device (10).

7. Method (500) according to claim 6, wherein the determination of whether and where a change has taken place at the respective voltage supply inputs (320) and / or outputs (310) of the electrical devices (20) of the communication network (400a-c) is based on a deviation of the voltage and current (22, 23) detected in response to the receipt of the announcement message (11) from the voltage (25, 26) detected in response to the receipt of the recovery message (14);and wherein the determination (17) of whether and where a change has taken place on the first power supply device (10) is based on a deviation of the voltage and current (13) detected after the temporary change of the supplied voltage at the power supply output (310) of the first power supply device (10) from the voltage and current (23) detected after the restoration of the supplied voltage at the power supply output (310) of the first power supply device (10).

8. Method (500) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising: sending (27, 17) the information determined by the respective electrical devices (10, 20), which indicates whether and where a change has taken place at the respective power supply inputs (320) and / or outputs (310) of the electrical devices (10, 20), to all electrical devices (10, 20) of the communication network (400a-c).

9. Method (500) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising: receiving (28, 18) and storing (29, 19) the information determined by the respective electrical devices (10, 20), which indicates whether and where a change has taken place at the respective power supply inputs (320) and / or outputs (310) of the electrical devices (10, 20) and the device wiring (300) determined therefrom, in all electrical devices (10, 20) of the communication network (400a-c).

10. Method (500) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising: determining power supply devices (100) of the communication network (400a-c) with parallel-connected power supply outputs (310) based on the device wiring (300); Combining the power supply devices (100) with parallel-connected power supply outputs (310) into a single, in particular virtual, first power supply device (10); and Repeating the temporary modification (12), determining the respective information and determining the device wiring (300) based on the aggregated first power supply device (10).

11. Method (500) according to claim 10, comprising: Detection of a load change and / or voltage change in the same or opposite direction by one of the power supply devices (100) with a parallel-connected power supply output (310); and / or Detecting a voltage change at the power supply input (320) of a load (200) supplied by a power supply device (100) with a non-parallel power supply output (310).

12. Method (500) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication network (400a-c) comprises electrical devices (100, 200) which are interconnected via one or more communication channels (400).

13. Method (500) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication network (400a-c) comprises electrical devices (100, 200) whose power supply outputs (310) and / or power supply inputs (320) are electrically wired together.

14. Method (500) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the communication network (400b, 400c) comprises additional electrical devices (100, 200) whose power supply inputs (320) and / or outputs (310) are not electrically wired (301) to the power supply inputs (320) and / or outputs (310) of the electrical devices (100, 200), and which are wired together via a separate device wiring (300b).

15. Method (500) according to claim 14, comprising: Repeating the temporary modification (12), determining the respective information and determining the device wiring (300b) based on a first power supply device (10) of the electrical devices (100, 200) connected to each other via the separate device wiring (300b).

16. Method (500) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the majority of the electrical devices (100, 200) of the communication network (400a-c) are additionally wired to further electrical devices (101, 201) that are not part of the communication network (400a-c); and wherein the determination of the device wiring (300) is based on the electrical devices (100, 200) that are part of the communication network (400a-c), and disregards any device wiring to the electrical devices (101, 201) that are not part of the communication network (400a-c).

17. Method (500) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the communicative coupling of the majority of the electrical devices (100, 200) is carried out separately from the device wiring.

18. Power supply unit (10) for a plurality of electrical devices (100, 200) which are electrically connected to each other via a device wiring (300) and additionally communicate with each other in a communication network (400a-c). are coupled, wherein the majority of the electrical devices (100, 200) comprise at least one power supply device (100) with a power supply output (310) for providing a supply voltage and at least one load (200) with a power supply input (320) for maintaining a supply voltage, wherein the power supply device (10) is configured to carry out the method (500) according to one of the preceding claims.

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