Power distribution unit and alarm method applied in the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9714972-B2
Application number	US-201514929513-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2015
Priority date	Jun 24, 2014
Publication date	Jul 25, 2017
Grant date	Jul 25, 2017

Abstract

A power distribution unit including a base, at least one socket, at least one detecting unit and a management unit is provided. The socket is disposed at the base and has at least one power end and a ground end. The detecting unit is disposed at the base. When a plug is disposed at the socket, the detecting unit outputs an alarm signal if the plug is electrically connected to the power end of the socket but the plug is not electrically connected to the ground end of the socket. The management unit is electrically connected to the detecting unit and performs a predetermined operation in response to the alarm signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method applied in a power distribution unit, the method comprising:
determining an electrical connection between a plug disposed at a socket of the power distribution unit and a power end of the socket;
determining the electrical connection between the plug and a ground end of the socket if the plug is electrically connected to the power end of the socket;
generating a first voltage signal based on a condition selected from the group consisting of: the plug being connected to both the power end and ground end of the socket and the plug being electrically disconnected from the power end of the socket;
generating a second voltage signal if the plug is electrically disconnected to the ground end of the socket and is connected to the power end of the socket; and
performing a predetermined operation in response to generation of one of the first and second voltage signals.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: deterring the second voltage signal if the plug is not electrically connected to the power end of the socket.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising: deterring the second voltage signal if the plug is electrically connected to the ground end of the socket.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined operation is to generate a communication selected from the group consisting of: a visual alarm message and an auditory alarm sound.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising configuring a plurality of sockets and an OR gate in communication with the sockets, and in response to the OR gate receiving the second voltage signal, performing the predetermined operation.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
configuring an AND gate in communication with the socket and an inverter;
sensing, by the AND gate, the plug being electrically disconnected to the ground end of the socket and connected to the power end of the socket; and
the AND gate outputting the second voltage signal.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
configuring a first switch having a first and second end including;
positioning the first switch proximal to the power end of the socket;
configuring the second end of the first switch in communication with a ground;
configuring the first end of the first switch in communication with an input of the inverter and a preset power; and
configuring the first switch to be short in response to the plug being electrically connected to the power end of the socket.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
configuring a second switch having a first and second end including;
positioning the second switch proximal to the ground end of the socket;
configuring the first end of the second switch in communication with an input end of the AND gate;
configuring the second end of the second switch in communication with a ground; and
configuring the second switch to be short in response to the plug being electrically connected to the ground end of the socket.

9. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
configuring at least one detecting unit including,
configuring the detecting unit to be in communication with the plurality of sockets;
configuring the detecting unit in communication with the OR gate; and

determining, by the detecting unit, the plug being electrically disconnected to the ground end of the socket and connected to the power end of the socket; and
outputting the second voltage signal.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
configuring a management unit in communication with the OR gate;
receiving, by the management unit, the second voltage signal from the OR gate; and
performing, by the management unit, the predetermined operation.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Chen Wei T
• Darmanto Yulianti
• Lin Cheng-Hao
• Liu Y K
• Tsai Claire H W

Classifications

• G01R31/52

  Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults · CPC title

• G01R31/69

  of terminals at the end of a cable or a wire harness; of plugs; of sockets, e.g. wall sockets or power sockets in appliances · CPC title

• G08B21/185

  Electrical failure alarms · CPC title

• G01R31/50 Primary

  Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections (testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58) · CPC title

• G01R31/025

  Physics · mapped topic