US 11,962,236 B2
Apparatuses and methods for averting human harm due to high voltage powerlines
Khalid W. Al-Mufti, Sterling, VA (US); and Thomas F. Craft, Jr., Murphy, TX (US)
Assigned to CommScope Technologies LLC, Claremont, NC (US)
Filed by CommScope Technologies LLC, Claremont, NC (US)
Filed on Jan. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/155,497.
Application 18/155,497 is a continuation of application No. 17/468,011, filed on Sep. 7, 2021, granted, now 11,581,800.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/075,451, filed on Sep. 8, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0155484 A1, May 18, 2023
Int. Cl. H02M 1/36 (2007.01); G05B 9/02 (2006.01); H02J 1/00 (2006.01); H02M 3/04 (2006.01)
CPC H02M 1/36 (2013.01) [G05B 9/02 (2013.01); H02J 1/00 (2013.01); H02M 3/04 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrical power distribution system, comprising:
first isolation circuitry comprising an input and an output, wherein the input of the first isolation circuitry is configured to be electrically coupled to an output of a direct current (DC) power supply, and wherein the output of the first isolation circuitry is configured to be coupled to an input of a first voltage converter;
second isolation circuitry comprising an input and an output, wherein the input of the second isolation circuitry is configured to be electrically coupled to the output of the first isolation circuitry and to an input of the first voltage converter, and wherein the output of the second isolation circuitry is configured to be coupled to an input of a second voltage converter; and
third isolation circuitry comprising an input and an output, wherein the input of the third isolation circuitry is configured to be electrically coupled to the output of the second isolation circuitry and to an input of the second voltage converter;
wherein the first isolation circuitry is configured to detect when a first additional resistance with a first resistance value less than or equal to a resistance threshold level is electrically connected across the output of the first isolation circuitry, and, upon detecting that the first resistance value that is less than or equal to the resistance threshold level, then reduce a DC voltage level supplied at the output of the first isolation circuitry;
wherein the second isolation circuitry is configured to detect when a second additional resistance with a second resistance value less than or equal to the resistance threshold level is electrically connected across the output of the second isolation circuitry, and, upon detecting that the second resistance value that is less than or equal to the resistance threshold level, then reduce a DC voltage level supplied at the output of the second isolation circuitry;
wherein the third isolation circuitry is configured to detect when a third additional resistance with a third resistance value less than or equal to the resistance threshold level is electrically connected across the output of the third isolation circuitry, and, upon detecting that the third resistance value that is less than or equal to the resistance threshold level, then reduce a DC voltage level supplied at the output of the third isolation circuitry;
wherein a reduction of a DC voltage level supplied at an output of isolation circuitry does not affect a DC voltage level supplied to an input of the isolation circuitry.
 
8. An electrical power distribution system, comprising:
isolation circuitry comprising an input and an output, wherein the input of the isolation circuitry is configured to be electrically coupled to an output of a direct current (DC) power supply, and wherein the output of the isolation circuitry is configured to be coupled to an input of a first voltage converter and an input of a second voltage converter; and
wherein the isolation circuitry is configured to detect when an additional resistance with a resistance value less than or equal to a resistance threshold level is electrically connected across the output of the isolation circuitry, and, upon detecting that the resistance value that is less than or equal to the resistance threshold level, then reduce a DC voltage level supplied at the output of the isolation circuitry;
wherein a reduction of the DC voltage level supplied at the output of the isolation circuitry does not affect a DC voltage supplied to the input of the isolation circuitry;
wherein the isolation circuitry further comprises:
an alternating current (AC) Wheatstone bridge;
an AC signal generator electrically coupled to first and third nodes of the AC Wheatstone bridge; and
detector circuitry electrically coupled to second and fourth nodes of the AC Wheatstone bridge and configured to (a) detect when a differential peak or root mean square (RMS) voltage or current level across two nodes of the AC Wheatstone bridge exceeds a corresponding threshold level and (b) upon detecting that the corresponding threshold level has been exceed, then generate an electrical signal to cause the DC voltage level at the output of the isolation circuitry to be reduced.
 
14. An electrical power distribution system, comprising:
first isolation circuitry comprising an input and an output, wherein the input of the first isolation circuitry is configured to be electrically coupled to an output of a direct current (DC) power supply, and wherein the output of the first isolation circuitry is configured to be coupled to an input of a first voltage converter;
second isolation circuitry comprising an input and an output, wherein the input of the second isolation circuitry is configured to be electrically coupled to the input of the first isolation circuitry, and wherein the output of the second isolation circuitry is configured to be coupled to an input of a second voltage converter;
wherein the first isolation circuitry is configured to detect when a first additional resistance with a first resistance value less than or equal to a resistance threshold level is electrically connected across the output of the first isolation circuitry, and, upon detecting that the first resistance value that is less than or equal to the resistance threshold level, then reduce a DC voltage level supplied at the output of the first isolation circuitry;
wherein the second isolation circuitry is configured to detect when a second additional resistance with a second resistance value less than or equal to the resistance threshold level is electrically connected across the output of the second isolation circuitry, and, upon detecting that the second resistance value that is less than or equal to the resistance threshold level, then reduce a DC voltage level supplied at the output of the second isolation circuitry; and
wherein a reduction of a DC voltage level supplied at an output of isolation circuitry does not affect an DC voltage level supplied to an input of the isolation circuitry.