US 12,150,222 B2
System for distributing DC power to and controlling building devices
Jeffrey T. Davis, Carlsbad, CA (US); and Jonathan P. Cartrette, Carlsbad, CA (US)
Assigned to The Watt Stopper, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed by The Watt Stopper, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/460,143.
Application 18/460,143 is a continuation of application No. 17/555,139, filed on Dec. 17, 2021, granted, now 11,778,708.
Application 17/555,139 is a continuation of application No. 16/882,214, filed on May 22, 2020, granted, now 11,212,894, issued on Dec. 28, 2021.
Application 16/882,214 is a continuation of application No. 16/201,926, filed on Nov. 27, 2018, granted, now 10,666,046, issued on May 26, 2020.
Application 16/201,926 is a continuation of application No. 15/166,078, filed on May 26, 2016, granted, now 10,141,739, issued on Nov. 27, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/166,512, filed on May 26, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2024/0074015 A1, Feb. 29, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H02J 1/00 (2006.01); H02J 1/08 (2006.01); H02J 5/00 (2016.01); H02M 7/04 (2006.01); H05B 45/37 (2020.01); H05B 47/18 (2020.01); H05B 47/19 (2020.01)
CPC H05B 45/37 (2020.01) [H02J 1/08 (2013.01); H02J 5/00 (2013.01); H02M 7/04 (2013.01); H05B 47/18 (2020.01); H05B 47/19 (2020.01)] 3 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of controlling and distributing DC power comprising the steps of:
providing a power hub comprising:
a hub controller configured to be inserted into a ceiling through the space taken up by a ceiling tile;
a power converter adapted to convert AC power to DC power;
one or more variable voltage regulators operatively connected to the power converter and controlled by the hub controller, the one or more variable voltage regulators are operable to provide regulated DC power to one or more primary loads and to receive and transmit data and control signals from and to the one or more primary loads;
inserting the hub controller into the ceiling of a room by first removing the ceiling tile in the room and then replacing the ceiling tile to hide the hub from view;
operatively connecting one or more communication interfaces to the hub controller to transmit and receive data and control signals;
providing each primary loads with a load control module having an input port and operating the input port to receive DC power and control signals through the input port and send information monitoring signals, sensor data and processed sensor data out from the input port; and
operating the load control module to use all or a subset of the output ports to apply DC power to a secondary load that is operably connected to the load control module.