Intel Corporation

Synapsense Corporation

Green Plug, Inc.

Patrick Edward Weston

Raju Pandey

Yann Thomas Ramin

Abraham Davis Fechter

David C Scheer

Michael E Pierce

Rituparna Ghosh

Seokman Paul Han

Harry Laswell

Frank Patrick Paniagua, Jr

Sean L Bell

Robert J Gormley

Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for instrumenting devices to measure power usage using a multi-tier wireless network. An example embodiment includes: establishing communication with a plurality of networked power monitors deployed at particular points in a facility, each power monitor of the plurality of networked power monitors being configured to monitor power consumption of a different one of a plurality of electronic devices in the facility; periodically obtaining system data from each of the plurality of networked power monitors using a wireless sensor network, the system data including power consumption data corresponding to associated electronic devices; using a communication hub to aggregate the system data from a plurality of associated power monitors, the communication hub and the plurality of associated power monitors forming a local network within the wireless sensor network; and using the system data to control operation of the plurality of electronic devices in the facility.

Apparatus and method for instrumenting devices to measure power usage using a multi-tier wireless network

Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for collecting and distributing power usage data from Rack Power Distribution Units (RPDUs) using a wireless sensor network. An example embodiment includes: establishing communication with a plurality of Rack Power Distribution Units (RPDUs) deployed at particular points in a facility, each RPDU of the plurality of RPDUs being configured to monitor power consumption of a plurality of electronic devices in the facility; periodically obtaining system data from each of the plurality of RPDUs, the system data including power consumption data corresponding to associated electronic devices, the system data being received from the plurality of RPDUs via a wired data connection; using a wireless bridge device to aggregate the system data from a plurality of associated RPDUs, the wireless bridge device transferring the aggregated system data to a gateway via a wireless sensor network; and using the system data to control operation of the plurality of electronic devices in the facility via the wireless bridge device and the plurality of associated RPDUs.

Apparatus and method for collecting and distributing power usage data from rack power distribution units (RPDUs) using a wireless sensor network

A power supply capable of receiving digital communications from an electrical device is described. The power supply includes a microprocessor and instructions, configured for execution by the microprocessor, to receive a digital communication from a device to be powered by the power supply. A method of supplying power is also described. The method includes receiving a digital communication from a device and supplying power to the device based on the digital communication.

Power supply capable of receiving digital communications from electronic devices

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for detecting the amount of the power available from a phone line and for adjusting the clock rate and data transfer rate of a modem or a device that transfers data over the phone line to provide the best possible performance for the available phone-line power. A method of operating a device for transferring data over a phone line includes the following steps: setting the device off hook; measuring the voltage level of the phone line; determining the amount of the power available from the phone line; selecting a clock rate for the device; setting the device to operate at the clock rate; placing a call; selecting a data transfer rate; and transferring the data. An apparatus for transferring data over a phone line includes a clock generator for generating a first clock signal of a first frequency; a frequency divider for generating multiple clock signals of different frequencies and for outputting one of the multiple clock signals; a data pump for modulating and demodulating data; a sensor for sensing the voltage level of the phone line; a microcontroller for controlling the frequency divider, the data pump and the sensor; a line isolator for blocking hazardous electrical signals from coming into the apparatus; an interface for coupling the microcontroller to a computer host; and a power converter for converting a DC voltage of the phone line to an appropriate DC power supply voltage to be used by the apparatus.

Method and apparatus for dynamically adapting the clock rate and data

An integrated circuit (IC) card and corresponding computer IC card receptacle apparatus is described which provides for enhanced electrical isolation of the IC card's side contacts during insertion, and which provides for enhanced IC card security features. The apparatus includes an IC card containing a side contact located within a recessed keyed notch along a side edge. The apparatus also includes an IC card receptacle containing the corresponding side electrical contact on a keyed control arm. The keyed control arm is keyed for the recessed keyed notch of the IC card, such that the electrical contact on the keyed control arm remains electrically isolated until the IC card is completely inserted into the receptacle. The control arm may be coupled to a locking mechanism so that the IC card is forcibly retained in the IC card receptacle until released. Additional electrical isolation of the IC card receptacle's side contact may provided for by an IC card insertion detector and switch, which keeps the IC card receptacle side contact electrically isolated from the remainder of the computer system until the IC card is detected as being fully inserted.

Keying notches for side contacts on a thin form factor computer card

Growing community of inventors

Cameron Park, CA, United States of America

Patrick Edward Weston