Patent ID: 9541582
Date: 2017-01-10
CPC Classifications: G01R,H02J,H05B

Claim:
1. A DC power distribution system, the DC power distribution system comprising: a track comprising electrical conductors arranged along the length of the track for distributing DC power along the track for powering purposes and for position determination purposes, an electrical device attached to the track and electrically connected to the electrical conductors, wherein the electrical device comprises a voltage measurement unit for measuring the voltage on at least one of the electrical conductors at the position of the electrical device, a position determination system for determining the position of the electrical device based on the measured voltage, a DC power supply system electrically connected to at least one of the electrical conductors for supplying DC power to the at least one of the electrical conductors, wherein the electrical conductors include a first electrical conductor for distributing a first DC power for powering purposes, a reference electrical conductor, and a second electrical conductor for distributing a second DC power for position determination purposes, wherein the voltage measurement unit is adapted to measure the voltage between the reference electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor; and wherein the DC power supply system is adapted to supply a constant voltage to the second electrical conductor at which the voltage is measured for supplying DC power to be used for position determination purposes, wherein the position determination system is adapted to determine the position based on the ratio of the measured voltage and the constant voltage applied to the second electrical conductor; or wherein the DC power supply system is adapted to supply a constant current to the second electrical conductor, at which the voltage is measured, for supplying DC power to be used for position determination purposes, wherein the position determination system is adapted to determine the position based on the measured voltage, the constant current applied to the second electrical conductor and the resistance per length unit of the at least one electrical conductor at which the voltage is measured.