Abstract:
An electrical buss has a carrier and at least a pair of electrically conductive elements. The at least a pair of electrically conductive elements extend linearly along a length of the carrier and at least a portion of each of the least a pair of electrically conductive elements is exposed at a surface of the carrier. A connector is releasably couplable to the electrical buss adjacent to the surface of the carrier. The connector has at least a pair of electrically conductive contacts for engaging with the electrically conductive elements at any desired location along the length of the carrier.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/030,768, filed on Sep. 18, 2013, which application, in turn, claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/725,795, filed on Nov. 13, 2012, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/768,907, filed on Feb. 25, 2013, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/744,777, filed on Oct. 3, 2012, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/744,779, filed on Oct. 3, 2012, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    America&#39;s power plants deliver electrical power for residential, commercial, and industrial use almost exclusively via high voltage alternating current (AC). However, an increasing percentage of devices found in residences, businesses, and factories operate on low voltage direct current (DC) electrical power. For example, nearly all products that utilize rechargeable batteries, e.g., laptops, cellular telephones, smart phones, personal audio devices, and the like, require low voltage DC for power management and/or recharging of the device. 
         [0003]    For converting the AC voltage exiting typical electrical outlets to the DC voltage needed to power such devices, a transformer “brick” is often required. Systems that use such transformer “bricks” do, however, suffer disadvantages. For example, the needed transformer “bricks” waste space and typically clutter an area that is centered on the AC outlet and/or the AC outlet is often not in a convenient location for recharging these electronic devices. 
         [0004]    Furthermore, while there are many known bus systems that do take advantage of low voltage DC for use with LED lighting, these systems are not optimized to deliver power to a wide variety of devices including electronic devices that rely on connectors such as USB. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0006]    The present disclosure addresses at least some of the problems above-noted with respect to distributing DC power or signals. To this end, described is an improved system that is able to distribute power, e.g., low voltage DC power or communication signals, into a given space, e.g., home, office, vehicle, or the like, via use of a buss and a corresponding connector. In described embodiments, the buss comprises at least one electrical conductor that is coupled to a carrier which carrier can be affixed to a desired surface in a given space, e.g., home, work, or the like. In this regard, the buss may be affixed to a surface in any number of ways, including, for example, adhesive, hook-and-loop fastener, magnets, mechanical undercut, screws, and the like. In some described embodiments, the carrier may take the form of a strip or coil of material while in other described embodiments the carrier may take the form of an otherwise conventional piece of building material, such as a piece of molding, a railing, floor board, or the like. Regardless of the form of the carrier, the connector is preferably sized and arranged to couple to the buss and will include electrical components and features, e.g., USB ports, as needed for use in distributing the low voltage DC power from the buss to a device that is intended to receive power. By way of non-limiting examples, the connector may be permanently connected to the buss (or formed integral therewith) or may be releaseably and easily connected to the buss via use of magnetism, via use of mechanical structures, or the like. It is also contemplated that it may be desirable to provide the connector with the ability to be moved, e.g., slid, relative to the buss when attached thereto to allow for placement of the connector at a desired location within a given space. 
         [0007]    While the foregoing provides a general description of the subject buss system, a better understanding of the objects, advantages, features, properties, and relationships of the subject buss system will be obtained from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which set forth illustrative embodiments and which are indicative of the various ways in which the principles of the invention claimed hereinafter may be employed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    For a better understanding of the hereinafter described buss system reference may be had to the following drawings in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  depicts an example circuit diagram of an example conductive buss system in which a splitter is used to control the power supply to multiple busses; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  depicts an example circuit diagram of an example conductive buss system in which a connector includes a switch and a sensor used to control the power supply to the buss; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  depicts an example buss system in which the power supply is embedded in the buss carrier; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  depict an example buss system in which the power supply is located in an input connector for the buss; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  depict an example buss system in which the power supply connects directly to the buss and the building power supply at the same time; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 6A-6C  depict a power supply located within an electrical junction box enclosure within a wall cavity and an exemplary buss for use therewith; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 7A-7D  depict a wall mountable input connector and an exemplary buss for use therewith adapted to receive power from a remote power supply such as shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  depict an example buss comprised of two sets of electrical or signal buss pairs mounted to an exemplary carrier which busses could be individually powered by separate channels of a power supply such as shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  depict an example buss comprised of two sets of electrical or signal buss pairs mounted within a carrier and providing a flush interface, which could be powered by a splitter input connector such as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  depicts an example buss system comprised of an electrical buss pair and an integrated communication buss or secondary electrical buss pair mounted to a rail-type carrier; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  depicts various example conductive buss cross sections having a non-electrically and non-magnetically conductive extruded carrier, a ferromagnetic material that is used to form a magnetic, mechanical bond with a connector, and electrically conductive material that is used to electrically bond with the connector; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  depicts an example centralized, multi-channel power supply for use with the example buss systems disclosed herein; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  depicts an example conductive buss system wherein at least one connector includes a mechanism for protecting against overcurrent and/or overvoltage and an optional sensor or sensor switch; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 14A-14D  depict a buss system which uses magnetism to assure correct orientation between a connector and the buss; 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  depicts an example space that houses a power source within an enclosure in a wall cavity; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 16A-16B  depict a further exemplary buss; 
           [0025]      FIGS. 17A and 17B  depict an exemplary connector connected to the buss of  FIGS. 16A and 16B ; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 18A, 18B, 19A, and 19B  depict further examples of a buss having a carrier in the form of a building element; 
           [0027]      FIG. 20  depicts an example connector connected to a buss having a carrier in the form of a building element; 
           [0028]      FIG. 21  depicts an example of power being provided to the buss of  FIGS. 6B, 6C, 7C and 7D ; 
           [0029]      FIGS. 22A and 22B  depict an example use case of a buss system in a home environment; 
           [0030]      FIGS. 23A and 23B  depict an example buss adapted to be easily shortened; 
           [0031]      FIGS. 24A, 24B, 25A and 25B  depict further example busses with integrated LED lighting with their corresponding electrical diagrams; 
           [0032]      FIG. 26  depicts an example use cases of a buss system in a deck environment; 
           [0033]      FIGS. 27 and 28  depict example use cases of a buss system in a kitchen environment; 
           [0034]      FIGS. 29A and 29B  depict an example buss embodied in a circular carrier having a ferromagnetic core; 
           [0035]      FIGS. 30A and 30B  depict a buss that can be coiled in an elastic state; 
           [0036]      FIGS. 31A and 30B  depict a buss with a carrier in the form of a floor board; 
           [0037]      FIGS. 32A and 32B  depict a buss with a flush mating surface and a buss with conductors having an exemplary shape for maintaining the conductors within the carrier; 
           [0038]      FIGS. 33A-33C  depict a buss with a flush mating surface and a buss carrier having an exemplary shape for maintaining the buss carrier within a further carrier with the further carrier having the exemplary form of a floor board; 
           [0039]      FIGS. 34A and 34B  depict a buss with a flush mating surface and a buss carrier having an exemplary shape for maintaining the buss carrier within a further surface; 
           [0040]      FIGS. 35A and 35B  depict a buss with a flush mating surface and a buss carrier having deflectable undercuts for holding the buss carrier to a mounting surface; 
           [0041]      FIGS. 36A and 36B  depict a buss with a flush mating surface and a buss carrier having undercuts for holding the buss carrier under carpeting or the like; and 
           [0042]      FIGS. 37A-37C  depict a buss that uses a thin tape as the buss carrier. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0043]    The following description of example methods and apparatus is not intended to limit the scope of the description to the precise form or forms detailed herein. Instead, the following description is intended to be illustrative so that others may follow its teachings. 
         [0044]    A conductive buss system is described for use in permitting electrical power and/or signals to be conducted and accessed at any point along a distance. As will become apparent from the description that follows, the described buss system allows low voltage DC power and/or signals to be introduced into space in a manner that eliminates clutter, e.g., eliminates the need to run wires or cables from plugs that are required to be attached directly to immovable and intermittently located electrical outlets, while allowing the space to be tailored for use on an individual basis as needed. As will also become apparent, the hereinafter described conductive buss and/or electrical buss may use any suitable electrically conductive element, such as a strip, bar, wire, etc., for conducting any suitable signal, including power, communications, etc. In other words, the described conductive buss is not limited to any particular conductive medium. 
         [0045]    Generally, the described buss system includes a power source (or signal source) that provides low voltage DC (or other suitable signal) to a conductive buss (or multiple conductive busses). In some examples, a power source or supply may have multiple modes of operation, including, for example, a low power usage standby mode and a full power use mode. By having a power source (or supply) that can switch between two or more modes of operation, more efficient energy usage can be achieved. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that a power source or supply may have other modes of operation beyond those disclosed herein. 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , one way of controlling the flow of electrical power (e.g., switching on/off, increasing/decreasing, etc.) to an electrical buss, such as a buss  430  or a buss  432  is through the use of a device  434  capable of providing a control signal, such as a smartphone, tablet computer, sensor or the like. As needed/programmed for any given purpose, the control device  434  may provide one or more control signals to a power supply  436 , power source, and/or other devices that causes a mechanism such as a switch  438 , for instance, to turn power on and/or off to one or more electrical busses electrically coupled thereto, such as the busses  430 ,  432 . While not required, multiple electrical buses can be provided by using multiple conductive elements with the same carrier as shown in  FIGS. 8-10 . The example switch  438  may be located in a wire splitter in some examples. In one example, the control device  434  may communicate directly with the switch  438 , which in some examples may be oriented between the power supply  436  and the busses  430 ,  432 . Each of the electrical busses  430 ,  432  may be connected to one or more devices  440 A-E,  442 A-E drawing a load from each of the busses  430 ,  432  when energized. Further, control device may utilize any kind of sensing, including, for example, proximity sensing, motion sensing, or the like. By way of example only, when proximity sensing is utilized, the controlling device may function to cut off power to one or more of the electrical busses  430 ,  432  when the control device is determined to be removed from a given location (e.g., when the control device is embodied in a mobile device) and/or when a user is determined to be beyond a threshold distance from the control device (e.g., when the control device is embodied as an object sensing device). Likewise, when motion sensing is utilized, the controlling device may function to cut off power to one or more of the electrical busses  430 ,  432  when the control device is not sensed to be stationary and/or when the controlling device fails to sense a motion of a given object, such as user or the like, for a certain period of time. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that such types of sensing can also be used to turn power on in a similar manner. When a sensor is utilized, it will be understood that the sensor  434  may be built into a power supply  436  or may be located remotely from the power supply  436  as needed for any given purpose. Furthermore, the control device may communicate with the power supply  436  and/or the switch  438  via wiring or wirelessly via any suitable communication protocol. 
         [0047]    The present disclosure contemplates a wide variety of configurations beyond the example shown in  FIG. 1  of a remote sensor or wireless controlling device. For instance, one such further example configuration is shown in  FIG. 2 . Accordingly, the example switch  438  and the example sensor  434  are included within a connector  444  providing power from the power source  436  to an electrical buss  446 . When energized, the buss  446  may in turn provide a load to a plurality of devices  448 A-E. In still other examples, the power supply may include the sensor and/or the switch. 
         [0048]    Turning to  FIGS. 3-7 , illustrated are example buss systems that function to reduce the clutter from the required single power supply  436 , e.g., a power supply that receives 120V AC as input and which provides 24 V DC as output.  FIG. 3  shows a power supply  436  that is integrated directly into a buss carrier  400 .  FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate the power supply  436  located within an input connector  427  that is to be coupled to the buss.  FIGS. 5A and 5B  show a power supply  436  that plugs directly into an AC wall socket  501  while having contacts for simultaneously connecting to the buss.  FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C  depict a power supply  436  housed in an electrical junction box enclosure  437  within a wall so that the power supply  436  does not intrude within the living space at all. In this regard, the power supply may include contacts  439  which are arranged to extend from the power supply  436  to engage with the electrical conductors  451  provided to the buss, for example via openings  453  provided to the backside of the buss as illustrated in  FIG. 21 . In this regard, the openings  453  may be elongated as needed for any particular purpose or the opening could run the entire length of the buss so as not to limit where the buss needs to be coupled to the input connector. While not shown, it is also contemplated that a cover having an opening through which the contacts  439  extend is to be attached over the junction box  437 .  FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7D  also shows an input electrical connector  457  that is to be positioned in a mounting surface  455 , such as a wall, in order to provide input power to the buss from a remotely located power supply and which provides uninterrupted access to the buss by not utilizing any of the room facing buss surface for delivery of power to the buss. Specifically,  FIG. 7A  shows the input electrical connector  457  prior to installation in the mounting surface  455 ,  FIG. 7B  shows the input electrical connector  457  installed in the mounting surface  455 , and  FIG. 7C  shows the buss (shown in  FIG. 7D ) installed upon the input electrical connector  457 . To maintain the input electrical connector  457  mounted within the mounting surface  455 , a resilient locking tab  461  or the like type of structure adapted to engage with a corresponding structure provided to the mounting surface may be provided to the input electrical connector housing as shown. 
         [0049]    Turning to  FIGS. 8-10 , illustrated are example busses  1280  having both a primary electrical power buss  1282 , for example provided by conductive elements  1282 A and  1282 B provided to the carrier, and a secondary buss for electrical power or communication  1284 , for example provided by conductive elements  1284 A and  1284 B provided to the carrier. While not intended to be limiting, the conductive elements may be constructed from a copper alloy material. The communication buss  1284  may comprise communication, networking, PSTN, VOIP, Internet, ethernet, telephone, serial, USB, or any other type of communication buss known in the art. A control device  1286  may be attached to the communication buss  1284  at a first region  1288  of the buss  1280 . A peripheral device  1290  is to be attached to the electrical buss  1282  and the communication buss  1284  at a second region  1292  of the buss system  1280 , e.g., via use of an output connector or directly in cases where the peripheral device includes an integrated output connector. By way of example, the electrical buss  1282  and the communication buss  1284  allow the control device  1286 , e.g., a computer, to communicate with the peripheral device  1290 , e.g., a computer monitor, even if the peripheral device  1290  is in a location remote from the control device  1286 . The secondary bus could also be useful to provide additional electrical power rather than communication. This would be particularly useful if two or more voltage levels are needed for various loads connected to the buss, if a device requires a dedicated power source, or if more power density is required to adequately provide enough power for the devices attached over the given length of buss. As particularly shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B  and  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the carrier may also be provided with one or more regions having a ferromagnetic material  1283  for cooperating with one or more magnets provided to a connector (whether input or output) as described further hereinafter. 
         [0050]    While there are many benefits to busses with particular cross sections, there are likewise many benefits associated with busses formed of particular materials. For example,  FIG. 11  illustrates four example busses  1400 ,  1402 ,  1404 ,  1406  that include a ferromagnetic wire  1408  as well as a flexible non-conductive carrier. In some examples, the ferromagnetic wire  1408  allows for a device to be magnetically attached to one of the busses  1400 ,  1402 ,  1404 ,  1406 . Thus, in such examples, devices may be electrically and mechanically coupled to the busses  1400 ,  1402 ,  1404 ,  1406  in one step. Furthermore, by using a flexible, non-electrically conductive carrier, the busses can be supplied in a coil form as shown in  FIGS. 30A and 30B  that will preferably straighten when not constrained. As will be appreciated, the coil form allows for convenient packaging and transportation of long lengths of buss prior to use. One or more of the conductive buss elements  1401  and/or ferromagnetic wire  1408  can be provided with a spring temper such that the buss will be caused to substantially straighten when unpackaged for easy use on walls, desks, and other straight surfaces. Further, to accommodate the attaching of the buss to surfaces of varying lengths, it is contemplated that the buss (including the carrier and the conductor/ferromagnetic elements) may be provided with scorings, perforations, points of weakness or the like  4200  to thereby allow the buss to be easily shortened (by means of mechanical breaking or cutting) to a desired length as illustrated in  FIGS. 23A and 23B . 
         [0051]    By way of further example,  FIGS. 16A and 16B  illustrate a buss  3500  having conductive elements  3502  that are each mounted within carrier elements  3504 . In this illustrated embodiment, the carrier elements  3504  are formed from an insulating material, such as plastic. The carrier elements  3504  are, in turn, mounted to a further carrier element  3506  which is formed from a ferromagnetic material to thereby allow one or more connectors to be magnetically attached thereto as described above and further illustrated in  FIGS. 17A and 17B . In this regard,  FIGS. 17A and 17B  illustrate a connector  3600  having a magnet  3602 , electrical contacts  3604  sized and arranged to engage with the conductor elements  3502  when the connector  3600  is magnetically coupled to the buss system  3500 , and a USB port  3606  for allowing DC power from the conductive elements  3502  to be delivered to a device that is coupled to the USB port  3604  via use of a USB cable. Optional protrusions  3608  are also provided to the connector  3600  for use in preventing improper mating between the connector  3600  and buss system  3500 . As will be appreciated, other types of ports can be provided to the connector  3600  as needed for a given purpose. It will also be appreciated that the shape and arrangement of the components illustrated may be modified to meet a desired objective. For example, the buss may employ a tubular shape as shown in  FIGS. 29A  and B. 
         [0052]    Further,  FIG. 12  illustrates an example multiple channel power supply  1500 . In some examples, the single power supply  1500  replaces and/or otherwise supplements several of the transformer “bricks” that provide low voltage DC power to the many products that utilize rechargeable batteries, e.g., laptops, cellular telephones, smart phones, etc. These transformer “bricks” that convert the AC voltage exiting electrical outlets to the DC voltage necessary to power such devices oftentimes waste energy during the conversion process. The example power supply  1500  reduces the amount of wasted energy. The example power supply  1500  has multiple output channels to supply power to one or more of the example conductive buss systems disclosed herein as well as directly to other loads such as LED lighting. 
         [0053]    For instance, the example power supply  1500  may reduce power consumption by communicating with one or more control devices  1502 , e.g., sensors and/or smart devices such as smart phone, tablet computers, computers, or the like. The example power supply  1500  communicates with the one or more control devices  1502  wirelessly or via any other suitable communication protocol. In particular, in one example, the one or more control devices  1502  have light sensing capabilities that communicate information relating to the intensity of sensed light to the power supply  1500  to reduce or even cut power to lighting during sunny days, etc. In still other examples, the one or more control devices  1502  may have motion sensing capabilities and/or other suitable sensing capabilities that communicates the absence of a person in the proximate environment to the power supply  1500  to de-energize the electrical buss when the presence of an occupant is not sensed. Likewise, the control device  1502  can send a control signal when the control device senses itself as being outside or within range of the system. In yet other examples, the control device  1502  may have other sensing capabilities for communicating information to the power supply  1500  as needed for any given purpose. 
         [0054]    The example power supply  1500  receives power through one or more inputs  1508 . The one or more inputs  1508  may receive AC power, DC power or both as desired. By way of example only, the one or more inputs  1508  receive 120 volt AC power, 230 volt AC power, and/or 380 volt DC power. 
         [0055]    To prevent unexpected power loss, the example power supply  1500  may include a battery backup  1506 . In the illustrated example, the battery backup  1506  provides 24 volt DC power and is integrated into the power supply  1500 . Alternatively, the battery backup  1506  may be a peripheral device that is not integrated into the power supply  1500 . 
         [0056]    To accommodate a variety of power requirements, the power supply  1500  comprises both uncontrolled outputs  1514  and controlled outputs  1516 . The uncontrolled outputs  1514  may be used to power devices that are never turned off (or are desired to be controlled locally), while the controlled outputs  1516  are more suitable to power devices that have less consistent energy usage requirements. The uncontrolled outputs  1514  and the controlled outputs  1516  may output power as desired. 
         [0057]    While the power supply  1500  may have functionality to limit or cut power for safety or other reasons, the present disclosure contemplates example connectors  1550 ,  1552  as shown in  FIG. 13  that include a mechanism  1554  for protecting against conditions involving overvoltage and/or overcurrent. This mechanism  1554  may be in addition or in the alternative to the functionality of the power supply  1500 . The mechanism  1554  for protecting against overcurrent and/or overvoltage may in some examples operate similar to a fuse, although those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that there a number of ways in which to perform this function. The mechanism  1554  protects against a number of situations, such as, for example, preventing damage or injury to equipment and/or individuals if someone connects an improper power source. In some examples, the connector  1550  includes a sensing switch  1556  for allowing for control of the power to the buss. The sensing switch  1556  may in some examples be associated with a sensor that acts as a further control (e.g., in addition to the power supply  1500 , the splitter  438 , the mechanism  1554 , etc.) as to power delivered to a buss  1558  supporting devices  1560 A-E requiring a load. In other examples, however, the connector  1552  does not include a sensing switch in addition to the mechanism  1554  for protecting against overvoltage and overcurrent. As such, the power supply  1500 , the splitter  438 , and/or the mechanism  1554  operate to control the power supplied to a buss  1562  supporting devices  1564 A-E requiring a load. 
         [0058]      FIG. 15  illustrates an office space environment  2100  that incorporates a power source  2102 . In this example, the power source  2102  is housed within a cavity enclosure  2104  of an office wall  2106 . In this regard, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the illustrated cavity enclosure  2104  would preferably be in the form of a junction box. In this example where the wall is a furniture component, the cavity enclosure  2104  has ducting  2108  that permits the convection of air through the office furniture power source  2102 . In yet other examples, the power source, in addition to providing power used to power a device, may also charge a battery backup to permit continued use of the device in the event of a short-term power outage. In still further instances as shown in  FIG. 6 , it may be desirable to place the power source in a junction box enclosure which junction box enclosure may be disposed within a structure, e.g., placed into a wall to hide the power supply from view and to meet local electrical building codes. 
         [0059]    As noted above, the carrier for the electrical conductive elements of the buss can take any desired form. Accordingly, by way of further example,  FIGS. 18A and 18B  illustrate a buss  3700  in which the carrier is in the form of a piece of building material  3702 . While illustrated as being in the particular form of a ¼ round piece of molding, it will be appreciated that other building material can be used for this same purpose, such as tongue and groove flooring shown in  FIGS. 31A and 31B . In the illustrated embodiment, the piece of building material  3702  is provided with channels in which are disposed the electrical conductors  3704 . For use in magnetically coupling to a connector  3900  having a magnet and a complementary shape and arrangement of power distributing elements (an example of which is illustrated in  FIG. 20 ), the illustrated example building material is also provided with strips of ferromagnetic material  3706 . While illustrated as a continuous strip of ferromagnetic material  3706  (to thereby allow the connector  3900  to be placed at any location upon the buss system  3700 ), it will be appreciated that the ferromagnetic material may be distributed and arranged as desired to meet any desired objective. Furthermore, optional insulating elements  3800  can be provided to the system as illustrated in  FIGS. 19A and 19B , e.g., in cases where the carrier is made from a non-insulating material. 
         [0060]    As noted above, the connector  3900  may be provided with ports and/or wires/cables for use in allowing the connector  3900  to be coupled to a device requiring power and/or signals from the buss system as illustrated in  FIGS. 22A and 22B . In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 21 , power may be supplied to the buss from a power source that is disposed on the same side of the carrier as the conductive elements or from the opposite side as desired for any purpose. In circumstances where the buss system in required to traverse a corner, such as illustrated in  FIGS. 22A and 22B , conventionally known and complimentary shaped jumper elements may be provided to facilitate electrical engagement between conductor elements of adjacent busses. 
         [0061]    It may also be useful to access power from the floor in the center of a room or from a desktop. In such situations, a buss that is intended to be installed flush with a surface, e.g., a floor, is preferred to prevent ridges from causing tripping hazards, and depressions that could collect dirt, as shown in  FIGS. 31-37 . The flush buss could also be advantageous in wall applications, desk top, etc. Furthermore, the carrier  3201  may be provided with a shape, such as a trapezoidal shape, that provides an undercut to hold the carrier in place in a correspondingly shaped receiver  3203  provided to a piece of building material  3205 , a desk, or other form of carrier/mounting surface as shown in  FIGS. 33A-C  and  34 A-B. Similarly, the electrical conductive elements  1401  can be provided with a shape having an undercut to hold the buss in a carrier as also shown in  FIG. 34-35 . Furthermore,  FIGS. 35A and 35B  shows a carrier with deflectable undercuts  3601  that would be useful if the installer does not have access to the end of the slot in the mounting surface. A flush system may also be useful in other flooring applications. For example,  FIGS. 36A and 36B  shows a carrier configuration with undercuts to be positioned under a bottom surface of a carpet  3701  with the portion of the carrier that carries the conductive elements still being flush with the top surface of the carpet  3701 . 
         [0062]    Another form of the buss is shown in  FIGS. 14A-D . In the illustrated buss, the buss carrier  1401  includes one, narrow, linear ferromagnetic strip  1403  and the connector  1405  (whether input or output) includes one or more magnets  1407  arranged to provide a single, linear magnetic field. In this manner, the magnetic relationship between the magnet(s)  1407  and the ferromagnetic strip  1403  would assure that the connector  1405  mounts to the buss carrier  1401  in one of only two positions, i.e., the magnetic field will cause a misaligned connector  1405  to self-correct into alignment for proper connection as shown in  FIGS. 14C and 14D . Since either of these positions are intended to provide electrical contact between the connector contacts and the electrical busses, a good connection is assured by simply placing the magnetic connector close enough to the buss system to allow the magnetic field to pull them together. If needed, the connector and the buss can be provided with complimentary keying features to ensure that the connector is only capable of being coupled to the buss in only one of the two positions. 
         [0063]      FIGS. 37A-C  shows another version of flush buss system in which both the electrical conductive elements  3801  and ferromagnetic strips  3803  are thin strips mounted to tape. The thin tape would allow the ferromagnetic strip  3803  to be mounted on the underside of the tape and still provide sufficient magnetic attraction to the connected devices. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 37C , one of the electrically conductive elements also provides the functionality of the ferromagnetic strip 
         [0064]    Turning now to  FIGS. 24A-B  and  25 A-B, a further exemplary buss system is shown having integrated LED lighting, thus providing lighting and additional access to power through the integrated buss. In  FIGS. 24A-B , the LEDs are directly attached to the bus conductors while in  FIGS. 25 -B the bus conductors are attached to an integrated LED circuit. 
         [0065]    Finally,  FIG. 26  illustrates an exemplary system installed in a deck environment and  FIGS. 27 and 28  illustrate an exemplary system installed in a kitchen. It is to be understood, however, that the exemplary environments described herein are not intended to be limiting and the subject systems and method can be used in any location in which low voltage power distribution is desired. 
         [0066]    It will also be appreciated that the conductive elements can be covered with a removable substrate, such as a film, to protect the conductive elements should one desire to paint the carrier. 
         [0067]    While specific embodiments of the subject invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of this disclosure. For examples, those skilled in the art should appreciate that one or more features and components of each described embodiment may be incorporated into other described embodiments to perform the same functions as need for a given purpose. It will therefore be appreciated that features described are not to be limited to any particular embodiment but may be freely used across embodiments where applicable. Additionally, it will be appreciated that the size, shape, arrangement, and/or number of components illustrated and described can be changed as necessary to meet a given need. Accordingly, the embodiments described and illustrated are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.