Patent ID: 7375981

Claim:
An electric power distribution and control apparatus comprising: a plurality of conductive plates arranged in generally parallel, at least partly overlying relationship; each conductive plate having a plurality of contact pads at spaced positions across the plate; each conductive plate having conductive traces thereon electrically connecting certain one or ones of the contact pads thereon to certain other or others of the contact pads thereon; at least one of the conductive plates having contact terminals in electrical connection therewith for connection to electrical components for supply of electrical current thereto or receipt of electrical current therefrom; an array of contact pins each passing through at least one hole in at least one of the conductive plates at a location thereon at a respective one of the contact pads such that the array of pins provides connection between selected contact pads of different selected conductive plates; an electronic system including at least one printed circuit board having electronic components mounted thereon including a processor; the electronic system being arranged for connection to a communication bus for communication of data thereon relating to the electrical connections; the electronic system being arranged to provide outputs for connection through at least one of the conductive plates to the contact terminals; the electronic system being arranged to receive inputs through at least one of the conductive plates from the contact terminals; the processor having a program for controlling communication on the communications bus and for controlling said outputs in response to said inputs and said communication; the electronic system including at least one main printed circuit board having the electronic components thereon; the electronic system including at least one mapping circuit board having a plurality of contact pads thereon arranged for connection to respective ones of the array of pins; the electronic system including a header having a male pin array and a female socket array connecting the main printed circuit board and the mapping circuit board; the mapping circuit board having a plurality of circuit traces thereon connecting the contact pads thereon to the header.