Standby power controller with timer and differentiated usage detection
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A standby power controller including:
- a. a first sensor configured to detect a first indication of user activity;
b. a second sensor configured to detect a second indication of user activity;
c. a timer configured to count in time toward a selected timer value, wherein the selected timer value will both increase and decrease in response to a detection status of the first and second sensors;
d. a switch configured to control a supply of electricity to an appliance, the switch operating to remove the supply of electricity upon the timer reaching the selected timer value;
wherein;
(1) a visual or aural warning of impending operation of the switch is provided when the timer approaches the selected timer value to within a predefined remaining time interval, the predefined remaining time interval being a shutdown warning period;
(2) the first sensor'"'"'s detection of the first indication of user activity during the shutdown warning period causes the selected timer value to be reset to an initial value; and
(3) the second sensor'"'"'s detection of the second indication of user activity during the shutdown warning period causes the selected timer value to be adjusted by an adjustment amount, the adjustment amount being such that the time remaining until the selected timer value is reached is less than the time remaining until the selected timer value is reached when the timer is reset to the initial value.
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Abstract
A standby power controller (SPC) supplies power to an appliance such as a television, and cuts power to the appliance if the appliance is going unused. The SPC includes occupancy sensors and remote control usage sensors, and a switch which controls power to the appliance in dependence on the detection status of the sensors, and also preferably in dependence on the prior detection status of the remote control usage sensor at one or more points of time in the past.
30 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A standby power controller including:
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a. a first sensor configured to detect a first indication of user activity; b. a second sensor configured to detect a second indication of user activity; c. a timer configured to count in time toward a selected timer value, wherein the selected timer value will both increase and decrease in response to a detection status of the first and second sensors; d. a switch configured to control a supply of electricity to an appliance, the switch operating to remove the supply of electricity upon the timer reaching the selected timer value; wherein; (1) a visual or aural warning of impending operation of the switch is provided when the timer approaches the selected timer value to within a predefined remaining time interval, the predefined remaining time interval being a shutdown warning period; (2) the first sensor'"'"'s detection of the first indication of user activity during the shutdown warning period causes the selected timer value to be reset to an initial value; and (3) the second sensor'"'"'s detection of the second indication of user activity during the shutdown warning period causes the selected timer value to be adjusted by an adjustment amount, the adjustment amount being such that the time remaining until the selected timer value is reached is less than the time remaining until the selected timer value is reached when the timer is reset to the initial value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A standby power controller including:
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a. a switch configured to control a supply of electricity to an appliance, the switch having; (1) an on state wherein electricity is supplied to the appliance, and (2) an off state wherein electricity is not supplied to the appliance; b. a first sensor configured to detect use of a remote control device which controls the appliance; c. a second sensor configured to detect motion in the vicinity of the appliance; d. a timer configured to; (1) count in time toward a selected timer value, (2) when neither remote control device use nor motion in the vicinity of the appliance are detected prior to the timer attaining the selected timer value, trigger the off state of the switch; (3) when remote control device use is detected, restart the timer'"'"'s counting in time; (4) when motion in the vicinity of the appliance is detected, increase the time for the counter to attain the selected timer value, the increase being less than the time for the counter to attain the selected timer value after the timer'"'"'s counting is restarted. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification