Modular power adapters and methods of implementing modular power adapters

• US 10,418,813 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2017
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Power Partners LLC
• Original Assignee: Smart Power Partners LLC
• Inventors: King, John Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, An T
• Application Number:
  US15/645,745
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/51 for comparison or discrimination
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/00 Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the relay and designed to obtain desired operating characteristics or to provide energising current
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/02 Contact members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6675 with built-in power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/74 Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2105/00 Three poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/68 mounted on directly pluggable apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/42 Mounting of devices therein
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/10 for surface mounting on a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/18 providing line outlets
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00001 characterised by the display of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition systems [SCADA] or graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00024 by means of mobile telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 : involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 : The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 : by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/10 : Arrangements incorporating converting means for enabling loads to be operated at will from different kinds of power supplies, e.g. from ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 : Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 : Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 : using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 : Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 : Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 : Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 : Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/345 : Current stabilisation; Maintaining constant current
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 : using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A power switch configured to apply power to a device is described. The power comprises a switching module having a switch for selectively applying power to a device based upon control signals; and a control module removably coupled to the switching module and in communication with the switching module when the control module is attached to the switching module; wherein the control module comprises a wireless communication circuit and provides the control signals to the switching module to enable a switching operation of the power switch. A method of implementing a power switch configured to apply power to a device is also described.

Claims

1. A power adapter configured to apply power to a device, the power adapter comprising:

a switching module having a recess comprising a first set of contacts for receiving control signals, wherein the switching module comprises a switch for selectively applying power to an outlet of the switching module based upon the control signals; and

a control module removably coupled to the switching module and having a second set of contacts coupled to the first set of contacts of the switching module when the control module is attached to the switching module;

wherein the control module comprises a wireless communication circuit and provides the control signals to the switching module to enable a switching operation of the power adapter.

2. The power adapter of claim 1 wherein the switching module of the power adapter comprises a third set of contacts for receiving electrical power.

3. The power adapter of claim 1 wherein a security code is transferred between the first set of contacts and the second set of contacts to enable an operation of the control module with the switching module.

4. The power adapter of claim 1 wherein the control module comprises a switching element for manually controlling the application of power to the outlet of the switching module of the power adapter.

5. The power adapter of claim 1 further comprising a button for resetting the control module of the power adapter.

6. The power adapter of claim 1 wherein the control module provides identification data associated with the control module to the switching module.

7. The power adapter of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication circuit is adapted to receive a timing pattern from a remote device, wherein the timing pattern controls the application of power to the outlet of the switching module.

8. A power adapter configured to apply power to a device, the power adapter comprising:

a switching module comprising a recess having a first set of contacts for receiving control signals and a switch for selectively applying power to an outlet of the switching module based upon the control signals; and

a control module removably coupled to the switching module and having a second set of contacts in electrical contact with the first set of contacts when the control module is attached to the switching module;

wherein the control module comprises a wireless control module and provides the control signals to the switching module by way of the second set of contacts to control the application of power to the outlet of the switching module; and

wherein the control module comprises a status light indicating a status associated with the power adapter.

9. The power adapter of claim 8 wherein the status light of the control module of the power adapter enables providing a state of a load that is under the control of the power adapter.

10. The power adapter of claim 8 wherein the power adapter further produces power usage data.

11. The power adapter of claim 8 wherein the control module comprises a switching element for manually controlling the application of power to the outlet of the switching module of the power adapter.

12. The power adapter of claim 8 further comprising a button for resetting the control module of the power adapter.

13. The power adapter of claim 8 wherein the control module is paired to the switching module to enable communication between the control module and the switching module.

14. The power adapter of claim 8 wherein the control module comprises a wireless communication circuit and is configured to receive a timing pattern from a remote device for controlling the application of power to the outlet.

15. A method of implementing a power adapter configured to apply power to a device, the method comprising:

removably coupling a control module having a wireless communication circuit to a switching module, wherein the control module has a first set of electrical contacts and the switching module has a second set of electrical contacts;

generating, by way of the first set of electrical contacts of the control module, control signals;

receiving the control signals at the switching module by way of the second set of electrical contacts; and

selectively applying power to an outlet of the switching module based upon the control signals when the control module is attached to the switching module.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the control module of the power adapter comprises a button, the method further comprising enabling a resetting of the control module using the button.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the control module is adapted to receive a timing pattern from a remote device for controlling the application of power to the outlet of the switching module.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising changing the state of the device controlled by the power adapter in response to a switching element for manually controlling the application of power to the outlet of the power adapter.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising enabling resetting the control module of the power adapter using a button on the control module.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising enabling pairing the control module and the switching module to enable communication between the control module and the switching module.