Apparatus for controlling power distribution to devices

• US 20020185916A1
• Filed: 09/17/2001
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BITS Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: BITS Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Barton, Russell, Barton, Bruce
• Application Number:
  US09/953,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20020185916A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/261 PC controlled powerstrip
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/001 Functional circuits, e.g. logic, sequencing, interlocking circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling a power distribution to devices has a power inlet to be connected to a power source, a primary power outlet to be connected to a primary device, at least one secondary power outlet to be connected to at least one secondary device, a sensing unit for sensing when a current level falls below a threshold in response to the primary device being turned off and when the current level raises above a threshold in response to the primary device being turned on, and an executing unit operatively connected with the sensing unit and operative for interrupting a power supply to the at least one secondary power outlet when the sensing means sense the current level below the threshold and supplying power to the at least one secondary power outlet when the sensing means sense the current level above the threshold correspondingly, the sensing unit being formed as a high frequency current sensing coil.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a power distribution to devices, comprising a power inlet to be connected to a power source;

a primary power outlet to be connected to a primary device, at least one secondary power outlet to be connected to at least one secondary device;

sensing means for sensing when a current level falls below a threshold in response to the primary device being turned off and when the current level raises above a threshold in response to the primary device being turned on; and

executing means operatively connected with said sensing means and operative for interrupting a power supply to said at least one secondary power outlet when said sensing means sense the current level below the threshold and supplying power to said at least one secondary power outlet when said sensing means senses the current level above the threshold correspondingly, said sensing means being formed as a high frequency current sensing coil.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising a wire which connects said power inlet with said primary power outlet so as to supply said primary current outlet with current, said high frequency current sensing coil being wrapped around said wire.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said sensing means further include a SCR or triac connected with said high frequency current sensing coil so that, when said high frequency current sensing coil senses the, current level below the threshold said SCR or triac is turned off to interrupt current supply to said executing means and when said high frequency current sensing coil senses the current level above the threshold said SCR or triac is turned on and provides current supply to said executing means.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising means for limiting the voltage output of said high frequency current sensing coil and formed as a saturating core on the high frequency current sensing coil.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 3;

and further comprising means for preventing false triggering of said SCR or triac and including a resistor and a capacitor together forming an RC time constant or filter.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 3;

and further comprising means for protecting said SCR from a reverse voltage and including a diode.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 3;

and further comprising a resistor which connects said triac with said executive means, and a capacitor connected between said resistor and said executing means for filtering voltage applied to said resistor.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said executing means is formed as a relay.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising a constant power outlet.