Automatic sensing power systems and methods

• US 20060119993A1
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Green Plug, LLC
• Original Assignee: mPATHX, LLC
• Inventors: Menas, Gregory W., Miller, Brent A., Spano, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,242,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• 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: H01R 13/6675 with built-in power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/04 for network, e.g. LAN connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/22 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/008 Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

An automatic sensing power system automatically determines a power requirement for an electrical device, converts power to the required level, and outputs the power to the electrical device when the electrical device is connected to the automatic sensing power system

Claims

1. A system for configuring power comprising:

a modular junction box configured to convey alternating current (AC) power; and

a direct current (DC) modular receptacle configured to removably connect with the modular junction box and to receive AC power from the modular junction box, the DC modular receptacle comprising;

a communication system configured to receive a communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level;

at least one DC receptacle;

an AC to DC regulator configured to convert AC power to DC power;

at least one DC to DC regulator configured to receive the DC power from the AC to DC regulator, to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level, and to generate the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle; and

a processor configured to process the communication and, in response thereto, to determine the selected DC power level based on the configuration data, to configure the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level, and to enable generating the DC power at the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an AC removable modular receptacle configured to removably connect with the modular junction box, to receive AC power from the modular junction box, and to convey AC power.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one other modular receptacle configured to removably connect with the modular junction box and to receive AC power from the modular junction box and selected from a group consisting of a lighting module, a battery recharge module, and a dimmer module.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the configuration data comprises an identification of the selected DC power level; and

the processor is configured to process the communication with the selected DC power level identification and, in response thereto, to configure the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level and to enable generating the DC power at the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the configuration data comprises at least one particular device identification;

the DC modular receptacle comprises memory comprising a plurality of device identifications and corresponding DC power levels; and

the processor is configured to process the communication with the particular device identification and, in response thereto, to search the memory to determine the selected DC power level corresponding to the particular device identification.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising an electrical device configured to receive the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the electrical device comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a computer, a printer, a fax machine, a pocket PC, a personal digital assistant, a phone, a camera, a recoding device, an audio device, a video device, and a drill.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the selected DC power level comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a selected voltage level and a selected current level.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising an electrical supply configured to transfer the AC power conveyed by the modular junction box, wherein the communication system is configured to transmit or receive at least one other communication through the electrical supply.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication system is configured to communicate via at least one format selected from a group consisting of a universal serial bus format, a Bluetooth format, an Ethernet format, a Firewire format, a cable format, a phone line format, a digital subscriber line service format, and an internet protocol format.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the DC modular receptacle comprises;

at least one other DC receptacle; and

at least one other DC to DC regulator configured to receive the DC power from the AC to DC regulator, to convert the DC power to a second selected DC power level, and to generate the DC power at the second selected DC power level for the at least one other DC receptacle;

the communication system is further configured to receive a second communication comprising second configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one second selected DC power level; and

the processor is further configured to process the second communication and, in response thereto, to determine the second selected DC power level, to configure the at least one other DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the second selected DC power level, and to enable generating the DC power at the second selected DC power level to the at least one other DC receptacle.

12. A system for configuring power comprising:

a modular junction box configured to convey alternating current (AC) power; and

a removable modular receptacle configured to removably connect with the modular junction box comprising;

at least one DC receptacle;

an AC to DC regulator configured to convert AC power to DC power;

at least one DC to DC regulator configured to receive the DC power from the AC to DC regulator, to convert the DC power for at least one selected DC power level, and to generate the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle; and

a processor configured to determine the selected DC power level, to configure the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level, and to enable generating the DC power at the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising an AC removable modular receptacle configured to removably connect with the modular junction box, to receive AC power from the modular junction box, and to convey AC power.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising at least one other removable modular receptacle configured to removably connect with the modular junction box and to receive AC power from the modular junction box and selected from a group consisting of a lighting module, a battery recharge module, and a dimmer module.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising an electrical device configured to receive the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the electrical device comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a computer, a printer, a fax machine, a pocket PC, a personal digital assistant, a phone, a camera, a recoding device, an audio device, a video device, and a drill.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the selected DC power level comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a selected voltage level and a selected current level.

18. A system for configuring power comprising:

a modular junction box configured to convey alternating current (AC) power; and

a removable modular receptacle configured to removably connect with the modular junction box and to receive AC power from the modular junction box, the removable modular receptacle comprising;

a communication system configured to receive a communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected direct current (DC) power level;

at least one DC receptacle;

a power converter configured to convert the AC power to DC power for the selected DC power level and to generate the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle; and

a processor configured to process the communication and, in response thereto, to determine the selected DC power level, to configure the power converter to convert the AC power to the DC power at the selected DC power level, and to enable generating the DC power at the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising an AC removable modular receptacle configured to removably connect with the modular junction box, to receive AC power from the modular junction box, and to convey AC power.

20. The system of claim 18 further comprising at least one other removable modular receptacle configured to removably connect with the modular junction box and to receive AC power from the modular junction box and selected from a group consisting of a lighting module, a battery recharge module, and a dimmer module.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein:

the configuration data comprises an identification of the selected DC power level; and

the processor is configured to process the communication with the selected DC power level identification and, in response thereto, to configure the power converter to convert the AC power to DC power at the selected DC power level and to enable generating the DC power at the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle.

22. The system of claim 18 wherein:

the configuration data comprises at least one particular device identification;

the removable modular receptacle comprises memory comprising a plurality of device identifications and corresponding DC power levels; and

the processor is configured to process the communication with the particular device identification and, in response thereto, to search the memory to determine the selected DC power level corresponding to the particular device identification.

23. The system of claim 18 further comprising an electrical device configured to receive the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the electrical device comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a computer, a printer, a fax machine, a pocket PC, a personal digital assistant, a phone, a camera, a recoding device, an audio device, a video device, and a drill.

25. The system of claim 18 wherein the selected DC power level comprises at least one member of a group consisting of a selected voltage level and a selected current level.

26. The system of claim 18 further comprising an electrical supply configured to transfer the AC power conveyed by the modular junction box, wherein the communication system is configured to transmit or receive at least one other communication through the electrical supply.

27. The system of claim 18 wherein the communication system is configured to communicate via at least one format selected from a group consisting of a universal serial bus format, a Bluetooth format, an Ethernet format, a Firewire format, a cable format, a phone line format, a digital subscriber line service format, and an internet protocol format.

28. The system of claim 18 wherein:

the power converter comprises;

an AC to DC regulator configured to convert the AC power to DC power; and

at least one DC to DC regulator configured to receive the DC power from the AC to DC regulator, to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level, and to generate the DC power at the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle; and

the processor is configured to configure the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level and to enable generating the DC power at the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle.

29. The system of claim 18 wherein:

the removable modular receptacle comprises at least one other DC receptacle;

the communication system is further configured to receive another communication comprising other configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one second selected DC power level;

the power converter is further configured to convert the AC power to DC power for the second selected DC power level and to generate the DC power at the second selected DC power level for the at least one other DC receptacle, the second selected DC power level not initially preset; and

the processor is further configured to process the other communication and, in response thereto, to determine the second selected DC power level, to configure the power converter to convert the AC power to the second selected DC power level, and to enable generating the DC power at the second selected DC power level to the at least one other DC receptacle.

30. A system for configuring power comprising:

a modular junction unit configured to convey alternating current (AC) power; and

a removable modular receptacle configured to removably connect with the modular junction unit comprising;

at least one DC receptacle;

a power converter configured to dynamically convert the AC power to DC power for the selected DC power level and to generate the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle; and

a processor configured to determine the selected DC power level, to configure the power converter to convert the AC power to the DC power at the selected DC power level, and to enable generating the DC power at the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle.

31. The system of claim 30 further comprising an AC removable modular receptacle configured to removably connect with the modular junction unit, to receive AC power from the modular junction unit, and to convey AC power.

32. The system of claim 30 further comprising at least one other removable modular receptacle configured to removably connect with the modular junction unit and to receive AC power from the modular junction unit and selected from a group consisting of a lighting module, a battery recharge module, and a dimmer module.

33. The system of claim 30 further comprising an electrical device configured to receive the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle.

34. The system of claim 30 wherein the selected DC power level comprises at least one member of another group consisting of a selected voltage level and a selected current level.

35. A system for configuring power for a modular junction unit comprising a removable modular receptacle configured to removably connect with the modular junction unit and comprising:

a connector configured to receive alternating current (AC) power from the modular junction unit;

at least one direct current (DC) receptacle;

a communication system configured to receive a first communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected DC power level;

an AC to DC regulator configured to convert AC power to DC power;

at least one DC to DC regulator configured to receive the DC power from the AC to DC regulator, to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level, and to generate the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle, the selected DC power level not initially preset; and

a processor configured to process the communication and, in response thereto, to determine the selected DC power level based on the configuration data, to configure the at least one DC to DC regulator to convert the DC power to the selected DC power level, and to enable generating the DC power at the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle.

36. The system of claim 35 further comprising an AC removable modular receptacle configured to removably connect with the modular junction unit, to receive AC power from the modular junction unit, and to convey AC power.

37. The system of claim 35 further comprising at least one other removable modular receptacle configured to removably connect with the modular junction unit and to receive AC power from the modular junction unit and selected from a group consisting of a lighting module, a battery recharge module, and a dimmer module.

38. The system of claim 35 further comprising an electrical device configured to receive the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle.

39. A system for configuring power for a modular junction unit comprising a removable modular receptacle comprising:

a connector configured to receive alternating current (AC) power from the modular junction unit;

a communication system configured to receive a communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected direct current (DC) power level;

at least one DC receptacle;

a power converter configured to convert the AC power to DC power for the selected DC power level and to generate the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle; and

a processor configured to process the communication and, in response thereto, to determine the selected DC power level, to configure the power converter to convert the AC power to the DC power at the selected DC power level, and to enable generating the DC power at the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle.

40. The system of claim 39 further comprising an AC removable modular receptacle configured to removably connect with the modular junction unit, to receive AC power from the modular junction unit, and to convey AC power.

41. The system of claim 39 further comprising at least one other removable modular receptacle configured to removably connect with the modular junction unit and to receive AC power from the modular junction unit and selected from a group consisting of a lighting module, a battery recharge module, and a dimmer module.

42. The system of claim 39 further comprising an electrical device configured to receive the DC power at the selected DC power level from the at least one DC receptacle.

43. A system for configuring power comprising:

a modular junction unit configured to convey alternating current (AC) power; and

a removable modular receptacle configured to removably connect with the modular junction unit and to receive AC power from the modular junction unit, the removable modular receptacle comprising;

a communication system configured to receive a communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected direct current (DC) power level;

at least one DC receptacle;

an AC to DC regulator configured to convert AC power to DC power;

at least one DC to DC regulator configured to receive the DC power from the AC to DC regulator, to dynamically convert the DC power to the selected DC power level, and to generate the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle, the selected DC power level not initially preset; and

a processor configured to process the communication and, in response thereto, to determine the selected DC power level based on the configuration data, to dynamically configure the at least one DC to DC regulator to dynamically convert the DC power to the selected DC power level, and to enable generating the DC power at the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle.

44. A system for configuring power comprising:

a modular junction unit configured to convey alternating current (AC) power;

a communication system configured to receive a communication comprising configuration data that, when processed, identifies at least one selected direct current (DC) power level; and

a removable modular receptacle configured to removably connect with the modular junction unit and to receive AC power from the modular junction unit, the removable modular receptacle comprising;

at least one DC receptacle;

a power converter configured to convert the AC power to DC power for the selected DC power level and to generate the DC power at the selected DC power level for the at least one DC receptacle; and

a processor configured to process the communication and, in response thereto, to determine the selected DC power level, to configure the power converter to convert the AC power to the DC power at the selected DC power level, and to enable generating the DC power at the selected DC power level to the at least one DC receptacle.