Multifunctional Multi-Outlet of Saving Electric Power and a Control Method Employing the Same

• US 20070262646A1
• Filed: 05/04/2004
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wellbas Limited
• Original Assignee: Youhan Electronics Co. Ltd
• Inventors: Lee, Keun-Jin
• Granted Patent: US 7,504,745 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/39
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6666 with built-in overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7038 making use of a remote controlled switch, e.g. relais, solid state switch activated by the engagement of the coupling parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/713 the switch being a safety switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving

Abstract

Disclosed is a multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power and a control method employing the same which prevent big fire generated by leakage current by performing an interlocking control and a single-acting control (separate control) in accordance with subordination of respective appliances using a illumination sensor or a body-detecting sensor. The multifunctional multi-tap (concent) detects a signal according, to an illuminance and a motion of body around respective lead-in holes activated as an interlocking control and a single-acting control using an illumination sensor or a body-detecting sensor, discriminates the detected signal by a controller, and controls the respective appliances as a stand-by state or a power-saving state in accordance with the interlocking control or the single-acting control.

Claims

1. A multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power comprising:

an over-current circuit breaker for detecting and intercepting an over-current or a surge current generated due to an disorder of an appliance;

a power section for generating and outputting a motion voltage which is supplied to the parts inside of the multi-tap through the rectification, smoothing and voltage regulation process;

a motion condition setting part in which a user switches and sets the condition whether or not a sensor is used and whether an interlocking control or a single acting control is adopted, and which outputs the switching signal;

a sensor part for detecting a light or a body motion and outputting a signal accordingly;

a current detecting part for detecting a current flowing into an interacting or a single-acting appliance and outputting the detected signal;

a control part which receives the user'"'"'s switching signal for the selection of the interlocking/single-acting function and the detected signal, determines the detected signal of the sensor, and outputs an on/off control signal for controlling the appliance, which is led into each lead-in hole, as a standby state or a power-saving state according to the interlocking or single-acting condition;

and an output control part which receives the on/off control signal of the control part and supplies/intercepts the power current flowing into each lead-in holes.

2. The multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 1, wherein once the reason for the over-current is eliminated by the over-current interceptor, electric power is supplied again by the user'"'"'s operation of a reset button.

3. The multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 1, wherein the range of the interceptable over-current varies depending upon the over-current intercepting devices and can be predetermined and set at the initial manufacturing stage.

4. The multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 1, wherein the power part comprises a down transformer for down-transforming a commercial alternating current power into a predetermined alternating current voltage, a bridge circuit for full-wave rectifying the transformed alternating current voltage, and a capacitor for smoothing the full-wave rectified alternating current voltage which is to be used as an operating voltage for driving a relay element of the output control.

5. The multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 1, wherein the operating voltage is a direct current voltage of 12V.

6. The multifunctional multi-tap (content) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 1, further comprising a constant voltage circuit for down-transforming the operation voltage into a predetermined level of direct current voltage, and outputting it to the control part, the motion condition setting part and the sensor part.

7. The multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined level of direct current voltage is 5V.

8. The multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 1, wherein the power part generates a clock signal for driving a timer built in the control part.

9. The multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 1, wherein the motion condition setting part consists of an array resistance and a switch, the switch being disposed outside of a outlet so that a user can choose whether an appliance corresponding to each of auxiliary lead-in holes is used in an interlocking condition or a single-acting condition.

10. The multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 1, wherein the sensor part includes an illumination sensor for detecting a resistance corresponding to illuminance and comparing the resistance with a reference illuminance to determine a change of illuminance, and a body-detecting sensor for blocking light according to the motion of a human body.

11. The multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 1, wherein the control part is initially set by receiving an on/off signal regarding the use of a sensor and by receiving an on/off signal regarding an option of interlocking or single-acting function, detects a change of illuminance and a movement of a human body, detects a variation of a current flowing into each appliance, which is interlocked or single-acted and connected to an auxiliary lead-in hole, and outputs an on/off control signal to the output control part to induce the appliance to a standby state or a power saving state.

12. The multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 1, wherein if the change of illuminance or the motion of a human body is not detected by the sensor part, a timer built in the control part operates to induce an appliance to a standby or power saving state.

13. The multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 1, further comprising a current adjusting switch for varying an amplification rate of the current flowing to an appliance, and outputs an on/off control signal to the control part accordingly so that the multi-tap (concent) can be compatible with various appliances with different capacities.

14. The multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 13, wherein the number of the current adjusting switch is one or more.

15. The multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 1, wherein the output control part receives an on/off control signal according to the control operation of the control part and connects or disconnects a built-in relay so that the current flowing to an appliance, which is led into each lead-in hole, can be supplied or intercepted.

16. The multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 1, wherein the over-current interceptor, the power part, the motion condition setting part, the current detecting part, the control part, and the output control part can be installed within an appliance or a plug.

17. A control method of a multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power comprises the steps of:

a) determining whether there is a change in light by a sensor;

b) setting a main lead-in hole as a standby state, in case that there is a change in light as a result of the determination;

c) determining which auxiliary lead-in hole is interlocked or single-acted;

d) determining whether or not the main lead-in hole is currently used, in case that a predetermined number of auxiliary lead-in holes are interlocked as a result of step (c);

e) turning on all of the predetermined number of the interlocked auxiliary lead-in holes in case that the main lead-in hole is currently used as a result of step (d);

f) turning off all of the predetermined number of the interlocked auxiliary lead-in holes in case that the main lead-in hole is not currently used as a result of step (d); and

g) turning off all of the predetermined number of the single-acted auxiliary lead-in holes, in case that a predetermined number of auxiliary lead-in holes are single-acted as a result of step (c).

18. The control method of the multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 17, wherein the determination of the step (c) is made based on an on/off signal inputted according to a user'"'"'s switching operation.

19. The control method of the multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 17, wherein the determination of the step (d) is made based on an on/off signal depending on an electric current flowing into the main lead-in hole.

20. The control method of the multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 17, wherein, in the step (e), since the main lead-in hole, which has been in a standby state, is presently being used, all predetermined number of auxiliary lead-in holes interlocked with the main lead-in hole are turned on.

21. The control method of the multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

1) operating the timer, in case that there is a change of illuminance, as a result of the step (a);

2) determining whether a predetermined time period of the timer has passed;

3) determining which auxiliary lead-in holes are interlocked or single-acted, in case that the predetermined time period has passed, as a result of the step (2);

4) determining whether the main lead-in hole is being used at present, in case that a predetermined number of the auxiliary lead-in holes are used with interlocking control, as a result of the step (3);

5) turning on all the predetermined number of the interlocked auxiliary lead-in holes including the main lead-in hole, if the main lead-in hole is presently being used, as a result of the step (4); and

6) turning off all the predetermined number of the interlocked auxiliary lead-in holes including the main lead-in hole, in case that the main lead-in hole is not being used at present, as a result of the step (4).

22. The control method of the multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

A) determining whether the predetermined number of the auxiliary lead-in holes which are single-acting are presently being used, in case that a predetermined number of auxiliary lead-in holes are individually used while the main lead-in hole is not being used, as a result of the step (3);

B) turning on all the predetermined number of the auxiliary lead-in holes, in case that the predetermined number of the single-acting auxiliary lead-in holes are presently being used, as a result of the step (A); and

C) turning off all the predetermined number of the auxiliary lead-in holes, in case that the predetermined number of the single-acting auxiliary lead-in holes are not being used presently, as a result of the step (A).

23. The control method of the multifunctional multi-tap (concent) of intercepting a stand-by electric power according to claim 17, wherein the sensor includes not only an illumination sensor for detecting the change of illuminance but also a body-detecting sensor for detecting a movement of a human body, both sensors being operated at the same time.