ENERGY SAVING CABLE ASSEMBLIES

• US 20090294150A1
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VoltStar Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: VoltStar Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: McGinley, James W., Rimdzius, Donald, McGinley, Valerie
• Granted Patent: US 7,910,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 174/103
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• 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: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A cable assembly for use with any power cable for an electrical device, the cable assembly including a remotely locatable switch for connecting or disconnecting the electrical device from power draw. Also, a cable assembly for a power device such as a charger for providing output power to an electronic device is disclosed, the cable assembly including two pairs of wires wherein a first pair provides output power for the electronic device and a second pair includes a switch for turning off the charger. The cable assembly allows the switch to be located remotely from a charger housing for the converter circuitry and remotely from a power source such as an outlet, and allows the switch to be generally co-located with and operable at the connector for connecting the power device with the electronic device.

Claims

11. A cable assembly for a power device having electrical circuitry for supplying output power to an electronic device comprising:

a first sub-cable including;

a switch, and

a pair of switch wires electrically connectable via the switch;

a second sub-cable including;

a pair of output wires, each of the wires connected with output power from the power device, and each of the output wires electrically connected with a connector for transmitting output power to the electronic device,

wherein the switch is operable to open and close the electrical circuitry, the electrical circuitry drawing substantially no power when open.

1. A cable assembly for use with an electrical device, the cable assembly including:

a first portion for connection with and receipt of input power from a power source;

a second portion including a user-actuated switch;

a cable extending between the first and second portions; and

a third portion for electrical connection with and for providing output power to the electrical device, wherein the switch is operable for connection and disconnection of the output power.

2. The cable assembly of claim 1 wherein the first portion includes a plug having a plug body and a first and second side, the first side having prongs for electrical connection with the power source in the form of a power outlet, the second side having a secondary power outlet for receiving prongs of the electrical device for delivering electrical power thereto.

3. The cable assembly of claim 2 wherein the switch may be secured with a portion of the electrical device.

4. The cable assembly of claim 3 wherein the electrical device includes a power cord including a connector for removable connection from the electrical device, and wherein the switch may be secured with the connector.

5. The cable assembly of claim 1 wherein the switch is a two-position user-actuated switch.

6. The cable assembly of claim 1 wherein the switch is user-actuated by a momentary connection across switch terminals thereof.

7. The cable assembly of claim 6 further including a timer, wherein actuation of the switch allows power to be provided to the third portion for a predetermined time, and the timer effects disconnection of the power after the predetermined time.

8. The cable assembly of claim 7 further including a current sense element, wherein the power in the cable assembly is disconnected when a current level through the current sense element is below a threshold level.

9. The cable assembly of claim 8 wherein a predetermined delay period is provided, wherein the power in the cable assembly remains connected for the delay period subsequent to actuation of the switch.

10. The cable assembly of claim 6 further including a current sense element, wherein the power in the cable assembly is disconnected when a current level through the current sense element is below a threshold level.

12. The cable assembly of claim 11 wherein the first and second sub-cables are encased by a single jacket.

13. The cable assembly of claim 11 wherein the first and second sub-cables are joined by a bridge.

14. The cable assembly of claim 11 wherein the switch disconnects power from an input terminal of the power device electrically connected to a power source.

15. The cable assembly of claim 14 wherein the switch disconnects the input terminal in the form of a plug prong of the power device from the power device electrical circuitry.

16. The cable assembly of claim 11 wherein the first and second sub-cables are substantially joined in parallel to extend a length from a housing of the power device in which the electrical circuitry is disposed to a switch assembly including the switch.

17. The cable assembly of claim 16 wherein the second sub-cable extends from the switch assembly to the connector.

18. The cable assembly of claim 16 wherein the output wires extend from the switch assembly to the connector.

19. The cable assembly of claim 11 wherein the switch is a functional switch.

20. The cable assembly of claim 11 wherein the switch is remotely located from the electrical circuitry.

21. The cable assembly of claim 11 wherein the power device is a step down AC to DC converter, and the switch cuts input AC power to the power device electrical circuitry.

23. The cable assembly of claim 11 wherein the cable assembly is elongated and flexible, the power device includes input prongs for receiving input power from a power source and includes a housing within which the electrical circuitry is generally disposed, and the switch is located remotely from the housing.

20-1. The cable assembly of claim 11 wherein the switch is moveable between first and second positions corresponding to open and close the electrically circuitry.