LOAD CONDITION CONTROLLED POWER STRIP

• US 20090322160A1
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iGo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: iGo, Inc.
• Inventors: DuBose, Richard G., Heil, Michael D., Thornton, Walter
• Granted Patent: US 7,795,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/131
• 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

In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, a method and circuit for reducing power consumption of a power strip is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a power strip is configured for reducing or eliminating power during idle mode by disengaging an outlet from power input. A power strip may include two or more outlets and two or more outlet circuits, with AC power input connected to the outlets through the outlet circuit(s), which may include a current transformer, a control circuit, and a switch. The current transformer secondary winding provides an output power level signal proportional to the outlet load. If behavior of the current transformer secondary winding indicates that the outlet is drawing substantially no power from the AC power input, the switch facilitates disengaging of the current transformer primary from the outlet.

Claims

1. A power strip configured to reduce power during idle operation of an electronic device, said power strip comprising:

an alternating current (AC) line input comprising a plug and a cord configured to be connected to an external outlet;

a plurality of outlets configured to transmit power to an electronic device, said external outlet is distinct from said plurality of outlets; and

an outlet circuit configured to receive power from said AC line input and transmit power to at least one outlet of said plurality of outlets, wherein said outlet circuit disengages transmitting power to said at least one outlet in response to said at least one outlet drawing substantially no power.

2. The power strip of claim 1, said outlet circuit comprising:

a current measuring system configured to monitor the current from said AC line input, wherein said current measuring system provides an output power level signal that is proportional to the load at said at least one outlet;

a switch in communication with said current measuring system and said at least one outlet; and

a control circuit configured to receive said output power level signal and control the opening and closing of said switch to disengage said at least one outlet from power.

3. The power strip of claim 2, wherein said control circuit is at least one of a latching circuit, a state machine, and a microprocessor.

4. The power strip of claim 2, wherein said switch is at least one of a relay, a latching relay, a TRIAC, and an optically isolated TRIAC.

5. The power strip of claim 2, wherein said control circuit is configured to receive a control signal to facilitate the opening and closing of said switch.

6. The power strip of claim 1, further comprising a green mode switch configured to select an operating mode of said at least one outlet, wherein said operating mode is at least one of a normal mode and a green mode.

7. The power strip of claim 1, further comprising at least one LED indicator configured to indicate if said electronic device at said at least one outlet is active.

8. The power strip of claim 7, wherein said at least one LED indicator is further configured to flash if said outlet circuit is testing said at least one outlet.

9. The power strip of claim 1, further comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD) configured to display data, wherein said data is at least one of load power provided to said at least one outlet, power saved by said at least one outlet, power saved by said power strip, and power consumed by said power strip.

10. The power strip of claim 2, further comprising a reconnection device configured to override said control circuit and reengage said switch to a closed state.

11. The power strip of claim 10, wherein said reconnection device is further configured to disengage said switch to an open state.

12. The power strip of claim 10, wherein said reconnection device is a push button.

13. The power strip of claim 10, wherein said reconnection device is located remotely from said power strip.

15. The power strip of claim 10, wherein said reconnection device is configured to override a single control circuit and reengage a single switch to a closed state.

16. The power strip of claim 15, wherein said reconnection device is further configured to disengage a single switch to an open state.

17. The power strip of claim 10, wherein said reconnection device is configured to override a plurality of control circuits and reengage a plurality of switches to a closed state.

18. The power strip of claim 10, wherein said reconnection device is further configured to disengage a plurality of switches to an open state.

19. The power strip of claim 2, further comprising a power disconnect configured to electrically isolate said control circuit from said AC line input.

20. The power strip of claim 1, wherein substantially no power is approximately 0-1% of a typical maximum output load of said electronic device at said at least one outlet.

23. The power strip of claim 1, further comprising means for setting the duration of a sleep mode duty cycle.

24. The power strip of claim 1, wherein said outlet circuit is configured such that parameters of said power strip may be modified by a user.

14. The power strip of 10, wherein said reconnection device is controlled by at least one of an infra-red signal and a radio frequency signal.

25. An outlet circuit in a power strip, said outlet circuit configured for receiving power and transmitting power to an outlet, and said outlet circuit comprising:

a current measuring system configured to provide an output signal proportional to a load at the outlet;

a switch configured to disengage power from the outlet; and

a control circuit configured to interpret said output signal and control said switch;

wherein said switch disengages power if the load at the outlet is below a threshold level.

26. The outlet circuit of claim 25, further comprises a reconnection device connected to said control circuit, wherein said reconnection device is configured to re-engage power to the outlet.

27. The outlet circuit of claim 25, wherein said control circuit further comprises a power disconnect device configured to isolate an electrical component from a power input if said electrical component is in an idle mode.

28. A power strip configured to efficiently provide power to an electronic device, said power strip comprising:

at least one outlet configured to provide power to said electronic device;

a switch having at least an open state and a closed state, wherein said switch is in communication with said at least one outlet and an alternating current (AC) line input;

a current measuring system configured to monitor the current drawn by said at least one outlet; and

a control circuit configured to control the state of said switch;

wherein said control circuit sets said switch to the open state if the current drawn by said at least one outlet is below a threshold level, such that said at least one outlet is effectively disengaged from said AC line input.

29. The power strip of claim 28, wherein said control circuit tests a load condition at said at least one outlet by setting said switch to the closed state and determining if the current drawn by said at least one outlet is below the threshold level.

30. The power strip of claim 28, wherein said control circuit controls said at least one outlet individually.

31. The power strip of claim 28, wherein said control circuit controls a plurality of said at least one outlet.

32. The power strip of claim 28, wherein said current measuring system is a current transformer.

33. The power strip of claim 28, wherein said current measuring system is at least one of a resistor with a differential amplifier, a current sensing chip, and a Hall-effect device.

34. The power strip of claim 28, further comprising a reconnection device configured to override said control circuit and re-engage said switch to the closed state.

35. The power strip of claim 28, further comprising a power disconnect configured to electrically isolate said control circuit from said AC line input.

36. The power strip of claim 28, wherein said control circuit comprises a current sensor and a logic control unit.

37. The power strip of claim 36, further comprising a photocell configured to indicate a level of ambient light surrounding said power strip, wherein said logic control unit is configured to disengage said at least one outlet based upon the level of ambient light.

38. The power strip of claim 36, further comprising an internal clock, wherein said logic control unit uses said internal clock to determine periods of use of said at least one outlet.

39. The power strip of claim 28, wherein said threshold level is a predetermined level.

40. The power strip of claim 39, wherein said predetermined level is about 1 watt or less.

41. The power strip of claim 28, wherein said threshold level is a learned level determined by long term monitoring of the load conditions at said at least one outlet.

42. The power strip of claim 28, wherein said threshold level is a percentage of a determined approximate low power level of said electronic device.

43. The power strip of claim 42, wherein said percentage of a determined approximate low power level is at least one range of approximately 100-105%, approximately 100-110%, and approximately 110-120%.

44. The power strip of claim 28, wherein said at least one outlet comprises a first outlet with a first threshold level and a second outlet with a second threshold level, wherein said first threshold level is different from said second threshold level.

45. A method of facilitating a power strip with low power consumption, said method comprising:

providing power to an electronic device at an outlet;

monitoring, at a current measuring system, a load condition at said outlet;

transmitting the load condition to a control circuit;

controlling, at said control circuit, the state of a switch; and

setting the state of said switch to open if the load condition is below a threshold level and disengaging said outlet from an AC line input.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising a testing method of the load condition at said outlet, said testing method comprising:

setting said switch to a closed state; and

determining if the load condition is below the threshold level.

47. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

overriding said control circuit using a reconnection device; and

reengaging said switch to a closed state.

48. The method of claim 45, further comprising electrically isolating said control circuit from said AC line input using a power disconnect.

49. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

monitoring the load condition at said outlet; and

determining said threshold level based upon the monitoring of the load condition.

50. A power disconnect circuit configured to isolate an electrical component from a power input if said electrical component is in an idle mode, said power disconnect circuit comprising:

a network of transistors in communication with said power input and said electrical component;

said network of transistors comprising;

a first transistor configured to disconnect said power input; and

a second transistor configured to regulate a voltage to said first transistor;

wherein said electrical component draws substantially no power when isolated from said power input by said power disconnect circuit;

51. The power disconnect circuit of claim 50, wherein said power disconnect circuit is further configured to regulate said power input to a suitable power level for said electrical component.

52. The power disconnect circuit of claim 50, wherein said electrical component is a control circuit.

53. The power disconnect circuit of claim 50, wherein said power disconnect circuit is integrated into a power supply system.

54. The power disconnect of claim 50, wherein said electrical component comprises an energy storage unit, and wherein said network of transistors periodically reconnects said electrical component to said power input in order to recharge said energy storage unit.