CONTROLLABLE ELECTRICAL OUTLET AND A METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF

• US 20100033024A1
• Filed: 08/25/2008
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Crucs Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Crucs, Kevin M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,174,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/112
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/12 responsive to underload or no-load for motors H02H7/0827
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0004 involved in a protection system
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/58 The condition being electrical
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

Controllable electrical outlets and systems and methods for controlling and disabling the electrical outlets. A controllable electrical outlet includes a current sensor, an electrical switch, and a microcontroller. When an electrical load is plugged into the electrical outlet, the current sensor senses the flow of current and a current sense event is reported from the electrical outlet to a central computer. The central computer provides timing and control of the electrical outlet. When a predetermined elapsed time has passed, as measured by the central computer, a timed-out event is communicated from the central computer to the electrical outlet triggering the electrical switch, opening the current path within the electrical outlet such that electrical current no longer flows to the electrical load. Communication between the central computer and an electrical outlet may occur, for example, via existing electrical wiring, wirelessly, or via dedicated communication wiring.

Claims

1. An electrical outlet comprising:

a hot electrical terminal;

a neutral electrical terminal;

a current sensor adapted to detect an electrical current flowing between said hot electrical terminal and said neutral electrical terminal in response to a current drawing load being plugged into said electrical outlet;

a carrier-current transceiver operatively connected to said hot electrical terminal and said neutral electrical terminal to receive and transmit messages over existing electrical wires;

an electrical switch capable of being automatically triggered to switch from a closed position to an open position, thereby stopping said flowing electrical current; and

an addressable microcontroller operatively connected to said carrier-current transceiver, said current sensor, and said electrical switch to facilitate communication of a current sense event from said current sensor to said carrier-current transceiver within said electrical outlet, and to facilitate communication of a timed-out event from said carrier-current transceiver to said electrical switch within said electrical outlet.

2. The electrical outlet of claim 1 further comprising a power regulator operatively connected between said hot electrical terminal and said neutral electrical terminal to convert AC electrical power to DC electrical power.

3. The electrical outlet of claim 2 wherein said power regulator is further operatively connected to at least one of said current sensor, said addressable microcontroller, and said electrical switch to provide said DC electrical power thereto.

4. The electrical outlet of claim 1 further comprising a DC battery operatively connected to at least one of said current sensor, said addressable microcontroller, and said electrical switch to provide DC electrical power thereto.

5. The electrical outlet of claim 1 further comprising a reset button operatively connected to said electrical switch to facilitate closing of said electrical switch.

6. In an electrical outlet for providing AC electrical power to an electrical load, the electrical outlet having a hot electrical portion and a neutral electrical portion and being capable of having an electrical load plugged thereinbetween, the improvement comprising a safety apparatus comprising:

a current sensor adapted to detect an electrical current flowing between said hot electrical portion and said neutral electrical portion in response to a current drawing load being plugged into said electrical outlet;

a carrier-current transceiver operatively connected to said hot electrical portion and said neutral electrical portion to receive and transmit messages over existing electrical wires;

an electrical switch capable of being automatically triggered to switch from a closed position to an open position, thereby stopping said flowing electrical current; and

an addressable microcontroller operatively connected to said carrier-current transceiver, said current sensor, and said electrical switch to facilitate communication of a current sense event from said current sensor to said carrier-current transceiver within said electrical outlet, and to facilitate communication of a timed-out event from said carrier-current transceiver to said electrical switch within said electrical outlet.

7. The safety apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a power regulator operatively connected between said hot electrical portion and said neutral electrical portion to convert AC electrical power to DC electrical power.

8. The safety apparatus of claim 7 wherein said power regulator is further operatively connected to at least one of said current sensor, said addressable microcontroller, and said electrical switch to provide said DC electrical power thereto.

9. The safety apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a DC battery operatively connected to at least one of said current sensor, said addressable microcontroller, and said electrical switch to provide DC electrical power thereto.

10. The safety apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a reset button operatively connected to said electrical switch to facilitate closing of said electrical switch.

11. An electrical outlet comprising:

a hot electrical terminal;

a neutral electrical terminal;

a current sensor adapted to detect an electrical current flowing between said hot electrical terminal and said neutral electrical terminal in response to a current drawing load being plugged into said electrical outlet;

a wireless transceiver to receive and transmit messages wirelessly;

an electrical switch capable of being automatically triggered to switch from a closed position to an open position, thereby stopping said flowing electrical current; and

a microcontroller operatively connected to said wireless transceiver, said current sensor, and said electrical switch to facilitate communication of a current sense event from said current sensor to said wireless transceiver within said electrical outlet, and to facilitate communication of a timed-out event from said wireless transceiver to said electrical switch within said electrical outlet.

12. The electrical outlet of claim 11 further comprising a power regulator operatively connected between said hot electrical terminal and said neutral electrical terminal to convert AC electrical power to DC electrical power.

13. The electrical outlet of claim 12 wherein said power regulator is further operatively connected to at least one of said current sensor, said microcontroller, said wireless transceiver, and said electrical switch to provide said DC electrical power thereto.

14. The electrical outlet of claim 11 further comprising a DC battery operatively connected to at least one of said current sensor, said microcontroller, said wireless transceiver, and said electrical switch to provide DC electrical power thereto.

15. The electrical outlet of claim 11 further comprising a reset button operatively connected to said electrical switch to facilitate closing of said electrical switch.

16. In an electrical outlet for providing AC electrical power to an electrical load, the electrical outlet having a hot electrical portion and a neutral electrical portion and being capable of having an electrical load plugged thereinbetween, the improvement comprising a safety apparatus comprising:

a current sensor adapted to detect an electrical current flowing between said hot electrical portion and said neutral electrical portion in response to a current drawing load being plugged into said electrical outlet;

a wireless transceiver to receive and transmit messages wirelessly;

an electrical switch capable of being automatically triggered to switch from a closed position to an open position, thereby stopping said flowing electrical current; and

a microcontroller operatively connected to said wireless transceiver, said current sensor, and said electrical switch to facilitate communication of a current sense event from said current sensor to said wireless transceiver within said electrical outlet, and to facilitate communication of a timed-out event from said wireless transceiver to said electrical switch within said electrical outlet.

17. The safety apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a power regulator operatively connected between said hot electrical portion and said neutral electrical portion to convert AC electrical power to DC electrical power.

18. The safety apparatus of claim 17 wherein said power regulator is further operatively connected to at least one of said current sensor, said microcontroller, said wireless transceiver, and said electrical switch to provide said DC electrical power thereto.

19. The safety apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a DC battery operatively connected to at least one of said current sensor, said microcontroller, said wireless transceiver, and said electrical switch to provide DC electrical power thereto.

20. The safety apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a reset button operatively connected to said electrical switch to facilitate closing of said electrical switch.

21. A system comprising:

existing electrical wires including a hot electrical wire and a neutral electrical wire for providing electrical power;

a first carrier-current transceiver operatively connected to said existing electrical wires;

a central computer operatively connected to said first carrier-current transceiver to send and receive messages over said existing electrical wires via said first carrier-current transceiver;

at least one addressable electrical outlet operatively connected to said existing electrical wires, said at least one electrical outlet including;

a hot electrical terminal,

a neutral electrical terminal,

a current sensor adapted to detect an electrical current flowing between said hot electrical terminal and said neutral electrical terminal in response to a current drawing load being plugged into said electrical outlet,

a second carrier-current transceiver operatively connected to said hot electrical terminal and said neutral electrical terminal to receive and send messages over said existing electrical wires,

an electrical switch capable of being automatically triggered to switch from a closed position to an open position, thereby stopping said flowing electrical current, and

an microcontroller operatively connected to said second carrier-current transceiver, said current sensor, and said electrical switch to facilitate communication of a current sense event from said current sensor to said second carrier-current transceiver within said electrical outlet, and to facilitate communication of a timed-out event from said second carrier-current transceiver to said electrical switch within said electrical outlet.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising a display panel operatively connected to said central computer to display a status of said at least one addressable electrical outlet.

23. A system comprising:

existing electrical wires including a hot electrical wire and a neutral electrical wire for providing electrical power;

a central computer to provide timing and control capability and having a first wireless transceiver to receive and transmit messages wirelessly;

at least one addressable electrical outlet operatively connected to said existing electrical wires, said at least one electrical outlet including;

a hot electrical terminal,

a neutral electrical terminal,

a current sensor adapted to detect an electrical current flowing between said hot electrical terminal and said neutral electrical terminal in response to a current drawing load being plugged into said electrical outlet,

a second wireless transceiver to receive and transmit messages wirelessly,

an electrical switch capable of being automatically triggered to switch from a closed position to an open position, thereby stopping said flowing electrical current, and

a microcontroller operatively connected to said second wireless transceiver, said current sensor, and said electrical switch to facilitate communication of a current sense event from said current sensor to said second wireless transceiver within said electrical outlet, and to facilitate communication of a timed-out event from said second wireless transceiver to said electrical switch within said electrical outlet.

24. The system of claim 23 further comprising a display panel operatively connected to said central computer to display a status of said at least one addressable electrical outlet.

25. A method of electrically disconnecting an electrical outlet from an external electrical load, said method comprising:

sensing an electrical load plugged into an electrical outlet;

reporting said sensing of said electrical load from said electrical outlet to a central computer as a current sense event message;

starting a timing routine within said central computer in response to said current sense event message to count over a predetermined time interval;

sending a timed-out event message from said central computer to said electrical outlet after said predetermined time interval has elapsed; and

opening a conductive path within said electrical outlet in response to said timed-out event message, thereby stopping a flow of electrical current from said electrical outlet to said electrical load.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising converting AC electrical power to DC electrical power within said electrical outlet.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising providing said DC electrical power to circuitry within said electrical outlet.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising providing DC electrical power to circuitry within said electrical outlet.

29. The method of claim 25 further comprising closing said conductive path within said electrical outlet by manually activating a reset control on an external portion of said electrical outlet.

30. The method of claim 25 further comprising sending a reset event message from said central computer to said electrical outlet to automatically close said conductive path within said electrical outlet.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein said reporting of said current sense event and said sending of said timed-out event are accomplished via wireless communication techniques.

32. The method of claim 25 wherein said reporting of said current sense event and said sending of said timed-out event are accomplished via electrical wires connected to said electrical outlet.

33. The method of claim 25 wherein said reporting of said current sense event and said sending of said timed-out event are accomplished via dedicated communication wires connected between said central computer and said electrical outlet.

34. An electrical outlet comprising:

means for sensing an electrical load plugged into said electrical outlet;

means for reporting said sensing of said electrical load to a central computer;

means for receiving a timed-out message from said central computer; and

means for opening a conductive path within said electrical outlet in response to said timed-out message, thereby stopping a flow of electrical current from said electrical outlet to said electrical load.

35. The electrical outlet of claim 34 further comprising means for converting AC electrical power to DC electrical power within said electrical outlet.

36. The electrical outlet of claim 34 further comprising means for providing said DC electrical power to at least one of said means for sensing, said means for reporting, said means for receiving, and said means for opening.

37. The electrical outlet of claim 34 further comprising means for providing DC electrical power within said electrical outlet to at least one of said means for sensing, said means for reporting, said means for receiving, and said means for opening.

38. The electrical outlet of claim 34 further comprising means for closing said conductive path within said electrical outlet via external manual activation.

39. The electrical outlet of claim 34 further comprising means for closing said conductive path within said electrical outlet in response to a reset message from said central computer.

40. The electrical outlet of claim 34 further comprising means for indicating to a user when said conductive path is open within said electrical outlet.