Power Controlling Device and Methods of Use

• US 20100145543A1
• Filed: 12/08/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andy Middlemiss
• Original Assignee: Andy Middlemiss
• Inventors: Middlemiss, Andy
• Granted Patent: US 8,335,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• 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: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A device for controlling power comprising a power source input, at least one power contact or outlet, a power control relay, a digital signal input port and a digital signal detector. The device controls power from the power source input to the at least one power contact or outlet by operation of the power control relay. The power control relay opens or closes based on the presence of a digital signal or lack thereof. The detection of the presence of the digital signal or the lack thereof is accomplished by the digital signal detector electrically coupled to the digital signal input port. Detection of a digital signal may be accomplished by using one or more Ethernet signal detectors capable of detecting data transmission or the presence of PoE. Additionally, a method is taught to control power to power consuming devices by using the aforementioned device.

Claims

1. A power controlling device comprising:

a power source input;

one or more power contacts;

one or more digital signal input ports;

at least one digital signal detector, the at least one digital signal detector being operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more digital signal input ports and adapted to detect a presence of a digital signal or a lack thereof; and

a power control relay, the power control relay being electrically coupled to the power source input and at least one of the one or more power contacts, and comprising (i) a first position adapted to energize the at least one of the one or more power contacts based on whether the at least one digital signal detector detects one of the presence of a digital signal or the lack thereof, and (ii) a second position adapted to de-energize the at least one of the one or more power contacts based on whether the at least one digital signal detector detects the other of the presence of a digital signal or the lack thereof.

2. The power controlling device of claim 1, consisting essentially of:

the power source input;

the one or more power contacts;

the one or more digital signal input ports;

the at least one digital signal detector, the at least one digital signal detector being operatively coupled to the at least one of the one or more digital signal input ports and adapted to detect the presence of a digital signal or the lack thereof; and

the power control relay, the power control relay being electrically coupled to the power source input and the at least one of the one or more power contacts, and comprising (i) the first position adapted to energize the at least one of the one or more power contacts based on whether the at least one digital signal detector detects one of the presence of a digital signal or the lack thereof, and (ii) the second position adapted to de-energize the at least one of the one or more power contacts based on whether the at least one digital signal detector detects the other of the presence of a digital signal or the lack thereof.

3. The power controlling device of claim 1, wherein another of the one or more power contacts is electrically coupled to the power source input.

4. The power controlling device of claim 1, wherein the one or more digital signal input ports includes a connector adapted to receive an Ethernet signal and the one or more power contacts includes a power outlet adapted to receive a power plug from a power consuming device.

5. The power controlling device of claim 4, wherein the at least one digital signal detector includes at least one Ethernet signal detector adapted to detect a presence of transmission activity on an Ethernet connection.

6. The power controlling device of claim 4, wherein the at least one digital signal detector includes at least one Ethernet signal detector adapted to detect a presence of power over an Ethernet connection.

7. The power controlling device of claim 4, wherein the at least one digital signal detector includes:

(i) a first Ethernet signal detector adapted to detect a presence of transmission activity on an Ethernet connection; and

(ii) a second Ethernet signal detector adapted to detect a presence of power over the Ethernet connection.

8. The power controlling device of claim 7, further comprising,

a control selector switch adapted to adopt one of either a first position enabling the use of the first Ethernet signal detector or a second position enabling the use of the second Ethernet signal detector.

9. The power controlling device of claim 1, further comprising,

a by-pass switch, the by-pass switch being electrically coupled to the power source input and the at least one of the one or more power contacts, and adapted to adopt one of either a first position enabling power to pass directly to the at least one of the one or more power contacts or a second position disabling power to pass directly to the at least one of the one or more power contacts;

and

at least one digital signal output port, the at least one digital signal output port adapted to provide a digital reproduction of the digital signal.

10. A power controlling system comprising:

an energized power socket;

a network device capable of being alternatively in either one of a first condition or a second condition, the first condition being providing an Ethernet signal and the second condition being not providing the Ethernet signal;

a first Ethernet cable, the first Ethernet cable being operatively coupled to the network device;

a power controlling device, the power controlling device comprising;

a power source input, the power source input being electrically coupled to the energized power socket;

one or more power contacts, the one or more power contacts providing electrical power when electrically coupled to the power source input;

a power control relay, the power control relay being electrically coupled to the power source input and at least one of the one or more power contacts, and comprising a first configuration and a second configuration, the first configuration energizing the at least one of the one or more power contacts and the second condition de-energizing the at least one of the one or more power contacts;

a first connector, the first connector being in receipt of and electrically coupled to the first Ethernet cable; and

a Power over Ethernet detection circuit, the Power over Ethernet detection circuit being electrically coupled to the first connector and adapted to (a) detect a presence of power being transferred over the first Ethernet cable and (b) provide an output when the presence of power being transferred over the first Ethernet cable is detected;

a microcontroller, the microcontroller adapted to (i) measure the output of the Power over Ethernet circuit during a time interval and (ii) control the operation of the power control relay based on the measurement of the output of the Power over Ethernet circuit during the time interval; and

at least one power consuming device, the at least one power consuming device being electrically coupled to the at least one of the one or more power contacts.

11. The power controlling system of claim 10, further comprising:

at least one remote Ethernet device;

a second Ethernet cable;

the second Ethernet cable being operatively coupled to the at least one remote Ethernet device; and

the power controlling device, wherein the power controlling device further comprises;

a second connector;

the second connector being in receipt of and electrically coupled to the second Ethernet cable;

an Ethernet repeater circuit, the Ethernet repeater circuit being electrically coupled to the first connector and the second connector, and adapted to;

(a) detect a presence of transmission activity from the network device;

(b) provide a signal activity output when the presence of transmission activity is detected; and

(c) reproduce an Ethernet signal received via the first connector to the second connector and via the second connector to the first connector; and

the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller is further adapted to;

(iii) measure the signal activity output of the Ethernet repeater circuit during a time interval; and

(iv) control the operation of the power control relay based on the measurement of the signal activity output of the Ethernet repeater circuit.

12. The power controlling system of claim 10, wherein the power control device further comprises a power by-pass switch, the power by-pass switch electrically coupled to the power source input and the at least one of the one or more power contacts, and adapted to adopt one of either a first position enabling power to pass directly to the at least one of the one or more power contacts or a second position disabling power to pass directly to the at least one of the one or more power contacts.

13. The power controlling system of claim 11, wherein the power control device further comprises:

a power by-pass switch, the power by-pass switch electrically coupled to the power source input and the at least one of the one or more power contacts, and adapted to adopt one of either a first position enabling power to pass directly to the at least one of the one or more power contacts or a second position disabling power to pass directly to the at least one of the one or more power contacts; and

a control selector switch adapted to enable the microcontroller to utilize one of either the Power over Ethernet detection circuit or the Ethernet repeater circuit.

14. The power controlling system of claim 12, wherein the microcontroller further comprises a first latch circuit, the first latch circuit being electrically coupled to the Power over Ethernet Detection circuit and responsive to the output thereof.

15. The power controlling system of claim 13, wherein the microcontroller further comprises:

a first latch circuit, the first latch circuit being electrically coupled to the Power over Ethernet Detection circuit and responsive to the output thereof; and

a second latch circuit, the second latch circuit being electrically coupled to the Ethernet repeater circuit and responsive to the signal activity output thereof.

16. A method of using a power controlling device, the power controlling device comprising, (i) a power source input capable of receiving electrical power, (ii) one or more power contacts, (iii) a power control relay, (iv) a first connecter adapted to receive a first Ethernet cable, (v) an Ethernet signal detector adapted to detect a presence of an Ethernet signal or a lack thereof, the power controlling device adapted to pass electrical power to at least one of the one or more power contacts when the presence of an Ethernet signal has been detected and block electrical power to the at least one of the one or more power contacts when the presence of an Ethernet signal has not been detected, the method comprising:

connecting the power source input to an energized power socket;

connecting at least one power consuming device to the one or more power contacts;

connecting an Ethernet cable from a network source to the first connector;

transmitting an Ethernet signal from the network source;

changing the power control relay from an open configuration to a closed configuration, the open configuration being adapted to de-energize the one or more power contacts and the closed configuration being adapted to energize the one or more power outlet; and

energizing the one or more power outlet.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

ceasing transmission of the Ethernet signal from the network source;

changing the power control relay from a closed configuration to an open configuration; and

de-energizing the one or more power contacts.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the Ethernet signal comprises at least a Power over Ethernet component.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said ceasing transmission comprises ceasing transmission by remotely accessing the network source and entering commands to cease transmission of the Ethernet signal.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said transmitting the Ethernet signal comprises transmitting an Ethernet signal by programming the network source to respond to a transmit condition supplied by a peripheral device operatively coupled to the network source.