LOAD CONDITION CONTROLLED POWER STRIP

• US 20100314949A1
• Filed: 08/20/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• 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 7,964,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/117
• 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:

a plurality of outlets configured to transmit power to the electronic device; and

an outlet circuit configured to receive power from an alternating current (AC) line input and transmit power to a first outlet of said plurality of outlets, wherein said outlet circuit disengages transmitting power to said first outlet in response to said first outlet drawing substantially no power.

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

a current measuring system configured to monitor current from the AC line input, wherein said current measuring system provides an output power level signal; and

a control circuit configured to receive said output power level signal and control the connection between said first outlet and the AC line input.

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

4. The power strip of claim 2, further comprising a reconnection device configured to override said control circuit and reengage said first outlet and the AC line input, and wherein said reconnection device is further configured to disengage said first outlet and the AC line input.

5. The power strip of claim 4, wherein said reconnection device is located remotely from said power strip.

6. The power strip of claim 4, wherein said reconnection device is configured to override a single control circuit.

7. The power strip of claim 4, wherein said reconnection device is configured to override a plurality of control circuits.

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

9. 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.

10. The power strip of claim 1, wherein said outlet circuit is further configured to transmit power to a second outlet of said plurality of outlets, wherein said outlet circuit disengages transmitting power to said second outlet of said plurality of outlets in response to said second outlet drawing substantially no power.

11. The power strip of claim 1, further comprising a second outlet circuit configured to transmit power to a second outlet of said plurality of outlets, wherein said second outlet circuit disengages transmitting power to said second outlet of said plurality of outlets in response to said second outlet drawing substantially no power.

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

a control circuit configured to control the coupling of said at least one outlet to an alternating current (AC) line input;

wherein said control circuit decouples said at least one outlet in response to the current drawn by said at least one outlet being below a threshold level, such that said at least one outlet is effectively disengaged from the AC line input.

13. The power strip of claim 12, wherein said control circuit controls a plurality of said at least one outlet.

14. The power strip of claim 12, further comprising a reconnection device configured to override said control circuit and re-engage said at least one outlet to the AC line input.

15. The power strip of claim 12, further comprising a photocell configured to indicate a level of ambient light surrounding said power strip, wherein said control circuit is configured to disengage said at least one outlet based upon the level of ambient light.

16. The power strip of claim 12, wherein said threshold level is a percentage of a determined approximate low power level of said electronic device, and wherein said percentage of said determined approximate low power level is at least one range of approximately 100-0.105%, approximately 100-110%, and approximately 110-120%.

17. The power strip of claim 12, 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.

18. A method of facilitating a power strip with low power consumption, the method comprising:

providing power to an electronic device at an outlet;

monitoring, with a current measuring system, a load condition at said outlet to generate a measured load condition;

transmitting the measured load condition to a control circuit; and

disengaging said outlet from an alternating current (AC) line input, without disengaging an additional outlet, in response to the measured load condition being below a threshold value.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising a testing method of the load condition at said outlet, said testing method comprising:

engaging said outlet with the AC line input; and

determining if the measured load condition is below the threshold level.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining said threshold level based upon the monitoring of the load condition at said outlet; and

electrically isolating said control circuit from the AC line input using a power disconnect.