Power Outlet with Restricted Access
First Claim
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1. An outlet control unit comprising:
- a housing;
a device to receive an access requesting input, carried by the housing; and
control circuitry, carried by the housing, and responsive to the access requesting input to switch electrical energy to an output port carried by the housing.
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Abstract
An apparatus to provide controlled electrical energy in a substantially public setting includes a power control unit. The unit includes credential entering circuitry which, upon authentication, provides access to a supply of AC-type electrical energy which can be used to recharge batteries of a vehicle. Authentication can be carried out locally, or at a displaced access control system. An access credential can be entered via a card reader or a wires receiver.
9 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An outlet control unit comprising:
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a housing; a device to receive an access requesting input, carried by the housing; and control circuitry, carried by the housing, and responsive to the access requesting input to switch electrical energy to an output port carried by the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An energy dispensing apparatus comprising:
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an outlet control unit with energy monitoring circuitry and an energy dispensing outlet; and an access control system, wherein the control unit transfers access requesting information to the control system for authentication, and, in response to authentication, the control system transfers a dispensing indicium to the control unit, wherein the control unit, in response to the received dispensing indicium, activates the outlet to dispense electrical energy, and wherein dispensing is terminated in response to the energy monitoring circuitry detecting a predetermined condition. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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providing an access credential; authenticating the credential, and responsive thereto, providing access by initiating a current flow; monitoring the magnitude of the current flow, and responsive thereto, terminating access in response to at least one of, the current flow terminating, the current flow exceeding a predetermined value, or the current flow declining to a different predetermined value.
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Specification