Combination GFCI/AFCI Receptacle with Class 2 Power Units

• US 20120292991A1
• Filed: 05/16/2011
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Dodal, Rohit Sumerchand, Restrepo, Carlos Eduardo, Zhuang, Alex, Gu, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,083,180 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/11
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/16 responsive to fault current to earth, frame or mass with balanced or differential arrangement H02H3/26 ; monitoring earth connection H02H5/105

Abstract

A combination AC receptacle and low voltage class 2 power units are provided in a standard single strap flush wall-mount outlet so that portable battery operated electronic devices may be charged without having to use a special AC charger. Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) and/or arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) capabilities are also provided so that this combination AC receptacle and low voltage class 2 power units, e.g., USB receptacles, may used in occupancy locations requiring such protections under current electrical building codes. A standard wall cover plate is used to finish off installation of this flush wall-mount outlet into a wall outlet box. Also a data interface may be provided to allow a PDA or PC to control smart wiring systems through the USB receptacle.

Claims

1. A wiring device having line voltage alternating current (AC) and low voltage class 2 power receptacles, comprises:

an electrically insulated housing;

a mounting strap attached to the electrically insulated housing and adapted to secure the housing to a branch circuit outlet box;

an AC receptacle having a hot contact coupled to a hot AC connection terminal, a neutral contact coupled to a neutral AC connection terminal, and a ground contact coupled to a ground AC connection terminal in the insulated housing;

a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) coupled between the AC receptacle and the connection terminals so that if a ground fault event occurs the GFCI will disconnect the AC receptacle from a source AC voltage connected to the AC connection terminals;

an AC line to low voltage direct current (DC) power supply having an AC input coupled to the AC receptacle and a low voltage DC output; and

at least one class 2 power receptacle coupled to the low voltage DC output of the AC to low voltage DC power supply, wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle provides voltage and current for charging a battery in a portable battery operated electronic device.

2. The wiring device according to claim 1, further comprising an arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) coupled between the AC receptacle and the connection terminals so that if an arc-fault event occurs the AFCI will disconnect the AC receptacle from the source AC voltage.

3. The wiring device according to claim 1, further comprising a sleep mode circuit for placing the AC line to low voltage DC power supply into a low power sleep mode when substantially no current is being drawn through the at least one class 2 power receptacle.

4. The wiring device according to claim 1, wherein the AC line to low voltage DC power supply is a switch mode power supply (SMPS).

5. The wiring device according to claim 4, wherein the SMPS is controlled with a pulse width modulated signal from a digital processor.

6. The wiring device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle is at least one Universal Serial Bus (USB) receptacle.

7. The wiring device according to claim 1, further comprising a carrier current interface coupled between data contacts of the at least one class 2 power receptacle and the AC connection terminals.

8. The wiring device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle is located above the AC receptacle.

9. The wiring device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle is located below the AC receptacle.

10. The wiring device according to claim 1, wherein a standard wall cover plate is used to finish installation of the wiring device in a wall outlet box.

11. A wiring device having line voltage alternating current (AC) and low voltage class 2 power receptacles, comprises:

an electrically insulated housing;

a mounting strap attached to the electrically insulated housing and adapted to secure the housing to a branch circuit outlet box;

an AC receptacle having a hot contact coupled to a hot AC connection terminal, a neutral contact coupled to a neutral AC connection terminal, and a ground contact coupled to a ground AC connection terminal in the insulated housing;

an arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) coupled between the AC receptacle and the connection terminals so that if a ground fault event occurs the AFCI will disconnect the AC receptacle from a source AC voltage connected to the AC connection terminals;

an AC line to low voltage direct current (DC) power supply having an AC input coupled to the AC receptacle and a low voltage DC output; and

at least one class 2 power receptacle coupled to the low voltage DC output of the AC to low voltage DC power supply, wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle provides voltage and current for charging a battery in a portable battery operated electronic device.

12. The wiring device according to claim 11, further comprising a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) coupled between the AC receptacle and the connection terminals so that if a ground-fault event occurs the GFCI will disconnect the AC receptacle from the source AC voltage.

13. The wiring device according to claim 11, further comprising a sleep mode circuit for placing the AC line to low voltage DC power supply into a low power sleep mode when substantially no current is being drawn through the at least one class 2 power receptacle.

14. The wiring device according to claim 11, wherein the AC line to low voltage DC power supply is a switch mode power supply (SMPS).

15. The wiring device according to claim 14, wherein the SMPS is controlled with a pulse width modulated signal from a digital processor.

16. The wiring device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle is at least one Universal Serial Bus (USB) receptacle.

17. The wiring device according to claim 11, further comprising a carrier current interface coupled between data contacts of the at least one class 2 power receptacle and the AC connection terminals.

18. The wiring device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle is located above the AC receptacle.

19. The wiring device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle is located below the AC receptacle.

20. The wiring device according to claim 11, wherein a standard wall cover plate is used to finish installation of the wiring device in a wall outlet box.

21. A wiring device having line voltage alternating current (AC) and low voltage class 2 power receptacles, comprises:

an electrically insulated housing;

a mounting strap attached to the electrically insulated housing and adapted to secure the housing to a branch circuit outlet box;

an AC receptacle having a hot contact coupled to a hot AC connection terminal, a neutral contact coupled to a neutral AC connection terminal, and a ground contact coupled to a ground AC connection terminal in the insulated housing;

an AC line to low voltage direct current (DC) power supply having an AC input coupled to the AC receptacle and a low voltage DC output;

at least one class 2 power receptacle coupled to the low voltage DC output of the AC to low voltage DC power supply, wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle provides voltage and current for charging a battery in a portable battery operated electronic device; and

a data over power wiring interface coupled between data contacts of the at least one class 2 power receptacle and the AC connection terminals.

22. The wiring device according to claim 21, further comprising a sleep mode circuit for placing the AC line to low voltage DC power supply into a low power sleep mode when substantially no current is being drawn through the at least one class 2 power receptacle.

23. The wiring device according to claim 21, wherein the AC line to low voltage DC power supply is a switch mode power supply (SMPS).

24. The wiring device according to claim 23, wherein the SMPS is controlled with a pulse width modulated signal from a digital processor.

25. The wiring device according to claim 21, wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle is at least one Universal Serial Bus (USB) receptacle.

26. The wiring device according to claim 21, wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle is located above the AC receptacle.

27. The wiring device according to claim 21, wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle is located below the AC receptacle.

28. The wiring device according to claim 21, wherein a standard wall cover plate is used to finish installation of the wiring device in a wall outlet box.