DIGITAL WIRELESS NETWORK RECEPTACLE

• US 20130184890A1
• Filed: 01/12/2012
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Max Li, Roy Ting, Yung-Che Fang
• Original Assignee: Max Li, Roy Ting
• Inventors: Li, Max, Ting, Roy
• Granted Patent: US 8,781,639 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/293
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 by using digital technique
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2071/006 Provisions for user interfaces for electrical protection devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2071/008 Protective switches or relays using micromechanics
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/78 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/00 Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition with or without subsequent reconnection specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems H02H7/00; systems for change-over to standby supply H02J9/00 ; integrated protection for motors H02H7/0822
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/40 responsive to ratio of voltage and current
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0009 Devices or circuits for detecting current in a converter
• 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

A digital wireless network receptacle has an upper housing, two power sockets formed through the upper housing, a lower housing and a multi-layer mechanism mounted between the upper housing and the lower housing. A single microcontroller unit (MCU) is employed within the multi-layer mechanism so that an intelligent control circuit can be effectively integrated and received in the receptacle with standardized size and limited space. Each power socket of the receptacle is independently monitored and controlled, and power consumed from each power socket can be recorded to ensure a complete understanding of power usage. Besides transmission of power consumption information to a host server through a wireless network, automatic power breaking safety protection upon an overload or standby condition of electrical appliances can be provided.

Claims

1. A digital wireless network receptacle (DWNR) comprising:

an upper housing;

a plurality of power sockets formed through the upper housing, each power socket having two inner terminals;

a lower housing;

a multi-layer mechanism mounted between the upper housing and the lower housing and having;

a top platform having

at least one reset button mounted centrally on the top platform; and

a plurality of lugs respectively formed on and protruding from two ends of the top platform and extending beyond the upper housing and the lower housing;

a middle layer having;

a plurality of tabs;

a plurality of partitions; and

a plurality of metal conductors taking a crooked form and received in the respective partitions and held by the respective tabs, wherein each adjacent pair of the metal conductors form the inner terminals of one of a corresponding power socket; and

a bottom plate having an intelligent control circuit mounted thereon, wherein each metal conductor has a contact end formed through a wall of a corresponding partition and extending downwardly to connect with the intelligent control circuit so that the intelligent control circuit is controlled and initialized by the at least one reset button;

a circuit loop connected to the inner terminals of each power socket that is serially connected with a protection resistor and a control switch; and

wherein

the intelligent control circuit has;

a power supply unit converting an AC input power into a DC power to supply an operating power to the intelligent control circuit;

a measuring unit connected to the circuit loops respectively connected to the inner terminals of the power sockets to independently measure power consumed through the respective power sockets;

an MCU connected to the measuring unit and the plurality of control switches to independently control power supplied from the power sockets; and

a network unit connected to the MCU and adapted to wirelessly exchange data with an external wireless receiving device based on a standard wireless network communication protocol;

whereby the intelligent control circuit having a single MCU is integrated and received in the DWNR so that each power socket is independently monitored and controlled, power consumed through each power socket is obtained and provided through a wireless network, and further provides an automatic power breaking safety protection upon an overload or standby condition of an electrical appliance.

2. The digital wireless network receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein information of power consumed through each power socket includes voltage, current and power consumption information.

3. The digital wireless network receptacle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the MCU collects the power consumption information measured from the measuring unit via a serial communication link.

4. The digital wireless network receptacle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the DWNR is configured to provide wall mounting and a private password setting for each power socket.

5. The digital wireless network receptacle as claimed in claim 4, wherein all DWNRs distributed within a power supply zone establish a wireless network, the wireless network further including a host server supporting remote control and monitoring over each DWNR and remote power consumption information acquisition from each DWNR to constitute a household energy management system.

6. The digital wireless network receptacle as claimed in claim 5, wherein a power management method of the household energy management system includes the following steps:

(a) the host server issues a command to read power consumption information from a power socket on one of the WNEDs or a Wireless Network Router (WNR);

(b) the host system transmits the command to a wireless network coordinator (WNC) via a UART interface;

(c) the WNTC executed by the MCU of the WNC accepts the command issued from the host server, and after receiving the command issued from the host server, the WNTC on the WNC directly fetches a network address of a destination end from a device type column of the destination end in the command;

(d) the WNTC transmits a wireless packet containing the network address of the destination end to a remote WNED matching the network address of the destination end;

(e) the network layer module of the WNTC in compliance with an energy wireless network protocol processes the command defined by the application layer and packetizes the command into at least a packet for wireless communication;

(f) after a corresponding remote WNED or WNR receiving the at least a packet has the network address of the destination end designated in the packet, the remote WNED or the WNR sends an acknowledge (ACK) packet back to the WNC;

(g) the WNTC receives the ACK packet from the remote WNED or the WNR and identifies the network address of the destination end transmitting the ACK packet;

(h) the WNTC transmits a command for reading power consumption information to the remote WNED having the network address of the destination end;

(i) after receiving the command for reading power consumption information, the remote WNED detects the power consumption information of at least an electrical appliance, if plugged into a power socket, from the hardwired associated measuring unit;

(j) the remote WNED transmits the power consumption information of each of the electrical appliances plugged in a corresponding power socket to the WNC;

(k) the WNTC acquires the power consumption information transmitted from the remote WNED;

(l) the host server sends a request for replying the power consumption information acquired from the remote WNED;

(m) the WNTC transmits the power consumption information to the host server via the UART interface; and

(n) the host server receives the power consumption information transmitted from the remote WNED.