CONNECTOR HAVING WIRELESS CONTROL CAPABILITIES

• US 20140103742A1
• Filed: 10/12/2012
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ideal Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ideal Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Bello, Nolan, Keswani, Sushil N.
• Granted Patent: US 9,660,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/140
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/54 Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/00 Circuit arrangements for dc mains or dc distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• 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: 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: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A connector for connecting a source of AC power to a powered device includes a line-side interface arranged for releasably and electrically coupling the connector to the source of power, a load-side power interface arranged for electrically coupling the connector to the powered device, a load-side control interface for controlling the power supplied to the powered device, a controller electrically coupled to the line-side interface, the load-side power interface, and the load-side control interface and operable to control a bringing of power to the load-side power interface from the line-side interface and for bringing a control signal to the load-side control interface, and a receiver electrically coupled to the controller for receiving a first signal from a device external to the connector and for generating, in response thereto, a second signal for controlling operations of the controller.

Claims

1. A connector for connecting a source of alternating current (AC) power to a powered device, comprising:

a line-side interface arranged for electrically coupling the connector to the source of AC power;

a load-side power interface arranged for electrically coupling the connector to the powered device;

a load-side control interface arranged for controlling the power supplied to the powered device;

a controller electrically coupled to the line-side interface, the load-side power interface, and the load-side control interface and operable to control a bringing of power to the load-side power interface from the line-side interface, and operable to control a bringing of a control signal to the load-side control interface; and

a transceiver electrically coupled to the controller for receiving a first signal from a device external to the connector and for generating, in response thereto, a second signal for controlling operations of the controller.

2. A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the line-side interface is arranged for releasably and electrically coupling the connector to an AC power system.

3. A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the line-side interface, the load-side power interface, or the load-side control interface comprises at least one of a push-in type contact, an IDC type contact, an IPC type contact, a crimp type contact, or a weld type contact for engaging a corresponding one or more wires associated with the powered device.

4. A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller provides an electrical signal to the load-side power interface to function as an on/off power controller.

5. A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller provides an electrical signal to the load-side control interface to function as a dimming power controller.

6. A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller comprises at least one of an Opto-isolator, an silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR), a field-effect transistor (FET), transistor, or a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switch.

7. A connector as recited in claim 1, further comprising a rectifier electrically coupled to the receiver and the line-side interface for providing power to the receiver.

8. A connector as recited in claim 7, further comprising a DC-DC converter electrically coupled between the rectifier and the receiver.

9. A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiver is directly, electrically coupled to the line-side interface which provides power to the receiver.

10. A connector as recited in claim 1, further comprising a battery for providing power to the receiver.

11. A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiver is an RF receiver.

12. A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a transceiver.

13. A connector as recited in claim 12, wherein the transceiver is an RF transceiver.

14. A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiver is provided with an address.

15. A connector as recited in claim 14, comprising an address setting device associated with the receiver.

16. A connector as recited in claim 1, wherein at least two of the load-side power interface, the load-side control interface, or the controller are integrally formed.

17. A connector as recited in claim 1, further comprising a remote sensor communicatively coupled to the connector for providing data to influence the performance of the device.

18. A connector as recited in claim 17, wherein the remote sensor communicates directly with the connector.

19. A connector as recited in claim 17, wherein the remote sensor communicates with a remotely located device, which in turn relays information regarding the sensor to the connector.