CONTROLLABLE ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE WITH ROUTED ANTENNA
First Claim
1. A controllable electrical receptacle, comprising:
- a housing comprising a first housing portion having openings comprising at least one electrical socket;
an antenna at least partially disposed within a groove in a front face of said first housing portion, wherein the groove is routed around said at least one electrical socket, the antenna comprising a wire element having a rearward extending portion and a forward facing portion, wherein the rearward extending portion is coupled to a circuit, and wherein the forward facing portion is positioned within said groove; and
a wireless transceiver coupled to said circuit, the wireless transceiver configured to receive wireless signals and to control power to said at least one socket in response to said wireless signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A controllable electrical receptacle is disclosed. The electrical receptacle includes a housing having a pair of sockets suitable for receiving electrical plugs. The receptacle includes an antenna disposed beneath a cover portion of the receptacle. The antenna is configured to receive wireless signals from an occupancy sensor or other controller and to control power to the sockets based on the received signals. The antenna is also configured to transmit wireless signals. The antenna may be routed around the sockets to minimize interference caused by metal components of the receptacle. The antenna may be sandwiched between a pair of non-metal layers of the housing to avoid direct exposure to the environment while maintaining a desired performance. In one embodiment the antenna is a wire member received within a routing groove formed in a portion of the housing. The routing groove includes features for retaining the wire member in the groove.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A controllable electrical receptacle, comprising:
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a housing comprising a first housing portion having openings comprising at least one electrical socket; an antenna at least partially disposed within a groove in a front face of said first housing portion, wherein the groove is routed around said at least one electrical socket, the antenna comprising a wire element having a rearward extending portion and a forward facing portion, wherein the rearward extending portion is coupled to a circuit, and wherein the forward facing portion is positioned within said groove; and a wireless transceiver coupled to said circuit, the wireless transceiver configured to receive wireless signals and to control power to said at least one socket in response to said wireless signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electrical receptacle, comprising:
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a housing comprising a first housing portion, the first housing portion comprising an electrical socket; an antenna having a rearward extending portion and a forward facing portion, the rearward extending portion coupled to a circuit, the forward facing portion positioned within a groove in said first housing portion, the groove routed around said electrical socket; and a wireless transceiver coupled to said circuit, the wireless transceiver configured to receive wireless signals and to control power applied to said socket in response to said wireless signals. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A controllable electrical receptacle system, comprising:
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a controllable electrical receptacle comprising; a first housing portion having openings comprising at least one electrical socket; an antenna received within a groove in a front face of said first housing portion, wherein the groove is routed around said at least one electrical socket, the antenna comprising a wire element having a rearward extending portion and a forward facing portion, the rearward extending portion coupled to a circuit, the forward facing portion disposed within said groove; and a wireless transceiver coupled to said circuit, the wireless transceiver configured to receive wireless signals and to control power to said at least one socket in response thereto; and a wireless device configured to transmit said wireless signals in response to a sensed occupancy condition in a monitored space. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification