Sensors for Electrical Connectors
First Claim
1. A sensing apparatus for an appliance connector, the sensing apparatus comprising:
- at least one substrate including one or more openings operative to receive a corresponding number of prongs of the appliance connector;
at least one sensor coupled to the substrate and operative to sense at least one characteristic of an environment;
a transmitter coupled to the substrate and operative to transmit one or more signals derived from the at least one sensed characteristic, wherein the transmitted signals are capable of being received by a receiving device; and
a power circuit coupled to the substrate and operative to provide power to the at least one sensor and to the transmitter, wherein the power circuit is operative to receive electric current from at least one of the prongs of the appliance connector to drive the transmitter and the at least one sensor.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In some implementations, a sensing apparatus for an appliance connector, set forth by way of example and not limitation, includes at least one substrate including one or more openings operative to receive a corresponding number of prongs of the appliance connector. At least one sensor is coupled to the substrate and is operative to sense at least one characteristic of an environment. A transmitter is coupled to the substrate and is operative to transmit one or more signals derived from the at least one sensed characteristic, where the transmitted signals are capable of being received by a receiving device. A power circuit is coupled to the substrate and is operative to provide power to the at least one sensor and to the transmitter, where the power circuit can receive electric current from at least one of the prongs of the appliance connector to drive the transmitter and the sensor.
101 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A sensing apparatus for an appliance connector, the sensing apparatus comprising:
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at least one substrate including one or more openings operative to receive a corresponding number of prongs of the appliance connector; at least one sensor coupled to the substrate and operative to sense at least one characteristic of an environment; a transmitter coupled to the substrate and operative to transmit one or more signals derived from the at least one sensed characteristic, wherein the transmitted signals are capable of being received by a receiving device; and a power circuit coupled to the substrate and operative to provide power to the at least one sensor and to the transmitter, wherein the power circuit is operative to receive electric current from at least one of the prongs of the appliance connector to drive the transmitter and the at least one sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system comprising:
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a sensing apparatus coupled to an appliance connector of an appliance, the appliance connector being coupled to a power supply, wherein the sensing apparatus includes; at least one substrate including one or more openings operative to receive a corresponding number of prongs of the appliance connector; at least one sensor coupled to the substrate and operative to sense at least one characteristic of an environment; a transmitter coupled to the substrate and operative to transmit one or more signals derived from the at least one sensed characteristic; and a power circuit coupled to the substrate and operative to provide power to the at least one sensor and to the transmitter, wherein the power circuit is operative to receive electric current from at least one of the prongs of the appliance connector to drive the transmitter and the at least one sensor; and a receiving device located remotely from the sensing apparatus and operative to receive the one or more signals from the transmitter, wherein the receiving device is operative to provide the one or more signals for use as data describing the at least one sensed environmental characteristic.
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18. A method for sensing using a sensing apparatus, comprising:
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sensing at least one characteristic of an environment using at least one sensor provided in a housing and coupled to a power connector of an appliance; transmitting one or more signals using a transmitter included in a housing, wherein the one or more signals are derived from the at least one sensed characteristic, and wherein the transmitted signals are received by a receiving device; and converting power from electric current received from at least one of the prongs to a form usable by the at least one sensor and the transmitter using power circuitry included in the housing. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification