CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICAL OUTLETS

• US 20150054341A1
• Filed: 08/26/2013
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nicholas Anthony Consola, Ryan Allan Holder
• Original Assignee: Nicholas Anthony Consola, Ryan Allan Holder
• Inventors: HOLDER, RYAN ALLAN, CONSOLA, NICHOLAS ANTHONY
• Granted Patent: US 9,281,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/38
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/70 with built-in switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/78 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A system for controlling electrical outlets includes two devices. The first device connects to a switched outlet and sends a signal to the second device when the outlet is turned on or off. The second device mimics the power state of the first device. The first device may include a socket for receiving a sensor module, which may alter the functionality of the device. For example, the device may be controlled by a remote device or it may be motion-activated, depending on the module that is connected.

Claims

1. A system for controlling an electrical outlet, the system comprising:

a first device comprising;

a first connector disposed on a surface of a first housing, the first connector configured to connect to a first fixed outlet and to receive electrical power from the first fixed outlet, the first fixed outlet comprising a standardized alternating current (AC) electrical outlet;

a first device outlet disposed on a surface of the first housing, the first device outlet comprising a standardized AC electrical outlet, the first device outlet configured to have a powered state when the first connector has a powered state, the first device outlet further configured to have an unpowered state when the first connector has an unpowered state; and

a first transceiver disposed within the first housing and connected to the first connector and to the first device outlet; and

a second device comprising;

a second connector disposed on a surface of a second housing, the second connector configured to connect to a second fixed outlet and to receive electrical power from the second fixed outlet, the second fixed outlet comprising a standardized AC electrical outlet;

a second device outlet disposed on a surface of the second housing, the second device outlet comprising a standardized AC electrical outlet; and

a second transceiver disposed within the second housing and connected to the second connector and to the second device outlet;

wherein;

the first transceiver is configured to send a signal to the second transceiver, and the second transceiver is configured to receive a signal from the first transceiver;

the first transceiver is configured to send a first signal to the second transceiver, the first signal indicative of the first connector having a powered state;

the second transceiver is configured to activate the second device outlet after receiving the first signal;

the first transceiver is configured to send a second signal to the second transceiver, the second signal indicative of the first connector having an unpowered state; and

the second transceiver is configured to deactivate the second device outlet after receiving the second signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein

the first device comprises a first processor connected to the first connector, the first device outlet, and the first transceiver, the first processor programmed to control the first transceiver and the power state of the first device outlet;

and

the second device comprises a second processor connected to the second connector, the second device outlet, and the second transceiver, the second processor programmed to control the second transceiver and the power state of the second device outlet.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein

the first device comprises a first cloning system;

and

the second device comprises a second cloning system configured to connect to the first cloning system,

wherein the second device is configured to receive a unique identifier from the first device when the second cloning system is connected to the first cloning system, the unique identifier configured to limit the second device to being controlled by the first device based on a signal received from the first device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein

the first cloning system comprises a first cloning socket configured to receive a cloning cable;

and

the second cloning system comprises a second cloning socket configured to receive a cloning cable.

5. A device for controlling an electrical outlet, the device comprising:

a connector disposed on a surface of a housing, the connector configured to connect to a fixed outlet and to receive electrical power from the fixed outlet, the fixed outlet comprising a standardized AC electrical outlet;

a device outlet disposed on a surface of the housing, the device outlet comprising a standardized AC electrical outlet;

a transceiver disposed within the housing;

a socket disposed on a surface of the housing, the socket configured to receive a module; and

a processor disposed within the housing, the processor connected to the connector, the device outlet, the transceiver, and the socket, the processor programmed to at least one of activate and deactivate the device outlet based on a signal received from at least one of the connector, the transceiver, and the socket.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising:

a module configured to mate with the socket,

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the module comprises a sensor.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the signal received by the processor from the socket comprises a signal from the sensor.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein

the processor is programmed to activate and deactivate the device outlet based on the signal received from the sensor if the module is mated to the socket;

and

the processor is programmed to activate and deactivate the device outlet based on the signal received from at least one of the connector and, the transceiver if the module is not mated to the socket.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a light sensor, a sound sensor, a motion detector, an infrared sensor, a Bluetooth radio, a Wi-Fi transceiver, a smoke detector, and a carbon monoxide detector.

11. The device of claim 5, wherein the processor is programmed to cause the transceiver to transmit a broadcast signal based on the received signal, the broadcast signal comprising at least one of an instruction for a remote device to activate a remote device socket and an instruction for a remote device to deactivate a remote device socket.

12. A system for controlling an electrical outlet, the system comprising:

a first device comprising the device of claim 6; and

a second device comprising;

a second connector disposed on a surface of a second housing, the second connector configured to connect to a second fixed outlet and to receive electrical power from the second fixed outlet, the second fixed outlet comprising a standardized AC electrical outlet;

a second device outlet disposed on a surface of the second housing, the second device outlet comprising a standardized AC electrical outlet; and

a second transceiver disposed within the second housing and connected to the second fixed outlet and to the second device outlet.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second device is configured to at least one of activate the second device outlet based on a broadcast signal received from the first device and deactivate the second device outlet based on a broadcast signal received from the first device.