CONTROLLABLE ELECTRICAL OUTLET WITH A CONTROLLED WIRED OUTPUT
First Claim
1. A controllable electrical outlet for use in a load control system which also has at least one standard electrical outlet, the load control system adapted to receive power from a power source, the controllable electrical outlet comprising:
- an electrical receptacle configured to receive a plug of a plug-in electrical load;
a first electrical connection configured to be electrically coupled to the power source to receive a hot voltage to power the plug-in electrical load;
a second electrical connection configured to be electrically coupled to the standard electrical outlet;
a load control circuit electrically coupled in series between the first and second electrical connections to control power delivered to the standard electrical outlet;
a communication circuit configured to receive a digital message; and
a digital control circuit coupled to the load control circuit and the communication circuit to control power delivered to the standard electrical outlet in response to the digital message received via the communication circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A load control system having a controllable electrical outlet provides a low cost solution for controlling a plurality of standard electrical outlets. The controllable electrical outlet may be coupled in series between a power source and at least one standard electrical outlet for controlling the power delivered to the standard electrical outlet. The controllable electrical outlet may comprise an actuator for allowing the controllable electrical outlet to be associated with an input device for receiving digital messages from the input device. The controllable electrical outlet may be installed in a standard electrical wallbox, e.g., replacing a previously-installed standard electrical outlet. The actuator may be easily accessed to associate the controllable electrical outlet with the input device and a radio-frequency receiver and antenna may be located in the controllable electrical outlet to provide optimum reception of radio-frequency signals.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A controllable electrical outlet for use in a load control system which also has at least one standard electrical outlet, the load control system adapted to receive power from a power source, the controllable electrical outlet comprising:
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an electrical receptacle configured to receive a plug of a plug-in electrical load; a first electrical connection configured to be electrically coupled to the power source to receive a hot voltage to power the plug-in electrical load; a second electrical connection configured to be electrically coupled to the standard electrical outlet; a load control circuit electrically coupled in series between the first and second electrical connections to control power delivered to the standard electrical outlet; a communication circuit configured to receive a digital message; and a digital control circuit coupled to the load control circuit and the communication circuit to control power delivered to the standard electrical outlet in response to the digital message received via the communication circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A load control system for controlling one or more plug-in electrical loads adapted to receive power from a power source, the load control system comprising:
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a standard electrical outlet adapted to receive power from the power source and comprising at least one electrical receptacle configured to receive a plug of a first plug-in electrical load; a controllable electrical outlet adapted to receive power from the power source, the controllable electrical outlet comprising an electrical receptacle configured to receive a plug of a second plug-in electrical load and an electrical connection configured to be electrically coupled to the standard electrical outlet; and an input device configured to transmit a digital message; wherein the controllable electrical outlet is configured to control the power delivered to the standard electrical outlet in response to the digital message. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A controllable electrical outlet for use in a load control system which also has at least one standard electrical outlet, the load control system adapted to receive power from a power source, the controllable electrical outlet comprising:
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a line-side hot connection and a line-side neutral electrical connection connectable the power source to receive a hot voltage to power the plug-in electrical load; an electrical receptacle having a first load-side hot electrical connection and a first load-side neutral electrical connection configured to be electrically connected to respective prongs of a plug of a plug-in electrical load; a second load-side hot electrical connection connectable to the standard electrical outlet; a load control circuit electrically coupled in series between the first and second electrical connections to control power delivered to the standard electrical outlet; a communication circuit configured to receive a digital message; and a digital control circuit coupled to the load control circuit and the communication circuit to control power delivered to the standard electrical outlet in response to the digital message received via the communication circuit.
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Specification