Integrated outlet for communication and electrical power transmissions with noise reducing characteristics

• US 5,117,122 A
• Filed: 01/16/1990
• Issued: 05/26/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Building Technology Associates, Inc., AMP Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc), Square D Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Square D Company (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Swenson, Kurt, Miller, Vernon R., Gutenson, Charles E., Nichols, Edward L. III, Roberts, Lincoln E., Hogarth, Peter T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Osborn, David
• Application Number:
  US07/464,130
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 307/1-3, 307/18-22, 307/25, 307/26, 307/28, 307/38-43, 307/51, 307/72-76, 307/85, 307/86, 307/112-116, 307/140, 307/141, 307/147, 307/155, 439/653, 439/654, 439/535, 439/620, 439/540, 439/555, 439/639, 174/53-55, 333/1, 333/100, 333/260, 375/36, 379/387, 379/332, 340/310 R, 340/310 A, 340/310 CP, 340/825.06-825.09, 340/825.22, 220/3.2-3.94, 361/331, 361/172
• US Class Current: 307/140
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0005 the elements or equipment being or involving power plugs or sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• 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: Y04S 20/12 Energy storage units, uninterruptible power supply [UPS] systems or standby or emergency generators, e.g. in the last power distribution stages
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses

Abstract

The present invention relates to an integrated outlet that allows supply of AC power to an outlet receptacle when certain conditions are satisfied. The integrated outlet contains separate modules to establish electrical connection with electrical conductors that transmit AC and DC power, telecommunications, control communications, and signals transmitted along a coaxial wire. In a preferred embodiment, these electrical conductors are disposed on two cables. Each module within the integrated outlet attaches to only certain standard conductors in each of the two cables. The integrated outlet can then be efficiently connected to the conductors in each of the two cables.

Claims

1. An integrated apparatus for establishing electrical connections with at least one of an appliance having an AC power cord, communication wiring and an appliance plug to a first ribbon cable containing AC power conductors and command communications conductors that trasmit AC electrical power and command communications signals that include predetermined relay signals and establishing electrical connection with a telecommunications device having a telecommunications cord and telecommunications plug to a second cable including telecommunications conductors, comprising:

a housing;

means for holding said first ribbon cable disposed in said housing and having a front face;

first modular interface means, disposed in said housing and contacting said front face of said holding means, for establishing electrical contact from said AC conductors and said command communication conductors of said first ribbon cable disposed in said holding means to said appliance, said first modular interface means including;

outlet means containing electrical contacts adaptable for insertion of said appliance plug, and

relay means for completing an electrical path between said AC conductor and said outlet means upon receipt of one of said predetermined relay signals; and

second modular interface means, disposed in said housing and to electrically connected to said first ribbon cable disposed in said holding means, for establishing electrical contact with said telecommunications conductors in said second cable to said telecommunications device, said second modular interface means including telecommunications outlet means adaptable for insertion of said telecommunications plug.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said outlet means of said first modular interface means and said telecommunications outlet means of said second modular interface means are disposed in substantially the same plane, an empty space exists between a rear face of said second modular means and said front face of said holding means, and said second cable is terminated within said space to said second modular means.

3. An apparatus according to calim 2 wherein said first modular interface means and said second mdoular interface means are disposed in side by side relation.

4. An integrated apparatus for establishing electrical connections with at least one of an appliance having an AC power cord, communication wiring and an appliance plug to a first ribbon cable containing AC power conductors and command communications conductors that transmit AC electrical power and command communications signals that include predetermined relay signals, establishing electrical connection with a telecommunications device having a telecommunications cord and telecommunications plug to a second cable including telecommunications conductors, and for establishing electrical connection with a communications device having a device coaxial cable and coaxial plug to a coaxial conductor disposed within said second cable, comprising:

a housing;

means for holding said first ribbon cable disposed in said housing and having a front face;

first modular interface means, disposed in said housing and contacting said front face of said holding means, for establishing electrical contact from said AC conductors and said command communication conductors of said first ribbon cable disposed in said holding means to said appliance, said first modular interface means including;

outlet means containing electrical contacts adaptable for insertion of said appliance plug, and

relay means for completing an electrical path between said AC conductors and said outlet means upon receipt of one of said predetermined relay signals;

second modular interface means, disposed in said housing and not electrically connected to said first ribbon cable disposed in said holding means, for establishing electrical contact with said telecommunications conductors in said second cable to said telecommunications device, said second mdoular interface means including telecommunications outlet means adaptable for insertion of said telecommunications plug; and

third modular interface means, disposed in said housing and not electrically connected to said first ribbon cable disposed in said holding means, for establishing electrical contact with said device coaxial conductor in said second cable to said communications device, said third modular interface means including coaxial outlet means adaptable for insertion of said coaxial plug.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said outlet means of said first modular inteface means, said telecommunications outlet means fo said second modular interface means, and said coaxial outlet means of said third modular interface means are disposed in substantially the same plane, an empty space exists between rear faces of said second and third modular means and said front face of said holding means and said second cable is terminated within said space to said second and third modular means.

6. An apparatus according to calim 5 wherein said first, second and third modular interface means are disposed in adjacent relation.

7. An apparatus according to calim 5 wherein second and third modular interface means are disposed side by side.

8. An integrated apparatus for establishing electrical connections with at least one of an appliance having an AC power cord, communication wiring and an appliance plug to a first ribbon cable containing AC power conductors and command communications conductors that transmit AC electrial power and command communications signals, and for establishing electrical connection with a telecommunications device having a telecommunications cord and telecommunications plug to a second cable including telecommunications conductors comprising:

a housing;

means for holding said first ribbon cable disposed in said housing and having a front face;

first modular interface means, disposed in said housing and contacting said front face of said holding means and establishing electrical contact with said AC conductors and said command communication conductors of said first ribbon cable disposed in said holding means, for establishing electrical contact from said AC conductors to said appliance, said first modular interface means including outlet means containing electrical contacts adaptable for insertion of said appliance plug; and

second modular interface means, disposed in said housing and not electrically connected to said first ribbon cable disposed in said holding means, for establishing electrical contact with said telecommunications conductors in said second cable to said telecommunications device, said second mdoular interface means including telecommunications outlet means adaptable for insertion of said telecommunications plug.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said outlet means of said first modular interface means and said telecommunications outlet means of said second modular inteface means are disposed in substantially the same plane, an empty space exists between a rear face of said second mdoular means and said front face of said holding means, and said second cable is terminated within said space to said second modular means.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said first modular interface means and said second modular interface means are disposed in side by side relation.