Electricity tapping apparatus which automatically turns on the slave units by sensing the power status of the master unit

• US 5,731,947 A
• Filed: 02/13/1996
• Issued: 03/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuminori Hirose
• Original Assignee: Fuminori Hirose
• Inventors: Hirose, Fuminori
• Primary Examiner(s): FLEMING, FRITZ M
• Application Number:
  US08/600,555
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 361/166, 361/160, 307/38, 307/41, 307/141
• US Class Current: 361/160
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/261 PC controlled powerstrip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/70 with built-in switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables

Abstract

A first power plug for inserting in a wall outlet and a tapping table consisting of more than one outlet for accepting power plugs of slave units are connected by an electric cord, a switch is provided in the cord, the switch is ON/OFF controlled by a switch control means which detects through a second power plug connected with a service outlet of a master electronic equipment power voltage provided in parallel with power voltage to be supplied to the master electronic equipment; the switch control means controls whether to provide slave units connected with outlets of the tapping table with power supply voltage when the master electronic equipment is energized.

Claims

1. An electricity tapping apparatus, comprising

a first power plug for connecting with an electric outlet,

a tapping table connected with both of the terminals of said first power plug, and having more than one outlet for connection with a power plug of an electronic equipment which is a slave unit,

a switch provided between said first power plug and said tapping table, for turning ON and OFF the power supply to said tapping table,

a second power plug to be connected with a service outlet disposed on the body of an electronic equipment provided in parallel with power voltage to be supplied to said electronic equipment, being a master unit, which service outlet turns into live state when said electronic equipment, a master unit, is energized and

a switch control means for controlling said switch ON and OFF by detecting through said second power plug a power voltage in said service outlet disposed on the body of said electronic eqipment, a master unit, provided in parallel with the power voltage to be supplied to said electronic equipment, a master unit.

2. An electricity tapping apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the switch control means is a relay which works on a voltage supplied from said second power plug, and said switch is actuated by this relay.

3. An electricity tapping apparatus, comprising

a first power plug for connecting with an electric outlet,

a tapping table connected with both of the terminals of said first power plug, and having more than one outlet for connection with a power plug of an electronic equipment which is a slave unit,

a switch provided between said first power plug and said tapping table, for turning ON and OFF the power supply to said tapping table,

a second power plug having one terminal to be connected with a service outlet disposed on the body of an electronic equipment provided in parallel with power voltage to be supplied to said electronic equipment, being a master unit, which service outlet turns into live state when said electronic equipment, a master unit, is energized and

a switch control means for controlling said switch ON and OFF by detecting power voltage incurred between the one terminal of said second power plug and either one of the terminals of said first power plug, which power voltage being a voltage provided in parallel with power voltage to be supplied to said electronic equipment a master unit.

4. An electricity tapping apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

said switch control means is constituted so that one terminal of said first power plug is connected to a first terminal of a relay coil via first diode, whereas the other terminal of said first power plug is connected to the first terminal of said relay coil via second diode, the polarity of said first diode and said second diode are provided in an arrangement with which the short-circuit between the two terminals of said first power plug is avoided, and a second terminal of said relay coil is connected to said second power plug;

and said switch is driven by the relay.

5. An electricity tapping apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

said switch control means employs a voltage of said first power plug via insulated transformer as power source.

6. An electricity tapping apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the power supply for operating said switch control means is delivered from said first power plug.

7. An electricity tapping apparatus comprising

a first power plug for connecting with an electric outlet,

a tapping table connected with both of the terminals of said first power plug, and having more than one outlet for connection with a power plug of an electronic equipment which is a slave unit,

a switch provided between said first power plug and said tapping table, for turning ON and OFF the power supply to the tapping table,

a second power plug having one terminal to be connected with a service outlet disposed on the body of an electronic equipment, a master unit, which turns into live state when said electronic equipment, a master unit, is energized.

a switch control means for controlling a relay for driving said switch, a first terminal of coil of said relay is coupled with one of the terminals of said first power plug via first diode as well as with the other terminal of said first power plug via second diode, the polarities of said first diode and said second diode being provided avoiding the short-circuit between the terminals of said first power plug, while a second terminal of coil of said relay is coupled with the one terminal of said second power plug, and

a second relay which works on voltage between the terminals of said first power plug, for controlling the conduction between said first power plug and said second power plug;

wherein

said switch control means controls ON and OFF of said switch by detecting under the control of said second relay through said second power plug an electric current flowing from either one of the terminals of said first plug via said first or second diode to the coil of said first relay during the time when said service outlet disposed on the body of said electronic equipment, a master unit, is in live state.