Smart integrated socket automation system

• US 5,793,125 A
• Filed: 06/22/1993
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Min Ming Tarng
• Original Assignee: Min Ming Tarng
• Inventors: Tarng, Min Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): FLEMING, FRITZ M
• Application Number:
  US08/081,074
• Time in Patent Office: 1,876 Days
• Field of Search: 361/170, 361/179, 361/182, 361/189, 361/190, 307/117, 307/326, 307/140, 340/573, 340/554, 340/555, 348/552
• US Class Current: 307/117
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25448 Control module is pluggable into wall connector
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• 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 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/221 General power management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 Home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission

Abstract

The add-on smart socket adaptor integrates electric facilicities and/or home appliances to be an intelligent system for the home automation. The add-on smart socket adaptor has the add-on multiple different sensors to detect the complex environmental changes as the inputs of the programmed logic to make the complex decision function to generate the output to turn on and/or turn off the multiple different home appliances and electrical facilities smoothly, separately and cooperatively. The add-on smart socket also can be built-in to integrate with the home appliances and electrical facilities to have the home automation. The add-on smart socket adaptor provides the open platform and standard for the synthesis of home automation integrated system.

Claims

1. A smart socket adaptor comprising a plurality of monitoring means, program logic means, power means, signal bus means, a plurality of power plug means and socket adaptor means,

for each of said a plurality of monitor means further comprising detecting device means, signal processing circuit means and drive circuit means to detect changes of environment and send signal through said signal bus means to said program logic means;

said detecting device means detecting a change in environment to generate a detected signal, said signal processing circuit processing said detected signal and sending to said drive circuit means, said drive circuit means sending a driving signal on said signal bus means;

said program logic means comprising programmable logic means to process said driving signals coming from said a plurality of monitor means to make combinatory logic decision functions of said signals coming from said a plurality of monitor means and sending output driving signal through said signal bus means again to said power means;

for each of said a plurality of power means comprising switch means and relay means connecting said power plug means with said socket adaptor means, said output driving signal controlling said relay means to supply and interrupt power to said socket adaptor means.

2. A smart socket adaptor means according to claim 1, further comprising programmable delay means,

said signal bus means connecting with said programmable delay means and feeding signal to said programmable delay means;

said programmable delay means adding delay to said signals of said signal bus means to generate delayed signals and sending said delayed signal back to said signal bus means.

3. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 2, said programmable delay means further comprising an input switch box means and an output switch box means, said input switch box means and output switch box means connecting said program delay means with said signal bus means, said input switch box means selecting signals to input said program delay means, said output switch box means loading output signal of programmable logic means to selected signal bus means.

4. A smart socket adaptor means according to claim 1, said monitor means further comprising an input multiplex means and output multiplex means, said input multiplex and output multiplex means connecting said monitoring means with said signal bus means, said input multiplex means sending selecting signals to said monitoring means, said output multiplex means loading output signal of monitoring means to selected said signal bus means.

5. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 1, said program logic means further comprising an input switch box means and an output switch box means, said input switch box means and output switch box means connecting said program logic means with said signal bus means, said input switch box means selecting input signal to said program logic means, said output switch box means loading output signal of program logic means to selected said signal bus means.

6. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 1, said power means further comprising a tri-state switch, said tri-state switch connecting a power lead said power plug with an input lead of said relay means, as said tri-state switch being switched off, all the power supplying to said smart socket adaptor been cut off to save energy and extend life of said smart socket adaptor.

7. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 6, wherein said tri-state switch is a dimmer switch comprising a sliding slab, conducting poles, variable resistors, sliding plug and recoil springs,

a first recoil spring being installed beneath said sliding slab;

a second and a third recoil springs squeezing against with said first recoil in a sliding motion of said sliding slab to have tri-state toggling action;

said conducting poles connecting with said variable resistors;

an isolated block being inserted between said variable resistors;

said sliding plug sliding between said conducting poles, variable resistors and isolated block, said sliding plug having leaf springs mounted on said sliding plug and contacting with said conducting poles and variable resistor.

8. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 1, said relay means is a conjugate bi-function relay, said conjugate bi-state function relay comprising two power leads and one ground lead, as said output driving toggling, one of said power leads being switched on and another power lead being switched off, and vice versa.

9. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 8, wherein said conjugate bi-function relay is a dimmer toggle switch comprising a toggle bar, conducting poles, variable resistors, sliding plug and expanding spring,

said toggle bar comprising a slot pivoting at a pin, said sliding plug having a pin sliding inside said slot, said expanding spring being hooked at the end of said toggle bar;

said conducting poles connecting with said variable resistors;

said sliding plug sliding between said conducting poles and variable resistors, said sliding plug having leaf springs mounted on said sliding plug to contact with said conducting poles and variable resistor;

said expanding spring expanding to push said toggle bar and sliding plug to two toggling positions.

10. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 9, further including an isolated block,

said isolated block being connected with said variable resistor at one end, said sliding plug sliding from said conducting poles, variable resistors to said isolated block in a toggling action;

as said sliding plug contacting with said conducting poles, said toggle switch conducting current;

as said sliding plug contacting with an isolating poles, said toggle switch being turned off.

11. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 9, further including an isolated block,

said isolated block being clamped between a first variable resistor and a second variable resister, said sliding plug sliding from said first conducting pole, first variable resistor and isolated block to the second variable resistor, second conducting pole and vice versa in a toggling action;

as said sliding plug contacting with said conducting poles, said toggle switch conducting current;

as said sliding plug contacting with said conducting poles, said toggle switch being turned off.

12. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 8, wherein said conjugate bi-function relay is a dimmer relay comprising a coil, conducting poles, variable resistors and a magnetic sliding plug,

said conducting poles connecting with said variable resistors;

said magnetic sliding plug sliding between said conducting poles and variable resistors, said sliding plug having leaf springs mounted on said sliding plug and contacting with said conducting poles and variable resistor;

as electrical current in said coil changing directions, said magnetic sliding plug changing sliding directions.

13. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 1, of which said detecting device means comprising a close range motion detector, said power plug means comprising a tri-state switch and a conjugate bi-function relay, said socket adaptor means comprising a first regulated power socket and an AC power supply,

a power plug of a first electronic facility being inserted in said first regulated power socket,

said tri-state switch comprising an AC power lead, bypass lead, open circuit lead and a monitor lead, said monitor lead connecting to a power lead of said AC power, said bypass lead connecting to a lead of said first regulated power socket,

said tri-state switch being connected to a power lead said AC power supply and operating in a three-mode operation with:

(1) said bypass lead to connect the AC power supply directly to said first electronic facility via said first regulated power socket, (2) said open circuit lead to disconnect the AC power supply completely and (3) said monitor lead to connect the AC power supply to said conjugate bi-function relay, as said tri-state switch being switched off, all the power supplying to said smart socket adaptor been cut off to save energy and extend life of said smart socket adaptor,

said conjugate bi-function relay making an electrical connection between the monitor lead of said tri-state switch and said first regulated power socket with a first lead of said bi-state relay, said conjugate bi-state function relay comprising two power leads and one ground lead, as said output driving signal toggling, one of said power terminal being switched on and another power terminal being switched off, and vice versa,

said close range motion detector detects a movement inside a monitored zone and stimulates said conjugate bi-function to switch on or switch off the electrical connection between said first regulated power socket and the monitor lead of said tri-state switch.

14. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 8 further including a second socket means,

said second socket means being for a power plug of a second electronic facility to be inserted in, said second socket means share the same conjugate bi-function relay with said first regulated power socket to be a second regulated power socket means;

said conjugate bi-function relay making an electrical connection between said second regulated power socket and a monitor lead of said tri-state switch with a second lead of said conjugate bi-function relay;

said close range motion detector detecting a movement inside a monitored zone and stimulating said conjugate bi-function relay to switch an electrical connection from said first lead to said second lead and as said close range motion detector not detecting a movement inside a monitored zone and stimulating said conjugate bi-function relay to switch an electrical connection from said second lead to said first lead.

15. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 13, wherein said close range motion detector comprises a transmitter, a receiver, a range detector and a motion detector, said transmitter emitting transmitting wave outside, said receiver receiving reflected wave, said range detector detecting said reflected wave in a prescribed time period after the emitting of said transmitting wave, said motion detector detecting the doppler effect frequency shift in said reflected wave.

16. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 15, wherein said transmitting wave is an ultrasonic wave.

17. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 13, wherein said close range motion detector comprises a receiver, a range detector and a motion detector, said receiver receiving infrared wave, said range detector detecting said infrared wave in a prescribed monitoring zone, said motion detector detecting the motion in said infrared wave.

18. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 13, wherein said close range motion detector is a mat switch, said mat switch being a foam clamped between two metal plates;

under a body weight, said two metal plates contacting with each other to conduct an electrical current and said mat switch being closed, as said body weight being removed, said foam expanding to open said mat switch.

19. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 13, further including a remote control means,

said remote control means receiving a remote control signal to switch said conjugate bi-function relay to connect or disconnect an electrical connection between said first regulated power socket and said tri-state switch.

20. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 1 of which said monitor means comprising a close range motion detector, said power plug means comprising a conjugate bi-function relay and a tri-state switch, said socket adaptor means comprising a first regulated power socket and an AC power supply to supply power to a television,

said tri-state switch comprising AC power lead, bypass lead, open circuit lead and a monitor lead, said monitor lead connecting to a power lead of said AC power, said bypass lead connecting to a lead of said first regulated power socket,

said tri-state switch being connected to said power lead said AC power supply and operating in a three-mode operation with:

(1) said bypass lead to connect the AC power supply directly to said first electronic facility via said first regulated power socket, (2) said open circuit lead to disconnect the AC power supply completely and (3) said monitor lead to connect the AC power supply to said bi-function relay, as said tri-state switch being switched off, all the power supplying to said smart socket adaptor been cut off to save energy and extend life of said smart socket adaptor,

said television having a power plug being inserted in said first regulated power socket, said conjugate bi-function relay making a first electrical connection between said first regulated power socket and said tri-state switch with a first lead of said relay;

said conjugate bi-state function relay comprising two power leads and one ground lead, as said output driving toggling, one of said power terminal being switched on and another power terminal being switched off, and vice versa;

said closed range motion detector detecting a movement inside a monitored zone and stimulating said conjugate bi-function relay to switch on or switch off the electrical connection between said AC power power supply and said television.

21. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 20, further includes a second regulated power socket,

said second regulated power socket being just a standard socket sharing the same conjugate bi-function realy with said first regulated power socket, said second regulated power socket being for a power plug of an electronic facility to be inserted in,

said bi-function relay making a second electrical connection between said second regulated power socket and said tri-state switch with a second lead of said conjugate bi-function relay;

said close range motion detector detecting a movement inside a monitored zone and stimulating said conjugate bi-function relay to switch an electrical connection from said first regulated power socket to said second regulated power socket and vice versa.

22. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 21, wherein said electronic facility is an endless tape cassette comprising a tape, hubs and poles, said tape having an endless loop wrapped on hubs and poles.

23. A smart socket adaptor comprising a plurality of monitoring means, program logic means, power means, signal bus means, a plurality of power plug means and socket adaptor means,

for each of said a plurality of monitor means further comprising detecting device means, signal processing circuit means and drive circuit means to detect changes of environment and send signal through said signal bus means to said program logic means;

said detecting device means detecting a change in environment to generate a detected signal, said signal processing circuit processing said detected signal and sending to said drive circuit means, said drive circuit means sending a driving signal on said signal bus means;

said program logic means comprising programmable logic means to process said driving signals coming from said a plurality of monitor means to make the combinatory logic decisions of said signals coming from said a plurality of monitor means and sending output driving signal through said signal bus means again to said power means;

for each of said a plurality of power means comprising switch means and relay means connecting said power plug means with said socket adaptor means, said output driving signal controlling said relay means to supply and interrupt power to said socket adaptor means;

said power means further comprising a tri-state switch, said tri-state switch connecting a power lead of said power plug with an input lead of said relay means, as said tri-state switch being switched off, all the power supplying to said smart socket adaptor been cut off to save energy and extend life of said smart socket adaptor;

said tri-state switch being a dimmer switch comprising a sliding slab, conducting poles, variable resistors, sliding plug and recoil springs,

a first recoil spring being installed beneath said sliding slab;

a second and a third recoil springs squeezing against with said first recoil in a sliding motion of said sliding slab to have tri-state toggling action;

said conducting poles connecting with said variable resistors;

an isolated block being inserted between said variable resistors;

said sliding plug sliding between said conducting poles, variable resistors and isolated block, said sliding plug having leaf springs mounted on said sliding plug and contacting with said conducting poles and variable resistor.

24. A smart socket adaptor comprising a plurality of monitoring means, program logic means, power means, signal bus means, a plurality of power plug means and socket adaptor means,

for each of said a plurality of monitor means further comprising detecting device means, signal processing circuit means and drive circuit means to detect changes of environment and send signal through said signal bus means to said program logic means;

said detecting device means detecting a change in environment to generate a detected signal, said signal processing circuit processing said detected signal and sending to said drive circuit means, said drive circuit means sending a driving signal on said signal bus means;

said program logic means comprising programmable logic means to process said driving signals coming from said a plurality of monitor means to make the combinatory logic decisions of said signals coming from said a plurality of monitor means and sending output driving signal through said signal bus means to said power means;

for each of said a plurality of power means comprising switch means and relay means connecting said power plug means with said socket adaptor means, said output driving signal controlling said relay means to supply and interrupt power to said socket adaptor means;

said relay means being a conjugate bi-function relay, said conjugate bi-function relay comprising two power terminals and one ground terminal, as said output driving toggling, one of said power terminal being switched on and another power terminal being switched off, and vice versa;

said conjugate bi-function relay being a dimmer relay comprising a coil, conducting poles, variable resistors and a magnetic sliding plug,

said conducting poles connecting with said variable resistors;

said magnetic sliding plug sliding between said conducting poles and variable resistors, said sliding plug having leaf springs mounted on said sliding plug and contacting with said conducting poles and variable resistor;

as electrical current in said coil changing directions, said magnetic sliding plug changing sliding directions.

25. A smart socket adaptor comprises a plurality of monitoring means, program logic means, power means, signal bus means, a plurality of power plug means and socket adaptor means,

for each of said a plurality of monitor means comprising detecting device means, signal processing circuit means and drive circuit means to detect changes of environment and send signal through said signal bus means to said program logic means;

said detecting device means detecting a change in environment to generate a detected signal, said signal processing circuit processing said detected signal and sending to said drive circuit means, said drive circuit means sending a driving signal on said signal bus means;

said program logic means comprising programmable logic means to process said driving signals coming from said a plurality of monitor means to make the combinatory logic decisions of said signals coming from said a plurality of monitor means and sending output driving signal through said signal bus means to said power means;

for each of said a plurality of power means comprising switch means and relay means connecting said power plug means with said socket adaptor means, said output driving signal controlling said relay means to supply and interrupt power to said socket adaptor means;

said relay means being a conjugate bi-function relay, said conjugate bi-function relay comprising two power terminals and one ground terminal, as said output driving toggling, one of said power terminal being switched on and another power terminal being switched off, and vice versa;

said conjugate bi-function relay being a dimmer toggle switch comprising a toggle bar, conducting poles, variable resistors, sliding plug and expanding spring,

said toggle bar comprising a slot pivoting at a pin, said sliding plug having a pin sliding inside said slot, said expanding spring being hooked at the end of said toggle bar;

said conducting poles connecting with said variable resistors;

said sliding plug sliding between said conducting poles and variable resistors, said sliding plug having leaf springs mounted on said sliding plug to contact with said conducting poles and variable resistor;

said expanding spring expanding to push said toggle bar and sliding plug to two toggling positions.

26. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 25, further includes an isolated block,

said isolated block being connected with said variable resistor at one end, said sliding plug sliding from said conducting poles, variable resistors to said isolated block in a toggling action;

as said sliding plug contacting with said conducting poles, said toggle switch conducting current;

as said sliding plug contacting with an isolating poles, said toggle switch being turned off.

27. A smart socket adaptor according to claim 25, further includes an isolated block,

said isolated block being clamped between a first variable resistor and a second variable resister, said sliding plug sliding from said first conducting pole, first variable resistor and isolated block to the second variable resistor, second conducting pole and vice versa in a toggling action;

as said sliding plug contacting with said conducting poles, said toggle switch conducting current;

as said sliding plug contacting with said conducting poles, said toggle switch being turned off.