Intelligent electric socket

• US 5,818,710 A
• Filed: 06/02/1997
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SGS-Thomson Microelectronics (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: SGS Thomson Microelectronics SA (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: LeVan Suu, Maurice
• Primary Examiner(s): Elmore, Reba I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rao, Sheela S.
• Application Number:
  US08/867,281
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 364/140, 364/141, 364/483, 364/492, 375/7-9, 375/37-39, 307/21-22, 361/356, 361/813, 340/656
• US Class Current: 700/12
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/542 Contacts shunted by static switch means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/70 with built-in switch
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00036 the elements or equipment being or involving switches, relays or circuit breakers circuits for indication of single switches H01H9/167
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0005 the elements or equipment being or involving power plugs or sockets
• 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 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission

Abstract

An intelligent electric socket is controlled by a command signal and includes a semiconductor switch. The socket also includes an electromechanical switch and a signal processor, the electromechanical switch being connected in parallel across the semiconductor switch. The signal processor receives the command signal and controls operation of semiconductor switch and the electromechanical switch.

Claims

1. An intelligent electric socket controlled by a command signal transferred with a power signal on a power line of a power circuit, wherein the power circuit includes first and second terminals, carrying alternating current voltage, the socket comprising:

a semiconductor switch including a triac;

an electromechanical switch connected in parallel with the semiconductor switch and including a mercury contact relay;

a signal processor, coupled to the semiconductor switch and the electromechanical switch, controlling operation of the semiconductor switch and the electromechanical switch in response to the command signal, wherein the signal processor is controlled by an external component, wherein the power line of the power circuit is coupled to the signal processor and provides the power signal to the signal processor, wherein the signal processor closes the semiconductor switch before the electromechanical switch and opens the electromechanical switch before the semiconductor switch, and wherein the signal processor analyzes a waveform of the alternating current voltage and closes and opens the electromechanical switch when the alternating current voltage is at a predetermined value which is less than one-fourth of a peak amplitude of the alternating current voltage;

a modem, coupled to the signal processor and the power line of the power circuit, the modem separating the command signal from the power signal on the power line and transferring the command signal from the power line of the power circuit to the signal processor; and

a low-voltage regulator, coupled between the power line of the power circuit and the signal processor, receiving the power signal from the power line of the power circuit and providing the power to the signal processor.

2. An intelligent electric socket circuit comprising:

a semiconductor switch coupled to a power line of power means for providing a control signal and a power signal on the power line, wherein the semiconductor switch includes a triac;

an electromechanical switch coupled to the semiconductor switch and the power means, wherein the electromechanical switch includes a mercury contact relay;

control means, coupled to the semiconductor switch and the electromechanical switch, for controlling operation of the electromechanical switch and the semiconductor switch, wherein the control means is controlled by an external component, wherein the control means controls operation of the electromechanical switch and the semiconductor switch such that the semiconductor switch closes before the electromechanical switch and the electromechanical switch opens before the semiconductor switch, wherein the power line of the power means is coupled to the control means to supply the power signal to the control means, the power line of the power means carrying an alternating current voltage, and wherein the control means includes means for analyzing a waveform of the alternating current voltage and closing and opening the electromechanical switch when the alternating current voltage is at a predetermined value which is less than one-fourth of a peak amplitude of the alternating current voltage;

modem means, coupled to the power line of the power means, for separating the control signal from the power signal on the power line, and for transferring the control signal to the control means to control operation of the electromechanical switch and the semiconductor switch; and

regulator means, coupled between the control means and the power line of the power means, for regulating voltage received from the power line of the power means.

3. A method for controlling operation of an intelligent electric socket comprising the steps of:

receiving a command signal and a power signal on a power supply line;

separating the command signal and the power signal;

analyzing a waveform of the power signal; and

in response to the command signal, controlling operation of a semiconductor switch and an electromechanical switch, coupled to one another, such that the semiconductor switch closes before the electromechanical switch to provide the power signal to a load in the socket, and the electromechanical switch opens before the semiconductor switch and such that the electromechanical switch closes and opens when the power signal has a value which is less than one-fourth of a peak amplitude of the power signal.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the power signal is an alternating current voltage waveform, and the method further includes the step of:

analyzing the alternating current voltage waveform on the power supply line and opening or closing the electromechanical switch when the alternating current voltage waveform is at a predetermined value.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of controlling the operation of the semiconductor switch and the electromechanical switch includes the step of:

closing the semiconductor switch, and closing the electromechanical switch after closing the semiconductor switch to provide the power signal to a load in the socket.

6. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of controlling the operation of the semiconductor switch and the electromechanical switch includes the step of:

opening the electromechanical switch, and opening the semiconductor switch after opening the electromechanical switch to isolate a load in the socket from the power signal.

7. A system for selectively supplying power to an electric socket, the system comprising:

a semiconductor switch for connecting the electric socket to a power line of a power circuit;

an electromechanical switch connected in parallel with the semiconductor switch to connect the electric socket to the power line of the power circuit;

a signal processor, coupled to the power line, the semiconductor switch and the electromechanical switch, controlling operation of the semiconductor switch and the electromechanical switch, wherein the signal processor closes and opens the electromechanical switch when a value of a voltage on the power line is less than one-fourth of a peak amplitude of the voltage on the power line;

a first modem, coupled to the signal processor and the power line of the power circuit, the first modem receiving a command signal and a power signal from the power line of the power circuit, separating the command signal from the power signal, and transferring the command signal from the power line of the power circuit to the signal processor; and

a central unit coupled to said power line of the power circuit to provide the command signal to the power line of the power circuit.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the central unit includes a second modem for combining the command signal with the power signal to transmit the command signal to the power line of the power circuit.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the central unit is disposed along the power circuit at a location displaced from the signal processor.

10. A system for providing a power signal from a power line to a load, the system comprising:

a modem, coupled to the power line, that receives the power signal and a command signal through the power line, separates the command signal from the power signal, and outputs the command signal;

a processing circuit, coupled to the modem and the power line, that outputs a switching signal in response to the command signal and a value of a voltage on the power line; and

a switching circuit, coupled to each of the processing circuit, the load and the power line, that provides the power signal from the power line to the load in response to the switching signal so that the power signal is provided to the load when a voltage on the power line is less than one-fourth of a peak amplitude voltage.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the modem includes:

an interface circuit that separates the command signal from the power signal, and prevents transmission of parasitic interference from the power line to the processing circuit.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the interface circuit includes a transformer having a primary winding coupled to the power line, and a secondary winding, and wherein the modem further includes an amplifier and processor circuit interconnected between the secondary winding and the processing circuit.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the amplifier and processor circuit is adapted to transfer signals from the transformer to the processing circuit, and from the processing circuit to the transformer.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a control unit, coupled to the power line, that generates the command signal, and transfers the command signal through the power line concurrently with the power signal to the modem.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein switching circuit includes:

a first switch and a second switch, each switch having a control input coupled to the processing circuit, a first terminal coupled to the power line and a second terminal coupled to the load.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first switch is a semiconductor switch, wherein the second switch is an electromechanical switch, and wherein the processing circuit is adapted to close the semiconductor switch before closing the electromechanical switch, and open the electromechanical switch before opening the semiconductor switch.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the semiconductor switch includes a triac, and the electromechanical switch includes a mercury contact relay.