Apparatus for controlling power distribution to devices

• US 6,759,763 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BITS Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: BITS Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Barton, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MATTHEW VAN
• Application Number:
  US10/143,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20030209944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 307/38, 307/39, 307/41, 307/113, 307/115, 307/116, 307/125, 307/126, 307/130, 307/131, 307/154, 307/155
• US Class Current: 307/39
• 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 13/7038 making use of a remote controlled switch, e.g. relais, solid state switch activated by the engagement of the coupling parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/003 the coupling part being secured only to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling a power distribution to devices has a power inlet to be connected to a power source, a primary power outlet to be connected to a primary device, at least one secondary power outlet to be connected to at least one secondary device, a sensing unit for sensing when a current level falls below a threshold in response to the primary device being turned off and when the current level raises above a threshold in response to the primary device being turned on, an executing unit for interrupting a power supply to the at least one secondary power outlet when the sensing unit senses the currents level below the threshold and supplying power to the at least one secondary power outlet when the sensing unit senses the current level above the threshold correspondingly, and a unit for setting the threshold for interrupting a power supply lower than the threshold for supplying power to the at least one secondary outlet.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a power distribution to devices, comprising a power inlet to be connected to a power source;

a primary power outlet to be connected to a primary device;

at least one secondary power outlet to be connected to at least one secondary device;

sensing means for sensing when a current level falls below a threshold in response to the primary device being turned off and when the current level raises above a threshold in response to the primary device being turned on;

executing means operatively connected with said sensing means and operative for interrupting a power supply to said at least one secondary power outlet when said sensing means senses the currents level below the threshold and supplying power to said at least one secondary power outlet when said sensing means senses the current level above the threshold correspondingly; and

means for setting the threshold for interrupting a power supply to said at least one secondary power outlet in response to the primary device being turned off lower than the threshold for supplying power to said at least one secondary outlet in response to the primary device being turned on.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said threshold setting means is formed as current hysteresis means.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said current hysteresis means is connected to said sensing means and operative for providing from said sensing means different voltages to said executing means depending on whether the primary device is turned off or turned on.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said current hysteresis means is connected to said executing means and operative for varying the threshold of said executing means depending on whether the primary device is turned on or turned off.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said current hysteresis means is connected to control means of said executing means and operative for varying an output of said sensing means depending on whether the primary device is turned on or turned off.