Terminal block with several receptacles for AC and DC

• US 6,811,444 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2002
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Geyer Import-Export Gesellschaft M.B.H.
• Original Assignee: Geyer Import-Export Gesellschaft M.B.H.
• Inventors: Geyer, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US10/268,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20030073342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 439/650, 439/653, 439/214, 439/652, 307/38, 307/141, 363/146
• US Class Current: 439/650
• 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 13/66 Structural association with built-in electrical component coupling devices having concentrically or coaxially-arranged contacts H01R24/38
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/70 with built-in switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/00 Coupling parts adapted for simultaneous co-operation with two or more identical counterparts, e.g. for distributing energy to two or more circuits supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/88
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors

Abstract

A terminal block in the form of a terminal strip with several connecting sites has first connecting sites for 220/230 volts and second connecting sites for low DC voltage (6 to 15 volts), and the connecting sites can be supplied with voltage individually or in groups, independently of one another. The terminal block is controlled using an integrated control panel and/or using a processor 36 joined to switches (11, 15), the processor being controlled via a USB terminal 20 through cable connection to a computer. The control and display panels (4, 6) may be removed when the computer and processor are used for switch control.

Claims

1. A terminal block comprising:

a plurality of first receptacles;

a plurality of second receptacles receiving a current flow different from said plural first receptacles;

a plurality of switches for supplying said first and second receptacles with voltage individually and in groups;

a control panel having a plurality of keys that correspond to a respective one of said first and second receptacles for individually controlling current flow to each of said first and second receptacles;

a single display panel indicating which of the plural first and second receptacles are receiving said current flow;

a USB terminal via which the terminal block may be connected to a computer using a USB cable; and

a processor for converting a signal for the USB terminal and for controlling current flow to said first and second receptacles,

wherein at least one of said plural switches is a main switch.

2. The terminal block as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plural first receptacles are supplied with alternating current and the plural second receptacles are supplied with direct current.

3. The terminal block as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plural second receptacles are supplied with voltage by a power supply unit located in the terminal block.

4. The terminal block as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a plurality of voltage selection switches, each said plural second receptacles being assigned a respective one of said plural voltage selection switches.

5. The terminal block as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said plural voltage selection switches are continuously adjustable between 6, 9, 12 and 15 volts.

6. The terminal block as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes connected to a respective one of said plural first and second receptacles.

7. The terminal block as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one light source within a housing of said terminal, wherein at least part of the housing consists of transparent/translucent material.

8. The terminal block as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said plural first receptacles is a master and at least another one of said plural first receptacles is a slave.

9. The terminal block as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display panel is a liquid crystal display.

10. A terminal block comprising:

a plurality of receptacles;

a plurality of switches for supplying said receptacles with voltage individually and in groups;

a USB terminal via which the terminal block may be connected to a computer using a USB cable;

a processor for converting a signal for the USB terminal and for controlling current flow to said receptacles; and

a removable control panel having a plurality of keys that correspond to said receptacles for individually controlling current flow to each of said receptacles,

wherein at least one of said plural switches is a main switch, and

wherein said processor is at least initially programmable via the USB cable using a personal computer.

11. The terminal block according to claim 10, wherein said plural receptacles comprise:

a plurality of first receptacles; and

a plurality of second receptacles receiving a current flow different from said plural first receptacles.

12. The terminal block as claimed in claim 11, wherein said plural switches supply said first and second receptacles with voltage individually and in groups.

13. The terminal block as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a single display panel indicating which of the plural first and second receptacles are receiving said current flow.

14. The terminal block as claimed in claim 10, wherein said plural switches supply said plural receptacles with voltage by one of direct switching such that said plural receptacles are connected to a computer, clock timed switching such that switching is controlled by a clock timer having programmed times, and master/slave switching such that switching is controlled by a master/slave configuration whereby the slaves are dependent on power consumption of the master.

15. The terminal block as claimed in claim 10, wherein said plural switches supply said plural receptacles with voltage wherein at least one of said plural receptacles is a master and at least another one of said plural receptacles is a slave.