Power outlet device for charger and method of transmitting power thereof

• US 7,332,834 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Powertech Industrial Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Powertech Industrial Company Limited
• Inventors: Lee, Yu-Lung
• Primary Examiner(s): Sherry; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAVALLARI, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US11/518,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20080007124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 307/131
• US Class Current: 307/131
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 83/06 operated by current falling below a predetermined value
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence

Abstract

A power outlet device for a charger comprises an input port, a DC power supply unit, a control unit, a current sensor, a switch, and an output port. The input port of the power outlet device for a charger is used to receive an AC power, and the current sensor and the switch are controlled by the control unit to output the AC power from the output port. Wherein the control unit monitors and controls the current value according to the current sensor and the switch to determine transmission of the AC power so as to effectively manage power and save energy.

Claims

1. A power outlet device for a charger, comprising:

an input port for receiving an AC power;

a DC power supply unit connected with the input port for converting the AC power into a DC power;

a current sensor for detecting magnitude of current of the AC power;

a switch for controlling transmission of the AC power;

a control unit connected to the DC power supply unit for receiving the DC power for controlling the current sensor and the switch, wherein the control unit has a timing unit disposed therein and the switch is periodically activated by the control unit to turn on and turn off in a repeated sequence according to a signal provided by the timing unit; and

an output port connected with the switch for outputting the AC power.

2. The power outlet device for a charger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input port is a plug element.

3. The power outlet device for a charger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output port is a socket element.

4. The power outlet device for a charger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output port is an output port for connecting a charging device.

5. A method of transmitting power of a power outlet device, comprising the steps of:

connecting the power outlet device to a source of AC power;

turning on a switch to thereby provide electrical power to an outlet port for a predetermined period of time to detect and record a first current value;

switching on and off the switch in a repeated sequence for detecting a second current value;

comparing the first current value and the second current value;

maintaining the switch in an ON status and continuing to detect the second current value if the second current value is greater than the first current value; and

turning off the switch to cut off the AC power to the outlet port if the second current value is close to the first current value.

6. The method of transmitting power of a power outlet device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the AC power is received by an input port having a plug element.

7. The method of transmitting power of a power outlet device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the switch is controlled by a control unit.

8. The method of transmitting power of a power outlet device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first current value and the second current value are measured by a current sensor.

9. The method of transmitting power of a power outlet device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising outputting the AC power by an output port having at least one electrical receptacle.

10. The method of transmitting power of a power outlet device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising outputting the AC power by an output port for connecting to a charger.

11. The method of transmitting power of a power outlet device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first current value is a minimum value of the detected current.