Extension cord capable of providing estimated power costs incurred by an electrical appliance plugged thereinto
First Claim
1. A method for providing estimated power costs incurred by an electrical appliance to be implemented using an extension cord, the extension cord including a receptacle that is coupled to a power cord of the electrical appliance, and an electric cord that couples the receptacle to a power source, said method comprising:
- enabling operation of the extension cord so as to measure electric current flowing through the receptacle, so as to compute an amount of electricity consumed by the electrical appliance within a predetermined period of time based on the electric current measured by the extension cord, so as to compute the estimated power costs incurred by the electrical appliance based on the amount of electricity computed by the extension cord, and so as to inform the costs computed by the extension cord to a user;
receiving a control signal adapted to control operation of the extension cord; and
allowing the user to enable or disable the extension cord from receiving the control signal.
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Abstract
A method for providing estimated power costs incurred by an electrical appliance, which is plugged into a receptacle of an extension cord, includes enabling operation of the extension cord so as to measure electric current flowing through a receptacle, so as to compute an amount of electricity consumed by the electrical appliance within a predetermined period of time based on the electric current measured by the extension cord, so as to compute the estimated power costs incurred by the electrical appliance based on the amount of electricity computed by the extension cord, and so as to inform the costs computed by the extension cord to a user. An extension cord that performs the method is also disclosed.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for providing estimated power costs incurred by an electrical appliance to be implemented using an extension cord, the extension cord including a receptacle that is coupled to a power cord of the electrical appliance, and an electric cord that couples the receptacle to a power source, said method comprising:
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enabling operation of the extension cord so as to measure electric current flowing through the receptacle, so as to compute an amount of electricity consumed by the electrical appliance within a predetermined period of time based on the electric current measured by the extension cord, so as to compute the estimated power costs incurred by the electrical appliance based on the amount of electricity computed by the extension cord, and so as to inform the costs computed by the extension cord to a user; receiving a control signal adapted to control operation of the extension cord; and allowing the user to enable or disable the extension cord from receiving the control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An extension cord, comprising:
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a receptacle adapted to be coupled to a power cord of an electrical appliance; an electric cord adapted for coupling said receptacle to a power source; an ammeter coupled to said receptacle, and operable so as to measure electric current flowing through said receptacle; a processing unit coupled to said ammeter; a cost-computing module coupled to and controlled by said processing unit to compute an amount of electricity consumed by the electrical appliance within a predetermined period of time based on the electric current measured by said ammeter, and to compute estimated power costs incurred by the electrical appliance based on the amount of electricity computed thereby; an informing module coupled to and controlled by said processing unit to inform the costs to a user; a receiver module coupled to said processing unit, and adapted to receive control signals adapted to control operation of said processing unit; and a switch module coupled to said receiver module adapted to enable and disable said receiver module to receive and from receiving the control signals. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification