Load condition controlled wall plate outlet system

• US 7,800,252 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: iGo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: iGo, Inc.
• Inventors: DuBose, Richard G., Thornton, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US12/180,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20090322159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 307 31- 41, 307/126, 340/500, 340/540, 340/657, 340/3.1, 174/66, 174/67
• US Class Current: 307/126
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, a method and circuit for reducing power consumption of a wall plate system during idle conditions is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a wall plate system is configured for reducing power during idle mode by disengaging at least one outlet from a power input. A wall plate system may include one or more outlets and one or more wall plate circuits, with power input connected to the outlets through the wall plate circuit(s). The wall plate circuit may include a current measuring system, a control circuit, and a switch. The current measuring system provides, through the switch, an output power signal that is proportional to the load at the outlet. If behavior of the current measuring system indicates that an outlet is drawing substantially no power from the power input, the switch disengages the power input from the outlet.

Claims

1. A wall plate system configured to reduce power during idle operation of an electronic device, said wall plate system configured to be within or plugged into a wall plate, said wall plate system comprising:

an alternating current (AC) line input;

at least one outlet of said wall plate system configured to transmit power to the electronic device; and

a wall plate circuit configured to receive power from said AC line input and transmit power to said at least one outlet, and said wall plate circuit configured to disengage transmitting power to said at least one outlet in response to said at least one outlet drawing substantially no power;

wherein said wall plate system is configured to be rigidly mounted to a wall.

2. The wall plate system of claim 1, wherein said wall plate circuit comprises:

a current measuring system configured to monitor current from said AC line input, wherein said current measuring system provides an output power signal that is proportional to a load at said at least one outlet;

a switch in communication with said current measuring system and said at least one outlet; and

a control circuit configured to receive said output power signal and control the opening and the closing of said switch to disengage said at least one outlet from power.

3. The wall plate system of claim 1, further comprising a green mode switch configured to select an operating mode of said at least one outlet, wherein said operating mode is at least one of a normal mode and a green mode.

4. The wall plate system of claim 1, further comprising at least one LED indicator configured to indicate if said electronic device connected to said at least one outlet is active, and wherein said at least one LED indicator is further configured to flash if said wall plate circuit is testing said at least one outlet.

5. The wall plate system of claim 1, further comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD) configured to display data, wherein said data is at least one of load power provided to said at least one outlet, power saved by said at least one outlet, power saved by said wall plate system, and power consumed by said wall plate system.

6. The wall plate system of claim 2, further comprising a reconnection device configured to override said control circuit and re-engage said switch to a closed state, and wherein said reconnection device is further configured to disengage said switch to an open state.

7. The wall plate system of claim 6, wherein said reconnection device is configured to override a single control circuit and re-engage a single switch to a closed state, and wherein said reconnection device is further configured to disengage said single switch to an open state.

8. The wall plate system of claim 1, wherein the substantially no power is approximately 0-1% of a typical maximum output load of said electronic device at said at least one outlet.

9. The wall plate system of claim 1, wherein said wall plate circuit is engaged behind the face of said at least one outlet.

10. The wall plate system of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional outlet and wherein said wall plate circuit is engaged to the face of said at least outlet.

11. A wall plate system configured to efficiently provide power to an electronic device, said wall plate system configured to be rigidly mounted within a wall and comprising:

at least one outlet configured to provide power to said electronic device;

a switch having at least an open state and a closed state, wherein said switch is in communication with said at least one outlet and an alternating current (AC) line input;

a current measuring system configured to monitor current drawn by said at least one outlet; and

a control circuit configured to control the state of said switch;

wherein said control circuit sets said switch to the open state if the current drawn by said at least one outlet is below a threshold level, such that said at least one outlet is effectively disengaged from said AC line input.

12. The wall plate system of claim 11, wherein said control circuit tests a load condition at said at least one outlet by setting said switch to the closed state and determining if the current drawn by said at least one outlet is below the threshold level.

13. The wall plate system of claim 11, wherein said control circuit controls said at least one outlet individually.

14. The wall plate system of claim 11, further comprising:

a current sensor and a logic control unit in said control circuit; and

a photocell configured to measure a level of ambient light surrounding said wall plate system, wherein said logic control unit is configured to disengage said at least one outlet based upon the level of ambient light.

15. The wall plate system of claim 11, wherein said threshold level is a learned level determined by long term monitoring of a load condition at said at least one outlet.

16. The wall plate system of claim 11, wherein said threshold level is a percentage of a determined approximate low power level of said electronic device, and wherein said percentage of said determined approximate low power level is at least one range of approximately 100-105%, approximately 100-110%, and approximately 110-120%.

17. The wall plate system of claim 11, wherein said at least one outlet comprises a first outlet with a first threshold level and a second outlet with a second threshold level, wherein said first threshold level is different from said second threshold level.

18. A method of facilitating lower power consumption from a wall plate outlet, the method comprising:

providing power to an electronic device coupled to said wall plate outlet;

monitoring, with a current measuring system, a load condition at said wall plate outlet to generate a measured load condition;

transmitting said measured load condition to a control circuit;

controlling, with said control circuit, the state of a switch; and

setting said switch to an open state if the load condition is below a threshold level and effectively disengaging said wall plate outlet from an alternating current (AC) line input;

wherein said current measuring system and said control circuit are rigidly engaged to said wall plate outlet.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

overriding said control circuit using a reconnection device to reengage said switch to a closed state.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining said threshold level based upon the monitoring of the load condition at said wall plate outlet; and

electrically isolating said control circuit from said AC line input using a power disconnect.