Power-controllable outlet receptacle

• US 7,843,081 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2006
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seong-Kyu Lim
• Original Assignee: Seong-Kyu Lim
• Inventors: Lim, Seong-Kyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman; Jared J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parries; Dru M
• Application Number:
  US12/095,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20080309164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,464 Days
• Field of Search: 307/11, 307/39
• US Class Current: 307/39
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6641 with diode with LED H01R13/7175
• 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: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus

Abstract

A multi-type power strip includes a main body having connecting sockets with surfaces indicated by priority of supplying electric power to the connecting sockets, operation lamps, and an electric circuit installed in the main body. The circuit interfaces with a remote controller through RF, and checks statuses of loads connected to the main body to switch plural switches based on the priority when the load exceeds a threshold. An intermediate type power strip includes intermediate socket main bodies inserted into sockets and respectively having at least one connecting socket, and a remote controller to individually control the intermediate socket main bodies in remote through RF communication. The surfaces of the intermediate socket main bodies are distinguished by indicators. When switch status of the intermediate socket main bodies is requested by the remote controller, the status is displayed by lamps of a socket controlling button of the remote controller.

Claims

1. A multi-type power strip comprising:

a first main body including a plurality of connecting sockets having surfaces indicated by priority of supplying electric power to the respective connecting sockets, first operation lamps, and an electric circuit installed in the first main body of the multi-type power strip;

the electric circuit comprising;

a plurality of switches corresponding to the plural connecting sockets to selectively form a commercial power supplying path by a predetermined switch control;

a current detector to detect electric current flowing through a power cable of the multi-type power strip and to output a load status;

a radio frequency transmitting and receiving unit to transmit and receive a radio frequency signal to and from a remote controller; and

a controller to control the switches to be switched based on a switch remote controlling signal of the remote controller through the radio frequency transmitting and receiving unit, and to control the plural switches to be switched based on a predetermined priority of supplying electric power when the output of the load status from the current detector exceeds a predetermined overload threshold;

wherein the remote controller includes;

a second main body having a plurality of buttons whose surfaces are indicated by priority of supplying electric power to the electric circuit; and

second operation lamps respectively installed in the lower sides of the buttons.

2. The multi-type power strip according to claim 1,

wherein the remote controller transmits the corresponding switch remote controlling signal to the first main body via a wireless line when a user presses a certain button among the plural buttons and the second operation lamps are controlled to be selectively turned on based on the radio frequency signal from the first main body.

3. The multi-type power strip according to claim 1, wherein the remote controller comprises:

a mode switch positioned on a keypad to select one of a power strip mode and a television mode; and

an infrared ray transmitter to transmit an infrared signal to a television under the control of a controlling unit of the remote controller.

4. The multi-type power strip according to claim 2, wherein the remote controller comprises:

a mode switch positioned on a keypad to select one of a power strip mode and a television mode; and

an infrared ray transmitter to transmit an infrared signal to a television under the control of a controlling unit of the remote controller.

5. The multi-type power strip according to claim 1, wherein the remote controller further comprises lamp button to request to check statuses of the respective connecting sockets of the first main body.

6. The multi-type power strip according to claim 3, wherein the remote controller further comprises an adjustment button to adjust channels and volume at the television mode.

7. The multi-type power strip according to claim 1, further comprising

a memory for storing data related to the priority of supplying the electric power and data related to the predetermined overload threshold.

8. An intermediate type power strip comprising:

a plurality of intermediate socket main bodies inserted into sockets and respectively including at least one connecting socket;

a remote controller to individually control the plural intermediate socket main bodies in remote through a radio frequency communication;

wherein respective surfaces of the intermediate socket main bodies are distinguished by indicators;

wherein the remote controller comprises;

socket controlling buttons respectively corresponding to the plural intermediate socket main bodies;

light emitting lamps respectively corresponding to the socket controlling buttons; and

an electric circuit;

wherein the electric circuit comprises;

a memory to store allocation index codes with respect to the respective intermediate socket main bodies;

a keypad including a lamp button to check statuses of the socket controlling buttons and respective switches installed in the respective intermediate socket main bodies to generate key data corresponding to a button that is pressed;

a radio frequency transmitting and receiving unit to perform a radio frequency communication with the intermediate socket main bodies; and

a remote controller controlling unit to request to check the status of the switches to the intermediate socket main bodies through the radio frequency transmitting and receiving unit when the key data corresponding to the lamp button is inputted from the keypad, to control the light emitting lamps to be turned on or off according to a response for the request to check the statuses of the switches when the response for the request to check the statuses of the switches is received from the intermediate socket main bodies, and to transmit a switch remote controlling signal to a corresponding intermediate socket main body among the intermediate socket main bodies through the radio frequency transmitting and receiving unit via a wireless line when the key data corresponding to the socket controlling button is inputted.

9. The intermediate type power strip according to claim 8, wherein each of the intermediate socket main bodies comprises an operation lamp.

10. The intermediate type power strip according to claim 8, wherein the remote controller comprises:

a mode switch positioned on the keypad to select one of a power strip mode and a television mode; and

an infrared ray transmitter to transmit an infrared signal to a television under the control of the remote controller controlling unit.

11. The intermediate type power strip according to claim 9, wherein the remote controller comprises:

a mode switch positioned on the keypad to select one of a power strip mode and a television mode; and

an infrared ray transmitter to transmit an infrared signal to a television under the control of the remote controller controlling unit.