AC-powered in-wall computing device with power-line networking capabilities

• US 8,006,105 B1
• Filed: 09/08/2006
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AmZetta Technologies, LLC (American Megatrends International, LLC)
• Original Assignee: American Megatrends Incorporated
• Inventors: Sivertsen, Clas Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): KINSEY, BRANDON MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/517,975
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 345/173, 340/686.6, 340/686.1, 174/50, 174/520, 174/53, 174/58, 361/600, 361/679.01, 361/679.02, 220/3.2, 220/3.5, 220/4.02, 700/56
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

Apparatus and systems provide processing capabilities and power-line networking capabilities. An in-wall computing device has a power connector for receiving an Alternating Current (AC) signal from a power source and a housing that is sized for installation into an electrical wall box. The device may have internal data injection circuitry for injecting data into the AC signal or may have internal data receiving circuitry for extracting data from the AC signal. A system includes at least two in-wall computing devices, each having a power connector for receiving an AC signal from a power source. A first device has a user input interface and internal data injection circuitry for transmitting user input data to a second device over the AC signal. The second device has internal data receiving circuitry for extracting the user input data and controlling peripherals attached to peripheral ports of the device according to the data.

Claims

1. An in-wall computing device for providing processing capabilities and power-line networking capabilities, comprising:

a Central Processing Unit (CPU);

a power connector operative to receive an Alternating Current (AC) signal from a power source on an electrical circuit;

internal data injection circuitry operative to receive outgoing data from the CPU and to inject the outgoing data into the AC signal;

a motion sensor operative to detect a plurality of proximities of an object or person from the in-wall computing device and to trigger the CPU to execute a plurality of events, each event corresponding to a detected proximity; and

a housing encompassing the CPU, the power connector, the motion sensor, and the internal data injection circuitry, wherein the housing is configured for installation within an electrical wall box that is disposed substantially within a wall, and wherein the plurality of events comprises a first event at a first proximity and a second event at a second proximity that is different from the first proximity.

2. The in-wall computing device of claim 1, further comprising internal data receiving circuitry operative to extract incoming data from the AC signal and to supply the incoming data to the CPU.

3. The in-wall computing device of claim 2, wherein the internal data receiving circuitry comprises a voltage limiter and an analog-to-digital converter.

4. The in-wall computing device of claim 1, further comprising a user interface for receiving user commands, wherein the internal data injection circuitry is operative to translate the user commands into an analog signal compatible for injection into the AC signal and to inject the translated user commands into the AC signal for transmission to a receiving computing device on the electrical circuit.

5. The in-wall computing device of claim 4, wherein the user interface comprises a touch sensitive display unit.

6. The in-wall computing device of claim 5, wherein the display unit comprises a backlight and wherein the CPU is operative to control the color and intensity of the backlight.

7. The in-wall computing device of claim 1, wherein the internal data injection circuitry comprises a digital-to-analog converter and a power injector.

8. The in-wall computing device of claim 1, further comprising internal power supply circuitry operative to receive the AC signal from the power connector, to convert the AC signal into a Direct Current (DC) signal, and to supply the DC signal to the CPU.

9. The in-wall computing device of claim 8, wherein the internal power supply circuitry comprises an isolation component, a rectifying component, and a regulator component.

10. The in-wall computing device of claim 8, further comprising an Ethernet connector operative to receive power independently of the power connector and to communicate data between the in-wall computing device and one or more network computing devices communicatively linked to the in-wall computing device, wherein the internal power supply circuitry is operative to extract power from the Ethernet connector.

18. The in-wall computing device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of events comprise at least one of turning on a light, turning on a stereo, and turning on a television.

19. The in-wall computing device of claim 1, wherein the second event is different from the first event.

11. An in-wall computing device for providing processing capabilities and power-line networking capabilities, comprising:

a CPU;

a power connector operative to receive an AC signal from a power source;

internal data receiving circuitry operative to extract incoming data from the AC signal and to supply the incoming data to the CPU;

one or more peripheral ports for connection to one or more peripherals; and

a housing encompassing the CPU, the power connector, and the internal data receiving circuitry, wherein the housing is configured for installation within an electrical wall box disposed substantially within a wall and comprises

a front plate having a protruding portion configured to fit within an opening of a finishing wall plate, and

a plurality of ventilation ridges disposed at an edge of the protruding portion, the ventilation ridges configured to provide an air passageway from a front surface of the front plate to the internal power supply circuitry and the CPU behind the front plate, and

a display unit having a touch sensitive surface for receiving user input,

wherein the one or more peripheral ports are exposed in the housing and accessible from a front side of the in-wall computing device when installed within the electrical wall box.

12. The in-wall computing device of claim 11, further comprising internal data injection circuitry operative to receive outgoing data from the CPU and to inject the outgoing data into the AC signal.

13. The in-wall computing device of claim 12, wherein the internal data injection circuitry comprises a digital-to-analog converter and a power injector.

14. The in-wall computing device of claim 11, wherein the internal data receiving circuitry comprises a voltage limiter and an analog-to-digital converter.

15. The in-wall computing device of claim 11, further comprising internal power supply circuitry operative to receive the AC signal from the power connector, to rectify the AC signal to a DC signal, and to supply the DC signal to the CPU.

16. A system for controlling peripheral devices, the system comprising:

a first in-wall computing device, wherein the first in-wall computing device comprises

a touch sensitive screen comprising a screen connector,

a first CPU, wherein the first CPU is operative to receive data from the touch sensitive screen,

a first power connector operative to receive an AC signal from a power source on an electrical circuit,

internal data injection circuitry operative to receive the data from the first CPU and to inject the data into the AC signal for transmission to a second in-wall computing device, and

a first housing encompassing the first CPU, the first power connector, the first internal data injection circuitry, wherein the first housing comprises a front surface comprising only an input device connector coupled to the CPU and configured for mating with the screen connector, and wherein the first housing is configured for installation within a first electrical wall box disposed substantially within a wall; and

the second in-wall computing device, wherein the second in-wall computing device includes

a second power connector operative to receive the AC signal from the power source on the electrical circuit,

internal data receiving circuitry operative to extract the data transmitted within the AC signal from the first in-wall computing device and to supply the data to a second CPU,

the second CPU, wherein the second CPU is operative to receive the data from the internal data receiving circuitry and to transmit instructions corresponding to the data to one or more peripheral ports for transmission to one or more peripherals, and

a second housing encompassing the second CPU, the second power connector, the internal data receiving circuitry, and the one or more peripheral ports, wherein the second housing is configured for installation within a second electrical wall box disposed substantially within a wall and comprises a front plate having a protruding portion configured to fit within an opening of a finishing wall plate.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first in-wall computing device further comprises a first Ethernet connector operative to receive power independently of the first power connector and to communicate the data between the first in-wall computing device and the second in-wall computing device, and wherein the second in-wall computing device further comprises a second Ethernet connector operative to receive power independently of the second power connector and to communicate the data between the first in-wall computing device and the second in-wall computing device.