Relocatable power tap
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A relocatable power tap configured to removably couple to an external device, the relocatable power tap comprising:
- at least one controlled power outlet;
a power supply circuit configured to receive an input AC power signal and produce a first output AC power signal, the power supply circuit having a first stage and a second stage, the first stage of the power supply circuit configured to produce a first DC power signal and the second stage of the power supply circuit configured to produce a second DC power signal;
a control circuit in electrical communication with the power supply circuit and configured to receive the first output AC power signal, the first DC power signal, and a command signal, the control circuit including;
a driver circuit, the driver circuit configured to receive the command signal and produce a control signal based on the command signal; and
a controlled switching circuit in electrical communication with the driver circuit and configured to receive the first DC power signal as a power source and to receive the first output AC power signal, the controlled switching circuit further configured to receive the control signal from the driver circuit and provide a second output AC power signal to the at least one controlled power outlet based on the control signal;
andan input circuit, the input circuit coupled to the power supply circuit and to the control circuit and configured to receive the second DC power signal and to provide the command signal to the driver circuit of the control circuit, the command signal indicating whether the at least one controlled power outlet is to receive the second output AC power signal,wherein;
the at least one controlled power outlet having an input electrically coupled to the controlled switching circuit and an output configured to electrically couple to the external device, the at least one controlled power outlet configured to receive the second output AC power signal from the controlled switching circuit and provide the second output AC power signal to the external device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes one or more constant “on” outlets, one or more controlled outlets, a two-part power supply, and accompanying circuitry. Other embodiments are also disclosed herein.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A relocatable power tap configured to removably couple to an external device, the relocatable power tap comprising:
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at least one controlled power outlet; a power supply circuit configured to receive an input AC power signal and produce a first output AC power signal, the power supply circuit having a first stage and a second stage, the first stage of the power supply circuit configured to produce a first DC power signal and the second stage of the power supply circuit configured to produce a second DC power signal; a control circuit in electrical communication with the power supply circuit and configured to receive the first output AC power signal, the first DC power signal, and a command signal, the control circuit including; a driver circuit, the driver circuit configured to receive the command signal and produce a control signal based on the command signal; and a controlled switching circuit in electrical communication with the driver circuit and configured to receive the first DC power signal as a power source and to receive the first output AC power signal, the controlled switching circuit further configured to receive the control signal from the driver circuit and provide a second output AC power signal to the at least one controlled power outlet based on the control signal; and an input circuit, the input circuit coupled to the power supply circuit and to the control circuit and configured to receive the second DC power signal and to provide the command signal to the driver circuit of the control circuit, the command signal indicating whether the at least one controlled power outlet is to receive the second output AC power signal, wherein; the at least one controlled power outlet having an input electrically coupled to the controlled switching circuit and an output configured to electrically couple to the external device, the at least one controlled power outlet configured to receive the second output AC power signal from the controlled switching circuit and provide the second output AC power signal to the external device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A relocatable power tap configured to removably couple to one or more external devices, the relocatable power tap comprising:
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at least one controlled power outlet; a power supply circuit configured to receive an input AC power signal and produce a first output AC power signal, the power supply circuit comprising a first stage and a second stage, the first stage of the power supply circuit configured to produce a first DC power signal and the second stage of the power supply circuit configured to produce a second DC power signal; a control circuit in electrical communication with the power supply circuit and configured to receive the first output AC power signal, the first DC power signal, and a third DC power signal, the control circuit comprising; a first internal load configured to receive the first DC power signal; and a second internal load configured to receive the third DC power signal; and an input circuit, the input circuit coupled to the power supply circuit and to the control circuit and configured to receive the second DC power signal and to provide the third DC power signal to the second internal load of the control circuit, the third DC power signal indicating whether the at least one controlled power outlet is to receive a second output AC power signal, wherein; the at least one controlled power outlet comprises an input electrically coupled to the first internal load and an output configured to electrically couple to the one or more external devices, the at least one controlled power outlet configured to receive the second output AC power signal from the first internal load and provide the second output AC power signal to the one or more external devices. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of providing a relocatable power tap configured to removably couple to one or more external devices, the method comprising:
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providing at least one controlled power outlet; providing a power supply circuit configured to receive an input AC power signal and produce a first output AC power signal, the power supply circuit comprising a first stage and a second stage, the first stage of the power supply circuit configured to produce a first DC power signal and the second stage of the power supply circuit configured to produce a second DC power signal; providing a control circuit in electrical communication with the power supply circuit and configured to receive the first output AC power signal, the first DC power signal, and a command signal, the control circuit comprising; a first internal load configured to receive the first DC power signal; and a second internal load configured to receive the command signal; and providing an input circuit, the input circuit coupled to the power supply circuit and to the control circuit and configured to receive the second DC power signal and to provide the command signal to the second internal load of the control circuit, the command signal indicating whether the at least one controlled power outlet is to receive a second output AC power signal, wherein; the at least one controlled power outlet comprising an input electrically coupled to the first internal load and an output configured to electrically couple to the one or more external devices, the at least one controlled power outlet configured to receive the second output AC power signal from the first internal load and provide the second output AC power signal to the one or more external devices. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A relocatable power tap configured to removably couple to one or more external devices, the relocatable power tap comprising:
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at least one controlled power outlet; a power supply circuit configured to receive an input AC power signal and produce a first output AC power signal, the power supply circuit having a first stage and a second stage, the first stage of the power supply circuit configured to produce a first DC power signal and the second stage of the power supply circuit configured to produce a second DC power signal; a control circuit in electrical communication with the power supply circuit and configured to receive the first output AC power signal, the first DC power signal, and a command signal, the control circuit comprising; a driver circuit, the driver circuit configured to receive the command signal and produce a control signal based on the command signal; and a controlled switching circuit in electrical communication with the driver circuit and configured to receive the first DC power signal as a power source and to receive the first output AC power signal, the controlled switching circuit further configured to receive the control signal from the driver circuit and provide a second output AC power signal to the at least one controlled power outlet based on the control signal; and an input circuit, the input circuit coupled to the power supply circuit and to the control circuit and configured to receive the second DC power signal and to provide the command signal to the driver circuit of the control circuit, the command signal indicating whether the at least one controlled power outlet is to receive the second output AC power signal, wherein; the at least one controlled power outlet comprises an input electrically coupled to the controlled switching circuit and an output configured to electrically couple to the one or more external devices, the at least one controlled power outlet configured to receive the second output AC power signal from the controlled switching circuit and provide the second output AC power signal to the one or more external devices; the input circuit comprises; a stimuli circuit, the stimuli circuit configured to receive input stimulus and produce an instruction signal based on the input stimulus; and a logic circuit coupled to the stimuli circuit, the logic circuit configured to receive the instruction signal from the stimuli circuit and produce the command signal based on the input stimulus; the controlled switching circuit comprises a switch selected from the group consisting of;
an electro-mechanical switch, a solid-state switch, or a vacuum tube switch;the power supply circuit comprises a transformer comprising at least a primary winding and two or more secondary windings; the transformer is configured to receive the first output AC power signal; the first stage of the power supply circuit is reactively coupled and in electrical communication with a first secondary winding of the two or more secondary windings; the first stage of the power supply comprises a first rectifier circuit and an energy storage circuit; the first DC power signal comprises at least a first state and a second state; an amplitude of a voltage associated with the first state of the first DC power signal is sufficient to activate the controlled switching circuit; an amplitude of a voltage associated with the second state of the first DC power signal is sufficient to maintain activation of the controlled switching circuit; the second stage of the power supply is in electrical communication with a second secondary winding of the two or more secondary windings; and the second stage of the power supply comprises a second rectifier circuit and a voltage regulator circuit. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification