Relocatable power tap

• US 8,232,683 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2009
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Garb, Jeffrey W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cavallari, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/428,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20090289501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 307/116, 307/117, 307/125
• US Class Current: 307/116
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/02 Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004

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.

Claims

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;

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.

2. The relocatable power tap of claim 1, wherein the first stage of the power supply circuit is configured to receive the first output AC power signal, produce the first DC power signal and provide the first DC power signal to the second stage of the power supply circuit, and the second stage of the power supply circuit is configured to produce the second DC power signal from the first DC power signal.

3. The relocatable power tap of claim 1, wherein the first stage of the power supply circuit is configured to receive the first output AC power signal and produce the first DC power signal, and the second stage of the power supply circuit is configured to receive the first output AC power signal and produce the second DC power signal.

4. The relocatable power tap of claim 1, further comprising at least one constant power outlet, wherein the at least one constant power outlet has an input electrically coupled to the power supply circuit and an output configured to electrically couple to the external device, the at least one constant power outlet configured to receive the first output AC power signal from the power supply circuit and provide the received first output AC power signal to the external device.

5. The relocatable power tap of tap of claim 1 wherein the input circuit includes:

a master power outlet having an input electrically coupled to the power supply circuit;

a power output configured to electrically couple to the external device; and

a command output electrically coupled to the control circuit and configured to provide a command signal to the driver circuit of the control circuit.

6. The relocatable power tap of claim 5, wherein the control circuit additionally includes an amplifier circuit, the amplifier circuit is configured to receive the command signal from the master power outlet, amplify the command signal, and pass the command signal to the driver circuit of the control circuit after amplification of the command signal.

7. The relocatable power tap of claim 1, wherein the input circuit includes:

an antenna, the antenna configured to receive a wireless signal;

a receiver circuit coupled to the antenna, the receiver circuit configured to receive the wireless signal from the antenna and produce a tuned signal based on the wireless signal; and

a logic circuit coupled to the receiver circuit, the logic circuit configured to receive the tuned signal from the receiver circuit and produce the command signal based on the tuned signal.

8. The relocatable power tap of claim 1, wherein the input circuit includes:

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.

9. The relocatable power tap of claim 1, wherein the controlled switching circuit includes a switch selected from the group consisting of:

an electro-mechanical switch, a solid-state switch, or a vacuum tube switch.

10. The relocatable power tap of claim 1, wherein the first output AC power signal and the second output AC power signal are substantially the same.

11. A relocatable power tap configured to removably couple to one or more external devices, 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 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.

12. The relocatable power tap of claim 11, wherein the first internal load comprises a controlled switching circuit in electrical communication with the second internal load 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 a fourth DC power signal from the second internal load and provide the second output AC power signal to the at least one controlled power outlet based on the fourth DC power signal.

13. The relocatable power tap of claim 11, wherein the second internal load comprises a driver circuit, the driver circuit configured to receive the third DC power signal and produce a fourth DC power signal based on the third DC power signal.

14. The relocatable power tap of claim 11, wherein:

the first stage of the power supply circuit comprises a reactive voltage divider circuit, a rectifier circuit, and a shunt regulator 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 first internal load;

an amplitude of a voltage associated with the second state of the first DC power signal is sufficient to maintain activation of the activated first internal load; and

the second stage of the power supply circuit comprises a voltage regulator circuit.

15. The relocatable power tap of claim 11, wherein:

the first stage of the power supply circuit comprises a reactive voltage divider circuit, a rectifier circuit, and a shunt regulator 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 first internal load;

an amplitude of a voltage associated with the second state of the first DC power signal is sufficient to maintain activation of the activated first internal load; and

the second stage of the power supply circuit comprises a reactive voltage divider circuit, a rectifier circuit, and a voltage regulator circuit.

16. The relocatable power tap of claim 11, further comprising:

at least one constant-on power outlet configured to receive the first output AC power signal.

17. The relocatable power tap of claim 11, wherein the first internal load comprises a switch selected from the group consisting of:

an electro-mechanical switch, a solid-state switch, or a vacuum tube switch.

18. The relocatable power tap of claim 11, further comprising the one or more external devices.

19. The relocatable power tap of claim 11, wherein the first output AC power signal and the second output AC power signal are substantially the same.

20. A method of providing a relocatable power tap configured to removably couple to one or more external devices, the method comprising:

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.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein providing the first internal load comprises providing a controlled switching circuit in electrical communication with the second internal load 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 a control signal from the second internal load and provide the second output AC power signal to the at least one controlled power outlet based on the control signal.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein providing the second internal load comprises providing a driver circuit, the driver circuit configured to receive the command signal and produce a control signal based on the command signal.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the first output AC power signal and the second output AC power signal are substantially the same.

24. A relocatable power tap configured to removably couple to one or more external devices, 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 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.

25. The relocatable power tap of claim 24, wherein the first stage of the power supply circuit is configured to receive the first output AC power signal, produce the first DC power signal and provide the first DC power signal to the second stage of the power supply circuit, and the second stage of the power supply circuit is configured to produce the second DC power signal from the first DC power signal.

26. The relocatable power tap of claim 24, wherein the first stage of the power supply circuit is configured to receive the first output AC power signal and produce the first DC power signal, and the second stage of the power supply circuit is configured to receive the first output AC power signal and produce the second DC power signal.

27. The relocatable power tap of claim 24, wherein the first output AC power signal and the second output AC power signal are substantially the same.