Power controlling device and methods of use

• US 8,335,574 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2009
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andy Middlemiss
• Original Assignee: Andy Middlemiss
• Inventors: Middlemiss, Andy
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett, Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, Darrin
• Application Number:
  US12/633,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20100145543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 700/22, 700/295, 700/297, 307/35, 307 38- 39, 307/116, 324/76.11, 713/300, 713/330
• US Class Current: 700/22
• 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: G06F 2200/261 PC controlled powerstrip
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A device for controlling power comprising a power source input, at least one power contact or outlet, a power control relay, a digital signal input port and a digital signal detector. The device controls power from the power source input to the at least one power contact or outlet by operation of the power control relay. The power control relay opens or closes based on the presence of a digital signal or lack thereof. The detection of the presence of the digital signal or the lack thereof is accomplished by the digital signal detector electrically coupled to the digital signal input port. Detection of a digital signal may be accomplished by using one or more Ethernet signal detectors capable of detecting data transmission or the presence of PoE. Additionally, a method is taught to control power to power consuming devices by using the aforementioned device.

Claims

1. A power controlling device comprising;

a power source input;

one or more power contacts;

one or more digital signal input ports;

at least one digital signal detector, the at least one digital signal detector being operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more digital signal input ports and adapted to detect a presence of a digital signal or a lack thereof;

a power control relay, the power control relay being electrically coupled to the power source input and at least one of the one or more power contacts, and comprising (i) a first position adapted to energize the at least one of the one or more power contacts based on whether the at least one digital signal detector detects one of the presence of a digital signal or the lack thereof, and (ii) a second position adapted to de-energize the at least one of the one or more power contacts based on whether the at least one digital signal detector detects either the presence of a digital signal or the lack thereof, wherein the one or more digital signal input ports includes a connector adapted to receive an Ethernet signal and the one or more power contacts includes a power outlet adapted to receive a power plug from a power consuming device and the at least one digital signal detector includes a first Ethernet signal detector adapted to detect a presence of transmission activity on an Ethernet connection and a second Ethernet signal detector adapted to detect a presence of power over the Ethernet connection; and

a control selector switch adapted to adopt one of either a first position enabling the use of the first Ethernet signal detector or a second position enabling the use of the second Ethernet signal detector.