Identifying a device with a universal power supply by reading a communication tag

• US 8,471,415 B1
• Filed: 09/10/2012
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Heninwolf, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Amrany, Adi
• Application Number:
  US13/608,015
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 307/125, 307/140
• US Class Current: 307/140
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/032 using RFID technology in switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/76 with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 11/00 Emergency protective circuit arrangements for preventing the switching-on in case an undesired electric working condition might result
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/14 Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for supplying power to devices from a receptacle with a universal pin configuration. In an example configuration, a plug reader and a controller are provided. The plug reader reads a communication tag of an electrical device plug, and receives data read from the plug reader from which it can identify an electrical capability of the electrical device, such voltage and/or frequency compatibility of the device. Based on the compatibility data, the controller determines whether a universal power supply is included in the device and causes power to be provided to the device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

reading a plug identification tag of an electrical device plug that is inserted in an outlet, the outlet configured to provide power at a single predefined specific voltage and frequency;

obtaining a voltage and frequency compatibility of the electrical device based solely upon the read device plug identification tag,

based upon the voltage and frequency compatibility, determining that the device contains a universal power supply; and

responsive to determining that the device contains a universal power supply, providing electrical power to the electrical device at the single predefined specific voltage and frequency.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining comprises:

sending commands to a transceiver, wherein the transceiver has access to a network;

retrieving a list of devices equipped with universal power supplies; and

providing the retrieved list of devices to the controller.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting an indication that the electrical capability data read from the plug is found on the list of devices.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to an outputted indication that the plugged-in electrical device has a universal power supply, operating a switching device to provide electrical power to the plugged-in electrical device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a website at a remote server to obtain an updated list of devices with universal power supplies; and

confirming, based on the updated list of devices, the presence of the universal power supply in the electrical device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

in response to a conflict between the list of devices obtained from a list of devices equipped with a universal power supply and the updated list of devices, the outlet does not provide electrical power to the electrical device.

7. A method comprising:

reading at an outlet a device plug identification tag connected to an electrical device, the outlet configured to provide electrical power at a single predefined specific voltage and frequency;

identifying an electrical capability of the electrical device from the read device plug identification tag, wherein the electrical capability of the electrical device indicates that the device includes a universal power supply;

obtaining a list of devices that have a universal power supply from an internal memory of the outlet;

confirming that the electrical capability data is included on the list of devices; and

based on the results of the confirmation, providing electrical power through the outlet to the device at the single predefined specific voltage and frequency.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the obtaining comprises:

sending commands to a transceiver, wherein the transceiver has access to a network;

retrieving a list of devices equipped with universal power supplies; and

providing the retrieved list of devices to the controller.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

outputting an indication that the data read from the plug is found on the list of devices.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the providing power through the outlet to the device comprises:

in response to an outputted indication that the plugged-in electrical device has a universal power supply, operating a switching device to provide electrical power to the plugged-in electrical device.

11. A system comprising:

a power receptacle connected to a power supply and for supplying electrical power at a single predefined specific voltage and frequency to an electrical device, wherein the power receptacle is configured to receive a power supply plug of the electrical device;

a plug reader that reads a communication tag of an electrical device plug,

a power supply switch responsive to control signals;

a controller configured to;

receive read data from the plug reader;

in response to receiving data read from the communication tag, identify an electrical capability of the electrical device, wherein the electrical capability of the electrical device indicates that the device contains a universal power supply;

obtaining a list of devices that have a universal power supply from an internal memory;

confirming that the electrical capability data is included on the list of devices; and

based on the results of the confirmation, provide electrical power to the device at the single predefined specific voltage and frequency; and

a transceiver for sending and receiving signals.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to:

command the transceiver to retrieve a list of devices equipped with universal power supplies from a website at a remote server;

compare the data read from the plug with the list of devices equipped with universal power supplies; and

output an indication that the data read from the plug is found on the list of devices.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the power supply switch is configured to:

in response to an outputted indication that the plugged-in electrical device has a universal power supply, provide electrical power to the plugged-in electrical device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the transceiver accesses a network to retrieve data from a data storage.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the network is the Internet.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the transceiver accesses the network via a wireless connection.