Apparatuses and methods for configuring a building automation system

• US 8,957,551 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2014
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Green Edge Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Green Edge Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Alberth, Jr., William P., Rice, William D., Jung, Thomas A., Lee, Jin H.
• Primary Examiner(s): CAVALLARI, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US14/163,477
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 307/126, 307/326, 307/116
• US Class Current: 307/326
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/713 the switch being a safety switch

Abstract

An apparatus that is capable of detecting the presence of a plug comprising: a plurality of receptacles configured to receive a plurality of prongs from a plug, wherein the plurality of receptacles includes a first receptacle and a second receptacle; a controller configured to detect whether a first prong of the plurality of prongs is present in the first receptacle; and a switch configured to provide power to the second receptacle. The switch provides power to the second receptacle when the controller detects that the first prong of the plurality of prongs is present in the first receptacle and the switch does not provide power to the second receptacle when the controller does not detect that the first prong is present in the first receptacle.

Claims

1. An apparatus capable of detecting the presence of a plug, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of receptacles configured to receive a plurality of prongs from a plug, wherein said plurality of receptacles includes a hot receptacle having a hot contact and a neutral receptacle having a first neutral contact and a second neutral contact, wherein said second neutral contact is connected to a system ground;

a switch including a connection to a power source and a connection to said hot contact, wherein said connection to the power source is connected to said connection to said hot contact when said switch is turned on, and wherein said connection to the power source is disconnected from said connection to said hot contact when said switch is turned off; and

a microprocessor configured to turn on and turn off said switch, wherein said microprocessor is connected to said first neutral contact and said switch, and wherein said microprocessor is connected to the system ground when a neutral prong of the plurality of prongs from the plug is present in said neutral receptacle,

wherein said microprocessor turns on said switch when the neutral prong is present in said neutral receptacle, the neutral prong connecting the first neutral contact and the second neutral contact, and

wherein said microprocessor turns off said switch when the neutral prong is not present in said neutral receptacle.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said microprocessor causes software to be executed, said software instructing said switch to turn on when the neutral prong is present in said neutral receptacle, and the neutral prong electrically coupling the first neutral contact and the second neutral contact, and said software instructing said switch to turn off when the neutral prong is not present in said neutral receptacle.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said software requests authorization to provide power to said hot contact before instructing said switch to turn on.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said software receives a response to the request for authorization to provide power to said hot contact before instructing said switch to turn on.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said request for authorization to provide power to said hot contact is sent to a device closest to the apparatus.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of said receptacles further includes a ground receptacle.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a passive network, wherein said passive network provides a signal to said microprocessor when the neutral prong is present in said neutral receptacle.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said passive network includes passive electronic components that protect said microprocessor from at least one of undesirable currents and undesirable voltages.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a network, wherein said network detects at least one of current, voltage, and power used by a device connected to the plug.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, when said network detects the at least one of current, voltage, and power used by the device connected to the plug, said network provides a usage signal to said microprocessor, and

wherein said microprocessor monitors the usage signal.

11. A method of providing power to a receptacle of an outlet, the method comprising:

detecting whether a neutral prong of a plug is present in a first receptacle of an outlet;

sending an authorization request to provide power to a second receptacle of the outlet when said detecting step detects that a neutral prong is present in the first receptacle of the outlet;

receiving a response to the authorization request; and

determining whether to provide power to the second receptacle of the outlet based on the response to the authorization request.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

providing power to the second receptacle of the outlet based on the determination in said determination step.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein, when providing power to the second receptacle of the outlet, power is increased up to full power over a predetermined time period.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined time period is at least 2 seconds.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein said step of sending the authorization request includes sending a request to an authorized user to request permission to provide power to another receptacle of the outlet.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

determining whether a load on the first receptacle of the outlet resembles a human, wherein when the load is determined to resemble a human, power to the second receptacle is disabled.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

sending a message when the load is determined to resemble a human.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the message sent is a second authorization request requesting to restore power to the second receptacle of the outlet.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a response to the second authorization request to restore power to the second receptacle of the outlet; and

determining whether to restore power to the second receptacle of the outlet based on the response to the second authorization request.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

restoring power to the second receptacle of the outlet based on the determination in said second determination step.