Smart plug having plug blade detection
First Claim
1. A smart plug comprising:
- a power plug configured to receive an alternating current power signal from shore power;
a power receptacle configured to receive a plug having a plug blade;
a plug detection switch configured to detect receipt of the plug blade in the power receptacle;
a rectifier circuit configured to rectify the alternating current power signal received at the power plug when the plug detection switch is actuated by receipt of the plug blade, wherein the plug detection switch prevents rectification of the alternating current power signal by the rectifier circuit when the plug blade is removed from the power receptacle; and
a logic level converter configured to receive the rectified power signal to convert the rectified power signal to a logic level signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A smart plug system is disclosed. The smart plug system includes a power plug configured to receive an alternating current power signal from shore power, a power receptacle configured to receive a plug having a plug blade, and a plug detection switch configured to detect receipt of the plug blade in the power receptacle. A rectifier circuit is included to rectify the alternating current power signal received at the power plug when the plug detection switch is actuated by receipt of the plug blade. The plug detection switch is further configured to prevent rectification of the alternating current power signal by the rectifier circuit when the plug blade is removed from the power receptacle. A logic level converter is included to receive the rectified power signal to convert the rectified power signal to a logic level signal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A smart plug comprising:
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a power plug configured to receive an alternating current power signal from shore power; a power receptacle configured to receive a plug having a plug blade; a plug detection switch configured to detect receipt of the plug blade in the power receptacle; a rectifier circuit configured to rectify the alternating current power signal received at the power plug when the plug detection switch is actuated by receipt of the plug blade, wherein the plug detection switch prevents rectification of the alternating current power signal by the rectifier circuit when the plug blade is removed from the power receptacle; and a logic level converter configured to receive the rectified power signal to convert the rectified power signal to a logic level signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A smart plug comprising:
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a power receptacle configured to receive a line power signal and a neutral power signal; a plug detection switch configured at a neutral fitting of the power receptacle, wherein the plug detection switch closes in response to receipt of a power plug blade within the neutral fitting, wherein receipt of the power plug blade within the neutral fitting through-connects the neutral power signal from the power receptacle to a detector output of the plug detection switch; a rectifier circuit configured to receive the line power signal and the detector output, wherein the rectifier circuit is configured to provide a rectified output signal corresponding to the line power signal when the neutral power signal is received from the detector output; and a logic level converter configured to receive the rectified output signal and to convert the rectified output signal to a logic level signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for use in a smart power switch, the method comprising:
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detecting insertion of a plug blade in a power receptacle of the smart power switch; rectifying an alternating current power signal received at the power receptacle upon detecting the insertion of the plug blade to generate a rectified power output signal; preventing generation of the rectified power output signal when the plug blade is not inserted in the power receptacle; and converting the rectified power output signal to a logic level signal when the plug blade is inserted. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification