Wiring device with integrated wireless signal extender

• US 9,853,708 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2014
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Lacey, Darron Kirby
• Primary Examiner(s): Kizou, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Belur, Deepa
• Application Number:
  US14/163,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20150215027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15507 Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04

Abstract

An electrical wiring device includes a receptacle housing comprising alternating current (AC) terminal openings. The electrical wiring device further includes an AC power output terminals disposed within the receptacle housing and aligned with the AC terminal openings. The AC power output terminals are designed to receive prongs of an electrical plug through the AC terminal openings. The electrical wiring device also includes a wireless signal extender circuit disposed within the receptacle housing. The wireless signal extender circuit is configured to receive an incoming wireless signal and to transmit an outgoing wireless signal, where the outgoing wireless signal is generated based on the incoming wireless signal.

Claims

1. An electrical wiring receptacle device that provides electrical power to an electrical plug and for installation in a wall, the electrical wiring receptacle device comprising:

a receptacle housing comprising alternating current (AC) terminal openings;

AC power output terminals disposed within the receptacle housing and aligned with the AC terminal openings, wherein the AC power output terminals are designed to receive prongs of the electrical plug through the AC terminal openings and wherein the AC power output terminals are positioned to make contact with the prongs of the electrical plug;

a midframe disposed within the receptacle housing, wherein the midframe retains the AC power output terminals separated from each other;

a wireless signal extender circuit formed on a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed within the receptacle housing between the midframe and a back wall of the receptacle housing, wherein the midframe is positioned between the AC power terminals and the PCB, wherein the wireless signal extender circuit is configured to receive an incoming wireless signal and to transmit an outgoing wireless signal generated from the incoming wireless signal; and

a switch disposed between walls of the midframe, wherein the switch is positioned between a first pair of the AC terminal openings and a second pair of the AC terminal openings, wherein the midframe is positioned between the PCB and the switch, and wherein the switch is used to connect and disconnect electrical power to the wireless signal extender circuit.

2. The electrical wiring receptacle device of claim 1, wherein the receptacle housing comprises a switch opening and wherein the switch is at least partially disposed outside of the receptacle housing through the switch opening.

3. The electrical wiring receptacle device of claim 1, further comprising a power conversion circuit disposed within the receptacle housing, wherein the power conversion circuit is configured to convert AC power to direct current (DC) power and wherein the wireless signal extender circuit operates on the DC power.

4. The electrical wiring receptacle device of claim 1, further comprising a light source disposed within the receptacle housing, wherein the light source is configured to emit light when the electrical power is provided to the wireless signal extender circuit.

5. The electrical wiring receptacle device of claim 4, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

6. The electrical wiring receptacle device of claim 1, wherein the receptacle housing comprises a back side, the back side forming one or more openings for dissipating heat.

13. The electrical wiring receptacle device of claim 1, wherein the midframe includes a first opening for routing one or more electrical wires between the switch and the PCB.

14. The electrical wiring receptacle device of claim 13, wherein the midframe includes a second opening for extending a light source from the PCB through the midframe.

15. The electrical wiring receptacle device of claim 13, wherein the midframe includes one or more clips used to attach the midframe to the PCB.

16. The electrical wiring receptacle device of claim 1, wherein a first coupling band and a second coupling band are disposed on opposite sides of the electrical wiring receptacle device and are used for coupling of the electrical wiring receptacle device to a wall box and wherein the switch extends through an opening in a middle section that couples the first coupling band to the second coupling band.

7. An electrical wiring receptacle device that provides electrical power to an electrical plug and for installation in a wall, the electrical wiring receptacle device comprising:

a receptacle housing comprising alternating current (AC) terminal openings;

AC power output terminals disposed within the receptacle housing and aligned with the AC terminal openings, wherein the AC power output terminals are designed to receive prongs of the electrical plug through the AC terminal openings, wherein the AC power output terminals are positioned to make contact with the prongs of the electrical plug, and wherein electrical wires extend through one or more openings in a back wall of the receptacle housing and are electrically coupled to the AC power output terminals inside the receptacle housing;

a midframe disposed within the receptacle housing;

a Wi-Fi signal extender circuit disposed within the receptacle housing between the midframe and the back wall of the receptacle housing, wherein the midframe is disposed between the AC power output terminals and the Wi-Fi signal extender circuit, wherein the Wi-Fi signal extender circuit is configured to receive an incoming Wi-Fi signal and to transmit an outgoing Wi-Fi signal generated from the incoming Wi-Fi signal; and

a switch disposed on the midframe, wherein the switch is positioned between a first pair of the AC terminal openings and a second pair of the AC terminal openings and wherein the switch is used to connect and disconnect electrical power to the Wi-Fi signal extender circuit.

8. The electrical wiring receptacle device of claim 7, wherein the receptacle housing comprises a switch opening and wherein the switch is at least partially disposed outside of the receptacle housing through the switch opening.

9. The electrical wiring receptacle device of claim 7, further comprising a power conversion circuit disposed within the receptacle housing, wherein the power conversion circuit is configured to convert AC power to direct current (DC) power and wherein the Wi-Fi signal extender circuit operates on the DC power.

10. The electrical wiring receptacle device of claim 9, wherein the power conversion circuit comprises an AC/DC conversion element, a switcher element, and a secondary rectifier element.

11. The electrical wiring receptacle device of claim 7, further comprising a light source disposed within the receptacle housing, wherein the light source is configured to emit light when the electrical power is provided to the Wi-Fi signal extender circuit.

12. The electrical wiring receptacle device of claim 7, wherein the AC power output terminals are configured to output AC power having at least a 120 volt, 15 ampere rating.

17. The electrical wiring receptacle device of claim 7, wherein the midframe is positioned between the Wi-Fi signal extender circuit and the switch.

18. The electrical wiring receptacle device of claim 17, wherein the midframe includes a first opening for routing one or more electrical wires between the switch and the Wi-Fi signal extender circuit.

19. The electrical wiring receptacle device of claim 18, wherein the midframe includes a second opening for extending a light source from the PCB through the midframe.

20. The electrical wiring receptacle device of claim 18, wherein the midframe includes one or more clips used to attach the midframe to the PCB.