POWER CORD WITH IN-LINE POWER CONTROL FUNCTIONALITY
First Claim
1. A power cord, comprising:
- a first connector at a first end of the power cord, the first connector being configured to connect to a power source;
a second connector at a second end of the power cord, the second connector being configured to connect to a power consumer;
a first conductive element that is connected to the first connector;
a second conductive element that is connected to the second connector;
a third conductive element that is connected to the first connector and the second connector;
a switching element that is operable to connect the first conductive element to the second conductive element, thereby enabling a flow of electric current from the first connector to the second connector, and to disconnect the first conductive element from the second conductive element, thereby disabling the flow of electric current from the first connector to the second connector;
control logic that is configured to receive control signals and, responsive to at least the control signals, control the switching element to either connect the first conductive element to the second conductive element or to disconnect the first conductive element from the second conductive element; and
an interface that is configured to receive the control signals via one of the first conductive element, the second conductive element, or the third conductive element.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power cord is described that includes “in-line” power control functionality. The power control functionality may selectively enable or disable a flow of electrical current through the power cord and/or selectively control an amount of electrical current that is permitted to flow through the power cord. The power control functionality may be activated and/or controlled through the receipt of control signals from an external device. The power cord may be configured to monitor the state of an electronic device to which it is connected and selectively activate and/or modify the operation of the power control functionality in response to the detection of a particular state of the electronic device. The power cord may also be configured to receive and analyze sensor data, and based at least on the analysis, selectively activate and/or modify the operation of the power control functionality.
21 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A power cord, comprising:
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a first connector at a first end of the power cord, the first connector being configured to connect to a power source; a second connector at a second end of the power cord, the second connector being configured to connect to a power consumer; a first conductive element that is connected to the first connector; a second conductive element that is connected to the second connector; a third conductive element that is connected to the first connector and the second connector; a switching element that is operable to connect the first conductive element to the second conductive element, thereby enabling a flow of electric current from the first connector to the second connector, and to disconnect the first conductive element from the second conductive element, thereby disabling the flow of electric current from the first connector to the second connector; control logic that is configured to receive control signals and, responsive to at least the control signals, control the switching element to either connect the first conductive element to the second conductive element or to disconnect the first conductive element from the second conductive element; and an interface that is configured to receive the control signals via one of the first conductive element, the second conductive element, or the third conductive element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A power cord, comprising:
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a first connector at a first end of the power cord, the first connector being configured to connect to a power source; a second connector at a second end of the power cord, the second connector being configured to connect to an electronic device; a first conductive element that is connected to the first connector; a second conductive element that is connected to the second connector; a switching element that is operable to connect the first conductive element to the second conductive element, thereby enabling a flow of electrical current from the first connector to the second connector, and to disconnect the first conductive element from the second conductive element, thereby disabling the flow of electrical current from the first connector to the second connector; control logic that is configured to determine a state of the electronic device and, based at least on the state of the electronic device, control the switching element to either connect the first conductive element to the second conductive element or to disconnect the first conductive element from the second conductive element. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A power cord, comprising:
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a first connector at a first end of the power cord, the first connector being configured to connect to a power source; a second connector at a second end of the power cord, the second connector being configured to connect to a power consumer; a first conductive element that is connected to the first connector; a second conductive element that is connected to the second connector; a switching element that is operable to connect the first conductive element to the second conductive element, thereby enabling a flow of electrical current from the first connector to the second connector, and to disconnect the first conductive element from the second conductive element, thereby disabling the flow of electrical current from the first connector to the second connector; control logic that is configured to analyze sensor data, and based on at least the analysis of the sensor data, to control the switching element to either connect the first conductive element to the second conductive element or to disconnect the first conductive element from the second conductive element; and an interface operable to receive the sensor data from one or more sensors. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification