Storage unit with power monitoring capability
A storage unit, such as, for example, a toolbox or cabinet, having a power strip with power terminals adapted to operably couple to and provide electricity to a connected device. The storage unit further including an interrogation module adapted to interrogate or monitor electric supply information about electricity supplied to the connected devices via the power terminals, a computation module operably coupled to the interrogation module, and adapted to receive electric supply data signals from the interrogation module to determine a status of the connected device by comparing the electric supply data signals and usage characteristics of the connected device, and a communication module adapted to receive status data signals from the computation module and communicate the status data signals to a remote computing device.
1 . A storage unit having containment spaces, the storage unit comprising:
a power terminal adapted to operably couple and provide electricity to a connected device;
an interrogation module operably coupled to the power terminal, adapted to interrogate electric supply information including at least one of power, current, and voltage of electricity supplied to the connected device via the power terminal, and adapted to send an electric supply data signal based on the electric supply information;
a computation module operably coupled to the interrogation module and adapted to receive the electric supply data signal and determine a status of the connected device; and
a communication module operably coupled to the computation module and adapted to receive a status data signal from the computation module and communicate the status data signal to a remote computing device.
2 . The storage unit of claim 1 , wherein the power terminal is disposed on a power strip.
3 . The storage unit of claim 1 , wherein the interrogation module includes any one of a voltmeter, an ammeter, and a wattmeter.
4 . The storage unit of claim 1 , wherein the connected device is a battery operably coupled to the power terminal via a battery charger.
5 . The storage unit of claim 1 , wherein the status includes one or more of a charge state, number of charge cycles, and battery health.
6 . The storage unit of claim 1 , wherein the computation module is adapted to determine the status of the connected device by comparing the electric supply data signal to an electric consumption profile.
7 . A power strip having a power terminal adapted to operably couple to and provide electricity to a connected device, the power strip comprising:
an interrogation module operably coupled to the power terminal, adapted to interrogate electric supply information including at least one of power, current, and voltage of electricity supplied to the connected device via the power terminal, and adapted to send an electric supply data signal based on the electric supply information;
a computation module operably coupled to the interrogation module and adapted to receive the electric supply data signal and determine a status of the connected device; and
a communication module operably coupled to the computation module and adapted to receive a status data signal from the computation module and communicate the status data signals to a remote computing device.
8 . The power strip of claim 7 , wherein the interrogation module includes at least one of a voltmeter, an ammeter, and a wattmeter.
9 . The power strip of claim 7 , wherein the status includes at least one of a charge state, number of charge cycles, and battery health.
10 . The power strip of claim 7 , wherein the computation module is adapted to determine the status of the connected device by comparing the electric supply data signal to an electric consumption profile.
11 . A method performed by a computing device to communicate a status of a connected device operably coupled to and adapted to receive electricity supplied by power terminals disposed in a storage unit, the method comprising:
receiving an electric supply data signal from an interrogation module containing information including at least one of power, current, and voltage of electricity supplied to the connected device;
determining a status of the connected device; and
communicating, via a communication module, a status data signal indicating the status to a remote computing device.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising: displaying the status on a display of the remote computing device.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the status of the connected device includes comparing the electric supply data signal to an electric consumption profile.