IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,231,351
Granted Patent B2
US 9,231,351 · App. 13/479,183 · Granted Jan 5, 2016

Smart plugs, smart sockets and smart adaptors

Inventors: Shen-Ming Chung (Chiayi County, TW); Hsiao-Hui Lee (Tainan, TW); Chin-Chen Lee (Tainan, TW)
Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
H01R13/665G01R19/2513H01R31/065
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,231,351
App. No.
13/479,183
Granted
Jan 5, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A smart socket is provided. The smart socket has a set of power sockets, configured for a set of power pins of a smart plug to plug into, a driving pin and a set of detection pins, configured for forming a circuit with a set of feedback pins of a smart plug when the set of power pins is plugged into the power sockets, and an identification code module, configured for obtaining an identification code of an electric appliance, from the circuit, to which the smart plug belongs.

Claims (25)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a smart plug, comprising a set of power pins and a set of feedback pins, wherein the feedback pins are arranged so as to be insulated from the power pins; and

a smart socket, comprising:

a set of power sockets, configured for the set of power pins of the smart plug to plug into;

a driving pin and a set of detection pins, configured to forming a circuit with the set of feedback pins of the smart plug when the set of power pins is plugged into the power sockets; and

an identification code module, configured for obtaining from the circuit an identification code of an electric appliance to which the smart plug belongs.

2. The smart socket as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least two socket pins, wherein the power pins electrically connect to a power source via the at least two socket pins.

3. The smart socket as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an adapting pin which electrically connects to a power source through plugging into a normal socket.

4. The smart socket as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a network module for transmitting the identification code to a network.

5. The smart socket as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising a safety switch for controlling the connection between the socket pins and the power source, wherein the safety switch is turned on or off corresponding to the identification code.

6. A smart plug, comprising:

a set of power pins, for plugging into a set of power sockets of a smart socket; and

a set of feedback pins, configured for forming a circuit with a driving pin and a set of detection pins of a smart socket when the set of power pins and the set of power sockets are connected to each other, wherein the feedback pins are insulated from the power pins by an insulation layer lying over the power pins.

7. The smart plug as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the power pins are electrically connected to an electric appliance.

8. The smart plug as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising an adapting socket, configured for a normal plug of an electric appliance to plug into.

9. The smart plug as claimed in claim 6 , further comprises an identification code circuit for generating an identification code.

10. The smart plug as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising a transmission circuit, which is coupled to the identification code circuit, for actively transmitting the identification code to the identification code module when the set of power pins and the set of power sockets are connected to each other.

11. A smart adaptor, comprising:

a set of adapting sockets, configured for a set of power pins of a normal plug to plug into, and for adapting the normal plug a smart socket;

a set of adaptor power pins, for plugging into a set of power sockets of the smart socket; and

a set of feedback pins, configured for forming a circuit with a driving pin and a set of detection pins of the smart socket when the adaptor power pins and the power sockets are connected to each other, wherein the feedback pins are insulated from the adaptor power pins by an insulation layer lying over the adaptor power pins.

12. The smart adaptor as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising an identification code circuit for generating an identification code.

13. The smart adaptor as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising a transmission circuit, which is coupled to the identification code circuit, for transmitting the identification code to the identification code module when the power pins and the power sockets are connected to each other.

14. The smart socket as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when an unexpected object is inserted to the set of power sockets, a power source switch turns off power such that the unexpected object does not receive the power.

15. The smart socket as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when an expected plug is inserted to the set of power sockets, a mechanism is derived to turn power on such that the expected plug receives the power.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2012
From: CHUNG, SHEN-MING; LEE, HSIAO-HUI; LEE, CHIN-CHEN
To: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Reel/Frame 028319/0078 →
Priority Claims (1)
TW TW100147901 A · Dec 22, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130164971A1 · Jun 27, 2013