Electrical outlet having wireless control capabilities
View Patent ↗A line-in power is connectable to the disclosed outlet housing similar to any known power outlet. This provided power is used to drive an AC/DC converter to create a DC bus internal to the outlet housing. This DC bus powers the electronics, including, for example, a wireless transceiver incorporated within the outlet housing. In at least one instance, the wireless transceiver will receive a command from another wireless device to turn power ON or OFF to the local outlet and the downstream (e.g. daisychained, etc.) outlets. These outlets can be wired to the output terminations (push-in and/or other) on the back of the local outlet and/or outlet housing, or may be connected through any other suitable electrical connection.
1. An electrical outlet component, comprising:
a housing having a line-side connection interface arranged for electrically coupling the electrical outlet component to a source of electrical power and a load-side connection interface for electrically coupling the electrical outlet component to an electrical power receiving device;
one or more US National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) outlets mounted within the housing, the one or more NEMA outlets being separate and distinct from the load-side connection interface;
a power controller electrically coupled to the line-side connection interface and the one or more NEMA outlets and operable to control a bringing of power to the one or more NEMA outlets and the load-side connection interface from the line-side connection; and
a wireless receiver electrically coupled to the power controller for receiving a first signal from a device external to the outlet component and for generating, in response thereto, a second signal for controlling operations of the power controller.
2. The electrical outlet component as recited in claim 1 , wherein the line-side connection interface is arranged for releasably and electrically coupling the outlet component to an AC power system.
3. The electrical outlet component as recited in claim 1 , wherein the load-side connection interface comprises at least one of a push-in type wire contact, an IDC type wire contact, an IPC type wire contact, a crimp type wire contact, or a weld type wire contact for engaging a corresponding one or more wires associated with the electrical power receiving device.
4. The electrical outlet component as recited in claim 1 , wherein the power controller functions as an on/off power controller.
5. The electrical outlet component as recited in claim 1 , wherein the power controller functions as a dimming power controller.
6. The electrical outlet component as recited in claim 1 , wherein the power controller comprises at least one of an Opto-isolator, an SCR, a FET, transistor, or a MEMS switch.
7. The electrical outlet component as recited in claim 1 , comprising a DC-DC converter electrically coupled to the line-side connection interface and the receiver for providing power to the receiver.
8. The electrical outlet component as recited in claim 1 , wherein the receiver is directly, electrically coupled to the line-side connection interface which provides power to the receiver.
9. The electrical outlet component as recited in claim 1 , wherein the receiver is a wireless receiver.
10. The electrical outlet component as recited in claim 9 wherein the wireless received operates at at least one of approximately 900 MHz, or approximately 2.4 GHz.
11. The electrical outlet component as recited in claim 1 , comprising a battery for providing power to the receiver.
12. The electrical outlet component as recited in claim 1 , wherein the receiver comprises a transceiver.
13. The electrical outlet component as recited in claim 1 , wherein the receiver is provided with an address.
14. The electrical outlet component as recited in claim 13 , comprising an address setting device associated with the receiver.
15. The electrical outlet component as recited in claim 1 , wherein the line-side connector comprises at least one of a push-in type wire contact, an IDC type wire contact, an IPC type wire contact, a crimp type wire contact, or a weld type wire contact for engaging a corresponding one or more wires associated with the source of electrical power.
16. The electrical outlet component as recited in claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors operably coupled to the one or more NEMA outlets to measure at least one operating parameter associated with use of the one or more NEMA outlets.
17. The electrical outlet component as recited in claim 16 , wherein the wireless receiver is a transceiver, and wherein the sensed at least one operating parameter associated with use of the one or more NEMA outlets is transmitted via the transceiver to a remotely located device.