Closed loop, programmable power and communication system

A closed loop, programmable power and communication system for a building said, system including a control interface means, a power source means supplied from exterior of said building, a plurality of receptacle means throughout the building at locations where power is required, means for supplying power form said power source means to said control interface means, a plurality of power distribution cables extending one each from said contol interface means to said receptacles, said power source means having means for providing AC or DC power to said conductors including means for supplying power form said power source means to said control interface means, each cable including a pair of electrical power conductors and an optical fiber for transmitting light signals simultaneously in both directions between said control interface means and each receptacle, each receptacle including socket means for reception of a plug of an appliance, said socket having openings in a face thereof for matingly receiving prongs of said plug, and an optical coupler disposed in said face in the vicinity of said openings, said optical coupler communicating with the optical fiber of the cable extending to the receptacle and providing a signal receiving and transmitting means of the recepacle, said control interface means having means for transmitting optical signals to the optical fiber of each cable and receiving optical signals therefrom, and switching means controlled by said control interface means in response to signals received thereby for controlling power flow from said power source to the power conductors of each cable.

A closed loop, programmable power and communication system for a building, said system including a control interface means, a power source means, a plurality of receptacle means throughout the building at locations where power is required, means for supplying power form said power source means to said control interface means, and a plurality of power distribution cables extending one each from said contol interface means to said receptacles, each cable including a pair of electrical power conductors and an optical fiber for transmitting light signals simultaneously in both directions between said control interface means and each receptacle, each receptacle including socket means for reception of a plug of an appliance, said socket having openings in a face thereof for matingly receiving prongs of said plug, and an optical coupler disposed in said face in the vicinity of said openings, said optical coupler communicating with the optical fiber of the cable extending to the receptacle and providing a signal receiving and transmitting means of the recepacle, said control interface means having means for transmitting optical signals to the optical fiber of each cable and receiving optical signals therefrom, switching means controlled by said control interface means in response to ignals received thereby for controlling power flow from said power source to the power conductors of each cable, a conduit for transferring fluid within said building, and outlet means for said conduit and including mechanical coupler means for connecting said conduit to other conduits, said conduit including an optical fiber extending therealong and being provided with an optical coupler at said outlet means for alignment with an optical coupler in said other conduits, said optical fiber in said conduit being in communication with said control interface means for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough.

A switch means for use in a closed loop, programmable power and communication system for a building, said system including a power source means, a control interface means, means for providing power communication between said power source and control interface means, a plurality of receptacle means throughout the building at locations where power is required, a plurality of power distribution cables extending one each from said control interface means to said receptacles, and an optical fiber extending from the control interface means to each receptacle for transmitting light signals simultaneously in both directions between said control interface means and each receptacle, each receptacle having a signal receiving and transmitting means in communication with said optical fiber extending thereto, and said control interface means having means for continuously transmitting signals to the optical fiber of each cable and receiving signals therefrom, and means controlled by said control interface means in response to signals received thereby for separately controlling power flow from said power source to each cable;

• said switch means including means for receiving and end of an optical fiber having the opposite end thereof connected to said control interface means for receiving a continuous interrogative signal therefrom, a manually activated member movable between two positions, and a retroreflective element connected to said member and movable on movement of said member between the two positions from a position facing said end of said optical fiber to a position away from the end of said optical fiber, said element in said facing position reflecting said interrogative signal into the end of said optical cable, whereby said control interface means is informed of the movement of said member between the two positions.

A switch means for use in a closed loop, programmable power and communication system for a building, said system including a power source means, a control interface means, a plurality of receptacle means throughout the building at locations where power is required, and a plurality of power distribution cables extending one each from said power source through said control interface means to said receptacles and including a pair of electrical power conductors, an optical fiber extending from said control interface means to each receptacle for transmitting light signals simultaneously in both directions between said control interface means and each receptacle, each receptacle having a signal receiving and/or transmitting means in communication with said optical fiber extending thereto, said control interface having means for continuously transmitting signals to the optical fiber and receiving signals therefrom, and means controlled by said interface in response to signals received thereby for controlling power flow from said power source to the power conductors of each cable;

• said switching means including means for receiving ends of a pair of optical fibers one of which has an opposite end thereof connected to said control interface for receiving a continuous interrogative signal therefrom, said ends of said optical fibers terminating in said switch in a pair of spaced lenses capable of transmitting light signals therebetween, a manually activated member movable between two positions, and an obscuring element connected to said member and movable on movement of said member between the two position from a position between said lenses to a position away from said lenses whereby the travel of said interrogative signal through said switch means can be selectively interrupted.