Intelligent, self-monitoring AC power plug
OwnerTony Lutz, Guy Hansen +1inventors
InventorsTony Lutz, Guy Hansen, Mike Harney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is an electronic circuit assembled onto a miniature printed circuit board and assembled into an AC plug body such that the AC mains connect to terminals on or connected to the printed circuit board. The circuit contains a filtered power supply, microcontroller, and external interface, such that the plug may be connected to a special interface connector in order for data to be exchanged with a PC or computer or other programmer/reader device. A current sensor is employed and a voltage sensor is also employed. From the combined readings from the voltage sensor and the current sensor, the embedded program running on the microcontroller can determine the power being consumed by the loading device.
Claims20
A microprocessor-controlled, self-monitoring AC power plug comprising:
- an AC power plug body;
- and
- a printed circuit board contained within the AC power plug body and having AC
- main lines connected to the board, said printed circuit board containing:
- a. a microcontroller;
- b. a power supply connected to the AC main lines for supplying power from the AC main lines to said microcontroller;
- c. an external interface, such that said power plug may be connected to an interface connector for data from said power plug to be exchanged with a computer;
- d. a current sensor;
- e. a voltage sensor;
- wherein measurements from the current sensor and voltage sensor are used by a program on the microcontroller to determine the power being consumed through the power plug.
A microprocessor-controlled, self-monitoring AC power plug comprising:
- an AC power plug body;
- and
- a printed circuit board contained within the AC power plug body and having AC
- main lines connected to the board, said printed circuit board containing:
- a. a microcontroller;
- b. a power supply connected to the AC main lines for supplying power from the AC main lines to said microcontroller;
- c. an external interface, such that said power plug may be connected to an interface connector for data from said power plug to be exchanged with a reader device;
- d. a current sensor;
- e. a voltage sensor;
- wherein measurements from the current sensor and voltage sensor are used by a program on the microcontroller to determine the power being consumed through the power plug.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.