WO2003094321A1

WO2003094321A1 - Single input multiple output electrical connector devices

Info

Publication number: WO2003094321A1
Application number: PCT/IB2003/001760
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edward Joseph Khoury
Original assignee: Powastation Limited; Galgut, John
Priority date: 2002-05-06
Filing date: 2003-05-06
Publication date: 2003-11-13
Also published as: AUPS214002A0

Abstract

A single input multiple output device is provided to be connected to a wall socket and to provide power to a plurality of appliances. Should the power drawn by the applicances be greater than the power supply from the wall socket, the power to some or all of the outputs will be reduced. This reduction is efffected by phase control devices, preferably Triacs, controlled by a microprocessor

Description

SINGLE INPUT MULTIPLE OUTPUT ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR DEVICES

This invention relates to single input multiple output electrical connector devices (hereinafter referred to as SIMOD's).

In most buildings there are usually a limited number of power sockets (referred to herein as "wall sockets") built into the walls of the building. With modern developments there are greater requirements for multiple appliances and often it is desired to operate more appliances at one time than there are wall sockets. To overcome this difficulty SIMOD's have been developed. The original SIMOD is the simple "double adapter" being a unit that has on one face connecting pins that connect into the wall socket and on an opposite face a pair of output sockets into which the input pins of two appliances can be connected. Such SIMOD's became more advanced with time. Typically the SIMOD might comprise a larger housing having three or more output sockets. A further development provided a body having a multiplicity of output sockets, the input connection of which is connected by means of a cable having a plug received in the wall socket. With time SIMOD's became more and more sophisticated. Particularly sophisticated SIMOD's are described and shown in International publication number WO 02/097927 in the name of Edward Khoury (hereinafter called the IPP) where the output connector is a much more highly developed unit than the conventional output socket.

A problem that exists with SIMOD's is that if the number of appliances connected to a SIMOD at any^* one time draw more power than the wall socket is designed to deliver, a circuit breaker will come into play disconnecting the wall socket. This is always a source of inconvenience. It is an object of this invention to overcome this disadvantage.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a SIMOD incorporating power input means adapted to be connected to a wall socket; a plurality of outlets being connectors to which appliances can be respectively connected; electronic control means for reducing the power supply to at least one outlet when the power drawn by the appliances attached to the SIMOD exceeds the power capacity of the wall socket. The amount of power reduced may be the total power supply to one or more of the outlets or it may be a reduced amount of the power to some or all the outlets. The SIMOD may have a single controlled outlet although there will usually be a plurality of controlled outlets. The SIMOD will also normally have at least one uncontrolled outlet.

It will be appreciated that for example a number of appliances may be actuated simultaneously including, say, a- kettle, a toaster, a blender and a coffee grinder. It will be appreciated that certain of these appliances could be "dulled" appliances i.e. appliances which are capable of operating relatively successfully with a low power input. Typically a kettle would operate satisfactorily with low power input even though it would pay the penalty of operating less quickly than when subject to the full power supply. Other appliances which may not be able to operate as "dull" appliances are for example a toaster.

A microprocessor is preferably provided to constitute the control means. A synchronizing device is preferably required to ensure accurate operation of the microprocessor. The power control may conveniently be a phase controlling device and for this purpose Triacs are desirably used. The Triac will normally be actuated by a square pulse signal from the microprocessor and will be disconnected only when the amperage is at zero.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings :-

Figure 1 is a four outlet SIMOD connected by a cable to a wall socket; Figure 2 is a four outlet SIMOD provided with pins for insertion into a wall socket; Figure 3 is a sophisticated SIMOD for three appliances adapted to be connected thereto; Figure 4 is a block diagram of a SIMOD of the invention having four outlets for appliances; Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of the SIMOD of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a circuit diagram of a SIMOD similar to that of Figure 5 but excluding an uncontrolled outlet; Figure 7 is a circuit diagram similar to that of Figure 5 but with a single controlled outlet; Figure 8 is a block diagram of a modified SIMOD of the invention; Figure 9 is a circuit diagram of the SIMOD of Figure 8; and Figure 10 is diagrammatic view of a sophisticated wall socket arrangement.

Referring now to Figure 1 there is shown a conventional wall socket 110 as permanently built into a wall 112 of a kitchen or the like. The wall socket 110 is a conventional three aperture socket. In order that power may be drawn at the same time from the wall socket 110 to a number of appliances (which will be described more fully below) a SIMOD 114 is provided. The SIMOD 114 comprises an elongated body 116 having a large front face in which is formed a number of three aperture outlet sockets 118.1, 118.2, 118.3 and 118.4 respectively (which will be referred to in the following diagrams as outlets).

In Figure 2 there is shown a SIMOD 120 having a substantially square body 122 with four three socket outlets 124.1, 124.2, 124.3 and 124.4 on its front face 126. On its rear face, the SIMOD 120 has pins 128 which can fit directly into the wall socket 110. (For clarity these pins 128 are shown enlarged and at locations different to their normal use but as these parts are conventional their position will be apparent to those skilled in the art.)

In Figure 3 there is shown a SIMOD 130 which as far as is illustrated is identical to the SIMOD shown in Figure 3 of the IPP.

For a detailed description of SIMOD 130 reference is to be made to the IPP. It will be seen that there is a base unit 10 shaped so that a kettle 14 can fit thereon. There is an outlet or cordless, connector 4 on the unit 10 and the kettle 14 has a corresponding inlet (which is not shown). Two hinged attached extensions 1 are movable from inoperative positions which are below the base 10 and operative positions which project therefrom. These extensions 1 have outlets or cordless connectors 2 at their ends to engage in corresponding inlets in the other appliances. These outlets may all be the same, but as will be discussed below, preferably the outlets are of different shapes (or two may be the same) so that they can be engaged by the inlets of only certain appliances. As an example the connector 4 on the base may be such that it can be engaged only by the inlet of the kettle and not by the inlet of any other appliance. Similarly the connector 2 at the end of one of the extensions 1 may be such that it can be engaged only by the inlet of the toaster and not by the inlet of any other appliance. Further as is apparent from the previous statement the connectors 2 may both be the same.

Reference is now made to Figure 4 which is a block diagram of SIMOD 300 which is similar to the SIMOD 130 save that it embodies the control device of the invention and has four outlets.

The SIMOD 300 has a single input 302 connected to live and neutral lines 304 and 306 and three controlled outputs (indicated in block 308)(and being different from the SIMOD 130 which is shown as having only two controlled outputs) and one uncontrolled output 310. The neutral line 306 includes a current measuring device and voltage divider 312. A voltage regulator 313 and rectifier is connected to these lines to have a floating 5N voltage drop. The control voltage V_cc and base voltage V_EE from the regulator 313 are supplied to a microprocessor 314 and also to a synchroniser 316. The synchroniser 316 provides a signal to the microprocessor 314 to actuate the gates of three Triacs (indicated in block 318) arranged for the operation of the controlled outputs 308. The micro-processor 314 may be a class of EPROM being a Flash EPROM.

Reference is now made to Figure 5. The measuring device and divider 312 can be a variable voltage divider. Once this has been set for the particular electric power supply being used, the micro-processor 314 will be instructed as to the appropriate power supply to be used. The outlets from the micro-processor 314 from pins 7, 6 and 5 will be respectively connected to the Triacs Tl, T2 and T3. Depending upon the programme put into the memory of the micro-processor 314 any of the following could take place should the total power requirement from the wall socket exceed its power output, (i) The Triacs, 318 are actuated so that all their power requirements are reduced (phased back) by the same proportion; (ii) the gates to successive Triacs may not operate so that first one of the controlled outlets is disconnected, then the second and if necessary then the third is disconnected so that total power demand will be drawn by the uncontrolled outlet and will not exceed the wall socket supply; (iii) one or more Triacs will be actuated (phased back) to reduce the power demand and the remaining controlled outlets will not operate. It will be seen that these and other combinations can be effected depending upon the programme in the micro-processor. It should be mentioned that the Triac gate switching signals normally will be square wave pulses. Once actuated the Triac will remain active until the load current passes to zero when it, the Triac will switch off. The Triacs are operated as is known by altering the phase position of the gate switching signal so that load current can be adjusted from a few percent to nearly 100% of full load current.

The circuit diagram of the SIMOD 300 is shown in Figure 5. There is amperage transformer 410 on the neutral line 306. The secondary coil 412 is connected to a fixed resistor Rl which is connected in series to a variable resistor or potentiometer VR1. The output line 414 is smoothed through a smoothing circuit containing a diode Dl, a capacitor C4 and a Zener diode ZD2 and is connected to pin 2 of the microprocessor 314. The voltage regulator 313 is connected to the neutral and live lines 306 and 304 through a 1 kΩ 1 watt resistor R2, a zener diode ZD1 and a 220μ,F capacitance Cl. Tapped off from between the Zener diode ZD1 and the resistor R2 is a line 416 leading to the voltage input connector VI of the rectifier 313 through rectifier diode D2 with a 10 μF intermediate smoothing capacitor C2 connected to the live line 304. The voltage output connector NO of the rectifier 313 is also connected to the live line 304 by a 10 μF intermediate smoothing capacitor C3. The ground G of the rectifier 313 is connected to the live line 304.

The synchroniser 316 comprises a transistor Q2. The base 420 of the transistor Q2 is connected to the live line 304 through a diode D3 and to the neutral line 306 through a 470 KΩ resistor R3. The collector 422 is connected to the control voltage V_cc through a 3KΩ resistor R4 and is also connected by a synchroniser line 424 to the pin 3 of the micro-processor 314. One connector member (426.1; 426.2 and 426.3) of each controlled output (308.1; 308.2 and 308.3) is connected to the neutral line 306 as is one connector member 428 of the uncontrolled output 310. The other connector member 430 of output 310 is connected to the live line 304. The three Triacs Tl, T2 and T3 each have one end connected to the live line 304 and the other end connected to the other connector member (432.1; 432.2 and 432.3) of each controlled connector (308.1; 308.2 and 308.3). The gates 434.1, 434.2 and.434.3 of the Triacs are connected respectively to pins 5, 6 and 7 of the micro-processor 314 which respectively provide the gate switching signal, normally in the form of a square wave pulse. A metal oxide varistor ("MON") Ml, M2 and M3 is provided in parallel with each Triac to protect against overvoltage spikes. With the development of snubberless Triacs, the MONs may be omitted.

Typical appliances used with the SIMOD are a kettle, a toaster, a coffee grinder, a food processor, a blender and the like. Some or most of the appliances are arranged to be permanently or adjustably set to be time operated so for example a coffee grinder could be permanently or adjustably set to operate for sixty seconds (hereinafter called "the working period"). Other appliances such as a kettle will incorporate a thermostat to determine the working period (i.e. in this case when the water has boiled).

In use, the kettle is normally connected to a controlled output 308.1, two other appliances are connected to the remaining controlled outlets 308 and a fourth appliance connected to an uncontrolled outlet. Assuming the power to be drawn to operate all these connected appliances is greater than the power supplied by the wall socket ("the WS power"), a suitable control depending upon the software arrangement of the microprocessor 314 comes into effect. Typically, the gate signals for the Triacs would be operated so that the total power drawn by the appliances connected to the controlled and uncontrolled contacts is no greater than the WS power. In particular the kettle will be provided with reduced power. When one of the appliances completes its working period it will switch itself off and the amount of total power being drawn will of course fall. The micro-processor 314 will alter the timing of the gate signals so that the current load for the appliances connected to the remaining controlled outlets will increase. When the working operation of another appliance terminates, the third controlled output will be actuated appropriately. .

It will be understood further that the user of the SIMOD may initially operate say one or two appliances and then additional appliances may be connected thereto as required. The micro-processor will control the operation accordingly.

Reference is now made to Figure 6 which illustrates a SIMOD 340 that is substantially identical to the SIMOD 300 save that all the outputs 450 are controlled (i.e. there is no uncontrolled output). Reference is made to Figure 7. The SIMOD 330 is shown with only one outlet which is a controlled outlet 452.

The block diagram for the SIMOD 340 is similar to the block diagram for the SIMOD 300 save that a MOSFET (metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor) 342 is provided. The MOSFET 342 is located between the micro processor 314 and the Triac 318. The MOSFET 342 is voltage controlled so that it will not draw current from the microprocessor 314 but supplies adequate current for the switching signal to the gate of the Triac 318.

Reference is now made to the circuit diagram of the SIMOD 340. This SIMOD 340 has a pair of uncontrolled outlets 362 and 364 and a single controlled outlet 366. The live line 304 is connected to one connector of each of the two controlled outlets 362 and 364. It passes through a three watt shunt R6. The power is smoothed through a circuit comprising a Zener diode VR1 with a parallel capacitor Cl and a pair of series diodes D3₂ and D3₃. A line 368 is tapped off between these diodes D3₂ and D3₃ to pin 2 of the microprocessor 314 with a 2 MΩ ^lA watt resistor supplying synchronization for the microprocessor. A voltage divider 460 comprising a 10Ω ^XA watt resistor R7 with a smoothing resistor and capacitors C2 is connected to the downside end of the shunt R6. It is also connected to pin 7 of the microprocessor 314 between two rectifier diodes D4₂, D4₃.

The MOSFET Ql is connected to the live line 302 and the pin 1 of the microprocessor of the output through a 10KΩ VΛ watt resistor R4. The source S and the drain D of the MOSFET Ql are connected by means of a 10 kΩ VΛ watt resistor. Th drain D of the MOSFET Ql is connected to the gate G of the Triac MT2 (which is a snubberless Triac), controlling the Triac MT2.

A power LED D7 is connected between the live and neutral lines with an extra diode D2 and two 33 KΩ 1 watt resistors Rl and R2. This will enable the user to know that the SIMOD 340 is in use. A further LED D6 is provided across the power line and the controlled line KPWR. When the kettle connected to the control outlet is drawing full load this diode will shine dully or be off. When the kettle is being phased back it will be dulled or off and LED D6 will shine brightly. One connector of each of the outlets is connected to the neutral line.

It will be noted that the maximum power setting for the SIMOD 340 is fixed unlike the SIMOD 300 which is^" capable of having its maximum power setting adjusted by the voltage divider.

The electronic systems described can be applied by those skilled in the art in any one of the SIMODs described including the double adapter. It will be appreciated in particular that the electronic arrangements herein described can be used with any of the SIMODS illustrated in the IPP.

An advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that aesthetically very pleasing arrangements can be provided. These include highly sophisticated and attractive wall socket arrangements as shown in Figure 10. Here extension pieces 480 connected to a sophisticated wall socket can be swung out from the wall into operative positions and returned to a rear position in which they are covered by panels 482 in inoperative positions. Thus the "wall socket" beside the working surface of the kitchen can be camouflaged by the panels to provide an elegant surface which does not look like a working surface. This surface can be converted into the working surface easily by swinging the panels 482 upwards and the extension pieces 480 outside.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely various features of the invention which are for brevity described in the context of a single embodiment may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination.

The invention is not limited to the precise constructional details hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings.

Claims

1. A single input multiple output electrical connector device incorporating power input means adapted to be connected to a wall socket; a plurality of outlets being connectors to which appliances can be respectively connected; electronic control means for reducing the power supply to at least one outlet when the power drawn by the. appliances attached to the SIMOD exceeds the power capacity of the wall socket.

2 A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the amount of power reduced in at least one outlet may be the total power supply to that outlet.

3 A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the amount of power reduced in at least one outlet may be a reduced amount above zero power supply to that outlet.

4 A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the amount of power reduced in at least one outlet may be a variable amount of power.

5 A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the device has a single controlled outlet.

6 A device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the device comprises a plurality of controlled outlets. 7 A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the device comprises at least one uncontrolled outlet.

8 A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a microprocessor is provided to constitute the control means.

9 A device as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a synchronizing device to ensure accurate operation of the microprocessor.

10 A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the control means is comprised by one or more phase controlling devices.

11 A device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the phase controlling device/s are Triacs.

12 A method of limiting the power to be delivered to one or more of a number of appliances connected to single wall socket to an amount less than the power that can be supplied by the wall socket comprising electronic control means for reducing the power supply to at least one of the appliances when the power drawn by the appliances exceeds a given power rating.

13 A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the amount of power reduced to at least one of the appliances may be the total power supply to that appliance.

14 A device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the amount of power reduced in at least one appliance may be a reduced amount above zero power supply to that appliance. 15 A device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the amount of power reduced in at least one appliance may be a variable amount of power.

16 A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 13, 14 or 15 wherein a microprocessor constitutes the control means.

17 A device as claimed in claim 16 further comprising a synchronizing device to ensure accurate operation of the microprocessor.

18 A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 13 to 17 wherein the control means is comprised by one or more phase controlling devices.

19 A device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the phase controlling device/s are Triacs.

20 A single input multiple output electrical connector device including control means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the drawings.

21 A method of limiting the power to be delivered to one or more of a number of appliances connected to single wall socket substantially as hereinbefore described.