AU2012100124B4 - A wall-mounted energy saving multi-socket power fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

- 22 Abstract A WALL-MOUNTED ENERGY SAVING MULTI-SOCKET POWER FITTING 5 Disclosed is an energy saving power fitting (100) configured for wall mounting, the power fitting comprising: a housing (104) configured for wall mounting; at least one socket module (119) mated to a facing plate (210) of the housing and accessible for connection to a corresponding at least one electrical load (121); and a power feed controller (105) including a sensor (115) configured to receive a sensed parameter (129) and output a 10 sensor signal (106) dependent upon the sensed parameter, the power feed controller configured to provide, dependent upon the sensor signal , a power control signal (111) to enable the at least one socket module to provide power to the corresponding at least one connected electrical load.

Description

S&F Ref: P026148 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION Name and Address Jackson Trademark Holdings Pty Limited, of Applicant: an Australian company, ACN 151 692 134, of 16 Brookhollow Avenue, Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, 2153, Australia Actual Inventor(s): Thomas Phillip Jackson Address for Service: Spruson & Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 35 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Invention Title: A wall-mounted energy saving multi-socket power fitting The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 5843c(5972311_ I) - 1 A WALL-MOUNTED ENERGY SAVING MULTI-SOCKET POWER FITTING Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to electrical fittings, and in particular, to a power saving multi-socket power fitting for use in domestic and commercial buildings. Background 5 Although electric power has been one of the key factors in improving the quality of life in the modem world, a growing emphasis on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is leading to an increasing focus on electric power conservation. New buildings can benefit from incorporation of energy saving approaches during the design and construction phases. However, the large installed base of existing buildings is less amenable to incorporation of 10 electric power conservation mechanisms. Summary It is an object of the present invention to ameliorate one or more disadvantages of existing arrangements. Disclosed are arrangements, referred to as Sensor-Based Power Reduction 15 (SBPR) arrangements, which seek to address the above problems by providing smart power technology modules suitable for incorporation into new buildings, and particularly suitable for retrofitting into existing buildings, utilising a sensed parameter to determine if power is to be switched on or off. Thus for example a typical computer system may comprise a computer module 20 and a number of peripherals such as a display, a printer, a sound system, external memory modules and so on. Many of these peripheral devices, such as the external memory modules and sound system for example, operate only when the computer module is powered up. Other devices, such as the printer, can operate without the computer module, -2 as is the case with many printer / copier devices, which can make copies of documents without the computer module being powered up. In such systems, when a user switches off the computer, he may often forget to switch off the peripherals, and this leads to unnecessary electric power consumption. The disclosed SBPR arrangement implemented 5 in a master/slave configuration senses whether the computer (master) device is on, and enables power to be provided to the slave peripherals (eg the sound system) dependent upon whether the master device is consuming power. Other SBPR arrangements sense whether connected devices have received a remote-control signal, and depending upon this sensed parameter, enable or disable provision of power to devices connected to the SBPR 10 power fitting. The inventor realized that by providing SBPR power fittings at suitable locations in a home or office, devices can be automatically powered down depending upon a state of the sensed parameter. These SBPR power sockets (also referred to as SBPR power fittings) constitute a powerful tool in addressing the reduction of power consumption, in a manner 15 which enables introduction of smart power technology into new buildings, and also enables retrofitting of smart power technology into existing buildings. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an energy saving power fitting configured for wall mounting, the power fitting comprising: a housing configured for wall mounting; 20 a master socket module and at least one slave socket module mated to a facing plate of the housing and accessible for connection to a master load and a corresponding at least one slave electrical load, said master socket being configured to provide mains power to a connected master load; and -3 a power feed controller including a sensor configured to receive a sensed parameter and output a sensor signal dependent upon the sensed parameter, the power feed controller configured to provide, dependent upon the sensor signal, a power control signal to enable the at least one slave socket module to provide said mains power to the 5 corresponding at least one connected slave electrical load; wherein: the sensor comprises a power flow sensor configured to determine if the master socket module is providing said mains power to the connected master load ; and the power feed controller is configured to activate a mechanical switch or an electronic switch to enable the at least one slave socket module to provide the mains power to the 10 corresponding connected slave load if the power flow sensor determines that the master socket module is providing the mains power to the connected master load. Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed. Brief Description of the Drawings At least one embodiment of the present invention will now be described with 15 reference to the drawings and appendices, in which: Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram of an SBPR fitting; Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a master/slave SBPR fitting mounted in a cavity wall; Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram of the master/slave SBPR fitting depicted in 20 Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a flow chart of a process depicting operation of a power feed controller in the master/slave SBPR fitting of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of one example of the processing module in Fig. 3; and -3a Figs. 6A and 6B collectively form a schematic block diagram representation of an electronic device which the described SBPR arrangements can utilise for implementing needed control functions. Detailed Description including Best Mode 5 Where reference is made in any one or more of the accompanying drawings to steps and/or features, which have the same reference numerals, those steps and/or features have for the purposes of this description the same function(s) or operation(s), unless the contrary intention appears.

-4 It is to be noted that the discussions contained in the "Background" section and the section above that relate to prior art arrangements relate to discussions of devices which may form public knowledge through their use. Such discussions should not be interpreted as a representation by the present inventor(s) or the patent applicant that such 5 devices in any way form part of the common general knowledge in the art. In many circumstances, it is desirable to conserve energy by reducing standby electric power consumption. The disclosed SBPR fittings may be retro-fitted into existing buildings, or may be used as standard electrical fittings to be installed into new homes and offices. The SBPR fittings should be installed by appropriately qualified and certified 10 electricians, in the same manner as other electrical fittings. The SBPR arrangements seek to reduce standby power consumption of electronic devices by disconnecting them from mains power 301 (see Fig. 3) when they are not in use. In master/slave SBPR arrangements, this is accomplished by monitoring the state of a device 320 (such as a television or computer) plugged into a master socket 221 by 15 measuring, using a power flow sensor 306, power consumption of the device 320 and changing the state of slave sockets 322, 324 in response to this measured power consumption. When the measured power consumption is determined to be below a pre determined or calculated threshold value, it is assumed that the master device 320 has been switched off, and that the slave device(s) 322, 324 are no longer needed. At this point, the 20 slave sockets 311, 314 are disconnected from the mains power 301. Conversely, when the measured power consumption of the master device 320 is determined to be above the threshold value, it is assumed that the slave devices 322, 324 are needed for operation, at which point they are energised.

-5 In a described master/slave example of the SBPR arrangement, the power flow sensor 306 is a current sensor in the form of a current sensing transformer. A processing circuit 308 uses a comparator 506 (see Fig. 5) that is provided with a reference voltage 503. A device 316, used to control the slave sockets 311, 314, is a relay. Clearly, other 5 components can be used for these functions in the SBPR arrangements. Thus, the current sensor used as the power flow sensor 306 could be replaced with a current shunt, and/or the relay device used as the switch 306 to control the slave sockets 311, 314 could be replaced with a Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR). In the disclosed master/slave SBPR arrangement example, there are two slave 10 device sockets 311, 314, one master socket 320 and one independent socket 326 for a device which is "always-on". Clearly other combinations of sockets can be used, and for example there could be a single master and a single slave socket or there could be various other combinations of sockets, using either standard or non-standard wall fittings. The disclosed SBPR arrangements obviate the need for additional external energy 15 saving devices, and provide a cost-effective and energy effective approach to both making new buildings more energy efficient, and/or upgrading existing buildings to a more energy efficient regime. The disclosed SBPR arrangements may comprise an energy saving power fitting (100) configured for wall mounting, the power fitting (100) comprising: a housing (104) 20 configured for wall mounting; at least one socket module (119, 124) mated to a facing plate (210) of the housing (104) and accessible for connection to a corresponding at least one electrical load (121, 126); and a power feed controller (105) including a sensor (115) configured to receive a sensed parameter (129) and output a sensor signal (106) dependent upon the sensed parameter (129), the power feed controller (105) configured to provide, -6 dependent upon the sensor signal (106), a power control signal (111) to enable the at least one socket module (119, 124) to provide power (127, 128) to the corresponding at least one connected electrical load (121, 126). The housing may be configured for mounting on a surface of the wall or through an aperture in the wall. The sensor (115) may comprise a 5 remote control receiver, and the sensed parameter (129) may comprise a remote control signal received by the remote control receiver from a remote control transmitter. The power feed controller (105) may further comprise a timer responsive to the sensor signal (106), the timer being configured to determine if a specified period of time has elapsed after the sensed parameter (129) is sensed by the sensor (115); and the power feed 10 controller (105) may be configured to prevent the at least one socket module (119, 124) from providing power (127, 128) to the corresponding at least one connected electrical load (121, 126) after said predetermined period has elapsed. The power control signal (111) may activate a mechanical switch or an electronic switch (112) to enable the at least one socket module (119, 124) to provide power (127, 128) to the corresponding at least 15 one connected electrical load (121, 126). The at least one socket module may comprise a master socket module (309) and at least one slave socket module (311, 314); wherein the sensor comprises a power flow sensor configured to determine if the master socket module (309) is providing power to a connected master load (320); and the power feed controller (327) is configured to enable 20 the at least one slave socket module (311, 314) to provide power to a connected slave load (322, 324) if the power flow sensor (306) determines that the master socket module (309) is providing power to a connected master load (320). The energy saving power fitting may further comprise an independent socket module (318) configured to provide power to a connected independent load (326) irrespective of whether the master socket module (221) -7 provides power to the connected master load (320). The energy saving power fitting may further comprise at least one switch (220) configured to interrupt flow of electric power from the fitting (100) to the connected master load. Fig. 2 is a schematic representation 200 of a master/slave SBPR fitting 224 5 mounted in a cavity wall 227. A side view 212 shows the cavity wall 227 having a rear wall plate 201, and a front wall plate 204. An aperture 228, 229 has been created in the front wall plate 204 to enable a housing 203 of the SBPR fitting 224 to be mounted in the front wall plate 204. Mounting hardware for mounting the housing 203 in the front wall plate 204 has not been shown. However, for example, in the case of a plaster wall, a 10 standard "C-Clip" bracket may be used. In the case where it is not desirable to cut into the wall, a standard wall block may also be used. The mounting method for each specific installation can be determined by the installer at the time of install. A switch module 220 and an associated socket module 221 are visible in the side view 212. A bezel 217, 216, shown in sectional view, is fitted around the front section of 15 the housing 203 in order to mask the aperture 228, 229. Electrical power is provided to the SBPR fitting 224 within the wall cavity 226, described hereinafter in more detail with reference to a top view 213. A front view 214 shows a section 211 of the wall front plate 204 in which the SBPR fitting 224 is mounted. A bezel 215 (corresponding to the sectional views of the 20 bezel 217 and 216 in the side view 212), surrounds a power fitting facing plate 210 in order to mask the aperture 228, 229. The front view 214 shows the (master) socket module 221 and the associated switch 220, two slave socket modules 311, 314 and an independent socket module 318, these being described in more detail hereinafter with reference to Fig. 3.

- 8 A top view 213 shows a power fitting connecting cord 208 used to connect the SBPR fitting 224 to a power source 301 (see Fig. 3). This connection is typically made via a power source cord 206 which forms part of the building power wiring (not shown). The power fitting connecting cord 208 is typically connected to the power source cord 206 at a 5 junction (connection) point 207 by a licensed electrician using standard electrical wiring accessories. The socket module 221 and the switch module 220 are also visible in the top view 213. Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram 300 of the master/slave power reduction fitting 224 depicted in Fig. 2. The master//slave SBPR fitting 224 is connected to the 10 power source 301 via the power fitting connecting cord 208 which in turn is connected to the power source cord 206. The SBPR fitting 224 has the master socket module 221, the first slave socket module 311, the second slave socket module 314 and the independent socket module 318. These socket modules are connectable, as depicted by respective dashed lines 319, 321, 323 and 325, to a master load 320, a first slave load 322, a second is slave load 324, and an independent load 326. Power from the source 301 is delivered, as depicted by the power source cord 206 and the power fitting connecting cord 208 to a bus 304. From this bus 304 a connection 331 delivers power, via the power flow sensor 306 to the switch 220. From the switch 220, power is delivered via a connection 305 to the master socket module 221. It is apparent 20 that when the switch 220 is closed, power is delivered in an uninterrupted manner from the source 301 to the master socket module 221, which can then provide power, as depicted by a dashed line 319, to the connected master load 320. If the switch 220 is opened, thereby interrupting the flow of power, then the master load 320 no longer receives power from the master socket module 221.

-9 Power from the bus 304 is delivered, as depicted by a connection 317, to a switch 328. When the switch 328 is closed, power is delivered, as depicted by a dashed line 334, to the independent socket module 318. If the switch 328 is closed, then power is provided in an uninterrupted manner from the source 301 to the independent socket module 318, 5 which is then able to provide power to an independent load 326, as depicted by a dashed arrow 325. When the switches 220 and 328 are closed, therefore, power flows in an uninterrupted manner from the source 301 to the connected master load 320 and the connected independent load 326. 10 Power is delivered from the bus 304 by means of a connection 332 to a switch 316 in a power feed controller 327. The switch 316 is operated, as depicted by a dashed arrow 312, by a processing module 308, described hereinafter in regard to Fig. 5 in more detail. The processing module 308 is connected, as depicted by a connection 307, to the power flow sensor 306. In operation, when power flows in the connection 331 to the connected 15 master load 320, then this power flow is detected by the power flow sensor 306, which communicates a value of the power flow to the processing unit 308. The processing unit 308 in turn closes the switch 316 in order to enable power to flow from the bus 304 to slave socket modules 311 and 314, provided that respective switches 330 and 329 are closed. When this happens, power can flow from the source 301 to a connected slave load 20 322, as depicted by a dashed line 321, and to a connected slave load 324, as depicted by a dashed line 323, from the respective slave socket modules 311 and 314. In operation, therefore, provided that the switches 220, 330, 329 and 328 are closed, power flows in an uninterrupted manner from the source 301 to the connected master load 320 and the connected independent load 326. When the master load 320 draws - 10 power from the source 301, the power feed controller 327 closes the switch 316 and enables power to flow from the source 301 to the connected slave loads 322 and 324. The connected independent load 326 has no effect on any of the other connected loads. The described arrangement 300 effects an arrangement for energy saving, as can 5 be seen quite simply by considering a situation in which the master load 320 is a computer, the first slave load 322 is an external hard drive connected to the computer 320, the slave load 324 is a sound system connected to the computer 320, and the independent load 326 is a printer/copier. The external hard drive 322 and the sound system 324 only operate when the computer 320 is operating. Accordingly, when the computer 320 is switched off using to the switch 220, for example, then the power feed controller 327 senses the cessation of power flow in the connection 331 using the power flow sensor 306 and opens the switch 316 in order to prevent power flowing to the external hard drive 322 and the sound system 324. In the event that the user of the computer 320 switches off the computer but forgets to switch off the external hard drive and the sound system 311 and 314 respectively, the is disclosed SBPR arrangement automatically interrupts power to the external hard drive and the sound system 322, 324 respectively thereby saving the power that would otherwise have been used by inadvertently leaving these devices switched on. In contrast, the printer/copier may be used even if the computer 320 is switched off. Accordingly, the printer/copier 326 is connected to the independent socket module 318 which is not affected 20 by whether the computer 320 is operating or not. Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing a process 400 depicting operation of the power feed controller 327 used in the master/slave SBPR arrangement. The process 400 commences with a decision step 404 in which the power feed controller 327 determines whether the master socket module 221 is providing power to the connected master load 320. If this is - 11 the case, then the process 400 follows a YES arrow 402 to a step 403, in which the power feed controller 327 provides power to the slave loads 322 and 324 by closing the switch 316. The process 400 then follows an arrow 401 back to the decision step 404. If, on the other hand, the decision step 404 determines that power is no longer flowing to the master 5 load 320, then the process 400 follows NO arrow 405 to a step 406 in which the power feed controller 327 does not provide power to the connected slave loads 322 and 324, by opening the switch 316. The process 400 then follows an arrow 407 back to the decision step 404. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of one example of the processing module 308 used 10 in the master/slave SBPR arrangement in Fig. 3. In the example shown in Fig. 5 the power sensor 306 provides, as depicted by the connection 307, a signal reflecting the power flowing in the connection 331 to the connected master load 320. This signal is suitably conditioned in a power conditioning module 505, and the conditioned signal reflecting the power in the connection 331 is provided, as depicted by a connection 504, to a comparator 15 module 506. The line voltage in the bus 304 is provided, as depicted by a connection 501, to a power conditioning module 502. The power conditioning module 502 provides power to the comparator 506, as depicted by a connection 507, and also provides a pre determined reference signal to the comparator 506 as depicted by a connection 503. The comparator 506 compares the reference signal 503 to the signal 504 which reflects the 20 power flowing in the connection 331, and depending upon this comparison, provides a control signal, as depicted by the connection 312 to the switch 316 in Fig. 3. Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram 100 of a generalised energy saving SBPR fitting in a housing 104. The SBPR fitting is connected to a power source 101 via the power fitting connecting cord 103 which in turn is connected to the power source cord 102.

- 12 The SBPR fitting 104 in this example has two socket modules 119, 124. These socket modules are connectable, as depicted by respective dashed lines 120, 125 to respective loads 121, 126, thereby providing those loads with electric power as depicted by respective arrows 127, 128. 5 Power from the source 101 is delivered, as depicted by the power source cord 102 and the power fitting connecting cord 103 to a switch 112. From the switch 112, power is delivered via a connection 113 to the socket module 124 via a switch 123 and a connection 122. It is apparent that when the switches 112 and 123 are closed, power is delivered in an uninterrupted manner from the source 101 to the socket module 124, which can then 10 provide power 128, as depicted by the dashed line 125, to the connected load 126. If the switch 112 is opened, thereby interrupting the flow of power, then the load 126 no longer receives power 128 from the socket module 124. Power is also delivered, as depicted by a connection 110, to a switch 117. When the switches 112 and 117 are closed, power is delivered, via the switch 117 and a 15 connection 118 to the socket module 119. If the switches 112 and 117 are closed, then power is provided in an uninterrupted manner from the source 101 to the socket module 119, which is then able to provide power 127 to the load 121, as depicted by a dashed arrow 120. Power is delivered from the source 101 to the switch 112 which is incorporated in 20 a power feed controller 105. The switch 112 is operated, as depicted by a power control signal 111 as depicted by a dashed arrow 109, by a processing module 108. The processing module 108 is connected, as depicted by a connection 107, to a sensor 115. The sensor 115 is responsive, as depicted by a dashed line 16, to a sensed parameter 129 which may, depending upon the specific attributes of the sensor 115, be (a) the power - 13 flowing in the connection 331 to the master load 320 (see Fig. 3), or (b) a signal generated by a remote control (not shown) used to control one of the loads 121, 126, or (c) a signal generated by a remote control (not shown) used to control the SBPR fitting 104 itself, or (d) an infrared signal indicating the presence of a person in the field of view of the sensor 5 115, and so on. In operation, when the sensor 115 senses the sensed parameter, then the sensor communicates a sensor signal 106 representative of the value of the sensed parameter 129 to the processing unit 108. The processing unit 108 in turn closes the switch 112, provided that the value of the sensor signal 106 meets certain pre-defined or calculated criteria, in 10 order to enable power to flow to the socket modules 119, 124, provided that the respective switches 117 and 123 are closed. When this happens, power can flow from the source 101 to the connected loads 121, 126. Figs. 6A and 6B collectively form a schematic block diagram representation of an electronic device which the described SBPR arrangements can utilise for implementing 15 needed control functions such as those performed by the power feed controllers 105, 327. As seen in Fig. 6A, the electronic device 601 comprises an embedded controller 602. Accordingly, the electronic device 601 may be referred to as an "embedded device." In the present example, the controller 602 has a processing unit (or processor) 605 which is bi-directionally coupled to an internal storage module 609. The storage 20 module 609 may be formed from non-volatile semiconductor read only memory (ROM) 660 and semiconductor random access memory (RAM) 670, as seen in Fig. 6B. The RAM 670 may be volatile, non-volatile or a combination of volatile and non-volatile memory.

- 14 The electronic device 601 also includes peripherals 613 which are typically formed by the sensor 115 and the switch 112 (see Fig. 1). The electronic device 601 is configured to perform the SBPR function. The SBPR methods, such as the method depicted in Fig. 4 for the master/slave 5 SBPR arrangement, may be implemented using the embedded controller 602, where the process of Fig. 4 may be implemented as one or more software application programs 633 executable within the embedded controller 602. The electronic device 601 of Fig. 6A implements the described methods. In particular, with reference to Fig. 6B, the steps of the described methods are effected by instructions in the software 633 that are carried out 10 within the controller 602. The software instructions may be formed as one or more code modules, each for performing one or more particular tasks. The software may also be divided into two separate parts, in which a first part and the corresponding code modules performs the described methods and a second part and the corresponding code modules manage a user interface between the first part and the user. 15 The software 633 of the embedded controller 602 is typically stored in the non volatile ROM 660 of the internal storage module 609. The software 633 stored in the ROM 660 can be updated when required from a computer readable medium. The software 633 can be loaded into and executed by the processor 605. In some instances, the processor 605 may execute software instructions that are located in RAM 670. Software 20 instructions may be loaded into the RAM 670 by the processor 605 initiating a copy of one or more code modules from ROM 660 into RAM 670. Alternatively, the software instructions of one or more code modules may be pre-installed in a non-volatile region of RAM 670 by a manufacturer. After one or more code modules have been located in - 15 RAM 670, the processor 605 may execute software instructions of the one or more code modules. The application program 633 is typically pre-installed and stored in the ROM 660 by a manufacturer, prior to distribution of the electronic device 601. However, in some 5 instances, the application programs 633 may be supplied to the user encoded on one or more CD-ROM (not shown) and read via the portable memory interface 606 of Fig. 6A prior to storage in the internal storage module 609 or in the portable memory 625. In another alternative, the software application program 633 may be read by the processor 605 from a network (not shown), or loaded into the controller 602 or the portable 10 storage medium 625 from other computer readable media. Computer readable storage media refers to any non-transitory tangible storage medium that participates in providing instructions and/or data to the controller 602 for execution and/or processing. Examples of such storage media include floppy disks, magnetic tape, CD-ROM, a hard disk drive, a ROM or integrated circuit, USB memory, a magneto-optical disk, flash memory, or a 15 computer readable card such as a PCMCIA card and the like, whether or not such devices are internal or external of the device 601. Examples of transitory or non-tangible computer readable transmission media that may also participate in the provision of software, application programs, instructions and/or data to the device 601 include radio or infra-red transmission channels as well as a network connection to another computer or networked 20 device, and the Internet or Intranets including e-mail transmissions and information recorded on Websites and the like. A computer readable medium having such software or computer program recorded on it is a computer program product. Fig. 6B illustrates in detail the embedded controller 602 having the processor 605 for executing the application programs 633 and the internal storage 609. The internal - 16 storage 609 comprises read only memory (ROM) 660 and random access memory (RAM) 670. The processor 605 is able to execute the application programs 633 stored in one or both of the connected memories 660 and 670. When the electronic device 601 is initially powered up, a system program resident in the ROM 660 is executed. The 5 application program 633 permanently stored in the ROM 660 is sometimes referred to as "firmware". Execution of the firmware by the processor 605 may fulfil various functions, including processor management, memory management, device management, storage management and user interface. The processor 605 typically includes a number of functional modules including a 10 control unit (CU) 651, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) 652 and a local or internal memory comprising a set of registers 654 which typically contain atomic data elements 656, 657, along with internal buffer or cache memory 655. One or more internal buses 659 interconnect these functional modules. The processor 605 typically also has one or more interfaces 658 for communicating with external devices via system bus 681, using a 15 connection 661. The application program 633 includes a sequence of instructions 662 though 663 that may include conditional branch and loop instructions. The program 633 may also include data, which is used in execution of the program 633. This data may be stored as part of the instruction or in a separate location 664 within the ROM 660 or RAM 670. 20 In general, the processor 605 is given a set of instructions, which are executed therein. This set of instructions may be organised into blocks, which perform specific tasks or handle specific events that occur in the electronic device 601. Typically, the application program 633 waits for events and subsequently executes the block of code - 17 associated with that event. Events may be triggered in response to sensors such as 115 and other interfaces in the electronic device 601. The execution of a set of the instructions may require numeric variables to be read and modified. Such numeric variables are stored in the RAM 670. The disclosed SBPR 5 method uses input variables 671 that are stored in known locations 672, 673 in the memory 670. The input variables 671 are processed to produce output variables 677 that are stored in known locations 678, 679 in the memory 670. Intermediate variables 674 may be stored in additional memory locations in locations 675, 676 of the memory 670. Alternatively, some intermediate variables may only exist in the registers 654 of the 10 processor 605. The execution of a sequence of instructions is achieved in the processor 605 by repeated application of a fetch-execute cycle. The control unit 651 of the processor 605 maintains a register called the program counter, which contains the address in ROM 660 or RAM 670 of the next instruction to be executed. At the start of the fetch execute cycle, the is contents of the memory address indexed by the program counter is loaded into the control unit 651. The instruction thus loaded controls the subsequent operation of the processor 605, causing for example, data to be loaded from ROM memory 660 into processor registers 654, the contents of a register to be arithmetically combined with the contents of another register, the contents of a register to be written to the location stored in 20 another register and so on. At the end of the fetch execute cycle the program counter is updated to point to the next instruction in the system program code. Depending on the instruction just executed this may involve incrementing the address contained in the program counter or loading the program counter with a new address in order to achieve a branch operation.

- 18 Each step or sub-process in the processes of the SBPR methods described below is associated with one or more segments of the application program 633, and is performed by repeated execution of a fetch-execute cycle in the processor 605 or similar programmatic operation of other independent processor blocks in the electronic 5 device 601. The SBPR arrangements may alternatively be implemented using discrete components and circuitry. Alternately, the SBPR arrangements may be implemented using dedicated hardware such as one or more gate arrays and/or integrated circuits performing the SBPR functions or sub functions. If gate arrays are used, the process flow chart in Fig. 4 can, for example, be converted to Hardware Description Language (HDL) form. This 10 HDL description can be converted to a device level netlist for use by a Place and Route (P&R) tool to produce a file which can be downloaded to the gate array to program it with the design specified in the HDL Industrial Applicability The arrangements described are applicable to the electric power industry and 15 particularly for the provision of smart power saving technology to new and existing buildings. The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention, and modifications and/or changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, the embodiments being illustrative and not restrictive. 20 In the context of this specification, the word "comprising" means "including principally but not necessarily solely" or "having" or "including", and not "consisting only of'. Variations of the word "comprising", such as "comprise" and "comprises" have correspondingly varied meanings.

Claims (2)

1. An energy saving power fitting configured for wall mounting, the power fitting comprising: 5 a housing configured for wall mounting; a master socket module and at least one slave socket module mated to a facing plate of the housing and accessible for connection to a master load and a corresponding at least one slave electrical load, said master socket being configured to provide uninterrupted mains power to a connected master load; and 10 a power feed controller including a sensor configured to receive a sensed parameter and output a sensor signal dependent upon the sensed parameter, the power feed controller configured to provide, dependent upon the sensor signal, a power control signal to enable the at least one slave socket module to provide said mains power to the corresponding at least one connected slave electrical load; wherein: 15 the sensor comprises a power flow sensor configured to determine if the master socket module is providing said mains power to the connected master load ; and the power feed controller is configured to activate a mechanical switch or an electronic switch to enable the at least one slave socket module to provide the mains power to the corresponding connected slave load if the power flow sensor determines that the 20 master socket module is providing the mains power to the connected master load .

2. An energy saving power fitting according to claim 1, wherein the housing is configured for mounting on a surface of the wall or through an aperture in the wall. - 20 DATED this 2 0 th Day of August 2012 5 JACKSON TRADEMARK HOLDINGS PTY LIMITED Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON&FERGUSON