GB2036462A - Electric Outlet Sockets - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric outlet socket 13 or similar is proposed, incorporating a control unit 10 in the form of a silicon chip capable of selectively responding to one of a plurality of coded signals fed to it from a main controller, the response being to switch the socket on as at relay 12. The socket may also have means 14 for identifying a plug connected to it and the response of the control unit 10 may be conditional upon a plug of acceptable type being connected to the socket. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in Electric Outlet Sockets The invention relates to improvements in electric outlet socket units, primarily but are not exclusively for connecting electrical appliances to a source of mains electricity.

Among the alternative uses of the invention is the connection of electrical appliances to a source of direct electrical current, the connection of an audio frequency signal between an electronic circuit and either a microphone or a loudspeaker, and the connection of an aerial to a receiver or transmitter, but for the sake of simplicity the application of the invention will be referred to hereinafter in the specification primarily in terms of the supply of mains electricity to electrical appliances it being understood that other appiications including those exemplified above are within the scope of the invention.

The invention has for its objective the provision of equipment by use of which control of the supply of electricity to electrical appliances can be effected remotely and at least in some applications according to a predetermined programme.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an electric outlet socket unit comprising electrical input means, electric output means, control means and switch means, said control means being capable of responding selectively to the receipt of primary signals of predetermined code fed thereto by emitting a secondary signal capable of operating said switch means, and said switch means being operatively connected to said control means and being arranged to make or break electrical connection between said input means and said output means upon receipt of an appropriate secondary signal from said control means.

The unit may comprise a switch body mounting at least two terminals defining said input means, and at least two sockets defining said output means.

Preferably the socket unit further comprises sensing means connected to said control means and capable of sensing, in or on a plug connected to said socket unit, corresponding plug identifying means. The response of the control means to the coded primary signals to make or break the electrical connection may be overruled according to whether or not sensing means on or in the corresponding socket unit senses corresponding plug identifying means in or on a plug connected to said unit.

The sensing means may comprise a plurality of sensors each capable of sensing corresponding identifying means in or on a connected plug. and the sensors are preferably spaced apart at a face of the switch body adjacent a connected plug.

Preferably the socket unit is combined or for combining with any one of a plurality of plugs each having a different spacial arrangement of means capable of being sensed by one or more said plurality of sensors.

The switch means may comprise a solid state switch, for example a thyristor switch. The control means preferably comprises a solid state logic circuit embodying a code detector circuit and an amplifier circuit whereby the secondary signal may be of greater power than the primary signal.

The logic circuit may be provided on a silicon chip.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an installation comprising a plurality of electric outlet socket units wherein the control means of each is adapted to be capable of responding to a primary signal of different predetermined code and each of said control means is connected or for connection to a common source of coded primary signals whereby the switch means of the respective unit or units may be operated selectively by the appropriate coding of the primary signal.

Embodiments of the invention will now be decribed by way of example and with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing of which the single figure shows an electric outlet socket unit of the invention.

The unit consists for the most part of a conventional 13 amp socket outlet comprising an earthing socket 1, a neutral socket 2 and a live socket 3 connected respectively to terminals 4, 5 and 6 by which mains electricity can be connected to the unit. In the case of live socket 3 the connection to terminal 6 is by way of a fuse 7 and manual switch 8.

Thyristor switch 9 is connected to operate relay 12 connected, in parallel to manual switch 8, to control means 10 which in turn are operatively connected to signal terminals 11. The components are mounted on or in a housing diagrammatically represented by dotted line 13.

The control means 10 comprise a silicon chip embodying a code detector circuit capable of receiving signals fed to it via terminals 11 and of selectively responding only to signals of predetermined code, the response being to emit a secondary signal to the thyristor swich 9 whereby, in the event that manual switch 8 is open, electrical connection between terminal 6 and socket 3 can be made or broken by relay 12 according to the signal transmitted to thyristor switch 9 from controller chip 10. Manual switch 8 provides for manual overrride when thyristor controlled relay 12 is off. In other embodiments the switch 8 may be replaced by a switch in series with thyristor controlled relay 12 so as to provide for manual switching off of the appliance when relay 1 2 is switched on.In yet another embodiment the manual switch is omitted altogether. An indicator lamp may be connected across sockets 2 and 3.

The controller chip of control means 10 further comprises an amplifier circuit whereby it emits a signal of sufficient power to operate thyristor switch 9 on receipt of a coded signal of insufficient power to operate the switch 9 directly.

A number of sensors 14 are positioned at that part of the outer surface of housing 1 3 against which a plug lies when inserted in sockets 1, 2 and 3. Each sensor which is connected to control means 10 is capable of detecting the presence at an appropriate position in or on a plug inserted in the sockets, of an identifying means such as a metal disc.

The invention contemplates a plurality of outlet sockets as described above located at appropriate points within a building and of which each of the signal terminals 11 are connected in a ring circuit coupled to a main controller which may be a computer or the like. The main controller is programmed to transmit coded signals each of which is such as to be capable of bringing about a response in the control means 10 of one or other of the socket outlets, whereby an electrical appliance connected to a selected outlet may, unless countermanded by a manual switch, be caused to operate.As an example of the application of the apparatus, the main controller may be arranged to emit a signal to operate the switch of an outlet connected to a device for drawing the curtains across a window, and appropriate signal may be arranged to be emitted either at will or according to a predetermined programme. Then using the same controller and ring circuit, a different coded signal may by emitted to operate the switch of an outlet connected to an electric blanket.

The effective operation of the equipment requires that the correct appliance be connected to each outlet controlled by the main controller, and danger could ensue if an inappropriate appliance were so connected. To avoid this danger, the signal from the main controller instructs the control means to investigate which, if any, of the sensors 14 detects plug identifying means and only if the investigation reveals that an acceptably identified plug is inserted in the socket is the switch 8 then closed to operate relay 12 and connect mains electricity to the appliance connected to the plug.

If the detection and non-detection by a sensor of an identification means is represented by 1 and 0 respectively then, in the embodiment illustrated, a code could, for example, be used in which: 000 represents items which may not be switched on remotely such as electric irons, fires, hair dryers, heated rollers, soldering irons, etc.

001 represents TV sets (main and portable) radiogrammes, tape recorders and any kind of audio equipment; 010 represents kettles, teasmades, toasters; 011 represents electric blankets, garage door closer, curtains drawer motor, battery charger, (any item which is not likely to be moved from a particular socket); 100 represents foodmixers or any kitchen equipment; 101 represents washing machines, dryers or airers (items associated with washday); 110 represents portable light fittings such as table lamps and standard lamps; 111 represents all items that tend to be static and left on all the time such as freezers, refrigerators, cookers.

In the absence of a plug in the socket, the sensors would report a 000 condition and on detection of this condition the control means would be arranged not to close switch 8.

The main controller may be static or it may be mobile and connectible into the ring main at any one of a number of places. If predetermined, the programme may be a simple time sequence, but if required the programme may take into account such factors as room temperature, light intensity, electrical tariff, approach of visitors, which factors may be fed into the main controller, either manually or automatically by appropriate detection means.

In a large installation it may be desirable to employ more than three sensors and plug identifying means; four of each such devices would provide for a large number of types of plug to be distinguished.

The sensors may be, for example, proximity detectors. In another example the sensors may comprise electrical contacts each of which, with an appropriate plug connected, makes contact with a corresponding contact in the plug to complete an electrical circuit or, as required, fails to make such contact whereby the plug may be identified by the arrangement of contacts making contact.

Claims (9)

Claims

1. An electric outlet socket unit comprising electrical input means, electric output means, control means and switch means, said control means being capable of responding selectively to the receipt of primary signals of predetermined code fed thereto by emitting a secondary signal capable of operating said switch,means, and said switch means being operatively connected to said control means and being arranged reversably to make or break electrical connection between said input means and said output means upon receipt of an appropriate secondary signal from said control means.

2. A socket unit according to Claim 1 comprising sensing means connected to said control means and capable of sensing, in or on a plug connected to said socket unit, corresponding plug identifying means.

3. A socket unit according to Claim 2 wherein the response of the control means to the receipt of an appropriate primary signal to make or break the electrical connection may be overruled according to whether or not sensing means on or in the corresponding socket unit senses corresponding plug identifying means in or on a plug connected to said unit.

4. A socket unit according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the sensing means comprises a plurality of sensors each capable of sensing corresponding identifying means in or on connected plug.

5. A socket unit according to Claim 4 combined or for combining with any one of a plurality of plugs each having a different spacial arrangement of means capable of being sensed by one or more of said plurality of sensors.

6. A socket unit according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 and comprising a switch body mounting at least two terminals defining said input means, and at least two sockets defining said output means.

7. A socket unit according to Claim 6 which is dependent upon Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the sensors are spaced apart at a face of the switch body adjacent a connected plug.

8. An installation comprising a plurality of electric outlet socket units each according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the control means of each is adapted to be capable of responding to a primary signal of different predetermined code and each of said control means is connected or for connection to a common source of coded primary signals whereby the switch means of the respective unit or units may be operated selectively by the appropriate coding of the primary signal.

9. A socket unit or an installation comprising a plurality of socket units substantially as described with reference to the drawing.